Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 1st day of December, 2016.
Yes it is December and yes there are twenty-three, 23 sleeps until Christmas Eve Day.
Are you ready?
Have you continued with your traditions or will you be starting some new ones this Christmas?
I am proud to say that every year we revamp our Christmas traditions.
Some years you may not notice but others you definitely would.
Last year Christmas was at my daughters and we had Christmas Dinner catered.
This year Christmas is at my house and I am cooking a turkey.
Nice change.
Last year we exchanged gifts and this year we had planned not to exchange them between myself, my daughter and son-in-law.
I came up with something different, not buying but still something to exchange.
Good for the recycle, reuse as we are all trying not to spend money on things that we at the end of the day do not really need.
So we will look through our homes and find items that we think each other would love.
Not too difficult.
There are so many ways to make Christmas extra special.
I think that the thing I love the most about this time of year is spending it with family and friends perhaps sharing a meal or just some treats freshly baked.
So when you are running around like the Mad Hatter stop and think about all of those purchases that perhaps you are putting on your credit card.
Do you really need to do this?
Does the person really need that $200 sweater?
Give more from the heart.
Start making things …. people love home-made.
It is the wave of the future.
For those people that you have no idea but want to give ….. bake some sugar cookies or fudge.
There are ways.
How about that vase of Aunt’s that you have had sitting on the shelf forever but your Sister loves it so much.
Give it to your sister.
The gesture will be priceless.
Think about your options.
Please do not get into debt over the holidays.
So not worth it.
Really I can tell you that from experience.
Well time to hit the frosty trail to the bus again.
Have a wonderful first day of December.
Don’t sweat things ….. make a list.
That is one of my tasks for tomorrow evening is to take a calendar and write down everything that needs to be done and purchased between now and December 31, 2016.
That way no surprises….
Bye for now.
Special Hello to: my friends and family all over the world.
Always, Carol and Alvin
My New Life @ 51 