“Cheap & Cheery”

Good Day Loves…

Yesterday I wrote that I would share my little Dollar Store Christmas Tree. I have one in my studio that was a gift from my dear friend Jeff in 2014 after the fire. But now there is this little 4′ tinsel tree from the Dollar Store in the front windows and I just love it. I love Christmas trees and it just makes for more magic in the house. I need a little skirt for the bottom but I’m still trying to figure out what to use.

You know one of the great pressures of the season has to do with money and the pressure people put on themselves to try to do it up big every year and spend more than they need to, or feel sad because they really don’t have much of anything to spend. Well I love the Dollar Store, I go every month and get things that I need, and it is perfect for Christmas. The inexpensive decorations they have are wonderful and affordable and there are all manner of things you can give for gifts there. I think having a Dollar Store Christmas is a fine thing. And I wanted to share something with you that I sent out to my mailing list a few Christmases ago. It’s something a friend shared with me decades ago and it always stuck with me. A fun way to do Christmas on-the-cheap! If you right-click on it and then click “Open image in a new tab” it should open in a window in a bigger size so it’s easier to read…

A dear friend of mine used to call once in awhile and ask me if I wanted to go out for a “Cheap & Cheery” dinner. That was fun and now I’m all about the “Cheap & Cheery Christmas.” Why not? And handmade items, and food items like my dear friend Bekah gives are wonderful things. Imagine having a beautiful jar of canned pears from her garden? Now there’s a delight. And then for those who are at a loss as to what to give your kids for Christmas I always liked this…

Isn’t that wonderful?

I have my 8 hour Christmas harp music going again today and I think tonight the pugs and I are going to tuck in early and watch a couple of Christmas movies. Tis the season. What are your favorite Christmas movies? I’d love to hear from you about that. One that I just found a couple of years ago and now it’s a favorite of mine (I even watch it once in awhile through the year because I love it so much!) is The Family Stone. I’m sure I’ll watch that one tonight and something else too I think.

And oh yes, you should make a “Bag of Delights” just for you for the holiday season. While you are doing for others, do a special little something for yourself too. Again, from one of my Christmas newsletters, Right-click on it and then click “Open image in a new tab” it should open in a window in a bigger size so it’s easier to read…!

I hope the holiday season is coming to you in its fullness, with all of the love, tiny joys, special times with dear ones, and more. I am sending you so much love, and I’ll be here with you everyday through the holidays. Share your thoughts and feelings and days as you go along, and if you need a little support write to me and I’ll leave you a loving note here. We all need to reach out and help one another, and we need it now more than ever.

May the spirit of the season be in your heart all year round…