Tag Archives: holidays

Dec13

Seasonal Friendly Reminders

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Seasonal Friendly Reminders

Howdy!! The holiday season is a joyous time, but there is no denying that is can be highly stressful – especially for those who struggle to feel merry and bright around this time of year. I thought it would be a good idea to discuss some Seasonal Friendly Reminders today to help enhance the holidays for everyone – holly jolly or not. Let’s take a look at a few different ways to do so:

Holiday Shop Kindly:

From someone who had an extensive tenure working retail, believe me when I say that holidays can bring out the absolute worst in people. In fact, a vast majority of the most terrible encounters I ever had with customers happened during the holidays. Look, we all get it. The stores are crowded, what you want might not be available, a seasonal employee might make a mistake – but it’s never EVER a reason to be mean to someone. Practice patience and if you can’t, stick to online shopping instead of ruining someone’s day.

It’s Okay To Feel Sad:

There is a preconceived notion that this is the happiest time of the year and that it’s impossible to feel sad during the holidays. FALSE. This can actually be the hardest time of the year for those who have lost a loved one, battle with their mental health, or are suffering from an illness. Or it could be none of the above. Regardless, it is okay to feel sad and if you know someone who might be struggling, comfort them. Comments like “You can’t be sad, it’s Christmas” are not helpful because holidays don’t dictate someone’s happiness. Be there, lend an ear, and choose your words carefully – it could be exactly what that person needs!

No Comment:

Changing is part of what makes us human and we change all of the time whether we realize it or not. Some changes are more obvious than others – new tattoos, piercings, a hair cut, growing your hair, or losing/gaining weight. If whatever change you see in someone is not your personal cup of tea, Do. Not. Comment. On. It. Let’s repeat that: No comment is the best comment! Some of these changes could be a result of trauma or an illness and unless information is volunteered, the best rule of thumb is to please bite your tongue. 🙂

And Remember…

You truly have the power to make or break someone’s day so use it wisely. When all else fails, just be kind. Give a smile, a pleasant word, hold the door open for someone – small gestures like these could turn a bad day into something more tolerable. This really can be a sensitive time of the year so be sensitive of that. Spreading holiday cheer doesn’t have to be a huge production and Random Acts of Kindness do the job just fine!

Honestly, these are all good things to remember no matter the time of the year but it just hits different during the holidays!

Have you worked a seasonal job before? Have you ever had a bad holiday experience? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec11

Community Fun

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Community Fun

Hello!! Listen, I’ll be the first to admit that there are downsides to living in Ohio. It’s basically just corn lol. However, I love my life here and still wouldn’t change it for a thing. One of the best parts about the greater Akron area is the true sense of community we have and it’s greater amplified by all of the fun events hosted throughout the city. Concerts, food truck festivals, vendor fairs, you name it and chances are we have done something similar in our neck of the woods!

A particularly fantastic community gathering spot is the Quirk Cultural Center in Cuyahoga Falls. At the Quirk, they offer workshops for people of all ages. From tiny tots to seniors, there is something for everyone there. In fact, I used to take pottery classes there for several years in my youth and have enjoyed watercolor painting classes in my adulthood. And, this past weekend, I took my nieces there for a special crafting workshop so they could make Christmas presents for their parents.

All I knew for the craft class was that we were going to paint mugs and the girls were so excited. I was too because any time with them is the best time! Even though it was a simple activity, our hosts at the Quirk did such a phenomenal job of making it special. When we walked into the space, we were greeted by a huge Christmas tree, holiday inflatables, festive music, and a hot chocolate and cookie station. The greatest surprise was how neat the mugs to be painted were. There was a snowman, a reindeer, Santa, and a mug with Santa’s belt going around the middle. They seriously looked like something you could paint at All Fired Up and it only costed ten dollars per person to participate.

The girls and I had SO much fun and my eldest niece did a banner job painting the mug herself and my younger niece, who is two, did the best she could lol. Either way, I knew they both knew that they were making something for their parents and they were so happy to have a gift for them that they made all by themselves! There were so many families at the event and it was a joy to get in the holiday spirit all together. I hope that they will be doing more paint parties soon because it was a hit for both the adults and kiddos!

A wonderful time was had by all at our pseudo All Fired Up workshop and I am definitely feeling merrier and brighter for it!

What kind of events does your community put on? Have you ever taken a crafting workshop before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec6

Last Minute Gift Ideas

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Last Minute Gift Ideas

Hello!! I have to admit, I did not complete my holiday shopping as early as I usually do this year. However, I am pleased to report that I will officially be DONE once I pick up a gift card at my nail salon on Tuesday. It feels so good to have gifts for everyone in my big family out of the way and I have been working on wrapping a few gifts at a time whenever I feel like it lol. We are officially in the holiday home stretch and if you are just starting your shopping now, then: 1) You are giving ME anxiety! And 2) I am here to help with these last minute options. Let’s get to it:

Food & Drink:

You truly can never go wrong with a food and drink style gift and it is something I implement every year. For the families I work with, I always go with some type of gift basket like chocolate, popcorn, or cookie kits and they are very well received. In fact, this year, I scored a wonderful deal for customized chocolate tins from Ghirardelli that I am really excited about. Most stores offer a great array of gift baskets, wine or beer samplers, or cooking and baking kits so go for it!

Gift Cards:

SO many people say that gift cards are a thoughtless gift and I say FALSE. If you do feel that way, though, you can absolutely put some thought into gift cards! Treat your giftee to a gift card to a movie theater and a favorite restaurant. BOOM. Instant date night. Have a giftee that drives a lot (Like me!)? They will surely want some help filling their tank! Shopping for a shopaholic? Now they can go wild at their go to stores. Yes, it’s one of the most easy ways to complete your shopping. But, it will be a gift that’s truly appreciated and that’s alright in my book!

Pet Supplies:

As a bunny mom, I can honestly say that I am THRILLED whenever I get a Chewy gift card or supplies for my gremlins as a gift. If you have some proud pet parents on your list, this could be a fantastic way to go. As a bonus, it will give them some extra scratch to spend on post holiday sales! If you don’t know what kind of supplies are necessary for your giftee’s pet, just ask. It’s another added bonus because it eliminates a chore for them too.

Photo Albums:

If you’re looking for a more sentimental option, photo albums or framed pictures are perfect – especially if you are the designated picture taker in your family (Like me!). This is a gift that I give at least one of every year because it’s just so easy and it’s really thoughtful. You could do an album of your kiddos for the grandparents, framed pics of you and your bestie on a fun day out, or even canvas prints. Websites like Shutterfly are always running great promotions so this is a gift that could be completed right from your computer!

Stocking Stuffers:

There is literally no rule stating that a gift has to be big or expensive. All that matters is the thought!! Stocking stuffers are excellent if you are strapped for time, ideas, or cash. Think candles and lotion, shaving kits or hot sauce, socks, hats, bath bombs – I could go on for forever. A small item or two and a big smile on your face is really all you need and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. ❤

If you have finished your holiday shopping: Kudos! If not, I hope these ideas help!

Are you good at wrapping gifts? What are your holiday plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov28

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!!! Today is one of my favorite days of the year and I am so looking forward to celebrating with mine and Johnny’s family. I am sure that all of you have grand plans for the day so I don’t want to take up too much of your time! But what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t give an extra special holiday shout out to my dear readers? You already know I am infinitely thankful for all of you!!

lifewithlilred has been going strong for a decade and change and I still have a really hard time believing that. During this extensive tenure, you have been with me for every update, accomplishment, disappointment, and life changes and I think that is really cool. In fact, it’s what motivates me to keep up with daily content because I know that you are out there, somewhere reading it. My blog is just as much mine as it is yours and my biggest hope is that people smile when they stumble upon my corner of the internet.

The blogosphere is a beautiful thing and it has the power to bring people together. My blog gifted me with my best friend in the world and has brought people into my life that I would have never known otherwise. I was extremely lonely when I started lifewithlilred and the blogging community really helped remedy that. From Akron, Ohio, I am able to say that I have friends all over the world and my gratefulness for that knows no bounds.

Thank you to all of you for being my friend. Thank you to all of you for stopping by my page and being with me. Happy Thanksgiving to all! ❤

Nov27

Let’s Dish: Thanksgiving Food

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Let’s Dish: Thanksgiving Food

Hello!! I have literally been looking forward to Thanksgiving since last Thanksgiving. And, when Thanksgiving is over, I eagerly await Christmas because my family just does Thanksgiving dinner Round Two. In case you haven’t noticed, I freaking LOVE Thanksgiving food and it makes me sad that I only get to indulge in this passion twice a year lol. And, indulge I shall. Let’s Dish on some Thanksgiving staples that I will definitely be going in for seconds (or tenths!) on:

ALL The Yes:

Green Bean Casserole:

There are some people who absolutely detest green bean casserole and that’s fine – you can just give it all to me! This is one of my designated dishes to prepare and, I hate to brag, but I knock it out of the park every time. It is SO easy to make, tastes divine, and is my all time favorite Thanksgiving food.

Stuffing:

Stuffing is also one of the sides on my To Cook list and, once again, I hate to toot my own horn but it is always bomb AF. I load mine up with celery, onions, tons of garlic, and freestyle the herbs. The trick is to not make it too dry or moist so I am very careful when adding in the vegetable stock. I also add a few pads of butter over top of the stuffing before sticking it in the oven and it has never not turned out just right.

Any Form of Potatoes:

Potatoes are a beautiful thing, aren’t they? No matter how they’re made, I like it all! My mom makes the best homemade mashed potatoes and it is the perfect blend of not too creamy but not too chunky either. And, of course, I can’t get enough of sweet potatoes! While I prefer them plain with a bit of butter, my mother-in-law makes a dynamite sweet potato casserole that I always look forward to. 🙂

ALL The No:

Turkey:

As a vegetarian, turkey is a very obvious no. However, even if I did it meat it would still be a no lol. I genuinely don’t even remember what turkey tastes like. What I do know, is that I don’t think I ever liked it because it was never on my plate when I was a kid!

Cranberry Sauce:

Is it weird that I have never tried cranberry sauce? Guys, I just can’t do it. It’s not so much the way it looks, although that is part of it. It’s mainly a texture thing. It’s one of those foods that I know for a fact I won’t like so I don’t bother. And, at thirty years old, I don’t plan on bothering because I’ve lasted this long without it.

Pumpkin Pie:

HARD no. The only time I have ever tried pumpkin pie is when one of my old client’s brother insisted I take a bite. It was awful! The flavor. The texture. Everything. Even with half a canister of whipped cream on one bite!! I mean, if you like baby food then what a treat lol.

Side dishes reign supreme on my Thanksgiving and I simply can’t wait to dig in! 😀

What is your favorite and least favorite Thanksgiving food? What are your plans for the holiday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov20

Holiday Mental Health Reminder

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Holiday Mental Health Reminder

Hello!! We are SO close to Thanksgiving that I can almost taste the green bean casserole (Don’t hate on it!). And, of course, then we enter the whirlwind of the winter holiday season. While this is an incredibly joyous time, it can also be highly stressful and it’s important to put your mental health first. Let’s talk about a few ways that you can ease some of those get together jitters so you can still have the merry and brightest time ever:

Ground Rules:

Given the current political situation we are in, it’s very likely that politics will be a topic of discussion at your gathering. This can be a blessing if everyone has the same political views but a curse if not! If the attendees are all across the board on their viewpoints, it might be a good idea to set a Ground Rule of not talking about it period. Unless each guest can engage in polite conversation, then it can turn heated very quickly and that is the last thing you want during the holidays!

Take Breaks:

If your holiday gathering has you feeling overwhelmed, take a break! There’s no rules saying that you can’t and you can excuse yourself without being obvious. No one will think anything of it if you pop into another room to “make a phone call” or you could volunteer to take the family dog out for a quick jaunt. Once you have a few minutes to yourself, you can enter back into the situation feeling refreshed and better able to handle it.

Make Yourself Busy:

Sometimes the best way to shake off anxiety is to make yourself busy. There is always going to be the need for an extra helping hand during the holidays so be that person. Take drink orders, set the table, assist in the kitchen – you know the old saying about idle hands! Giving yourself a task to focus on could be just what you need if your mind starts to race or you’re feeling triggered.

Focus On The Positive:

There is a high probability that there is going to be someone you can’t freaking stand at the gathering. This can create a lot of tension within yourself so try not to let it fester and focus on the positives, instead. Chances are that when you start looking for the positives, there will be a lot of it! There are people you *probably* like there, the food will be banging, or maybe you will play some really fun games. The festivities are not going to last forever so you could be miserable or try to make the most of it for a few hours!

Talk It Out:

There is this preconceived notion that you are supposed to be happy AF during the holidays and that couldn’t be further from the case. Holidays can be an incredibly difficult time for people and it makes sense if you think about it. If you are feeling that holiday depression kick in, it could be really helpful to talk about it with a loved one or counselor. Then, you can create some strategies to get you through and try to take a bit of joy in the festivities too.

Whatever you are feeling during the holidays, good or bad, is okay! You’re allowed to feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed but with these tips I hope you can enjoy the season more fully!

What is your favorite thing about the holidays? What stresses you out during them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov17

Bath & Body Works Holiday Hand Soap Haul

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Bath & Body Works Holiday Hand Soap Haul

Hello!! This past week was nice because I had a little extra wiggle room to run errands and get housework done. One thing that was a must was stopping into Bath & Body Works because we needed a restock of our beloved foaming hand soaps. Armed with coupons in hand, I went to check out the new winter holiday fragrances and walked away with a great haul. Thanks to a twenty-five percent off and FREE full size product coupon, it was only twenty bucks for all of this. Score! Let’s discuss these scents:

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Cookie Butter Truffle: I live for fruity fragrances in the spring and summer. When it gets colder, however, my tastes turn more decadent. I LOVE holiday dessert scents and if you do too, then Cookie Butter Truffle is a must. With fragrance notes of “cookie butter, whipped cream, and vanilla extract” your hands are going to smell good enough to eat! Please don’t, but you get the point. This scent smells exactly like fresh baked cookies with an ooey gooey caramel center. Yum!

Pomegranate Citrus Fizz: Of course, a fruity scent during the winter is okay too! Pomegranate Citrus Fizz is a bubbly delight. Offering notes of “fresh pomegranate, juicy orange, and topped with bubbles” this scent is bright, crisp and one of my favorites from the haul. As I write this, I literally can’t stop smelling it and it gives all the vibes of cracking open a bottle of sparkling cider during a holiday get together.

To All A Goodnight: I am not a fan whatsoever of winter fragrances like pine, balsam, cinnamon, etc. I wasn’t really sure what To All A Goodnight was going to smell like and I was expecting it to be a no go. I ended up liking it a lot, though! This scent’s notes include “a cool winter breeze, sweet lavender dreams, and nestled in a cozy blanket”. I honestly can’t speak for any of that lol but To All A Goodnight smells clean and sweet like freshly laundered clothes. It’s not the most holiday scent, but is neutral enough that I think anyone would like it.

Iced Cinnamon Rolls: If you have ever smelled cinnamon rolls, then you will know what this scent smells like! And I know I just said I don’t like cinnamon, but it’s different in roll form!! 😀

Crushed Candy Cane: If you have ever smelled a peppermint, then you will know what this scent smells like! Lol, I love me a mint scented anything and there are no surprises with Crushed Candy Cane. Just brisk, refreshing minty goodness.

Vanilla Bean Noel: I chose a lotion in Vanilla Bean Noel as my free product because it is one of my all time favorite holiday scents. Like mint, I love anything vanilla scented. Vanilla Bean Noel is such a soft and creamy fragrance and it smells just like opening up a new carton of French Vanilla ice cream. Whether it was in hand soap, lotion, or shower gel form, I just had to snag it!

All of the scents from my haul were extremely straight forward and safe bets for gifting options. My Halloween home decor doesn’t reflect the season at all, but I’ll be damned if my hand soap doesn’t!

What is your favorite B&BW fragrance? What is your favorite holiday scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov14

Holiday Gift Brainstorm

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Holiday Gift Brainstorm

Hello! The winter holiday season is fast approaching. For those last minute shoppers, this is no big deal. However, it definitely feels like crunch time for the people that like to get their shopping done early. I fall under the latter category and have been diligently pecking away at my to buy for list. I have to admit that I have been feeling pretty uninspired during my shopping so let’s do a Holiday Gift Brainstorm! Then, we can all sit back and enjoy the holiday season stress free:

Gifts of Experience:

One of the most popular options for gift giving falls under Gifts of Experience. This is a great way to go if you are shopping for someone who has everything! Experience gifts could be anything from movie tickets to a pottery class or a few sessions at a yoga studio. The point is for your giftee to try something new or, perhaps, learn more about their favorite hobby. Gifts of Experience are nice for adults and children alike. If you have some kiddos to shop for, ask their parents if something like swim lessons, sports camp, or an art class would be a doable option. The last thing you want to give parents is more work so bonus points if you will be the transportation!

Just Ask:

While on the subject of asking people about gifts, there really is something to be said for asking in advance about what your giftees would like. This eliminates the potential for them not liking what you purchased and you can give them what they actually want or need. For example, families with small children might appreciate supplies like diapers, formula, or clothing as opposed to even more toys! Pet owners (like myself) could prefer a Chewy gift card over something for themselves. If you don’t ask, you will have no idea. If you are still wanting an element of surprise, try talking to someone close to your giftee for the inside scoop.

Favor Gifts:

The best prezzie of all could be taking something off of your giftee’s plate, which brings us to Favor Gifts. Maybe you will clean their house a few times, volunteer to be a date night babysitter, or even pay for their next oil change. These gifts are designed to make an aspect of adulting easier and we could all use a little less stress. I know I would be thrilled if my gift was a cleaning session at my apartment! 😀

Homemade:

There is no rule stating that you have to be an Etsy shop level crafter to give a homemade gift. Although, if you are, then that’s great too! Knitted scarves, socks, or baby booties will be welcome gifts during the winter. How about a photo collage? Maybe a mini portrait of your giftee or their beloved pet? You could put all of the dry ingredients for soup or cookies in a Mason jar, seal it with a bow, and call it a day. Or if you have a giftee that would like to learn your craft, offer a couple tutorial sessions and get them some of the basic essentials needed for a beginner level. And, as a bonus, you will have quality time together.

The best part of the holiday season is sharing it with the ones you love. No one’s saying the gifts aren’t nice, though! 😀 Happy shopping!

How is your holiday shopping going? Who is the most difficult person to shop for on your list? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov12

Hoosige Elf Costume Review

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Hoosige Elf Costume Review

Hi everyone!! I am SO excited to start creating content for the holiday season with Tim Misny. We have a ton of fun planned to show off our Misny Merch holiday collection, decor tours, and featuring all things merry and bright. For the festivities, I purchased an elf costume by Hoosige on Amazon and wanted to write a review because I just tried it on. This costume came with six different pieces and was under forty dollars, which will make it a hot seller for holiday celebrations. However, there are definitely some things you should be aware of before clicking on the order button:

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^^^ Image by Hoosige

When I am ordering clothing or costumes, I always always check the customer reviews in terms of sizing. Nine times out of ten, these sentiments have steered me in the right direction for a perfect fit. This time – not so much. If you read the Amazon reviews for this costume, almost every person recommended sizing up. So I did. Rather than ordering a small, I went for a medium and I wish I didn’t because the costume was ginormous. Not only was it oversized in width, but it is nowhere near as short as the image will lead you to believe. The dress went to the middle of my calves. With no time to exchange my order, I had to make things work so I gathered the excess in the back and secured it with a hair clip. The moral of the story: Order your regular size and, for once, do not listen to the reviews!

It is also worth mentioning that the socks looked more like sleeves for a shirt and did not fit close to the body at all. I opted to swap mine out for a pair of white, ruffly ankle socks. The shoes also leave a lot to be desired and felt like sanitary coverings. They are not made for outdoor use so if you plan to wear them, put them on after you enter into your destination. I will not be using them and will wear a red pair of heels instead – I need any extra length I can get! I will say that the hat and ears are insanely cute and both stayed nice and secure once on. In fact, they are the only parts of the costume that I don’t have a problem with lol.

Even though I am swimming in this costume, I will be damned if I’m not working it and after some tweaking it did look a lot better. If you plan on ordering one for yourself, just know that it might not be exactly what you had in mind after viewing the product pictures!

Do you have a costume you wear during the holidays? What is your favorite holiday movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov10

Lil Red Jacket OOTD Bloopers

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Lil Red Jacket OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Lil Red Jacket OOTD! I don’t know about all of you, but I have been So. Freaking. Tired. I feel overworked and over stressed and by the time last weekend rolled around, I was over it. Other than a lovely dinner out with our favorite downstairs neighbor on Friday, Johnny and I did a whole lot of nothing. The only thing in my books was taking pictures on Saturday and I was able to rouse Johnny from the coach to accomplish my goal. Like the blog husband he is, he went outside in his pajamas to make it happen! #blessed I was definitely looking as yikes as I felt in these shots:

Best blurry pals!!!

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Yoohoo from the parking lot of Timber Top!

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TFYM when you’re going to have a mental breakdown

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Lmaooo what is this?! YIKES.

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Looking like a total derp…

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And ROCKING it, obvi

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Clearly ready for Johnny to give me my phone back!

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Being self employed has so many perks and, to me, there is nothing better than being able to do my own thing every day. The downside? When I don’t do my own thing every day, I don’t get paid. I am the absolute WORST at taking time off for myself. Legit the only times I do are when I am sick or during family emergencies so it’s never particularly a fun day off lol. As a major positive, I adore my jobs and am happy to give my all each time I punch the clock. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that I can’t freaking wait for holiday breaks, though!

After an exhausting handful of weeks, I pulled up the calendar on my phone and decided to give myself something to look forward to… plotting my Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks (and dinner plates, let’s be real!). Normally, I don’t take lengthy breaks during the holiday season. This year, I am treating myself baby!! I have mapped out my vacations to give myself the time and permission to do whatever I want. Whether that be lounging for two days straight, hang outs with friends, and staying up and sleeping in late. Just the promise alone of a work free agenda has been intoxicating and it really perked me up. 🙂

I am in the holiday home stretch. In a handful of weeks it will be sweet freedom and I am motivated to cross the finish line to the best of my ability and enjoy a much deserved rest!

Is it hard for you to take time off of work? Do you have plans for your holiday breaks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah