that's a wrap, folks!

Christmas is officially put away. It's over! I had it down by lunchtime yesterday. It's time to start new and fresh, plus this week we switch to birthday mode AND back to school time, so it just made sense. We now have winter decor up until the next holiday approaches.

Snowmen theme in the guest bathroom. Snow themed mantle and wreath on the door. Done. We decorate minimally around here and we are okay with it! We just need something bright and cheery to get us through the next two months when it gets cold, snowy and sometimes dreary. 

These next 2 months are cookie season (yay for girl scouts fun!). They are also a time to overthink, overanalyze and go deep down into the dark places of our brains where sorrow and regret hide. I work very hard to keep the winter blues away and living minimally gives me less stuff to fuss over, clean around and worry about. We will play with all the new stuff and spend lots of time with games, puzzles, books and movies to enjoy each other before the quarantine life ends and we go back to normal (whatever that means!). Having an almost 10 year old means I am always in fun mom mode, so there is little time for the winter blues or sadness.

I hope everyone transitions from holiday time to winter time safely. I hope the winter blues stay away. I will cherish this time while I have it. I can only go so many places, go so far, and do so much, so I may as well enjoy what I have while I have it. I will appreciate the winter time fun that we make here at home while my kid still thinks I am fun :) Now we just need snow!

it's not about what we don't have...

We are coming up on my favorite weekend of the year. It trumps my birthday weekend AND my anniversary weekend! It's truly THAT good. Unfortunately, this year will look extremely different. Lighted Christmas parade weekend means family, fun, and laughter. Each year it gets a bit bigger and more meaningful.

Rockton's lighted Christmas parade is the best. They turned it into a whole weekend of shenanigans for adults and kids alike. Friday night they light the trees in the park and for the last few years, they tacked on an ugly Christmas sweater pub crawl. Saturday is fulled with breakfast with Santa, horse drawn carriage rides, craft fairs, photos with Santa, letters to Santa, and walking around town.

The night time is the piece de la resistance! A lighted Christmas parade where you stake your table at the American Legion and fill up on hot chocolate and snacks before bundling up to head outside for the parade. Everyone knows where our corner is. The kids load up on candy and laughter. Friends travel in from out of town specifically for the occasion.

Sunday is unwind day where you head to Settler's Park to see more sights and get your mug for the hot chocolate crawl with the kids. Maybe you hit up a final craft fair or head to a local church to watch a movie projected on a big wall. You are grateful. Your belly is full. Your heart is hopeful that Santa saw your letter and knows you've been good.

So, about this year... the new word at our house is "wallow." We heard it in a movie and my daughter is using every opportunity to say it when it fits. I wallowed for the loss of my favorite weekend. Yes, I did. I am not even ashamed to say it. BUT, my town being the best EVER made a new plan. 

We will purchase luminaries to light up our sidewalks in lieu of the parade. I even decorated the front door with lights. We may even try a horse drawn carriage ride. Santa's letter will get dropped off. We will embrace what we do have, not what we don't. We will praise the efforts of our town and only momentarily wallow. 

I have hot chocolate, love in my heart, and a healthy family. That's all I need right now. There can be shenanigans. There will be laughter. And we will bundle up to see the painted windows and luminarias instead of the parade. We will make it work because that's what this year has been about.

International Women's Day

Yes, it IS a thing. Who knew? Certainly not me. I am not one to let women's lib go by unnoticed, so here's to a day of celebration! Call your mom, grandma, BFF and embrace womanhood! I am trying to raise a bra burning, question asking, assertive-by-nature adorable little spitfire, so I feel like we need to do something fun this evening to embrace our womanhood.

I am proud to be a part of a bigger generation of ladies who led the way for me to be able to vote, drive, speak my truth, join the army, and be an equal! Celebrate yourselves today, ladies, and remind the little ones to fly free with whatever they want to be :)