A little throwback of my tree for encouragement, hah!
Every year I like to make a little bucket list with all of the holiday activities I want to do leading up to Christmas. This year's is probably pretty close to being the same as last year but I like to map out my game plan. I love the festive activities but the season always goes by so quickly that it's impossible to get everything I want/"need" done. Ya'll know I also work in retail which makes things harder when it comes to my schedule and if we're being honest, my overall mental energy. Ya girl is tired, ok? We're tired but trying, lol. Right now the list is everything that I think I can realistically do to enjoy the holidays + get in the spirit.
MY HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST
+DECORATE MY TREE - Putting up a Christmas tree seems easy (and obvious) enough, however it definitely takes some motivation on my end. I don't just work in retail during the holidays, I also sell a lot of seasonal Christmas merchandise and trees. I LOVE that, however by the end of the work day I just want to relaaaxxx and do nothing. I don't always feel mentally or physically motivated to drag my tree out and spend hours decorating. I love the end result and enjoy the process once I'm knee deep in glitter, I just need a little extra push to get going.
+PUT UP CHRISTMAS LIGHTS - Alongside of that is doing outside lights/decorations. Love the look- need a little bit of motivation to get going. If all goes well, I'm planning on just diving into everything this week. I like to do it earlier so that it's out of the way + I have longer to enjoy it all.
+BAKE CHRISTMAS COOKIES - I'm slowly establishing my own little tradition of baking Christmas cookies every year. I think this year will be my third or fourth year making homemade sugar cookies which I always do a day or two before Christmas. They are so delicious and fun, just a LOT of work. For me it's the decorating that is the most time consuming- maybe one day I'll be a pro!
+BUY//WRAP GIFTS - I just started buying gifts this week which means I need to get a move on! I'm definitely a habitual shopper + wrapper. Every year I tell myself to wrap as I go which NEVER happens. Maybe this will be the year? I need a system where as soon as I buy something, I wrap it up.
+HOLIDAY MOVIES - I'm proud to say I've started early this year with this one!! So far I've watched two Christmas movies. I always love to watch the new Netflix/"Hallmarky" romance ones as well as the classics. There are so many good ones, I wish I had time to watch one every day in December.
+CHRISTMAS LIGHTS - Always a must-do is driving around to look at Christmas lights. It's so much fun and in a weird way, a little nostalgic? I don't know if it's because we always went as kids or if just the Christmas lights in general feel nostalgic. I love seeing how everyone decorates and gets into the spirit! It really is amazing and special how many people go all out and celebrate for the holidays.
+ DONATE//GIVE - This isn't something I've really ever talked about on the blog but one of my goals for the holiday season is to give back more. With the state of the world, it just feels like we could all use a little more good and positivity right now. I also think I need it, too. Whether you spread a word of encouragement, volunteer your time or donate monetarily- it does something good for both others and your soul. You can feel it, as strange as that may sound. I use to feel like I couldn't offer much to make a difference but now I think we can all do something, even if it feels small or insignificant.
What's your favorite holiday tradition or activity?
What a week it has been, you guys! I made it through the day and survived, lol. If you have no idea what I'm talking about- I work in retail which puts me right in the midst of Black Friday weekend. I talked a little bit about this last week but in retail world, the holidays are like a marathon. There is so much time, preparation and energy that goes into it all- especially this week. It's definitely both mentally and physically consuming at times, however I love the excitement. I finally had a moment tonight to sit back and reflect on the week and the holiday season we're in.
Sometimes the hustle and bustle makes it hard to fully appreciate things. It seems like there is always so much to do and get done that we focus more on the end goal than the journey. We all have different circumstances happening in our life but I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday weekend. I wanted to share with you that I'm grateful to have you here and always appreciate your support. I know life can feel discouraging at times and I have my days too, however I try to keep the attitude that I can always find something to be grateful for. Regardless of the outcome, that mentally keeps me in a better place than the alternative. We're gettin' a little cheesy here but the holidays always serve as a reminder for me of that. It's like a little alarm bell goes off to pay a little bit closer attention to the good things in my life. For this holiday that consisted of a little family time, traditions and good food. Naturally I ate WAY too much but is it really Thanksgiving if you don't? Just some food for thought from me to you. 😊
Now it's time for me to rest up and do it all over again, lol. Sending you lots of relaxation, rest + hopefully leftovers for the weekend. After tomorrow, hopefully I can join you! PS- have you done any shopping? Let me know what you're buying if so- I need ideas for Christmas gifts!
How was your Thanksgiving?
I love sharing my favorite sales with you! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping. Pretty cool, huh? :)
What a week it has been! We're officially in the heart of what we call the "marathon" of working in retail during the holiday season. The weeks are busy, time is flying by and there's never enough hours in the day to get everything done. Being tired is an understatement and my patience is questionable, but we're surviving and thriving!! Despite the craziness, I love working during the holiday season. The anticipation of the holidays and the fast pace and are exciting. It's rewarding to work hard and see the season all come together. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes during this time of year to stay ready and get prepared, especially for the week of Thanksgiving and Black Friday coming up. Are you planning on shopping next weekend? I can't believe it's already almost here!
Ya'll know the extent of my Black Friday shopping is usually online + all the Cyber Monday sales. Because I'm working, I don't really have the time (or motivation tbh) to actually go out and shop. I'll leave that for you, haha. I am excited for several of the sales coming up though. I've only bought one Christmas gift so far so I need to get a jump on that + I have my eye on a few things. Stay tuned for my Black Friday sale post coming next week!
Right now I'm trying to make a mental note of what I'm looking to buy + what the sales are so that I have a game plan in advance. Thanksgiving week is always a whirlwind so I try to think ahead + plan out everything I need/want to get done. I'm also trying to strategize when to get all of my Orangetheory classes done this month too, lol. I haven't had a whole lot of motivation for much outside of work these days. By some miracle I did make it to two of my classes this week, wish me luck on the last five...
In the midst of the crazy, I'm still trying to enjoy as much of the season as I can. I was feeling festive this week so I watched a Christmas movie and made a quick and easy recipe for apple pie cookie cups. You bake sugar cookie dough in a muffin cups and then fill them with apple pie filling. I used pre-made cookie dough and just made the apple pie filling which was so easy and yummy. If you need something simple and quick for Thanksgiving, try it out! I used this recipe from Tasty Treat Pantry. Festive food is one of my favorite parts of holidays so I definitely make sure to indulge a little here and there.
Now it's time to rest up + relax this weekend before all of the chaos!
What are your weekend plans?
CHRISTMAS COOKBOOKS I LOVE
You can read the synopsis + shop each one by clicking on the title below:
Baking for the Holidays: 50+ Treats for a Festive Season by Sarah Kieffer
Honey Throat Spray // Sweatpants // Heating Pad // Apple Cider K-Cups // Argan Oil Hand + Body Cream // Deodorant
I'm definitely channeling some cozy fall vibes over here with my current obsessions! We've been having a few cold snaps here and there but the weather is weird. One week it's in the thirties, the next it's back up to seventy-five. Ya'll know I love the chilly fall weather, otherwise it doesn't really feel like fall or the holidays! In the spirit of yet another cold snap rolling back in, I thought I'd share a little update with you on some current fall favorites.
One thing everyone needs at home is a good heating pad. I've had mine for a few years now and LOVE it. I feel like it's even more of an essential now that I workout 2-3 times a week-- I'm ALWAYS sore. It's also extra nice in the winter- it makes my bed nice + toasty!
I've also been obsessed with a pair of GAP Men's Sweatpants that I bought a few years ago from a factory outlet. I have zero clue what the exact style is but I think this pair is very similar. I love the loose, relaxed fit and that they're made with a lighter fabric- warm but not bulky.
The Salt & Stone deodorants are also still a fave- I think I shared them with you a few months back. I've been really pleased with them as far as "clean" deodorants go. They do a great job, smell amazing and are some of the best ones I've tried. I've also been dealing with super dry hands lately which I can't stand. One of the best body/hand products I've ever used is this one from Josie Maran. It contains 100% pure Argan oil that is super hydrating + great for the skin. The ingredients are 100% clean too-- definitely a 10/10 for me.
A few random favorites-- this Bee Propolis Honey Throat Spray & Apple Cider K-Cups. I love this throat spray- it's great for keeping your immune system up and tastes like honey. Also currently obsessed with these Apple Cider pods for the Keurig. It's so yummy-- fall in a cup.
What are you loving right now?
I love the idea of a Christmas daily devotional. It feels like a wonderful way to really celebrate and embrace the season and it's true meaning. The saying "Jesus is the reason for the season" always rings true- even when we sometimes forget. I often forget myself- more than I'd like. Every year I look forward to the holidays and the feelings of joy and nostalgic it brings, however stress, anxiety and impatience never seem too far away. Things like busy schedules, timelines, family events and gift shopping can cause tensions to run high. The pressures of the world can weigh on all of us, in our own individual ways.
My answer for times like these is to focus more on God and how I can better myself. Making time for the things that bring me joy also seems to help. This could be watching my favorite comfort show, enjoying a tasty meal or diving deeper into my Bible to ground myself. The world is noisy, y'all. I've definitely noticed that what I focus on and give my attention to can drastically affect my mental headspace. On the flip side, I often think about and find comfort in the idea that God presents us with challenges and adversities so that we have to come closer to Him. I think that's true. I don't like that I'm more "encouraged" to spend more time with Him when things aren't going how I want them to versus when they are, however it makes sense.
Now that we're in the heart of the holidays, I think I would really enjoy reading through a Christmas devotional everyday in December. Something festive to remind me of Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas and just keep my spirits bright! I've been searching for one to purchase and so far, these are my top picks. I'm also thinking about buying some for Christmas gifts as well- I think that would make a really special gift.
You can read the synopsis + shop each one by clicking on the title below:
The Gifts of Jesus: Meditations for Christmas by Charles F. Stanley
Jesus Listens For Advent & Christmas: Prayers for the Season by Sarah Young
Bring On The Merry: 25 Days of Great Joy for Christmas by Candace Cameron Bure
The 25 Days of Christmas: A Family Devotional to Help You Celebrate Jesus by James Merritt
I'll also link everything in my Amazon Storefront here if you want to shop :) Let me know if you have read any of these or any other Christmas devotionals you think I would enjoy!
Ivory Cable Knit Stocking // Quilted Tree Stocking // Chunky Fair Isle Stocking // Plaid Teddy Stocking // Velvet Stocking // Gingerbread House Stocking // Embellished Tree Stocking // Metallic Knit Stocking // Rustic Tree Stocking
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