Category: #thrifty

The 12 Days of Christmas!

We may be some of the very few left in the universe that celebrated the 12 days of Christmas this past week. I’m kind of ashamed to say that, until several years ago, I thought the 12 days of Christmas were pre-December 25th. While attending a private Catholic university, I learned that I’d been wrong my whole adult life. The 12 days of Christmas begin on December 25th and end on January 5th, with the Epiphany (the day of feast) celebrated on January 6th.  There is more information about this here and here. Once I learned this, I then explained to my husband, who also had never known this, why our Christmas celebrations would now end after January 6th.

Growing up, we did not count down the days or celebrate the epiphany, and if it was mentioned in church, I wasn’t paying attention. Yes, we sang the song associated with this celebration, but I never understood its real meaning. Even before this revelation, we always left Christmas up until January 5th. Our traditions were established long before social media began to decide for the masses when Christmas “happened,” and then was “over.” Traditions are very important to me. They really provide a sense of stability and are a central and fundamental part of my life and an important part of my sobriety. Much of what I saw on social media this year and throughout the holidays was commercialism and consumerism. Christmas as I knew it as a kid has left the building.

Year after year, I grasp hold of memories of Christmases gone by or my ideas of Christmas crafted from childhood Christmases, and I create two special weeks for my husband, myself, and friends. On the internet, and in the lives of many influenced by social media, Christmas starts late September and ends on Christmas eve or Christmas Day. This year was exceptionally crazy in that social media influencers had already taken their tree down Christmas afternoon and were planning trips to plant stores and in an ordering frenzy for spring remodels by December 26th. So Sad. Social media has really changed how people look at holidays, vacations, and, well, everything. Sigh.

I saw this Natural Life chirp on Facebook this morning and love it!

In my little world, our tree is still lit, our Christmas lights are still glowing; there are two Christmas movies I still want to watch, and at least a half dozen cookies have yet to be eaten. I’m probably the most organized person I know, and in no way does my tree, its ornaments, or Christmas cookies make my home dirty, full of clutter, or disorganized. If you purchased my guide, you know that my new year starts in the early fall of the previous year, so I’ve been planning and organizing 2025 since September 2024. I’m already all set up for tax time, and again, all things Christmas in our home aren’t getting in my way at all. This year we may begin the ritual of taking down the tree and storing all of our Christmas things sometime around January 15th.

This Christmas we had a Christmas Eve dinner; just the two of us, and I made ham, scalloped potatoes, Brussels sprouts, corn, homemade dinner rolls, and two salads for dessert. The days leading up to Christmas Eve were a bit hectic as I tore my ACL and sprained or strained something that made my knee go out of joint (pain at a 9 for weeks now) Shorthly after Christmas tax time begins to ramp up and taxes are what I do for a living (I also oversee 10 employees and their tax work). I also analyze the beginning of year commodities–that’s a very busy facet of my job. I don’t get a full break during the holiday season, so there’s that to deal with while I do Christmas. I was unable to do any volunteering this year which made me quite sad and disappointed as I look forward to it at this time all year long.

On Christmas Day, we had four guests, and I served leftover ham, turkey, glazed carrots, roasted cauliflower and beets, homemade rolls, salad, stuffing, and Key Lime pie for dessert. On New Year’s Eve, we had two friends over for BBQ ribs, chicken wings, roasted potatoes, pecan pie, and we played board games. As they say, that’s a wrap for 2024.

Here is a great recipe for the Galette des Rois (in my blog post photo). Happy Epiphany Day!

Until next time, xoxo

The lost art of loving a mundane day💛

Maybe it was an article I read or the times in my life sitting at a patient’s bed in their last hours of life. It comes to me at different times, usually when I’m thinking about the future. As I age, my husband too, and even our cat, I know that someday it won’t be the three of us anymore. During times of cuddling in bed, we three, I often feel sad, even though we’re making memories. I think to myself, someday I’ll pray for a mundane day just like this.

One day, as I’m sitting and balancing a budget that may include hospital stays, or medication, or surgeries, I’ll pray for a mundane like this.

One day, when my tire goes flat on the interstate, I’ll look back on my many mundane days and wish to be right in the middle of one again.

I’ll reflect on the times life was easier–barefoot on gravel, sand between my toes, caught in the rain, cold pop, fresh bread, extra time, a door held open, a simple thank-you, more than one available, in stock, and I think the mundane is anything but dull. It’s the time between hectic and nothing. It’s the place I gravitate back to when I’m overwhelmed. It’s the moments I reflect on when I wonder about my life and how time has passed.

Next time you’re out running errands, forgetting to eat lunch, grabbing pizza for supper, and having to pull into a gas station to fill up, remember that someday you’re going to look back on a day like this and want to live it all over again.

Mundane, by definition, is dull and has no excitement. So, no chaos, no worry, no negative emotions beyond the scope of dull, no pressure, no hurry, no punch list, no schedule, no appointments, no nothing. It’s just dull, everyday, stuff. That one day, in the throes of hectic, or pain, or overwhelm, or hurried, or late, or heartbroken, that you’ll pray for just one more day of.

Over the years, I’ve lost several friends to death–long before their time. I’ve sat by a few of their bedsides on their last day and none of them spoke of wealth, bank accounts, their car or home, clothing, vacations, social media account likes/comments/follower count, looks or figures, politics or religions. Each and every one of them that could still speak in their last hours spoke of love, love for their children, parents, spouse or partner, and friends. Each of them spoke of how they would miss get-togethers, birthdays, weddings, and births. Asked what they’d do differently or wish for if they could, It was always another day, any kind of day of just hanging around, talking, eating a meal with family, and enjoying the simple act of doing nothing but nothing, being everything in that moment.

So, as you go about your daily life, keep in mind, that somewhere behind all the chaos and drama of your day to day, lies in wait, a dull and mundane day just waiting to take you back into its warm and safe arms.