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Holiday Treasures

Holidays are filled with so much hussel and bussel!  It’s crazy, really it is.  I have some tips that I hope will help you out in easing the stress and tension that often comes with the holidays and hopefully bring back the treasures that they once were.  It’s a challenge for many, after all newly lost love one sometimes makes these days rougher than normal.  But, take a deep breath, and as you’re sitting there, try and relax and consider this tips and hopefully, you’re holidays will be back to their normal joy in no time.

The first holiday that’s coming is of course Halloween or Harvest Day.

Sasha & Clarence, Aubry Chapman

 

Depending on your view ( and they do vary) Halloween is a fun time to celebrate and get lots of candy to eat!  Adults of course will celebrate differently than children.  That is, they are likely to have different beverages and different treats than children are, but they still have a lot of fun.  Both get to stay out late and both get to celebrate this all Hallows Eve.  Some of even called it, “Day of The Dead“, which originated in Mexico and is a time of celebration and remembering those that have passed away.   Wherever you stand, this day is one that is celebrated in one form or another.

 

Thanksgiving!

 

Thanksgiving is a time when you are celebrating what you are thankful for.   It’s also a time when family gets together, watches football and reunites old friendships.

Wild Turkey, Cushion, Pillow

 

Along with all of the food and festivities, people take time to remember those they have lost, things they are thankful for and now Black Friday kickoff.  Yes, it’s true, there are tons of companies that are now starting their Black Friday sales on Thursday.  There are good and bad news where that’s consider.  Good in that you can start your holiday shopping ahead of time.  Bad in that you may be starting to late.  Which brings us to another tip: Start preparing for the holidays far far ahead of time.  If you want less stress, this is a must.  Ask all of those that are out at 3 a.m. waiting in line to get those extra special deals at different stores.  People do have a plan of attack for how they are going to go about getting as many of those sale items as they can.

 

Christmas!

 

While you can argue that Christmas is the last of the year’s holidays, it is also one of the busiest ones.  You see it’s a matter of getting all of the presents and decorations together.  If you start early, this won’t be an issue.  If on the other hand, you start late, you’re stress levels are going to raise and you’re not going to be happy.   The same is true if you’re going to be making things and having to pay for them.  Layaway is key for not having financial stress and last minute crunches.

Night Before Christmas, Linda Tillman

 

 

Another tip is to buy as much online as you possible can.  It will save you time and energy.  This like needlepoint are important to get started ahead of time.  You don’t want to feel the pressure of trying to finish things when the snow is falling and ice is all over the place.

Lastly the biggest tip that I can  give is this:  IF YOU DON’T WANT TO DO IT DON’T!  This statement is simple as is the reason.  If you don’t want go to families house.  Don’t!  The reason is that you and everyone else is going to be miserable if you do!  Because you don’t want to be there.  I know there are times when we have to do what we don’t want to do.   But the holidays aren’t one of them.

 

 

 

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Hand Crafts Are Always A Favorite!

Handcrafted items are always a favorite for anyone that gets them or for that matter does them.  I love handcrafted items.  It doesn’t matter if I’m crocheting or if I’m doing a needlepoint, I love them.  If you are one to enjoy creating things, then needlepoint is a wonderful release from everyday work and stress.  There is something that comes with the combination of repetitive stitches (even when different colors are used), that is relaxing.  I believe that it has something to do with the same impact of white noise.  You are relaxed and all the while you are creating something.  There’s a certain freedom that comes with that.

 

Old Saint Nick, Needlepoint Christmas Stocking

 

Your Artwork!

 

When you’re creating something, there’s an underlying pleasure that comes with it.  It’s not someone else that you and you are buying their work.  It’s something that you have done, pretty much from beginning to end, that you get to display and have all of your friends and family do.  Needlepoint isn’t hard, it’s really not.  But many people are afraid to try it, because someone else says that it was.  But all of those someone else’s aren’t you.  And it doesn’t matter what they’ve done or can do.  It matters what you’ve done and can do.

It also matters what limits you’re choosing to place on yourself.  Have you ever not tried something and then regretted it?  Most of us have.  That’s why bucket lists were created, so that we’d do all of those things that we’ve wanted to do and were afraid we’d wait too long, or forget to do them later on.  Trying different types of crafts like needlepoint, is often one of those.

 

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci

While you may not be a Leonardo Da Vinci, you can still have his creations in your home, made by YOU!

 

What If I Don’t Like It?

There is always the possibility that you won’t like doing handcrafts.  It would be a shame, but not everyone likes everything and those reasons often very greatly.  But I always recommend to those that are considering trying needlecrafts, that they try something small.  That way the cost is low and the likelihood of completely you’re artwork is high.   Miniatures often called Mini’s are 5 X 5 pieces of canvas, with the art design of your choosing on them.  If you want something playful, consider something like colored pencils:

Pencil Pop Art, 5 x 5" Miniature

 

If on the other hand, you’re a fan of Poe, you can also have him at your home:

 

Poe, 5 x 5" Miniature

 

Remember, with needlepoint, you’re given a step by step guide as to what colors to use and when to use them.  You’re also give what stitches to use.  What this does is to take out all of the guesswork out of your creations.  If you want to get poe or any of the needlepoints I’ve shown today, feel free to go to Chelseaneedlepoint.com, where have pleanty of selection both for the beginner and the more advanced crafters out there.

 

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Holiday Challenges

Arguably the biggest holiday challenges aren’t what costumes to where, gifts to get or even who’s house to go to first.  I’d argue, that the greatest holiday challenges come with the accidents that occur while they are going on.  Consider for a moment that accidents that occur during the holidays are often the most life altering ones around.  If you would, consider for a moment the following accidents and events that can lead you to going to an urgent care or worse.

 

With all of the holidays, there is bound to be drinking.  Even if you’re not the one doing the drinking, you still run a tremendous risk of having an event caused by someone else’s drinking.  Events can range from a car accident to a fight.  It’s not that you mean to be involved, it’s just that someone else didn’t think before they started drinking.  They also didn’t consider that it would impact anyone else, and they surely didn’t think that they would be out of control.  No matter what the reason, you stand a good chance of being involved with someone out of control because of drinking.

Fires are another thing that can happen and often does during the holidays.  People don’t consider that putting to many electrical cords out can cause a fire.  Why?  Because it overloads the circuit breakers.   While it is fun to put candles in pumpkins and while they are beautiful in windows and on trees, they also run the risk of catching things on fire.  I know someone that lit a candle and the cat played with the flame after they left.  The end result was the home burning down.  Not something that  you want to happen or to experience.

Also, children find christmas lights extremely attractive.  As a result, they often play with the lights and get burned.  This can lead to a trip to urgent care and getting treatment for that most unexpected injury.

Stress And Emotional Challenges.

It’s during the holidays, that we start to feel losses as well as being over stressed.  Often we don’t realize it, but it’s common for us to get so wrapped up in getting ‘things’ done that we crash and burn, because we’re going so crazy to get everything done, that we don’t take time to rest.  That’s no fun for anyone, especially when the holidays are supposed to be a time for rest.

Holidays are also a time when those that we lost during the year come back to mind in a major flood.  If you haven’t mourned and even if you have, you may find that if it’s your first Thanksgiving or Christmas without your loved one that it’s extremely difficult.  Make sure that if you don’t feel good, that you check into getting emotional help even if it’s just for the holidays.

 

Colds and flus.

If you’re stressed out and emotionally drained, your immune system is being compromised.  Make sure that you do what you need to do to remain healthy.   This is the perfect time to go and see a doctor, especially where urgent cares are concerned.  They get you in and out fast and aren’t slammed like your regular doctor often is.

 

 

 

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Denver Homes

When you’re looking at buying a home, any number of locations may come to mind. One of my personal favorites is Colorado. I love the Rocky Mountains the altitude and yes, even the Denver Bronco’s. I’m not sure I’d ever want to live somewhere that doesn’t have access to a football team. But then again that’s just me.

So why would someone want to live in Colorado, let alone Denver and the surrounding suburbs? That’s the questions and here are some answer to that question.

There’s much to love about Denver, some of which have already been mentioned, but unlike most places, arguably the best thing about Denver is the homes that are available for you to buy and either live in, or resell.   Consider the fact that Denver has homes that are perfect for every standard of living.

There are homes that are million dollar castles, that can make your wife a queen and you a king.  There are homes with tons of acreage that will allow for your wildest dreams to come true.  No dream home is to big or to small in Colorado and all can come true.

Then there’s sports of you sports junkies.  Football being the major one.  After all, who hasn’t heard of the Denver Bronco’s or Mile High Stadium?  There are one of the best teams ever in professional football, and they are sure to fill the stands no matter what day the game is on.

But you may not be a sports junkie even if you do have to a place to live.  Maybe night life is more of your thing.  There is a lot of that in Denver.  Theaters, plays, music and nightclubs.  There’s something for everyone even those that love libraries.   My girls love libraries, which is one of the reasons that they carry straight A’s in school.  If you find a place that invests in libraries and museums you’re well on your way to having a successful community.