Doing my best at not over doing it this year. I just got back from a month trip home with my mum and sister in Australia and so I knew I would need to actually be economical when it came to the holidays. I have stuck to that promise to myself and haven’t over bought or spent. Have I window shopped, I have. Have I online cart shopped, many times. But the cards have stayed in my wallet and my pockets are much happier with me this year.
Going “home” for Christmas for the first time in 20 years and bringing my husband for his first time ever and I am kind of terrified! My family is big and loud and obnoxious and his is tiny and quiet. So seeing how it all blends is making me nervous but on the plus side I am excited to see some of those very traditional Christmas things I have missed! Merry Christmas and Happy all the Holidays to you besties.... you make it all a little easier!!!
It's the winter solstice and the birthday of my high school best friend who passed away in 2009. In her honor, I've invited some friends with children (ages 6-11) over this afternoon to make pomander balls. Last minute, and very low key.
Anyone else's kid suddenly decide there was one thing they absolutely had to have for Christmas (that they have literally never once mentioned before) after all the shopping and wrapping was done? Cool cool cool. Shout out to all the moms making the Christmas magic and giving Santa and the elves way too much of the credit!
WE HAD TWO ROUNDS THIS YEAR, TOO! 😫 I feel your pain so hard. I am thankful for Lice Ladies - a service here you can pay to eradicate them. I just... cannot again. How is it possible there isn’t a solution for them by now???
Oh my gosh I'm SO SORRY to hear you're struggling with this!! We did one round of this (very common and not at all indicative of one's cleanliness) pest a few years ago and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was traumatizing for me (every little head itch now is met with a very increased heart rate!!!). I finally had to get the professionals involved. ~ Hang in there; it will pass but it will be hell and also you will kick their little asses! :)
This year we’re gearing up to make Tamales on Christmas Eve, as I grew up doing, now with my own family! It means so much to me, especially, as I show my 2 year old daughter the process and the love and tradition that goes into it. It’s such a labor of love and I’m so grateful for my ancestors, that I get to know how to make them today! I learned from my Nana, Dad and Aunt and Uncles. I’m choosing to make them this year to keep the tradition alive and also to honor my Dad, who died in June this year from cancer. The first holiday without him here in physical form... I’m intending to be gentle with myself and the whole process, as I’m sure there will be grief bubbling up all over the place that I don’t have time and space to feel other times, while running around like a chicken with its head cut off keeping up with a 2 year old. So I’m doing my best taking it day by day and trusting that I’ll feel my Dad with me, helping me throughout the process so I don’t need to hold worry or fear that it wont go well. Thanks for any support y’all can offer in going through the holidays after loss of a loved one. ❤️🫔🎄🫶🏽
Angela, I am so sorry you lost your father. I love the Christmas tamale tradition here in Los Angeles & I know your home cooked tamales are going to be so amazing. I can't wait to hear how it went!
No podcast episode this week? No problem. Pick one of your favorites and relisten to it. I’m picking the interview with David Letterman as it is the first episode I listened to. Liked it and so I went back and listened from the beginning and it took a while but eventually I caught up. That was a couple of years ago and stealing a lyric from a The Grateful Dead, “what a long strange trip it’s been”. And I’ve loved every minute. What a joyous bunch of supportive people I’ve found. Biggest thing I’ve learned? You don’t have to take big swings. Do a small kindness. Make a small change for the better. See where it goes. Happy Holidays everyone. And remember, after tomorrow, the days will start getting longer!
This holiday is hard for myself and my family. My sister passed on September 4th. She lived in Hawaii most of her adult life. We’re bringing her back for a memorial and scattering her ashes off the shore near Diamond Head. I live in FL, and she would come every year for Christmas around the 16th. I know this might sound crazy, but, I still feel like I’m waiting for her to arrive for Christmas.
It doesn't sound crazy at all. I am so sorry. I hope this holiday is everything you and your family need it to be this year. Sending love to you & sending some to the memory of your sister, too.
Our holiday traveling plans got scrapped due to covid (again?! Still?! GODDAMMIT.) so we find ourselves with free time at home during the holidays to enjoy the opportunities we usually miss by being out of town! At least i have all next week off though! See ya next year, coworkers! 👋🏻😎
Ugh, Mia, I'm so sorry! So many people I know have Covid right now that I was kinda expecting to wake up with it today myself. So far, knock wood, okay, but there's always tomorrow. Cry face emoji!
I had an unexpected work accomplishment. I’m a public speaker in schools across the US. I worked really hard this past semester b/c I have one kid in college and one who is a junior in high school and money just bleeds outta here. I have been working almost nonstop and just got off work for the year.I travel a lot. I literally wept as I drove away from my last school. I love my job, but it is exhausting and I’m exhausted. I feel as though I just sat down and stopped moving for the first time since August 16tg. I finally had a moment to sit and calculate my numbers for the semester. I normally speak to 35,000 kids in a year- and I spoke to 42,000 kids just this fall. 😳
Thanks! I am normally not a data or numbers girl, but that total shook me a bit! I ran downstairs to tell my kids, who were not too impressed, lol. So it feels kinda nice to shout it out. 🥰
I listened to the Dave Grohl Song Exploder and cried and now I’m making candy bags for my neighbors. First time living in an apartment building for the holidays! Tomorrow I drive to CT to get ready for Christmas Eve, we should have about 2 dozen to celebrate for a family gathering that’s been going for I think literally a hundred years.
Doing my best at not over doing it this year. I just got back from a month trip home with my mum and sister in Australia and so I knew I would need to actually be economical when it came to the holidays. I have stuck to that promise to myself and haven’t over bought or spent. Have I window shopped, I have. Have I online cart shopped, many times. But the cards have stayed in my wallet and my pockets are much happier with me this year.
Going “home” for Christmas for the first time in 20 years and bringing my husband for his first time ever and I am kind of terrified! My family is big and loud and obnoxious and his is tiny and quiet. So seeing how it all blends is making me nervous but on the plus side I am excited to see some of those very traditional Christmas things I have missed! Merry Christmas and Happy all the Holidays to you besties.... you make it all a little easier!!!
It's the winter solstice and the birthday of my high school best friend who passed away in 2009. In her honor, I've invited some friends with children (ages 6-11) over this afternoon to make pomander balls. Last minute, and very low key.
Last minute & low key sounds perfect. What a great way to honor your friend!
Anyone else's kid suddenly decide there was one thing they absolutely had to have for Christmas (that they have literally never once mentioned before) after all the shopping and wrapping was done? Cool cool cool. Shout out to all the moms making the Christmas magic and giving Santa and the elves way too much of the credit!
This reminds me of DW in Arthur's Perfect Christmas. "OH TINA, TINA, TINY TINA, TINA, TINA, TINY TINY. TINA THE TALKING TAB-BY!"
Open to receiving ALL THE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. We're on round 2 of lice and that last thread I've been hanging by is fraying rapidly.
WE HAD TWO ROUNDS THIS YEAR, TOO! 😫 I feel your pain so hard. I am thankful for Lice Ladies - a service here you can pay to eradicate them. I just... cannot again. How is it possible there isn’t a solution for them by now???
Oh, shoot. That is, literally, lousy. I am so sorry. I hope this round is the last round. Saying a little prayer.
Oh my gosh I'm SO SORRY to hear you're struggling with this!! We did one round of this (very common and not at all indicative of one's cleanliness) pest a few years ago and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was traumatizing for me (every little head itch now is met with a very increased heart rate!!!). I finally had to get the professionals involved. ~ Hang in there; it will pass but it will be hell and also you will kick their little asses! :)
This year we’re gearing up to make Tamales on Christmas Eve, as I grew up doing, now with my own family! It means so much to me, especially, as I show my 2 year old daughter the process and the love and tradition that goes into it. It’s such a labor of love and I’m so grateful for my ancestors, that I get to know how to make them today! I learned from my Nana, Dad and Aunt and Uncles. I’m choosing to make them this year to keep the tradition alive and also to honor my Dad, who died in June this year from cancer. The first holiday without him here in physical form... I’m intending to be gentle with myself and the whole process, as I’m sure there will be grief bubbling up all over the place that I don’t have time and space to feel other times, while running around like a chicken with its head cut off keeping up with a 2 year old. So I’m doing my best taking it day by day and trusting that I’ll feel my Dad with me, helping me throughout the process so I don’t need to hold worry or fear that it wont go well. Thanks for any support y’all can offer in going through the holidays after loss of a loved one. ❤️🫔🎄🫶🏽
Angela, I am so sorry you lost your father. I love the Christmas tamale tradition here in Los Angeles & I know your home cooked tamales are going to be so amazing. I can't wait to hear how it went!
Thank you! I’ll make sure to share an update! Sending a hug to you!
No podcast episode this week? No problem. Pick one of your favorites and relisten to it. I’m picking the interview with David Letterman as it is the first episode I listened to. Liked it and so I went back and listened from the beginning and it took a while but eventually I caught up. That was a couple of years ago and stealing a lyric from a The Grateful Dead, “what a long strange trip it’s been”. And I’ve loved every minute. What a joyous bunch of supportive people I’ve found. Biggest thing I’ve learned? You don’t have to take big swings. Do a small kindness. Make a small change for the better. See where it goes. Happy Holidays everyone. And remember, after tomorrow, the days will start getting longer!
Happy Holidays, dear Herman!!!
This holiday is hard for myself and my family. My sister passed on September 4th. She lived in Hawaii most of her adult life. We’re bringing her back for a memorial and scattering her ashes off the shore near Diamond Head. I live in FL, and she would come every year for Christmas around the 16th. I know this might sound crazy, but, I still feel like I’m waiting for her to arrive for Christmas.
It doesn't sound crazy at all. I am so sorry. I hope this holiday is everything you and your family need it to be this year. Sending love to you & sending some to the memory of your sister, too.
Sending you and your family love 💕
🩷
Lots of love to you all!
Our holiday traveling plans got scrapped due to covid (again?! Still?! GODDAMMIT.) so we find ourselves with free time at home during the holidays to enjoy the opportunities we usually miss by being out of town! At least i have all next week off though! See ya next year, coworkers! 👋🏻😎
Ugh, Mia, I'm so sorry! So many people I know have Covid right now that I was kinda expecting to wake up with it today myself. So far, knock wood, okay, but there's always tomorrow. Cry face emoji!
I had an unexpected work accomplishment. I’m a public speaker in schools across the US. I worked really hard this past semester b/c I have one kid in college and one who is a junior in high school and money just bleeds outta here. I have been working almost nonstop and just got off work for the year.I travel a lot. I literally wept as I drove away from my last school. I love my job, but it is exhausting and I’m exhausted. I feel as though I just sat down and stopped moving for the first time since August 16tg. I finally had a moment to sit and calculate my numbers for the semester. I normally speak to 35,000 kids in a year- and I spoke to 42,000 kids just this fall. 😳
I sleep now. 🤣
Carolyn, this is incredible! A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT! Congratulations. Sleep now.
Thanks! I am normally not a data or numbers girl, but that total shook me a bit! I ran downstairs to tell my kids, who were not too impressed, lol. So it feels kinda nice to shout it out. 🥰
I listened to the Dave Grohl Song Exploder and cried and now I’m making candy bags for my neighbors. First time living in an apartment building for the holidays! Tomorrow I drive to CT to get ready for Christmas Eve, we should have about 2 dozen to celebrate for a family gathering that’s been going for I think literally a hundred years.
100 year family gathering? That's amazing! Hope you have so much fun in CT!
Just need to get through to Friday at 4PM EST and then I’m off for 10 days.🤞🤞🤞
You can do it, Candice! My husband is on almost the exact same schedge, PST!
Here’s to powering through!! 💪💪💪
Can I brag in the charcuter - TREE I made for our office party this past Monday?
YES I WANT TO SEE PICTURES! Did you post it on Insta? Please tag me, LOL!
I was just thinking I could just give the group my ig handle which is @kt_ki1003
Please do, and send pictures!
I wasn’t sure how to on the comments??
Share?
Yeah I would post a pic but I didn’t know how to do that on the app for Substack.
Ok