Day 12 of Blogmas 2020!

My coworker, for the longest, was definitely not on board with my festive happy optimism. She went through a breakup during quarantine. She’s so much happier now and better off without him. But I think my coworker started to get into a funk for a while when she realized that she would be alone this Christmas.

Up until Friday, she was not even putting up a tree for Christmas. She actually really enjoys the holidays. She’s still not on my decked out in DIY holiday earrings level, but now I’ll catch her singing “Fa la la la la.” It still counts even with her eyes rolled.  

So we discussed her celebrating the transition and appreciating the individuality of this particular season. 

1. Try to see things through a positive lens. Think of all of the good things that could. Just around the corner could be something better than expected. The future is a surprise gift, just waiting for you to open.
2. Remember to respond, not react. Things don’t always go our way, and hiccups are bound to happen. Getting upset and anxious about it and reacting doesn’t help anyone. Some things are just out of our hands, and we have to trust and believe that they will work out. It’s called faith!
3. When the memories begin to flood your mind, and the ache in your heart gets very real because you will miss your current life. Do your best to remember the fantastic lessons you have learned since your last big transition.
4. Embrace the change. Change excites me. However, the transition part isn’t always the most fun. It is uncomfortable and sometimes ugly … that is… if you allow it to be. Find ways to have fun along the way. Laugh and make new memories!
5. BE FLEXIBLE. A very self-explanatory and elementary concept, but it’s VITAL to decking the hallway!
6. Let things go. Some things work wonderfully in your current season that won’t work in the new season. Don’t try to hang on … If you lose a bunch of weight, you’re old clothes don’t fit anymore, right? Something is freeing about entering into a new season and starting fresh.
7. Remember to maintain an attitude of gratitude. If you’re thankful, it’s tough to be upset. Be grateful for what you have, for what you have experienced, and where you are going. Be grateful for the people in your life.

If you’re not in a season of change or transition right now, you will be at some point. It’s inevitable. Just remember to enjoy the process.

Hello lovely people! Back at it with day 11 of Blogmas 2020!

Today I will be sharing with you some of my MUST-HAVES for the holiday season! There are so many wonderful things that make this season magical!

• Christmas sweater or oversized sweater (Goodwill is the jackpot)
• Hot cocoa packets 
• Holiday/winter scented candle. (Michaels has the best candles and the best deals. I got 3 for 9.99.)
• Christmas mug (you can get this at Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, literally anywhere)
• Cookie butter flavored coffee creamer. (Usually, I’m all about the eggnog or peppermint flavors, but my coworker brought in cookie butter, and this is my life now.)
• Fuzzy Christmas socks/ cabin socks
• Wrapping paper, ribbon, and LOTS of tape.
• Cookie dough (before you say anything its safe to eat it raw, now)
• Lights, tinsel, ornaments, decor
• Christmas playlist 
• A maroon, red, dark lipstick
• Recipes for yummy food
• Christmas movie collection
• Candy canes! Do people still put candy canes on the tree, or is that just me?
• PEOPLE!!!! (need I explain?)
• Christmas Time Bucket List… you should check that post if you haven’t already.
• Festive nail polish colors
• Christmas PJs.
• Warm snuggly blanket

Day 9 of Blogmas 2020! 

Christmas will be here in 16 days. So, did you make Santa’s naughty or nice list?

 I’d like to think I’ve been nice.

Anyway, I took an online quiz for a little bit of fun to determine if I have been naughty or nice the year… Turns out I’m on Santa’s nice list. 

I see being “nice” as being a good person. My goal for 2020 was to become a better person. I know being a better persona and a good person arent the same thing. I had my struggles with this.

Mostly what I did was 

• Remind myself to breathe
• Use positive self-talk
• Practice random acts of kindness
• Learn to forgive myself and others
• Remember to be kind to myself

I learned being a better person starts with treating yourself with the same loving-kindness as you do others.

I’ve really tried to help my family and friends when they needed it this year. But at times this year, I was too nice. I was spreading myself thin for others. I had to learn to set boundaries and be honest with people. 

I’m not in high school anymore. I’m not going to be able to see and talk to my friends all day, every day. I’m not fake for being busy. We all have jobs and lives, and I don’t even live in the same states as some of my friends. 

I learned that it does not take much to be a good friend. Checking in or making time to see my friends takes nothing starts with nothing than a text. Volunteering to help with simple things or even cooking a meal means the most to my friends with kids. 

Being a good person and friendly to others should not only happen during the Christmas period but should be an everyday affair!

Enjoy the holiday season and if possible, take advantage of any downtime you have to reflect on where you are on the naughty and nice list. While you’re at it, don’t forget to jot down the “nice” things that you’ve done over this year.

Day 7 of Blogmas 2020! 

For today’s post, I wanted to share my favorite Christmas playlist with you! 

I absolutely love Christmas music. I have been working on my Christmas playlist since November! There are almost 5 hours of music on this playlist, and I’m sure I’m still missing some songs. 

I hope you will enjoy some of my Christmas time favorites!

Okay, now for what you came for. Drum roll, please…

My top Christmas songs of all time are:

Mary, did you know? by The Braxtons.

Blue Christmas By Elvis Presley.

Merry Christmas Darling by The Carpenters.

And the Angels sing by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra & Martha Tilton.

Merry Christmas, Baby by Otis Redding.

What Christmas means to me by Stevie Wonder.

For anyone interested in listening to the entire of my Christmas Song playlist, the link can be found here. 

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/holiday-playlist/pl.u-4JomXq9uagq6K2J

Three days in a row! It’s a little late, it’s already 11 here but I made it. This feels like a major accomplishment. I’m so grateful for all of you who have chosen to follow along. 

Today I thought it would be fun to talk about holiday traditions. 

Do you drive around looking for the perfect place to take a family picture? Do you get a new ornament every year? Read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve? Countdown the days with an Advent calendar? Do people still put up a Nativity Scene?

Growing up, I never really paid attention to the things we did to celebrate the holidays. All I cared about was the presents. Looking back, I wish I put in more of an effort. Over the last few years, Christmas has started to mean more to me. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and thinking about having children and celebrating with them. 

One thing my mom and I didn’t get to do this year was build a gingerbread house together. We alway watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (my mom’s favorite holiday movie) or listened to Christmas music while decorating. 

I miss staying up until midnight on Christmas Eve to open all my presents. My mom would make us hot chocolate, and we’d have the yule log playing on the tv. Does anyone else remember when tv channels used to play the yule log on Christmas Eve, or am I just old? 

I am going to miss being able to spend quality time together. Driving around looking at Christmas lights. Baking cookies from scratch. 

My family doesn’t have many traditions, so I decided to ask others about how they celebrate. 

Big love to my coworker Tracy who was more than happy to answer some of my questions.

 I asked, “what was your favorite way to spend quality time with your family around the holidays?”

“Probably getting together Christmas Eve. Spending time in the kitchen with my mom and sisters cooking. Everyone had a job to do. we’d be messy and tired and stressed out by the time we were done fixing all the food but it wasn’t about looking nice.”

I’m not surprised one of her favorite memories would be cooking. The passion this girl has for cooking and baking is magical. And the way she creates things is something I’m jealous of. Seriously check out her Instagram @themaddbatterbakery2014. 

My questions continued, “What’s something your parents did for you that want to continue when you have kids yourself?”

“My dad every year would hang our stockings, and he would put money in them for all of us, and it became an every year thing. Of course, we would get gifts from my parents but mostly picked out by my mom. So my dad’s thing was money. It was the safest gift when you have a bunch of daughters.” Here’s where I get a little misty-eyed listening to her. Tracy lost her dad to COVID a few months ago. “This year since he’s not going to be here. My sisters were thinking of not putting up the stockings. Which I understand, but I think we should. I know it hurts because he’s not going to be the one to do it and pretend to sneak the money in there. It was never a lot of money, but it was important because no matter how old we got, he would always do it.”

My brother and boyfriend decided to give their opinions on Christmas solely to annoy me. Still, I’ve decided to keep their comments.

My brother starts by saying, “We don’t have traditions. Sure every year, we used to decorate the tree together and listen to music while mom would order us to put ornaments where they went. But that’s not a tradition.” 

If that’s not a family tradition, then I don’t know what is.

Before I can say anything, he continues,” I miss waking everyone up on Christmas morning. Annoying everybody until they finally rolled out of bed.”

My boyfriend’s comment was actually cute. “My family doesn’t do much to celebrate the holidays. But I’m going to miss going to Central America this year to visit my family. I also want to start a tradition when I have kids by making cookies and papusas. It’s something my family never did together, and I wish we did.”

My favorite thing about the Christmas holiday is that it means different things to each person. It can mean seeing family for the first time all year and be a big deal, or it can be ‘meh, it’s just another day of December.’ 

Even if your Christmas is small, it can still be important. 

That’s all I have for today’s Blogmas! Tell me about your holiday traditions!

Hey, everyone! Back at it with Blogmas Day 2! 

Today’s Blogmas post is a discussion post!

To Chrismas-fy this blog, I thought it could be fun to talk about Real Christmas Trees vs. Fake Christmas Trees.

Of course, I decided this today after putting up my own tree. 

I should start by saying it’s a fake tree that is probably as old as I am, and half of the lights are burnt out, kinda like me. When we throw a bunch of other lights and ornaments on top, you can’t tell that there’s a problem with it. It’s a good tree. I’ve always been partial to fake trees. 

I grew up with fake trees, and I remember longing for a real tree. And never wanting one again after actually getting one. My dad felt that if we were going to get a real tree, we’d do it right. he went all out and took us to an honest to goodness Christmas tree farm. Where we had to cut down our own tree. I was a kid, so I didn’t do it but still no thanks. We spent so long trying to decide on a tree.

As a kid, I’ll never forget the guy who worked there saying he would shake the tree for bugs and for us to shake it again before we took it in the house. My fake trees never had to be shaken for bugs. 

I want to change my mind about real trees. I want to have kids and have them have a real tree growing up. But for now, I’ll continue to think of real trees are sticky and smelly and messy.

 It’s just a lot of work for something you only keep in your house for a month. Whereas a fake tree will probably last you five years and takes less than 30 minutes to put together. 

That’s it for this Blogmas post! 

Do you prefer real or fake trees? Comment below!

Today’s post is rather more of an announcement – an exciting announcement, that is. 

*Drum roll, please?*

I’ve decided to do Blogmas!!!

Blogmas is a challenge to produce festive content every day in December to celebrate the holidays. 

Being December 1st, today marks day one of Blogmas 2020. Stay tuned! There will be LOTS more festive content coming your way throughout December. 

While we get started, please let me know if you have any suggestions on what you’d like to see.

This has been on my mind for the past month. I kept trying to talk myself out of it, but the part of me that wants to be a better writer and blogger says to do it.

This is gonna be a lowkey Blogmas. I’m not making any promises that we’re gonna make it all the way to the 31st. I have every intention to, but if I’m honest, I give up on things when they start to feel too hard. Trying to post repeatedly and be seen as exciting and not annoying sounds impossible. 

I don’t know what these blogs are going to be. I don’t have any type of plan or structure going into this—typical Eryn.

I decided to do this because we need a little extra cheer in our lives this year. I want to do my part to share some love, joy, and kindness in this world.

I’m very excited to see where Blogmas 2020 takes us, and I hope you’re just as excited as me for the ride. Let the festive content begin!