Peaceful Simple Holidays

Hi Everyone!  Happy American Thanksgiving!  With the holiday season upon us, I wanted to share a few tips on how to have a simpler holiday season.  Sometimes we can miss out on the meaning of the season when we are rushing around trying to do everything.  I prefer a 'slow' holiday.  This is how I achieve it.

1.)  Plan ahead.  If you need to save up for your Christmas purchases, start early.  If you have people on your list that you can pick things up for throughout the year, do it.  Sit down with your family and discuss your expectations for the holiday season before saying yes to anything.  A little planning goes a long way.  We need to be intentional about our holiday season and how we want to spend it.

For example, our baby is due 3 days before Christmas.  I did my Christmas shopping for my daughter in August.  We stick to basic gifts and I already knew what we wanted to give her so I went ahead and got that part of my shopping done.  We also made a "no plans" rule for December because we can't be sure of when Baby will arrive or how I will be feeling.  Our families are both aware of this and are very understanding.  I said no to Miss. E performing in her Christmas concert as it falls just a few days before my due date.  I also said no to my staff Christmas party.  All of this planning ahead will help to keep our holiday season quiet, which we may need more than we know!

2.)  Cut back.  This is a tough one.  I know.  We like to go all out at Christmas time, but in doing so we often break the bank and burn ourselves out. For a lot of our family and friends, this past year was a nice step in the right direction for economic recovery.  Our local economy is slowly turning around and people are working again.  It has by no means been a lucrative year for most people that I know.  There is no shame in cutting back.  In my family, we have cut out all gift giving between the adults and we focus on buying only for the kids.  We have decided with friends to only gift on birthdays, rather than at Christmas.  We also spend less on the gifts that we do purchase.  Giving is a wonderful thing, but only if you aren't putting yourself at financial peril to do so.

I have also cut back on commitments this year.  Our situation is a little different than most people's so my cut backs have been far more severe than they would be normally.  We switch the holidays between my family and my husband's family every year.  I always mind my calendar to make sure that we are still carving out time to just be at home and get our housework done.  I make sure not to schedule anything on work nights so that everyone has enough sleep.  If we say yes we truly weigh the consequences and what we may have to give up in order to commit.

3.)  Give back.  This time of year can be really tough on the less fortunate.  It means a lot when we can give back to those around us.  This can be done financially or through volunteering.  I like to support my local food bank, especially since it's usage is up and donations are down.  Homeless shelters are vital at this time of year to help shield people from the frigid elements.  If you are able to help financially, please consider doing so.  If you are able to help an organization with the gift of your time, please do that.  Christ calls us to take care of one another.  Let's make sure we heed the call at this special time of year.

What are your tips for having a simple holiday season?

Simple Christmas

Christmas is a beautiful and sentimental time of year.  It can be filled with joy, laughter and the company of family and friends.  For some, however, Christmas becomes stressful, overwhelming and difficult.  To be honest, I have spent some time feeling stressed and overwhelmed at the holidays and it wasn't fun.  I think that I truly have my Christmas spirit back in recent years.  Here is how I found it.

1.)  Cut Back.  We quit doing Christmas gifts on my side of the family and we have greatly reduced the gifts that we do on Hubby's side.  We are always looking to simplify our lives and gifts (however thoughtful or well-intended) were really making this goal difficult.  Our shopping list is extremely short and we always follow a similar gift thread.  Most of our gifts are either food or sentimental items.  Elizabeth makes gifts for the family members and they enjoy receiving something that she has worked on.

We have also cut back on the food that we prepare for our Christmas meal.  Growing up, I remember there was always 6 salads, 3 desserts and a crazy amount of baking.  I am sure it was stressful for those who prepared it and I honestly didn't like most of it.  At Christmas, I crave turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries and buns.  We don't often eat turkey so it is a treat all on its own!  My Mom prepares our favourite Christmas treats and we forgo dessert so that we can enjoy the baking.  When I host Christmas I make a basic turkey meal.  Everyone is generally satisfied with that.  I usually bake one item.  If anyone offers to bring something, I ask for baking.  Dessert is taken care of and we can enjoy a variety of treats.

2.)  Focus on Faith and Family.  We try to be careful when making holiday plans.  I don't like to overbook our family with festivities.  It is a lot for everyone to handle.  We know that we like to see each family at some point during the holiday season.  We also value having time to enjoy Christmas festivities with just the 3 of us.  I try to figure out our plans well in advance and only book a few events.  Sometimes this means saying no to a Christmas party or other social event, but we find that guarding our family time is key to our enjoyment of the holidays.

We also work hard to keep the focus of the season on the birth of Jesus.  We do special prayers as a family during Advent and read books focused on the first Christmas.  We attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and try to keep our focus on the amazing gift that God bestowed on us.  A Child that was born to save us from sin.  It is a powerful display of love and one that I am eternally grateful for.

3.)  Be organized.  Even though we celebrate a rather simple Christmas, we still have things to do.  I enjoy sending out Christmas cards to our family and friends.  We are hosting Christmas this year and I will be preparing a holiday meal for the family.  We make Christmas gifts and purchase a few gifts.  All of this requires some planning.  The more organized you can be, the more peaceful your holiday season will be.  Emily at Queen of The Household has an awesome printable to help you stay organized this holiday season! I enjoy making lists and breaking down the tasks.  I then write each item that needs to be completed on my calendar to ensure that everything gets done on time.

How do you enjoy a peaceful holiday season?  I would love to hear your ideas!

When Life Is Crazy- Day 14

What a week this has been! Things are seeming a little crazy around here.  I hope to be able to go into it in a bit more detail in the coming weeks, but for now it is best if I keep some of this under my hat.  There is nothing bad happening, just a lot of potential changes!

Change is constant, but I like it to come on my terms.  Ha!  That rarely happens.  If you have been reading this blog over the past months, you will be well aware that I seem to constantly battle my Type-A personality.  I have become much better at accepting change, but it can still seem overwhelming at times.  This week I have been telling myself, "Be a willow, not an oak!"  I need to bend with the changes.

When I feel overwhelmed I like to do the following:

1.) Pray-  I spend a lot of time in prayer, especially when I feel unsettled or unsure.  I try to remind myself the God is in control and that I will find peace within Him.  I really like to refer to my Jesus Calling devotional, written by Sarah Young.

2.) Get outside- I feel most at peace when I am in nature.  I like to experience the outdoors and even a quick walk can make me feel much better!

3.) Spend time with family and friends-  My family and friends are a great support network and I can always turn to them when I need them.  Sometimes we don't even have to talk about what's happening.  It can be refreshing just to be in their presence and laugh!

4.)  Organize and Clean-  My house is never so clean or organized as when I am upset or overwhelmed.  I think it gives me a measure of control when I feel like I have no control and it is also a way to physical outlet to help me deal with whatever is going on.  The upside is a clean house!

What do you like to do to help deal with life throwing curve balls?

Healthy Living Series- Week 1: Exercise

Welcome to my Healthy Living Series.  Ever since my recent miscarriage, I have been trying to focus on rebuilding my health.  I ended up with infection, then a D&C (minor surgery) and spent the 2 weeks after my surgery recovering.  My doctor didn't allow me to do much physical activity while I was recovering.  When all was said and done, I felt weak and tired.  I am sure some of my fatigue came from the emotional toll that the miscarriage took.  I do know that the weakness and some of the fatigue occurred because I had lost a lot of my physical strength.  I made a "Get Healthy" plan and started to implement it.  I am basing this series on my "plan" and my own experiences with it.

I am starting the series with Exercise.  It is the first thing that I started implementing with my "Get Healthy" plan.  I have always been an active person.  I am not athletic, by any means, but I believe in the importance of fitness.  Cardio activity is good for your heart and strength training is extremely important for your bone health.  I find that being fit makes my day to day life easier.  At home, I am able to chase and lift my toddler when I am fit.  I can do my work much more efficiently because I have energy.

If you are new to exercise, I suggest starting with walking.  It is a low impact exercise with huge health benefits.  All you really need is a good pair of shoes.  I love to walk.  I walk my dog and push the stroller.  I like to walk with Miss. E and go on "adventures".

After I had been cleared for working out, I started my current exercise program.  I use Briana's Bikini Body Mommy workouts.  I am currently doing the Bikini Body Mommy Challenge 4.0.  I like that the workouts are short (15 minutes-ish), challenging and free.  I access my workouts on YouTube.  I have been doing the workouts for a few weeks and I am already seeing results, which is great!  

I am able to lift and carry Miss. E for longer, now.  She is getting heavy and I wasn't able to hold her for very long before.  I also have better energy, which is so beneficial for both my work and home life!

Another benefit of exercise is the boost to my mental health.  Exercise releases endorphins, which are "feel-good" hormones.  I have always had a great mental benefit from exercise.  It is my most important reason for exercising.  I always feel better after a workout or a walk.  If you are stressed out or feeling down, exercise can help. 

What are your favourite ways to work out?  What are your favourite benefits?

Weekend Recharge

I love weekends.  I am one of the fortunate people who works Monday to Friday, so the weekend means a lot to me.  I work in health care in a small town.  I find my job extremely rewarding, but also emotionally draining.  It is hard to watch friends and acquaintances battle illness.  Usually by Friday, I am more than ready for the break from my work.  Taking time to recharge is very important to one's sense of peace and stability.  We are not created to run from activity to activity with no rest in between.  In recharging, we find our balance, strength and happiness.

As a person who works full time during the week, there is always work to be done at home.  I have to get some laundry done, clean my house and work on my minimalism.  These tasks are not my favourite things to do, but I do like that I don't have a specific timeline in which to complete them.  I get to create nice meals because of the extra time.  My husband and I can linger over them and not worry about rushing to get dishes done.  We like to watch a movie or catch the latest Saturday Night Live together, allowing ourselves to rest from our chores throughout the day.

As a couple that is soon welcoming a child, my husband and I have discussed the importance of traditions.  Most of my fondest childhood memories are linked to simple traditions that my family used to do.  My husband has similar memories with his family.  My husband and I already had the practice of attending church every Sunday morning.  We enjoy connecting with our faith once a week, bringing us back to center. We have started the tradition of eating crepes after mass, a tradition gleaned from each of our families.  Shaun's family would gather for lunch each weekend after Sunday services.  The crepe recipe is from my father.  He would make them on weekends when he wasn't working and we loved to eat them.  My brother and I each enjoyed different toppings, but we both had a strong enthusiasm for the meal.  I suspect that my mother, who did almost all of the cooking, enjoyed the break from playing chef as much as the meal.  My dad would even "dye" the crepes with food colouring to match holidays.  Pink for Valentines day, green for St. Patrick's day and so on.  The first time my husband ate a crepe in front of me, I actually gasped.  He was doing it all wrong!  He was eating the crepe as one would eat a buttermilk pancake.  I showed him our crepe eating "technique".  You put all the toppings on the crepe, roll it up and eat small sections of it with a fork.  My hubby thought it was hilarious that I took such offense to the way he had eaten the crepe, but has happily converted to the roll-up technique.  As we eat, my husband and I use the time to really talk and reconnect.  I cherish this time immensely.

It is important to make sure that you schedule in time to recharge.  I am aware that a lot of people don't have the luxury of a weekend to spend recharging.  Many people are required to work weekends or spend weekends rushing their children to tournaments and competitions.  Often, other obligations take up our "free" time, until we no longer feel that our time belongs to ourselves.  Like all other aspects of our lives, we must be vigilant in scheduling in time to recharge.  It could be simply having your family sit down once a week to share a meal and catch up with one another.  It could be walking your dog in the park.  Many harried mothers I know love just being able to take a bubble bath without interruption.  One must simply ask themselves when they truly feel peaceful and happy.  When you discover the activity that allows you to find that sense of calm, schedule it in!  Make time to recharge yourself.  You will find that doing this will give you a much more peaceful outlook on your busy life, giving you the feeling that you can tackle it all.

What are the ways that you like to recharge?  What moments of peace get you through your week?  I would love to hear from you!  Thanks for reading!