A Belated Holiday Recap

Hey y'all!  I took advantage of the few posts I set up for myself to ease back into the new year before jumping into our holiday recap which is now going on almost a month ago.  Driving straight through to Vermont takes quite a toll when you're driving over 12 hours so we've had to split up our time and go halfway, take a rest night then on to our (hopefully) winter wonderland.  Welcome to a tick or two past middle age!  We can't fly because I bring the merry and that is a lot of bags, boxes and a whole suitcase so we're left to the open road.  When we arrived, I brought the jolly cuz that's what I do!

Those big ass snowflakes are just big enough for a bit of privacy from neighbors through the trees

I'll tell you, there is nothing better than those battery operated fairy lights to make sure that your travel house still feels just as festive.  We absolutely love those things and the colored ones had a timer which was awesome.  Each runs on 3 AA batteries and I want to say it was about 10 days before you could tell they were dimming - I'm thinking maybe switching out one of the batteries at that point could've lasted us the rest of the trip.  Duly noted.  Unfortunately we couldn't do a cut down tree this year so we went to Paine's Tree Farm and got a pre-cut and they strapped it on for us.  I was too distracted before we left to plan a real motif for this year so I wanted a kind of plain Victorian feel and got some flat ornaments, red velvet bows and pearls for garland strung with white lights.  It was simple but nice.  Some IGer talked about using a round plastic tablecloth for a tree skirt and to catch any water and needles that first day or two and that worked really well.  I also saw another video about how a week after they set up their real tree, the living room was FLOODED in giant aphids (look like huge ticks) and they had to rip the tree down.  So you can bet your ass I got some neem oil spray and squirt diatomaceous Earth in case anything tried to climb down before we even got the tree!!  Luckily we only saw one aphid and it wasn't even on the tree but nothing else.  Still makes one feel skeevy with the heebie jeebies.

The time was going fast and we tried to get in what we could without getting sucked into the crowds that have all seemed to pour in the past two times.  I made Christmas cookies and on the 23rd we got a surprise 'winter storm' of 5-7" but it was so cold (0 degrees) so no big fluffy flakes just kind of super fine snow that wasn't conducive to building a snowman.  We had a pretty good sled hill out back and the Mr had fun getting a track embedded for us.

Bye Felicia! - The Mr

Oh and for anyone who thinks sledding couldn't possibly be a workout:

We always love going into Stowe Village at night and looking at it all lit up even if it's 5 degrees outside and your breath condensation is freezing inside your nose.

From Christmas morning on, we woke up to glitter snow every morning with the sun shining over the mountain.

It was like living in a snow globe every day and it was magical.  Not much gets to the Mr but he was excited to see it every day which was wonderful to see.  Christmas Day our new tradition since Covid has been to stretch the day out as long as possible.  We get up and have our traditional cinnamon rolls like I did every year with Mom.  We watched a few Christmas movies, went sledding for 45 minutes, took a little nap and at 5pm I started dinner.  Grandma's roast had been in the crockpot since morning so I got her noodles going, mashed potatoes, my cheeseball and some green beans.  

It's not Christmas in our family if it doesn't look like this.  Yes, I travel with these dishes.

We watched another Christmas show and before getting too sleepy, at 9pm we opened gifts.  It was a wonderful, peaceful yet fun holiday.  

The next day we crammed in all of our shopping.  I scored an antique find from a hippie natural store that was sadly closing for 50% off.  We visited Trapp Lodge and saw the cows, waved to my friend on the outdoor camera and shopped off a gift card I got from my friend.  Before we knew it, it was time to deSantify the house, pack up and leave to go down to suburban Woodstock but if you think I only decorate the Christmas house and not the new years house...

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(In case you'd like to see why we can't fly and why we are car Tetris masters)

Now let's get to decorating.

Yep, this year we got one of those pop up pencil trees because I still wanted one that looked kinda like those old school silver trees and like a NYE party.  I did what commenters said and added a strand of 300 mini lights and it looks fabulous lit!  I loved it!  

One of our favorite traditions is on NYE (or, this year, day), we love to walk the town after dark to look at all of the lights.

I joke with the Mr the town must know flesh eating zombies come out and prey on tourists because literally the second it's dark, there is NO ONE walking the streets anymore.  Those were taken at 5:30pm!  But we love to just take it all in and have the town to ourselves because Lord knows we don't during the day.  That place is utter chaos at all times.  

One of my favorite traditions at that place was a nightly wood burning fire.

Le sigh

It was cozy and I love tending to fires as the Mr knows so it's a relaxing thing for me.  The place we stayed was nice but it's in that weird spot where it takes you 20 minutes to get anywhere so you go for a round trip deal and that's 40 minutes of your day gone.  So you do have to plan your outings carefully.  However, we loved the peace so much and I've purchased a few things to help with the privacy issue (ZERO blinds on the first floor) that we booked it again.  

Also, because it's Vermont, you must do the obligatory covered bridges to squee over.

One of my favorite souvenirs are something I've wanted since the first time we visited Woodstock but didn't know was available for purchase.  We love going to Simon Pearce which is a glass maker of all kinds of crazy expensive stuff like ornaments, bowls, lamps, candle holders, etc.  We've purchased a few 'seconds' (products with imperfections) but I've always been mesmerized watching them blow glass.

(The glass magicians at work at Simon Pearce)

If you've never watched Blown Away on Netflix, you should and watch what those people can do.  (Ignore the manufactured drama)  Well, they've always had this art display of the molds they use for some products.  

At the outlet store about 20 minutes away, they sell some of the old used molds!  You can bet your sweet bippy I pick some up and by some, I mean four by the end of the trip.  This is an idea of what could be made out of one of the molds I purchased.

I'm super excited to figure out the best way to display them.  I have an idea but it has to wait right now unfortunately with the reno boys tearing the place up again.  

We had some snow but there were also higher temps so a TON of fog which was also beautiful.  

Because of the moisture in the air, we were able to roll out a snowman at my insistence knowing he was not long for this world but it was fun for the day or so we had him.

(Yes, I travel with a corn cob pipe.  What self respecting snowman maker doesn't?)

Before we knew it, it was time to pack back up again and head home.  Every day I strapped Mom around my neck and took her along for our adventures.  We honored her by buying each other presents from her and opening them on Christmas Eve and enjoying her veggie pizza just like we would've done.  I have to think she was smiling seeing us on our Vermont adventures the first time for herself.  I would've given anything to bring her along when she was here but, you know.  I was afraid I would torture myself with thoughts of  "the last time we were here, she was alive."  Thankfully, that didn't really happen.  I think my soul needed it so much and I know how much she loved our pictures that I told myself she was there and that just had to be enough because unfortunately, it's all I've got now on that front.

I hope you guys enjoyed this recap of our adventure!

Now back to reality (as the reno dudes are smashing up our bathroom.  Vacation zen...gone. 😜)

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What I'm Reading This Week #2

Hello all and happy Friday to you!  We have been settling back into our routine after traveling for the holidays this year.  Of course we miss Vermont and are always hoping for a rich distant relative who thought of us fondly to leave us enough riches to buy a house there.  Sounds totally reasonable right?  I just want 10 acres for us in a 1600 sq ft home with a walled garden where we keep fit chopping wood, mowing the lawn and hiking.  You guys can come visit.  I'll make you homemade jam.  😁

I got the final round of my shingles shot Monday.  (Nothing like getting right back to reality, eh?)  I wasn't sure what to expect since the Mr basically got horrible chills and was unwell for a few days his first shot but nothing bad the second.  I didn't have that with the first just the worst sore arm I've had in my life to the point even clothes rubbing against it hurt for 3 days.  This day also coincided with a dump of snow in our area and if you think I'm missing out on the chance to shoe, you're nuts.  So I got the shot at 3:30pm and by 4pm we were nordic walking the park with the poles which already makes my arms sore.  I just wanted to get the activity in before any side effects had the chance to set in and take me out against my will.  I'd already gotten 4K "cycle steps" in that morning so I wasn't going to push myself too hard.  (Insert chuckle from body here)  We ended up doing a lap on the long trail and two around the auxiliary trail which was more than I anticipated.  Luckily my arm didn't bother me at that point and it waited for about an hour before the extreme soreness kicked in.  I lucked out and got the cutest little Asian dude about 60 years old and it took everything in me not to squeeze his cheeks, especially after he gave me this:

I didn't even have to ask for it! 😁

Fast forward to overnight since I drank normal amounts of fluids than I did on holiday and it initiated what I refer to as "sodium release night."  This is where my job is to pee every 90 minutes all night long, after my muscles have started revolting post getting in 9200 steps my first day back at it and severe injection site pain is in full swing.  On the final sodium release of the early morning, I had to literally massage my IT band to get out of bed because I am an idgit who flippantly said "if you think I'm not shoeing after a rare snow dump, you're nuts!  I'll deal with the consequences!"

Hello consequences! 👋🥴

So what did I think was the best course of action?  Do it again the next day when my vaccine symptoms REALLY kicked in.  We did 2 full laps on the main trail and that was about it.  After 2 hours between my body fighting the shingles skeevies from the vax (fatigue, achy lymph nodes and general soreness) the middle back and shoulder soreness from using the poles set in and I needed to take a lava shower and used a lot of lotion to massage my muscles which helped the next day.  It was going to be my 'rest' day so obviously I started off with cycling for 4500 steps.  SMDH  Since the snow was still trickling, let's make it day three of shoeing.  I will say, I was surprised that I was able to do three laps on the main trail and in nowhere near the amount of pain I was in two days prior.  I don't know if I beat my body back into submission or what but I was thankful for it and told it to hold on because that was going to be the workout schedule the rest of the week!  However the next day I woke up with a severe headache from the tension caused by using the poles.  Do you think that kept me from pushing on for day four?  Nope.  We did 3 laps last night at sunset but I didn't do the floor bike yesterday so I wasn't full blast every single day and held back to 6000 steps.

I really know how to 'ease back in', do I not? 

Now let's ease into:

Does Barre ‘Count’ as Strength Training or Is It More of a Cardio Workout?  (All I know is after we do Fitness Blender's version, the Mr and I are both like newborn baby giraffes for 3 days)

The Cancer-Fighting Vegetable That Can Also Boost Your Kidney Health  (So yummy!)

7 Tips for Exercising During Menopause, According to Experts  (Definitely work on balance training because my Lord one day it's just gone if you don't!)

Explore science-backed ways to recalibrate your mind and thrive  (I need a serious overhaul and my therapist agrees)

This One Mobility Exercise Loosens Tight Shoulders  (If you have perimenopausal shoulder pain, this can help but know it will hurt until you do I daily.  I sometimes use the ab roller on the wall in the basement or grab both rails on the stairs and lean forward for 30 seconds)

Create A Simple Cover For Your Electrical Box Using A Budget-Friendly DIY  (I've been wanting to cover that nasty monstrosity)

Tea for Two Menu (Always down for afternoon tea!)

Do Americans Swear More Than They Used To?  (This one does.)

Top 50 New Wave Songs  (Awesome list!!)

21 Wildly Juicy Events In '80s Movie History That Are All But Forgotten Today  (Some real gems you may have forgotten about)

I suppose we should get any trip stuff that is lingering put away.  I don't have anything planned so we'll see where the weekend takes us other than restocking the fridge with healthy stuff and coming up with a plan going forward to get right back into formal exercise and tweaking food stuffs.  Oh speaking of which, remember how I said my Christmas cookies to send were flat?  I totally forgot the past two years I used Einkorn flour for them because I wanted to use a healthier flour.  The problem with that is it needs to be chilled for like two days to absorb the extra liquid since Einkorn has a lower gluten structure.  So if anyone is looking to switch over to a healthy flour,  remember that if you're making Christmas (or any) cookies this year.  There's my PSA.  

Oh crap, wait.  

Uh...our bathroom reno restarts Monday (though I haven't heard crap from them) according to my calendar soooo yeah.  I guess we'll be ripping the bathroom back apart and moving the vanity back in the Mr's office readying ourselves for the saga of them ripping out everything they installed so I have zero expectations of the roller coaster ride that awaits us.  Though I must say I now have a pit in my stomach of...

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Anything good brewing for your weekend?

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My New 2025 Health Reality

When you're a fat person, you're used to a lot of assumptions being made about you, especially in the medical community.  You're fat so you're clearly lazy, don't exercise and have a feedbag full of burgers, pizza and fries strapped to your face 24/7.  Every time I've gone to a new doctor whether it be a family doctor, gynecologist, vein doctor or whomever, I've had to go into the same spiel about how I lost 226 lbs.  No I didn't have 'the surgery' or now, take Ozempic and the biggest thing when they ask for my list of meds I'm likely on because I'm still fat despite that weight loss, I've been able to smugly say:  birth control.  A look of astonishment always came across the face of the nurse and/or doctor like I was an anomaly.  A unicorn in their midst.  I almost expected them to poke my arm to make sure I was real.  There was also a part of me that wondered if they thought I was lying.  I wasn't and I was effing proud of it.  It felt like a giant EFF YOU to the profession that would attribute everything from a headache to a hang nail to our weight.  I relished the feeling of proving them wrong.  That despite still needing to lose more, I wasn't the typical fat person that they assumed I was.  I'm not saying if you have to be on meds that it is any kind of shortcoming but also, until you've been almost 500 lbs and lost it on your own and had to deal with extreme fat bias from doctors, it was extra satisfying to prove them wrong.

As most of you know, the past few years have been gutting.  The seemingly endless renos over the past four years where nothing seemed to go right with the worst most disrupting ones being the past two years.  The sudden illness and passing of my mom who was barely 66 years old.  The implosion of my family.  The final implosion of his family.  Vein procedures for almost 7 months with restrictions on what I could do strength training wise.  Throw in me knocking on menopause's door and guess what that stirs up a recipe for?

High cholesterol.

My cholesterol has always been 'moderate.'  One of those things in passing mentioned to take fiber (even though I was getting plenty in my diet from fruit and veggies like they DIDN'T listen to me when I told them) and lose weight.  Well, when you're spending 6 months in survival mode trying not to succumb to your indifference at life after your mom is suddenly gone and you start a reno that gets so horribly screwed up that you're actually still in the middle of it starting a new year, your health is not exactly the top of your list.  Am I saying we went off of the rails?  No.  Our usual high cal day added an extra treat or two that we didn't need and then turned into maybe a steak dinner from Longhorn the Friday before or Sunday after.  We still walked 2 1/2 miles 5-6 days a week but strength training was gone.  I knew I was doing myself a disservice but I was used to skating by.

At the beginning of December, I went in for my annual exam.  I decided I was going to keep things as surface as possible.  I wanted to be out and done.  I drank 20 oz of water that morning hoping to plump up a vein or two but my veins were not in a giving mood.  They begged me to go to a lab.  To do what?  If you can't get it, they don't have some mystery wizard who can burrow through my fat to my veins.  Keep stabbin' until you get it.  Eight jabs later and they were finally in.  I don't know why but I felt great when I left.  It was like the happiest I'd been leaving an appointment in I don't know how long...which should've been my first clue.  At the end of the day I got my results.  My borderline high cholesterol was now high at 262.  I burst into tears.  I knew she was going to try to put me on statins.  I awaited her note while I did my research.  I read the horror stories about side effects.  I do not have diabetes or liver/kidney issues and didn't want them.  I read tons of stories about people who took psyllium husk powder (you know, the stuff that's been sitting in my pantry for 6 months untouched), downed green tea, etc and dropped significantly.  The stuff I always said I'd do and didn't for one reason or another.  Literally, every single day I snoozed an email reminder that said *Green tea!  STATINS!*  like I was threatening myself but I didn't listen.  

*snooze*  

The next day I got the letter from her in the portal just before 8am saying she recommended statins.  I went into damage control mode.  I gave her all of the reasons why the cholesterol would jump in the past year or two from immense, soul crushing stress, grief, approaching menopause and the like.  I gave a rousing speech of how this was the kick in the butt I needed blah blah blah and off it went.  I talked to the Mr and told him I didn't want to go on them but what did he think?  He told me that my plan sounded reasonable (as it always does when you're cornered like a rat) and he'd do it with me as his was now higher too.  He said the side effects scared him too and it sounded like trading one issue for another like I thought.  I sent off a note to my bestie asking her opinion on it knowing that she would tell me if I were being an asshat about it.  Initially, I think she could tell I was so against it that I wouldn't listen to anything else other than agreement with my plan.  When the doctor came back with a rebuttal to my protest and that there is no way I should wait for a year to retest if I didn't go on statins because it made it sound like I wouldn't make it that long, I bawled to the Mr.  Then I updated my bestie. She gently gave her reasons why she supported me either way but that she herself was on them for years, had no side effects and it's not a crutch, it's something to help.  She said maybe it was all of the stress, menopause or whatever but maybe it wasn't.  Maybe it was genetics catching up with me or something else out of my control.  She gently put it in a way that made both the Mr and I feel better about the potential of me being on them.

You have to understand, when you have spent as long as I have being able to give a big middle finger to doctors who judge a book by the cover, it hit my failure trigger HARD.  I bawled to the Mr of all of the ways I failed myself.  How I did this to myself and now I was being punished.  Now I would be the cliche all doctors assume you are when you're my size.  (PLEASE know I am not putting down anyone else who takes them, this is how a mind like mine thinks.  What is fine and dandy for everyone else is one thing but having that taken away is an ego hit as ugly as that is to admit.)  I talked to the Mr after talking to him about my friend's email and we both agreed it put our minds at ease.  The doctor said it doesn't have to be forever and that is my intent.  I will be tested every 3 months for lipid and liver function to make sure it's not doing something effed up to the rest of my perfectly normal body schtuffs.  I responded to the doctor's long winded protest to my protest with "I understand.  Call in the prescription."  I had a lot of emotional turmoil to sort out that day.  A lot of feelings of failure regardless of if the reasons why were in or out of my control.  I ultimately had to tell myself to liken it to me being told I've got cancer and refusing chemo. Or the story of the drowning man on a roof.  I needed to accept the help with the intent that one day, if I do what I need to do, I can be done with it.  I know there's a possibility even if I got to goal weight it might not happen but I need something to work toward, right?

So I'm just over a month in.  

I don't know what it's doing right now but I'm hoping for the best.  Actually over the past 2 1/2 weeks it's probably gone up as we ate Vermont so I'd better get to it before I have to build a shelf under my hang to hold up my expanded girth.

We're evolving a plan Gaston style to come up with the best strategy to drop the weight as much as possible and we know strength training has got to take priority this year.  I'm a year into what I believe are menopausal shoulder joint issues and I need to get my body to a point where I am able to distinguish normal muscle function over potential side effects from the meds.  I know I can't just plow into it like I have only taken a few weeks off.  Because of the bathroom stuff, it's been months off so I'm basically a beginner again.  I will begin slow on getting steps/more movement back into the day though.  I've got my floor bike and my routine before vacation was an hour on the bike while I ate breakfast and worked and I would try to get in 4,000 'steps' on the bike so that by the end of the day with our normal three laps I could end up close to 9-10K steps per day.  We'll see how the bod reacts to that this week!  

I've got a ways to go but that's the reality for me now.  I don't need any statin horror story shares as I'm trying to make one of my 2025 goals to rewire my brain to not go to the worst case scenario.

Okay.  

Byeeeeee!

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Get a Jump on Your Mental Health for the New Year

When the holidays are over and you have time to breathe from the hustle bustle, you may find yourself looking around after trying to find room for your new holiday booty and think "where the hell am I going to put this stuff?"  The landing spot for many of us is a closet.  I know that was the first place stuff was chucked when company came unexpectedly as a kid.  It's the place things can get thrown in a bin to be dealt with later and somehow later never comes.  You forget how bad it is until you open the door and something resembling Trash Heap from Fraggle Rock is staring back at you.  They talk about Spring Cleaning being so therapeutic but choosing to use this post holiday time that some find depressing to purge and/or organize your closet can set you up for a calmer mind going into the new year.

Here are products that have helped me get stuff organized in the past because this post is as much as a reminder for me right now.

Bed Sheet Organizers and Storage

I know this may seem a little extra but my sheets tend to end up on a bench after laundry day and before I know it, a week has passed and a layer of dust has settled on them.  I have several different sets like Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin and Christmas and I like to keep them easy to stack and store.  I will say that like everything fabric these days, these do have a bit of a funky odor straight out of the box.  My solution for that was to spray the insides with this spray and let it dry.  I never had a problem with that smell again.

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Foldable Closet Drawers

These folding drawers are awesome to put those extra things that don't have a specific home but you want to wrangle them.  If you have old photo albums, journals, seasonal fuzzy socks or scarves, etc  I will say they have the same issue with smell as the sheet sleeves but again, using that spray goes a long way to tame the factory smell.

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3 Pack Clothes Storage Bins Foldable Closet Organizers Storage Containers

Where do you put the sheet sleeves from above?  I put my seasonal sheets in these along with a few seasonal throws.  Perfect for the closet or under the bed.  I don't mean to harp on it but because it's fabric, you're probably going to have to hit it with the spray I keep mentioning.  

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Space Saving Metal Closet Pants Organizer

If your closet space is at a premium, these babies may be just what you're looking for.  Whether it's your seasonal clothes, your awesome jean collection or the hated work pants you have to slide into on the daily, they'll give you more room by using your vertical space!  Works great for skirts and scarves too!

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Multiple Shirt Hangers

Yet another space saving gem to hang seasonal sweaters or a bunch of tees.  I love them and they make great gifts too. 

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Closet Wire Shelf Dividers

Some people prefer to have their clothes air out but you don't want them tipping all over the place.  These shelf dividers help keep your clothes, purses and other strays nice and tidy!  No more attack of the upper shelf when opening the door.

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6 Tier Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer

Need another way to use vertical space?  This thing is awesome.  It can hold your socks and unmentionables to free up an extra drawer in your dresser.  If you don't want to use the drawers, they can be folded down and stored elsewhere.

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6-Tier Mesh Basket Hanging & Wall Mounted Closet Door Organizer

To say this thing saved my sanity is the understatement of the year.  When we got rid of the large, overbearing dresser in the master, we also got rid of my landing strip for stuff like hair products, lotions, makeup, etc.  Enter this thing and before we knew it, we had THREE!  One on the closet door, linen closet door to grab the most used things and the garage door to free up space under the kitchen cabinet.  

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Multiple Size Vacuum Bags

There's not much you can't cram into these babies.  Throw pillows, blankets, seasonal clothes, comforter sets, stuffed animals, anything soft.  There's something satisfying about watching that big ol' heap get sucked down into a little rock that could be used as a weapon if thrown.  It does best if stored flat despite what many depictions show.

These are some suggestions and the things that have made the most difference for us over the years.  Since I have extra stuff from Mom's passing, it has left me with some serious rearranging to do and I plan on implementing a few of these to give things a home.  Opening the closet is stressful for me now so trust me when I tell you I'll be taking my own tips and putting them to use.

If you have any suggestions I may have missed, feel free to share your best organizing finds in the comments!

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What I'm Reading This Week #1

Well hello chickadees and welcome to the first Friday of 2025!  Did you jam out on New Year's Eve or were you partying behind closed eyelids by 9pm?  Hey, ain't no shame in the sleep game especially after the holidays!  The Mr and I fixed up some snacks, chilled and watched old Dick Clark ball drops from our youth.  You couldn't pay me to watch the crap on now that night.  Ahh, settling into middle age curmudgeonry right on schedule!

Now let's settle into:

How to Gain Muscle, No Matter Who You Are  (Looking forward to getting some muscles a-poppin' again!)

5 Ways to Lose Weight After the Holidays  (Pokes gut)

Can Spicy Food Boost Our Gut Health? Here’s What the Science Says.  (Bring on the spice in this house!)

Here’s Why Foot Strength Shouldn’t Be Neglected from Your Training  (It's true, I'm more than a year into my foot stuff that is affecting my quality of life.)

The Relationship Between Food and Mood (Definitely a mind body connection)

I Tried the “Power Hour” Productivity Method, and Now I Get 2x More Done Every Day  (Might have to give it a go!)

Tired of Being A Night Owl? 8 Steps to Stop Staying Up So Late  (It's going to be a real treat trying to break decades of night owl behavior.)

32 Mindfulness Activities to Find Calm at Any Age  (Some interesting suggestions!)

18 Simple Cleaning Hacks To Keep Your Home Tidy. (I'll take any tips I can)

I block every ad on YouTube and I’m not ashamed to admit it  (It's all out of control)

Not sure what's on the agenda for us this weekend other than trying to eek out the last bits of holiday cheer.  I'm sure we might poke around a store or two if we can get out early enough.  Otherwise we'll be in hunker down mode and pretend we're hibernating bears. 🐻 

Anything on your to do list this weekend?

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Stopping by Real Quick to Wish You...

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We hope you guys had a good New Years Eve and are taking some time for yourself to start 2025 with a clear mind and heart.  

No resolutions necessary.  

No goals you have to jump on because the calendar flipped.  

No pressure for "new year, new you."  

Take today to reflect on the holiday season.  

To exhale.

Goals will come if you want them.

Wishing you good health, peace and healing if you need it in the new year!

Love you guys!

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Taking a Little Break From a Weekend Recap

Anyone else in a holiday heap?

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Wow...that went fast, did it not?  The late Thanksgiving's always seem to screw you time wise because it feels like it's taking away a week.  I guess it kind of is, isn't it?  😄  Just a reminder that next Thanksgiving is on the 27th so it'll be that same feeling of time crunch.  Set up your reminders now about getting to it earlier next year for a less stressful holiday season!  (Personal note - make and food save dough the middle of October!  You just seriously don't have a choice anymore.)

As we marked our second holiday without Mom, it is the one that reminds you that yes, this is your new normal.  There's no going back.  While it had many bittersweet moments, we tried to make the best of it to find those small pockets of self made peace, magic and nostalgia of grateful moments of holidays past.  Trying to 'get back to' what we had holiday wise in our early marriage and my childhood has actually been going on since 2009 according to my posts both active and archived.  That was sobering.  So it is time for new traditions while honoring old ones.  Ones we would not have chosen if Mom and Grandma were here but we need to focus on doing stuff that we want to do, making memories of our own and not spend time with some people who either don't like us or we don't feel comfortable around just because they're family.  My friend since the 80's purposely sent his partner to be with his family because he loathes family get togethers and just wanted peace on Christmas day to play specific records and be alone.  His partner has a bit of a hard time settling down which can irritate him but the partner is also very dependent on his family.  So while it might not seem 'right' to many that they weren't together on the holiday, I really respected him standing up for what he needed that day.  We should all do that for ourselves.  Whether forced into it like we were or are one of the many who had more gripes after visiting family after the holidays, we should all evaluate how WE would like to actually spend those sacred days.  You can always have holiday gatherings earlier in the season or even get together once the hustle and bustle of the season is over to share everything you did.  We don't know how many holidays we have left.  We deserve to spend them the way we actually want to and that doesn't necessarily mean trying to recreate what can never be or gritting our teeth through hot topics with people who seem to only exist to tick others off.  Just something to think about as we roll into a new year.

I do want to thank you for still hanging in there with me this year.  I know it hasn't been a thrill a minute and certainly no real weight talk to be found.  (Which actually has no choice but to change in the coming year.)  So I appreciate all of you for hanging in with me/us.  I'm wishing you the happiest new year full of peace, health and healing.

Please share how you spent the holidays and if you have any plans for NYE!

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