Free Pick Me Ups
I love the holiday season. I love Christmas, it's my favorite! (Just like Buddy the Elf!!!)
But on the same hand, I don't love the stress that it can sometimes bring financially. We have never been the kind of family that puts ourselves in debt over Christmas... if we can afford it with cash then we buy whatever the gifts are.... if we can't, it never makes it under the tree. Still, it can be super stressful.
Specifically, this year I got to thinking about how we can save money during the holidays but still preserve the magical feeling. I was at the soccer field last night... cause... well, where else would I be! (#soccermomlife am I right?!) and I was looking at my wedding rings and thinking about how the lights at the field made my diamonds sparkle... except a few... wow, how did they get so dirty... ew, that is gross.... I thought, well I can just go get them cleaned. And just the thought of that made me smile. Then I thought, what else could I do for free that would give me a little pick me up? Then I thought... hmmmm I'll share this on my blog. Because if you don't like free stuff, there is something wrong with you and if you don't like free stuff that makes you smile a little and forget about your stress... then we can't be friends anymore!
So. Here is a list of things we (sorry dudes this is for the ladies) can do for FREE that will make our hearts smile a little.
1. Stop in your favorite jewelry store and have your jewelry cleaned.
2. Go for a walk (or drive) around the neighborhood and look at Christmas lights.
3. Hold the door!
4. Find a shelter.
5. Play a boardgame with your family.
6. Bake some pantry cookies.
7. Get crafty!
8. Try a new fitness routine.
9. Watch a holiday movie.
10. Just Breathe.
So, what are you going to do today that makes your frown turn upside down? It's the day before Thanksgiving so I will be doing something I love (love/hate?)... cooking. I'm in charge of making my mom's homemade cranberry sauce. It is sought after year after year and the list of people who get a plate of it gets a little bit longer each year. Even though it takes longer each year to "fill the orders" I love it. I love making my family and friends smile.
THAT makes me smile. And that is the best FREE pick me up I can get.
Happy Thanksgiving!! ~Joslin
But on the same hand, I don't love the stress that it can sometimes bring financially. We have never been the kind of family that puts ourselves in debt over Christmas... if we can afford it with cash then we buy whatever the gifts are.... if we can't, it never makes it under the tree. Still, it can be super stressful.
Specifically, this year I got to thinking about how we can save money during the holidays but still preserve the magical feeling. I was at the soccer field last night... cause... well, where else would I be! (#soccermomlife am I right?!) and I was looking at my wedding rings and thinking about how the lights at the field made my diamonds sparkle... except a few... wow, how did they get so dirty... ew, that is gross.... I thought, well I can just go get them cleaned. And just the thought of that made me smile. Then I thought, what else could I do for free that would give me a little pick me up? Then I thought... hmmmm I'll share this on my blog. Because if you don't like free stuff, there is something wrong with you and if you don't like free stuff that makes you smile a little and forget about your stress... then we can't be friends anymore!
So. Here is a list of things we (sorry dudes this is for the ladies) can do for FREE that will make our hearts smile a little.
1. Stop in your favorite jewelry store and have your jewelry cleaned.
I don't know about you, but when my rings (and earrings) sparkle, then I sparkle! I will be stopping into Jared later today to have mine cleaned. I will just try and avoid looking at all the other sparkly jewels in there! ;-)
2. Go for a walk (or drive) around the neighborhood and look at Christmas lights.
I mean really!! This is my FAVORITE free thing to do during the holiday season. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, you can admit that there is something so magical about all those beautiful displays out there. Go for a ride! Check it out!
3. Hold the door!
Ok, is it just me, or do you just feel GOOD when you help someone out? Holding the door for someone at the mall or the store or ANYWHERE just puts a smile on my face. It is old fashioned. It is polite. And no matter if they say "thank-you" or not, it still makes me smile.
4. Find a shelter.
This goes along the lines of holding the door. Help. Just help. Find your local shelter and volunteer your time. The smile on THEIR faces will put a smile on your face.
5. Play a boardgame with your family.
Or friends. Have a game night! The fun and laughter at the end of the night will be enough to have your smiling for days... unless you are super competitive and lose. Not sure you will be smiling then... lol. If you are like me, you have a pile of board games collecting dust in a closet somewhere. Invite some friends over, sit your kids down, turn OFF the TV and play some games!
6. Bake some pantry cookies.
Yeah, I just made that up. Pantry cookies are cookies made exclusively with ingredient you already have in your pantry/fridge. You never know what kind of cookies you will end up with. What a fun experiment that will be! If you try this one out, I'd love to see your recipe when you are done!
7. Get crafty!
There is nothing better than pulling out a craft, and completing it. Maybe you like to sew or draw or knit or scrapbook. Whatever it is, start and complete a craft project! Then smile!
8. Try a new fitness routine.
In the words of Elle Woods, "Exercise gives you endorphins.Endorphins make you happy." Just saying. Get your heart rate up. You don't have to have a gym membership to do this. Run around your house, jump rope, do some push ups, or check out from free workout programs on YouTube. Or grab your man and get sweaty together... wink wink.. everyone smiles after that!!
9. Watch a holiday movie.
Break out your stash of holiday movies and sit down with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy! My top picks will always be Elf, Christmas Vacation and Home Alone. What are your holiday favorites?
10. Just Breathe.
Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea or hot chocolate and just breathe. Go to your favorite spot. Whether that be at the beach (lucky me), in your backyard, a little nook in your house, wherever it is, go there. Be still. Just breathe. Take time to evaluate all the good that you have in your life, not the stress. Focus on your family, your friends, pray. Just breathe.
So, what are you going to do today that makes your frown turn upside down? It's the day before Thanksgiving so I will be doing something I love (love/hate?)... cooking. I'm in charge of making my mom's homemade cranberry sauce. It is sought after year after year and the list of people who get a plate of it gets a little bit longer each year. Even though it takes longer each year to "fill the orders" I love it. I love making my family and friends smile.
THAT makes me smile. And that is the best FREE pick me up I can get.
Happy Thanksgiving!! ~Joslin
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