friday’s “secret”: enjoy my favorite things-holiday edition

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The Holidays are in full swing and there is nothing like them. I have always enjoyed Christmas! As a kid, I loved the presents I would get, obviously, but I also liked the atmosphere and the traditions that only Christmas candle decorhappened during that time of the year!

As I got older, the magic and joy seemed to evaporate slowly, like a heavy fog in the early morning, with each passing year. It is only recently that I have decided to be very intentional about enjoying my favorite things, holidays included.

  • You have to start with the music. I make a conscious decision not to listen to Christmas music until Christmas time; that makes it even more special. My favorite album is The Gift: A Colours Christmas, a relaxing but different take on a number of traditional Christmas carols. My family has been listening to this for as long as I can remember Christmas and it wouldn’t be Christmas without it! Also gotta hear Handel’s Messiah, Leroy Anderson’s traditional rendition of Sleigh Ride played everywhere and This Christmas by Donny Hathaway.
  • Movies are next. This year, I plan on watching my three all-time favorite Holiday movies: The Holiday with the all-star cast of Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslett, Jude Law, and Jack Black. I tear up at the end every single time. Next is that quirky, I don’t know why I love it but I do, Love Actually with another all-star cast of Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, and Colin Firth, just to name a few. I rewind and watch the final scene of the arrivals at Heathrow’s Airport set to The Beach Boys’ God Only Knows over and over again. God only knows what I would be without my family! And finally, my family’s traditional Christmas movie, the classic Miracle on 34th Street staring Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood. Love it!
  • And you can’t forget about the food. My mommy makes a delicious strawberry danish that we serve with a her homemade blend of peppermint tea sweetened with apple juice. Oranges and grapefruit complete our Christmas Eve meal. It’s just dawned on me that I’ll have to make the danish this year since we will be celebrating separately! And of course, for Christmas Dinner, which for us is a version of Thanksgiving Dinner again, I must have my mommy’s homemade stuffing, which I will be making as well. This is also a great time of year for caramel popcorn, Kroger’s Simple Truth Kettle Popcorn will suffice here and I have to get a tin of those traditional Christmas cookies. You know, the ones in the blue tin?
  • I also send out Holiday cards.  Does anyone still do that? It’s a lot of fun for me to go pick out my cards around Thanksgiving and send them out every year.  If I do nothing else for Christmas, I send out my cards!
  • And finally, the decorations: a tree with traditional white lights, a lit wreath for the door, and a few ornaments scattered around the house. Keeping it simple this year.

What do you enjoy about the holidays?

And please, I am looking for suggestions for a fourth great Christmas movie!

enjoy life the holidays…

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friday’s “secret”: to be happy, you gotta step outside of your comfort zone, again

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Logo. Galaxy of Lights 5KThis week, I did something that was truly terrifying for me. I ran the Huntsville Botanical Gardens Galaxy of Lights 5K race alone; in the dark.

The Galaxy of Lights is a holiday extravaganza of lights displays throughout the Garden during the holiday season. Displays include the 12 Days of Christmas, and my personal favorite, the Icicle Forest which takes my breath away every time. The displays are sponsored by local companies and community members and installed, repaired, and maintained throughout the year by NASA engineers, electricians, and volunteers. After Thanksgiving, Galaxy Driving Nights allow you to experience the displays in the warmth of your vehicles. The 5K and 3K Holiday Dash allows you to experience it up close and personal.

I had made plans to run with a friend. Being alone in large crowds terrifies me. Unfortunately this friend hurt her ankle and couldn’t do it with me. I spent the day scrambling trying to find someone else to go with me. On top of that, it was raining cats and dogs throughout the entire day and I told myself that the was suppose to be a fun race and running, in the rain, alone, in the dark, was not going to be fun.

Around 3:30 PM, the rain let up enough for me to consider doing it. But I couldn’t find anyone to go with me. I flip-flop back and forth between going and not going for about an hour and ultimately decided to go. I had all ready arranged for my mother-in-law to keep the Buddy Man later with Hubby picking him up after work and I rationalized that I would ultimately regret it if I did not.

I got there at 5:00 and hour and a half before race time. In retrospect, this was a mistake. I wanted to make sure I had close parking and that I was able to pick up my race packet in time to pin on my number and use the restrooms which had lines throughout the night. It had stopped raining and I wandered around the exhibits looking for someone to talk to. Overwhelmed, I gave up and went to my car and the tears formed. Why was I doing this? I began to feel guilty about not being there for the first time to put my baby to sleep. I was lonely. This wasn’t fun.

I found a book and read by the light of a flashlight until close to race time. Once, we were off, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The lights were beautiful and every time I run, I feel awesome!

I felt so proud of myself. I did something else that I was afraid to do. And I don’t have to look back and wish that I had had the courage to do what I really wanted to do. I did high-tail it out of there as soon as the race was over, though. And what do you know, but it started pouring again!

How about you? Ever done something you were afraid to do?

enjoy life…

what i’m into – that’s keeping me sane {november 2015}

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Pic. What I'm Into. November 2015

I’m so excited to be linking up again with Leigh Kramer who does these wonderful round-ups called “What I’m Into” every month.

I hope every one had a Happy Thanksgiving! And speaking of thanksgiving, this month, I have been focusing on gratitude and appreciating the day-to-day experiences of my life.

  • One of my favorite haunts on the web, Modern Mrs. Darcy (I mention her a lot don’t I?), posted an article about the Norwegians and winter. Read it here. Since I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and dread the winter time, I am using the article’s content to help myself have an enjoyable Winter 2015/2016. Turns out it’s all about your attitude/mindset. Go figure, huh?
  • And speaking of mindset, every November, I try to focus especially on the present things for which I am grateful. I highlighted a few this year here.
  • I took a number of 5-mile walks this month in preparation for the Bridgestreet Half Marathon this April.  The pic is from one of those beautiful walks. I am sure the walks are helping me stay sane.  Gotta get my steps in!
  • Doubling up recipes and freezing the extra is definitely keeping me sane this month. Chili, minestrone soup, potpie filling, homemade pizza crust, cornbread, and BBQ sauce all in my deep freezer in the garage. Sanity savers!
  • Roma! This is a grain beverage, made with roasted malt barley with a touch of chicory and it doesn’t taste half bad. It’s the taste of coffee without the caffeine. And while I try to avoid caffeine as a general rule, while nursing Buddy Man, caffeine has been a strict no-no! Also, this is another great way to enjoy the cooler temps: warm beverages!
  • Discovered a new YouTube channel and show called Dylan’s World, a delightful, refreshing, short, program for kids by kids. Buddy Man loves it! It’s the only show he’s into and thus, I’m into it. You can check it out here. It’s very good.
  • Slowed my reading down considerably this month. More about that next Quick Lit.
  • Although I didn’t listen to many podcast episodes this month, I did listen to a couple that featured Elizabeth Gilbert. I love the sound of her voice! Her writing is pretty good too. I have been listening to a lot more music recently with one particular album on repeat: Stone Rose by Ola Gjeilo. The music is lyrical piano and a mix between classical, jazz, and a little pop. Great music for introspection; very soothing and relaxing.
  • Almost got sucked down the rabbit hole of The Good Wife and old episodes of The Amazing Race on Amazon Prime but I have managed to extricate myself from both of them. Just found out the old episodes of Survivor are available on CBS All Access. Oh boy! And who, along with me, is looking forward to the season 3 of HGTV’s Fixer Upper premiering December 1! Aren’t Chip and Joanna the bestest!?!?!?

What are you into that’s keeping you sane? Perhaps I should try it.

enjoy life…