Sustainable & Creative Living
People often give and receive plants as holiday or hostess gifts this time of year. One of the most popular is the Christmas cactus. Normally at holiday time they are healthy and in full and beautiful bloom. This plant can live many years and bloom again seasonally with the right care.
It’s that time of year again when we’re all shopping for that perfect last minute gift. It’s hard these days when shopping is as easy as the 1-Click option on Amazon. You can even order groceries online and have them delivered!
With the world turning digital, gifts are turning digital too! It’s easy to go [Read more…]
A couple of weeks ago, I was standing in line at Publix chatting with the young cashier and bagger as they rang up my groceries. I made a comment about needing to hurry up and put up my Christmas decorations. The cashier told us that her family decorated the tree on Christmas Eve. “Decorating the tree on Christmas Eve was more traditional when I was little,” I told her.
I’d like to say that I decided right then that I would slow down the decorating process and focus on really enjoying it, not just crossing it off the list–but that’s not what happened. The truth is that I just wasn’t in the mood for rushing and stressing, so I gradually decided that I wouldn’t. As I gave up worrying about when and how fast all the Christmas preparations got done, it was easier to enjoy what I was doing and become more mindful in the process. If there’s ever a time to practice mindfulness, it’s definitely at Christmastime!
Finding ornaments and decorating my Christmas tree is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. It’s something most people who celebrate Christmas have in common. It can be a special and different experience for everyone. Some people have themes, some have multiple trees, and some have a design that never falters. In my household, we have one small tree that has no theme, but I like to think it tells a little story of our lives.
A long-standing tradition in my family has been [Read more…]
Hello friends! It’s a cool 51° today- gloomy, rainy and feeling a bit more like Christmastime here in Florida. Welcome to my final Stocking Stuffer installment this holiday season- 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Kids. The suggested items are for kids ranging in ages 4-12. You can check out my 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Women and 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Men for some last-minute gift ideas.
Being a new mom, I must say that I had the most fun with this list of 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Kids. This is a list compiled of [Read more…]
When Meagan and Christina suggested I write about holiday budgeting, I wasn’t too keen on the idea. I’m not a meticulous budgeter. I am a person who lives within their means and keeps debt to a minimum. I’m frugal at times, but [Read more…]
This week I’m making holiday bath bombs!
Bath bombs are great all year around, but they’re also a great little holiday gift. You can make them for a hostess gift or even secret Santa – because who doesn’t love a nice warm bath once in a while? Especially you! You can always keep them for yourself and take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle.
These bath bombs are [Read more…]
In my family, there is one holiday tradition that always reminds us that Christmas is near—Apple Sheet Pie. The warm scent of baked apples, sweet cinnamon spice, powdered sugar, vanilla glaze, and store-bought [Read more…]
Every year around this time we’re all starting on our holiday gift list. We’re trying to find that gift that means something to someone; we want to make sure it’s something they’ll like and that it’s special. A great way to make sure you find something special for everyone is to shop with a company that offers the policy of “buy one, give one.” Many companies have this great way of giving back when you purchase a gift; they give the same or equal value back to a community in need.
Below are 10 companies that you can shop with this season to make every gift count:
Waiting for Christmas morning to come is almost as exciting as Christmas morning itself! This is especially true when you have small children at home, but the excitement seems to fade a bit with teenagers. They don’t always get as excited over the decorating, the baking, and the crafting.
One way to keep Christmas excitement alive for teenagers is by using an advent calendar.