More Holiday Simplicity Thoughts

Another festive holiday tea: Eggnog. I think I’ll be making some gift baskets full of these Bigelow holiday teas. QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY: Have you dropped off cans of food at your local food bank recently? Food banks get a lot of donations around Thanksgiving and Christmas time, but they need them year round, …

Holiday Simplicity

Because this blog often features shopping related info, images of things I’ve bought to enjoy in my own home, and excitement about new products, I hesitate to spend too much time talking about frugality. There are enough blogs on the net talking about money saving tips and budgeting; Lovely Living has a different focus. But …

Holiday Letter Writing

Holiday Elf Kit, at Paper Source QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY: In case bad weather this winter keeps you from going to the store for a week, are you well stocked on toilet paper, Kleenex, plastic wrap, medicines, paper towels, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent? Need to add rock salt or driveway de-icer to your shopping …

Veteran’s Day

A pretty ginger flower I picked up at Trader Joe’s. I’d never seen one before, and it perfectly matches the colors in my kitchen. Today isn’t supposed to be just a day off from work. Call your friends and family members who have been members of the military (even if they haven’t been on active …

Taking the Day off for Columbus Day

Victor, thoroughly enjoying the dog park The post office is closed for Columbus Day, which means I can’t ship my eBay items. I suppose I should be reflecting on the meaning of Columbus Day, but instead, I’m going to lunch with my aunt and taking the dogs to the dog park for a couple hours. …

Mid-Autumn Festival

QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY: Need to do any mid-week laundry? Let’s spend some time today on our area rugs and throw rugs. I’m going to vacuum all of mine, sweep under them, and sponge-clean the one by my front door. The one by my back door has been hosed off and is hanging to …

Sparkling Holidays

QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY: – Do you have a pileup of plastic bags in the kitchen that need to go be recycled? – If you have a Christmas tree up, check to see if it needs water, and vacuum around it really quickly if needed. We’ve been tracking needles onto my entryway, so I …

Making the Holidays Magical

What can you do to make the holidays more magical for your family, your friends, and yourself? Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule, Winter Solstice; or if you’re an atheist who just likes the snow, festive atmosphere and pretty lights – what can you personally do to foster a warm holiday spirit? What things make …

December Begins

I’m giving away a few of the new Trader Joe’s Belgian Chocolates as gifts this Christmas. Just $5 a box, and you get 25 lovely chocolates. I of course had to sample several to make sure they were delicious enough to give away! This is the beginning of the most festive month of the year. …

More Holiday Simplicity Thoughts

QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY: – Have you gotten your flu shot for this year yet? How about your family members? – Do you take your children for Santa pics? If so, have you made time/plans/budget to do so? – Since we’re spending time in the home office this week, how are your supplies of …