Showing posts with label merry christmas

Happy Monday and happy almost Christmas! I know some of you are ready for the big day and aren’t sweating the crowds for last minute gifts, but if you are like me and found herself in need of last-minute gifts for kids, then this post is for you! Here are some last-minute holiday gift ideas for kids that won’t feel or worse, look last minute when found tucked under your tree, or handed out at a gift exchange.



Merry Christmas gifts under the tree

Small Southern town Noel



Hot Chocolate with marshmallows and cinnamon


A lit candle for lost loved ones #peaceonearth


Frosted window panes


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 


From our home to yours

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, December 24, 2014




starry night sky Merry Christmas





I’m updating this post from a 2012 edition to include texts and private message options. Even back then, I could see the trend toward online greetings growing, but never did I think these two options would become "normal" to some. 


a few of my 2014 greeting cards I'm mailing out


I have always enjoyed the giving and receiving of Holiday Greeting cards. I am a classic; less is more kind of card sender, preferring to send a festive card with a short hand written note inside, just like my Mom did. I’m a true southern, manners matter type of lady, so please don’t think I mean this post to be a rude call out, it’s actually quite the opposite.


As I sat down to start on my cards this week, I realized I needed to re-vamp my list completely since my master list was riddled with notes beside almost every name. This person got divorced so I can’t address their card to Mr. & Mrs., this person moved to I don’t know where, so send an e-card, this dear soul just had a nasty break up, so send something happy, this person’s card was returned last year, so send an e-card. You get the idea.   


It was time for the Greeting Card cut list.


I don’t enter into this area lightly, because I know how I would feel if I were off the list. But wait a minute, I think that shipped has sailed if my notes are any indication!
Over the course of the last 3 years, we have received more e-cards from friends and family who once sent out mailed cards. Is this just a product of our societies need for all things “online”? Is it the downed economy? Have we Kinsman’s somehow fallen off the short list of worthy stamped greetings? Maybe, probably and I hope not!

The point is,  I feel obliged to follow the path in front of me and do my own form of cutting.


Here's my method:

  • If we haven’t heard from you in any form or fashion, like you have fallen off the face of the earth in 4 years: you are cut completely.
  • If you always thank me for my Christmas card in your e-card on my birthday in May:  you are cut from my mailed list and bumped to e-card status.
  • If you have never us sent a mailed card, preferring e-cards, but haven’t sent me one in 2 yrs.: you are cut from my mailed card list, put on my e-card list, but only for this year.
  • If you send us your annual newsletter, complete with a call to donate to your charity: e-card!
  • If you sent us an e-card last year: e-card.




And now I give you the 2014 additions to greetings:



If you text me a Merry Christmas! You are off my mailed greeting card list and my e-card list. We are all busy, but that is no excuse! Be a dear and think ahead next year. 


But my truly least favorite holiday greeting so far this year- a private message on Facebook.  
Ugh.  

Listen, I'm really not trying to be the "holiday greeting police" and this list is all rather tongue in cheek- but can't we just agree not to do this one unless we are just “online” friends? Then I can see you preferring to send an online greeting. May I suggest an e-card? There are several freebies available. 

But to just copy and paste a generic Hello, Happy Holidays, type of greeting to everyone you know on Facebook? It’s just bad form in my humble opinion and I would prefer to receive no greeting at all from you because this form of greeting puts me in a pickle. How does one respond to someone who doesn't even address them by their first name? My answer is, I don't. 

Did making these cuts make me feel Grinchy? Nope, it was liberating! In fact, my to be mailed greeting card list actually grew this year, which makes this old school is cool ladies heart happy!


My new Greeting card list is clean and tidy and shows me that I have a nice balance of mailed cards at 60% and e-cards at 40%. Zero texts and private message greetings!


Please share in comments:

How does your Greeting Card list look? Did you update it? Have you had to make cuts as well?

Winter and Happiness

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Our Pond Winter 2010
 
  
 
Tomorrow is the official 1st day of Winter and I couldn't be happier! Not because I love snowy, blustery days. Not because tomorrow is the shortest day of the year and I can start counting the days until spring arrives. Not solely because of the joy and happiness the Holidays bring.

No, finding my  happy with this season most all of us dread, required some thinking.
Just reading the definition of winter puts me squarely on team anti-winter. Look at those Synonyms and you'll see what I mean. 


win·ter/ˈwintər/  



Noun:
The coldest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere from December to February and in the southern hemisphere from June to August.
Adjective:
(of fruit and vegetables) Ripening late in the growing season and suitable for storage over the winter.
Verb:(esp. of a bird) Spend the winter in a particular place: "birds wintering in the south".

Synonyms:
noun

adjective
verb. hibernate
. wintry - hibernal - winterly - brumal
. cold

 

While slathering on extra strength hand lotion last night to ease my drying hands ( that only get worse each day of this season), I decided to make a list of all the reasons I have to be happy and thankful this winter. If you are on team anti-winter, maybe a list is in your future too!
 

My List:


 
1. The girls are on Winter break from 12/21/11 until 1/5/12. Just having them home all day makes me smile! I enjoy their company immensely.

2. Getting end of year business tasks done feels good! Don't dread the shred is my motto as I clean out my filing cabinet and start a new storing and organizing method.

3. Dry skin gives me a good excuse to try new lotions! Maybe I'll write a review or two.

4. Christmas at home. Just the four of us. The girls in their new jammies all day. Traditions. Love. Harmony. Peace. Jesus. Food. Smiles. Laughs. Santa.

5. New Year. New Beginning. New Ideas. New directions. Wiping the slate clean is a good thing on so many fronts.

6. My youngest daughters birthday.

7. New cabinet jobs for my hubby. He's at his happiest when he's making sawdust.

8. New friendships. I've been invited to join some local groups and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to broaden my circle.

9. Free time. I have more of it in this season. I get crafty, I read more novels, I log on much less, I daydream about spring and how to design my flower beds, I laugh and sing and play with my kids more. I stay up late and watch sci-fi movies or talk and laugh with my hubby more. I connect more.

10. I have a really good feeling about 2012. Deep in my bones optimisim. The last few years have been hard and stressful for so many of us. Most of us truth be told, but I am a firm believer in the power of a Positive Attitude.

I am happy Winter is here because it forces me to slow down, think, be more present and in the moment.
Sure the weather outside may be frightful, but I'll welcome spring well rested and refreshed.
 
Happy Winter, Merry Christmas and Happy, Happy Holidays one and all!
I am so very thankful for all of you who read, comment and visit my blog.

Please let me know what you are thankful and happy for this season!
 
 
 
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