These Are a Few of My Favourite Things

December Reflection

There are a million reasons I love this time of year; the snow, the dinners, the lazy days, the crazy days, taking time to be with each other, and taking time to complain about being with each other lol. But really, here are my top 5 favourite things about the Holiday season.

1. Decorations- I love decorating the tree! As I put each ornament up I remember where it was from or who it was from, and it fills my heart by bringing up such happy memories. I have always enjoyed making the house feel festive and beautiful with greenery, funny signs and stockings- just brings a smile to my face. I seem to get a bit more festive even every year that goes by. I literally just got back from post-Christmas shopping for 50% off decor items haha!

2. Family- Maybe a rarity, but I generally like hanging out with my family (both sides- weird I know). Of course my patience can be tested, and sometimes a nap or a drink by myself is needed, but our family is a great group of people who make our lives better with love and laughter. And slowly but surely our gatherings grow larger each year, which then brings me to number 3.

3. Kit- I will admit that Christmas is getting even more fun now that Kit has a clue what's going on. He is so fun to buy for, and he now seems genuinely interested and excited about Santa and Christmas time. He got to visit Santa twice this year and he asked for a red monster truck (that he did not get -oops!). Maybe next year buddy. But he was spoiled all the same, with a play kitchen, hockey sticks and pucks, books and his own tool belt.

4. Our "real" anniversary- Chris and I started dating "officially" on Christmas day back in 2002. So Christmas always has that extra little meaning behind it for us. He still to this day makes me a handmade snowflake with the year on it to represent this anniversary and they are all stored in a special container on our bookshelf. It is so hard to believe that 16 years ago, he called me on my house phone and asked "Do you want to make it official?", and me as a giddy teenage girl, blushed and smiled on the other end and said "ok". And then I guess as the saying goes, "the rest is history".

5. Gift giving- I am definitely one of those people who LOVES buying people gifts. I legitimately spend time thinking of gifts for the people on my list, trying to make them thoughtful or unique or at the very least something they can find useful. I love getting people "experiences" as gifts, and even better if I get to go with them of course. I bought my hubby tickets to a comedy show, and my parents tickets for all of us to go see a hockey game together so really everybody wins with gifts like these! This year I also made quite a few gifts which does takes time, but everyone seemed to really appreciate them so that makes it well worth my time. (Check out my Fabric Projects to see some of the goodies I gave away).

So now that Christmas has come to a close and New Years is upon us, I'd like to thank my family and friends for the wonderful memories you helped us create this year. I'd like to thank my new followers to my website and Instagram page for showing an interest in my little project. My intensions for 2019; to let go of the "musts" I thought I had to do, or be, and continue to embrace the person I have become. To try to be more present, more gracious, more self-confident and my Every-Single-Year resolution is to be more patient. I'll be honest, this will be a roller coaster as it is with everyone. Life has ups and downs and all we can do is continue to try and do our best. Keep those close to us who build us up and who are helpful even without trying. My biggest advice to everyone going forward, as unsolicited as it may be, is to never forget that everyone is fighting a battle you do not know about, so hold judgment and offer kindness instead.

Cheers to the New Year!