'TIS THE SEASON - Christmas Giveaway

 

It's my favorite time of the year!

No one anticipates the holiday season more than I do-time spent with family, exchanging gifts with loved ones, holiday music & Starbucks gingerbread drinks are back! While I enjoy the season it always brings on additional stress, who needs stress on top of existing stress? Definitely, not me.

Stress from having to pay bills while creating room in your budget for Christmas gifts is real. I look back and I wonder how our parents did it. How did they manage to make Christmas Day the best day ever, year after year, while holding down the house? Did they go in to debt? Did they start Christmas shopping months before Christmas? Whatever the case maybe, I need the blueprint to making Christmas budgeting seem effortless. I can recall Christmases, as a kid, where my brother & I received some of our gifts through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Each year since I have been an adult, I have participated in the Angel Tree program by picking two angels and fulfilling their Christmas list. It's the most rewarding feeling just knowing that I am helping to put a smile on a hopeful kid's face and lessen the stress of their parents.

There’s also the stress from being alone during the holidays, no man & no family here...woe is me. When I relocated from Memphis to the DC area I didn’t take into consideration that I would likely be without family on holidays, which is a big change from what I’m use to. Instead of sinking into a funk, I started my own family traditions. Each Christmas Eve, Ethan & I wear matching Christmas pajamas & bake cookies for Santa. We watch Christmas movies, track Santa’s ETA online, and when he falls asleep I take a bite of the cookies and write him a thank you note. This year I decided we’ll add our two toy poodles, Charlie & Sophie, into the holiday fun by wearing matching pajamas and taking pictures. I’m creating my own holiday memories with those I do have and not focusing on those people I don’t have.

We have Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentine’s Day to end the season. So many holidays with different meanings but they all have one thing in common, they are usually spent with the people closest to your heart. We’ll start to see IG flooded with pictures of people spending time with families, posting extravagant gifts and even getting engaged. While you see people basking in their season don’t be discouraged & compare your situations. Comparison is the thief of joy. Rest assured your time is coming.
 

This year, with the help of a very good friend, I want to be a blessing to two single mothers by giving away two $500 gift cards. Check out my latest IG post here for more info on contest rules.

Merry Christmas!