The Week before Christmas Lifestyle Notes
Happy Monday! Join me today for the Week before Christmas Lifestyle Notes!
I promise to be back to fashion soon after Christmas and appreciate your patience as I power through the week before Christmas.
Here are some week-before-Christmas lifestyle notes…including activity from the past weekend and a note about sales you may not want to miss.
A few of you told me to relax this week. My favorite way to do that during Christmas week is in the morning hours before sunrise.
I am still an early bird, morning person….and probably will always be.
After rising, I love to sit with the Christmas lights on, candles lit, and coffee in my Christmas cups to just ponder.
It is a cozy warmth that I love so much and gain strength from during this time.
So, join me with a warm beverage of you own, and let’s share lifestyle notes during the week before Christmas.
THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS LIFESTYLE NOTES: THRIFT TREASURES
As the boot provided more mobility, I have slowly done a little more decorating…though it is still not the full load.
That was when I found this thrift treasure I discovered during the summer at a stop by Goodwill San Antonio.
This crystal bowl is lovely and hand-painted with Christmas trees and ornaments.
It was only $4.99.
I plan to do more with it next year, but for now set one of my poinsettias in it.
I have several Christmas decorations for thrift shopping in the past that I really love.
A reminder: Mid-January is a great time to stop by Goodwill after many have cleaned out over the holidays.
THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS LIFESTYLE NOTES: THESE ARE GOOD
The week before Christmas is a great time to bless others…neighbors, co-workers, service workers, etc.
Mr. B was gifted these two items to enjoy the week before Christmas and they are delicious! I was very impressed.
They include the ORIGINAL WILLIAMS SONOMA PEPPERMINT BARK, and WILLIAMS SONOMA CLASSIC HOT CHOCOLATE….not really a powder, more like shaved chocolate.
I will remember this for sure next year as gifts for others…now that I have tried it myself and know it is excellent.
THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS LIFESTYLE NOTES: ACTIVITIES WITH GRANDCHILDREN
We spent an evening with three of our grandchildren this past week, and it was fun to have them the week before Christmas.
Mr. B and I each prepared an activity.
My project was making chocolate donut Rudolf reindeer.
Each child had a different spin on their creation….
But, Mr. B and our 3 year old granddaughter decided it was better to go with a motocycle!
I would have to consult with Santa to see if he prefers a motorcycle to reindeer.
Mr. B had all three lay on long butcher paper and her traced their images.
Then they colored them! It was prepared to be a gift to their mom….so we handed her three scrolls.
THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS LIFESTYLE NOTES: TAKE NOTE OF THIS
This is another one of my grandsons…he looks like a little Christmas elf, doesn’t he?
He is here to remind all of us this week before Christmas is a time to discover great finds in retail and often with amazing prices.
After I shared that silver shoes are on trend for next year, I was asked to show you more options. Here are some in a slideshow: (I promise to watch for more and some will go on sale after Christmas)
Also, watch out for these opportunities:
BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY ON SALE
Thank you for joining me to begin the week before Christmas! Here is what to expect this week:
Tuesday – Would You Wear It
Wednesday – Fashion news only
Thursday – I begin to look back at some of my favorite outfits from 2023
Friday – A Christmas message from me and my family
I appreciate everyone of you so much! Now….
KEEP SMILING!!
By Pamela Lutrell
I was encouraged to explain more about my SHOPPING LINKS page and how to use it. (In fact I just added a few new brands to the list)
I am an affiliate for many different brands and when you click on those brands and shop, then I receive a small commission.
This is such an important income for me and my family.
I have tried to include the brands most shopped by this audience, but sometimes I miss one of your favorites.
If you will tell me what you are shopping, then I can tell you if I am affiliate for them and give you that link…if it is not already on the page.
And remember to send your holiday recipes and decorations with pictures to over50feeling40@gmail.com. Send to email and do not try to put in comments! YOU are the best.
Think of the memories your grandchildren are making! Adorable! It is so satisfying to see children excited and not just got opening gifts.
Having holiday fun with the grandkids is so special! I spent Saturday baking Christmas cookies with mine; it didn’t go as planned because I foolishly tried a new sugar cookie dough recipe but we rebounded by improvising and instead of cute little stars and trees we have balls rolled in sparkle sugar. Of course all three ate and loved them. I appreciate you Pam and so enjoy your blog!
Hi, Pam. It is heartwarming to see you enjoying the week. The most special week of the year! What delightful projects with the grands. It doesn’t get better than that!! Hope you will find time to watch “The Bishop,’s Wife” this week.
Hi Linda…they just want to have fun with us…it doesn’t matter if it is stars or balls. Good for you and I bet they were yummy.
There are so many ways to have fun with them this time of year…if I was mobile, there would have been more! Happy week before Christmas, Deborah.
I haven’t seen it in a long time…will try to get it in! Thanks so much.
I love the donut-reindeer activity. How fun for them! The trace your body activity gave me such a happy memory, as I used to have students team up and do one member’s tracing, then they all wrote in as many names of body parts and clothing they could recall from our Spanish vocabulary lessons before the buzzer would ring. It could be pretty hilarious as inevitably some kids would reach the bottom of their knowledge barrel and start attempting just adding an “o” to the ends of english words. 😄 I always posted the bodies around my room for a while, and we would sing different versions of ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ subbing in a wide variety of parts that would leave them laughing their way out the door. Golly, I miss all that! But thanks for sparking these oh-so happy memories for me this morning. 💖 BTW, those Trotter’s zapatos are pretty darned cute, with the tie across the top.
I agree…those are super cute. I am happy to start your week by sparking fun memories!
Looks like fun! We have simplified our decor, and find we are enjoying it more. But everyone has their sweet spot for that. You will appreciate it all the more next year, when you can go all out again. I love chocolate peppermint bark, and the W-S brand is indeed great. Costco’s is too, but you don’t get that darling little tin. Despite the sales, I’m done shopping. I was in Chicos yesterday for a return, and they had racks and racks and racks of sale merchandise, most in black with the craziest sleeve sizes and details I ever saw. All the retailers seem over stocked, and judging from this in-store trip, have misread the customer’s appetite for one use, super festive clothing and exaggerated sleeves. I predict the January clearance sales will be epic.
Thanks for the field reporting, Linda. We will see if your prediction holds true, but I suspect you are right!
You and Mr B have given me some terrific activity ideas when I get to visit with my two youngest grands this week. Thank you!
And I wish you a wonderfully uplifting week reflecting on past holidays and how this one will be special—youre healing well, heading toward the finish line (hopefully ) with your surgeries behind you. Hurray! Looking forward to this weeks blogs!
Have fun with your grands Paulette! Can’t beat an activity with chocolate donuts!
Hi Connie! What a fun teacher you were, wish my teachers had had a little spark like that :). Dear Pam, even now you are a bundle of energy! I confess that this time of year is quite draining for me now that I am older. As part of the sandwich generation, I struggle with all of the responsibilities of daughter, wife, grandmother and step mom. It is so lovely to see Mr. B playing with the littles! Wishing all of you many Christmas blessings!
Thank you, Lisa!
Time with the grandchildren is always special, no matter what the activity is. I love the motorcycle, very creative. I was drawn to the silver Vionic loafer. It looks so comfy.
I like it too, Becky. I will be so curious to see how my new foot handles shoes!
I love those Vionic silver shoes – plus they have arch supports for my plantar fasciitis!
Interesting comments about Chico’s and their abundance of merchandise; guess this will mean good sales after the holidays???
You’re a good Grandma!
Oh, forgot to mention….has anyone else tried Trader Joe’s Jingle Jangle! OMGoodness, get more than one tin!
Thanks Margi…these three are blessed with another grandma who gives them lots of time and care. I am blessed to be on the team!
What a fun day with your grandchildren. I love reading about all the clever activities you share with them. Enjoy this special time while they are young.
Merry Christmas
I know…they grow so fast! Thanks Kathie!
Merry Christmas!
I love seeing these glimpses of your family’s holidays. So happy to see your recovery has progressed to the point you can enjoy some fun with Mr. B and your grandcuties! I get to see mine tomorrow night so their parents can celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, and you’ve given me some great ideas for some fun new things to do with them. We can’t do much with food due to some severe allergies (and of course they are all allergic to different things) but it’s been a few years since I’ve traced them on butcher paper. We’ve never done it with the youngest, so that will be big fun. We also plant paperwhite bulbs this same night every year. I bring a bulb and small container for each of them and they have a race to see whose grows the fastest. This year’s bulbs were received as a gift in my mother’s memory from one of my best friends who wanted me to have some “new life” to celebrate during my first holidays without her; what a lovely idea that I plan to share with other grieving daughters in the future. I’ve got some new holiday themed coloring books and we’ll have our annual “Elf The Buddy” watching party (named by the middlest) who couldn’t get it right for so long that’s just what we call it now. So far my greatest Christmas joy has been giving their family their first pet, a sweet five-month old shelter rescue puppy they named Jovie, after Buddy’s girlfriend/wife in Elf. I have re-watched the video from the night I delivered her a hundred times, and it never fails to cheer me up. I get to babysit Jovie on the 24th and 25th while they visit their other grandparents, so I will have a good snuggle buddy in their absence. Wishing you and all your readers a peaceful and joyous holiday!
Also meant to comment regarding the silver shoes: I only wear rose gold or yellow gold, as my “autumn” coloring is similar to yours. But when the new JJill collection dropped yesterday I ordered a pair of Born ballet flats I think you might like. They are offered in navy suede with a navy patent toe (like Chanel knockoffs) and also tan suede with a gold cap toe that is not pointed – more squared across the toe. I ordered both and will report back when I recieve them. Was hoping it might work for your newly remodeled foot!
Sharing memories with everyone is so special! Hope you are feeling better!