It sure depends on the person, right? It's getting a lot harder to find anything that's in the $5 or less category too. Goodness, you can hardly buy a greeting card for that price any more! Small dollar gift cards to fast food places or coffee shops can be nice. A favorite candy bar or snack. Five bucks worth of lottery scratch-off tickets. For some people, maybe that $5 greeting card with an encouraging personal note would be appreciated. Looking forward to seeing other ideas!
A favorite hot drink (my choice is usually coffee or a latte) and watching a holiday movie or show. Or just sitting down with a coffee and gazing at the lighted Christmas tree or at a low burning fireplace, either in the quiet or with soft music playing.
3. How do you feel about gingerbread? Love it or no thanks? Are gingerbread houses a part of your holiday tradition? If you said yes, how does that look? Do you like ginger flavor in other kinds of dishes?
I really like gingerbread, whether it's cookies or the cake, but I prefer the gingerbread cake. With whipped cream on top, of course. There were a few years when the kids were young that we did gingerbread houses but it was never much of a thing for us. With one notable exception . . . our son and daughter-in-law had a gingerbread house building contest when they hosted family Christmas at their house in 2021, and their house was how they announced to us that they were expecting a baby!
And yes, I also like ginger flavor in other dishes. It's best in desserts and sweets, but I like it in more savory dishes as well.
I don't have any plans to celebrate blue jeans, though I'll likely be wearing jeans during the day. I'm so glad the dress code at my job is casual! My favorite brand is the Amanda by Gloria Vanderbilt. Every pair of jeans I own right now is an Amanda, though I have some capri length pants that are other brands. My favorite pair are black stonewash denim and have black scrollwork type embroidery on the back pockets. I wear (not blue) jeans most often, as in pretty much every day. When at home I do wear lounge pants though.
Getting better organized. I've got a bunch of tasks I've been putting off or just working very slowly on, and my goal has to be finishing some of those up and setting the stage to make it easier to stay on top of things in 2025. As I look back, I think I was not expecting that my work would say "yes, you can start on January 2nd" when I approached them about going to full time hours. I guess I was thinking it would probably be into February by the time my hours changed, so I didn't have a week or two of "get ready" time, and I never really recovered. That's a poor excuse, but that's how it felt!
I had a crazy sleepless night on Saturday. Not sure why, but I didn't get a good nap on Sunday, and now I'm sleep-deprived again. Here's hoping I can get caught up this week! Truly, the coffee is all that is keeping me awake in the meantime.
How do you relax during the busy holiday season? Leave a comment and let me know!
My exact thoughts to question #1. What can I buy for $5.00 is hard to do. I hate those sleepless nights and it does take a few days to get back to normal. Wishing you no more sleepless nights.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired enough that I should sleep really well tonight, I hope! Ideally I'll get to bed a bit early too. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteHi Kym, I really like how your kids surprised you with the baby news while building a gingerbread house! I don't get enough sleep. I am a late bird and sometimes I just can't get to bed before midnight and then I wake up early on my own. I used to be able to sleep longer. I can only drink one cup of coffee because of my history of acid reflux
ReplyDeleteI'm a night owl so I find it very difficult to go to sleep early, even when I'm really tired. I do try to take it easy on the coffee in the evening because of that, and because I also have acid reflux. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteIt isn't good to drink to much caffeine with osteoporosis. I am meeting a friend at a Christian coffeehouse and I plan to have a a flavored coffee. I like the ornaments on your tree.
ReplyDeleteHi, I LOVE the gingerbread memory.. how creative to share the news of baby arriving.
ReplyDeleteSleepless nights are no fun... I hear ya. I do not have them often,but when I do, YUCK!
Carla
It took us all a minute to catch on to their message but it was a very sweet way to make the announcement! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI love a pretty card and note so that would work for me. Such a cute and clever way to announce a baby on the way! Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteI fear that very few of us know how to write a good personal note in a card any more, but it can be very meaningful. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteWhat a super fun way to make a baby announcement! Speaking of sleepless nights, I've been awake since 12:30am! Hope the rest of your week goes well!
ReplyDeleteUgh on the sleepless night! I'm hoping to get a solid night's sleep tonight or I'm not sure I'll even be safe to drive. Only partly kidding! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI totally forgot about gingerbread in cake form! My mother-in-law used to make it and she made a homemade lemon sauce that was spooned over the top of the warm gingerbread cake. Oh my goodness! It was delicious. What a fun way to make a baby announcement!!
ReplyDeleteYes, my mom and my aunts made that lemon sauce too and it was SO good! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteSorry you have had sleepless nights; I somehow have been sleeping this week more than normal. It's kind of crazy. However, whenever I get a "good" night's sleep, it means I didn't move much and I wake up sore!
ReplyDeleteWho knew sleeping well would be so difficult in so many ways?! Hope you're getting quality sleep and waking up feeling good! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI never have any problems sleeping, but I also don't go to sleep until well after midnight...usually close to 1:00 am! I love gingerbread cake. When I was a kid, our school cooks (who cooked from scratch every day) would make it and serve it warm with applesauce! A $5 gift would definitely be difficult to find these days and even harder in the days to come.
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Yes, well, when I didn't need to be up for work in the morning then I didn't worry about it if I didn't go to sleep until after midnight! I can hardly wait until we retire and I can make my sleep schedule however I want! LOL Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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