Living Simply - Happy November!

     In addition to be my sister's birthday today, I love November 1st because that's when it officially feels like fall around here. Lots of pumpkins, red, yellow and orange everywhere (not a huge fan of yellow and orange but for a few weeks a year it's okay), pumpkin spice coffees and desserts, cooler days, cozy nights, all gearing up for a time of togetherness, peace, then a new start.

How will this year be different for us? The choices we make will be personal, meaningful, and intentional...and oh yeah, more SIMPLE. We're not going overboard with extravagant menus, crazy busy plans, over the top decorations, and definitely not going into lots of debt to buy meaningless material stuff just because it's "expected" by our culture to overdo it with gifts. It will be a time where we plan a Thanksgiving meal when it's most convenient for our family. With so many people having to work Thanksgiving morning/night, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve - we'll choose our dinners, gatherings, and gift exchanges based on what suits us best. Honestly, if my whole family can't gather to eat on a Thursday but can on a Wednesday evening, we'll do that!

How will gifts be different? First of all, there will be less of them, less expectations, less junky little things that end up stuffed in a closet or quickly thrown out/given away. What we choose will be meaningful to the person we give it to, and we're trying to think of creative experiences instead of material goods. If you want ideas on that, skim through the October daily challenges on here about gifts, lots of ideas for tickets, memberships, events, classes, etc.

What are we adding that's a new tradition? Well, for one, I have a new daughter-in-law joining us at Christmas. My son has a new (in-law) family that will want him there for Thanksgiving. My daughter has a boyfriend who will want her with them for at least part of both holidays - like I said, we'll do ours whatever day works best for us so there's no pressure for them to "choose" where to go or not.

We have a beach themed Christmas and our Thanksgiving is usually a quiet, candlelight dinner, so I'm looking forward to that. We may change it up a bit with what we eat, when we do it, or foregoing the typical pumpkin and pecan pie for dessert and trying something else that's new to us. Maybe we'll go out instead?

What I do know is that this year will be a lot more simple. I am determined to Live Simply, to the best of my ability, for the rest of my life. I'm just getting started, so I'll make mistakes along the way, and so will you, it takes a while to get the hang of a new lifestyle, but that's okay - baby steps along the way. We'll all get there someday. For now, just BE in the moment, live a more intentional, simple life, and remember to breathe. Have a great day today.