manda_faromeiro

My First Disney-Themed Blog Post

January 14, 2019 manda_faromeiro

I’m leaving for Walt Disney World in 15 days and I cannot contain my excitement! If you’ve ever had the privilege of going away on vacation, remaining focused at work can be difficult once your trip is “officially” booked and all that is left to do is pack & get to the airport on time. Waiting to leave for Disney is no different, and I’ve been officially booked for this trip since almost 200 days ago.

We’ve all met those people who are crazy about Disney. Those people who have seen (almost) every film, have a Rolodex of endless quotes and lines from the movies, can beat you at any Disney-themed trivia game, and just love talking about any and all things Disney. I don’t claim to be the biggest Disney fan ever, because I know that Disney has a very universally shared love and appreciation, and most people at one point or another grew up with something Disney-related in their household. Now, this doesn’t mean that I won’t talk Disney with you for hours on end, or share my thoughts and opinions of films, merch, the parks etc. but I am by no means an expert, and having the privilege to visit the parks more than once in my lifetime has affirmed that Disney really does resonate with almost everyone, that’s pretty special. And no one cares what you know and how much you do know, no one needs to be if an expert!

Since I was young, I adored all-things Disney. I remember having a collection of all the Seven Dwarfs plushies (Snow White was my favourite), as well as various princess pencil cases and school supplies, Lion King toys, and of course Disney clothes! One of my favourite items was a Pocahontas piggy bank that I received for one of my birthdays, and I kept it for so many years (even as a teenager) until it broke in my early 20s; sad day! I even remember getting the Disney video games; does anyone else remember how difficult that one level in the Aladdin game was for Sega Genesis? I remember seeing The Lion King on Broadway in New York during my Grade 12 Arts trip in High School; it was such an incredible show. Oh, the memories!

It wasn’t until 2014 that I had the chance to visit Walt Disney World for the very first time. I was in my mid-20s and I was probably as excited as a six-year-old to be finally visiting the famous castle and theme park. I honestly did not know what to expect. Going back to that whole being an expert thing, it’s amazing how much advice you can get from people as soon as you tell them you’re going to Disney World for the first time; I must have received 20 pages worth of advice on where to eat, what to do, what characters to meet, how to get the most of your time and money, and whatever other expertise people wanted to give me. Honestly, while it was a nice gesture, none of it was very helpful. In fact, it made my trip quite overwhelming, and I had not even started packing yet! Everyone who had been before wanted to help give me tips, but the trouble is that they all had a different idea of the best things to do, see, eat etc. Alas, I decided to take it upon myself to do as little planning as possible.

Yep. Being someone who naturally loves to plan and organize, not planning out all the details was a little challenging, but I made sure to make only a small checklist of things I really wanted to do, and then the rest would just fall in place, if possible! I did my own research and very quickly skimmed the recommendations given to me from friends, coworkers, etc. and came up with a list of 2 or 3 things at most that I wanted to do at each park. I wanted to go into the parks and really just enjoy the experience, take my time walking around and coming across anything that intrigued me, not going off of a schedule and having to check things off my list. I didn’t want my vacation to seem like a chore or task list, so I stuck to my 2-3 things, and the rest just fell into place!

During my first trip, I visited the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios only. I was blown away by how amazing both parks were. It was neat to see things from my childhood come to life and to feel like I really had stepped inside those beloved books and films. Oh, and not to mention how incredibly cool it was to interact with some of my favourite Disney characters. One of the cheesy-but-true things about Disney World is that it really is the happiest place on earth. It’s difficult to be in Disney World and not be smiling, laughing, or in good spirits. Yes, there are miserable people walking around, whether that be screaming kids, hot and bothered patrons sick of waiting in line, or whomever, but the overall atmosphere is really a pleasant one. There are always parades, little performances/acts, characters or things to see, rides to go on (for all intensity levels), and honestly, just the aesthetics of the parks are very pleasing. I honestly believe that you don’t truly appreciate the park until you are older, but of course, that can be said for most things! Also, I recognize my bias because I never went as a child.

Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival – September 2016

My next trip was in 2016 and this time I visited Epcot, Animal Kingdom and returned to the Magic Kingdom. Once again, I travelled with an open agenda (apart from 2-3 things I wanted to do). Luckily we were attending some pretty special events happening at the parks: Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. For anyone who doesn’t know, Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival showcases special dishes and drinks from all over the world, and you can get a specially priced passport to try items from every kiosk. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is an after-hours event at Magic Kingdon where you can dress up in costume, ride some of the rides, and go around collecting Halloween treats at various stops in the park. The coolest thing about the Halloween party is that many of the Villains come out and you can meet them, and there is also a wicked parade showcasing Disney’s best villains. I recommend both of these events to anyone interested in an awesome experience at the parks, especially because dressing up for Halloween never gets old!

The Aliens (from Toy Story) – MNSSHP September 2016

I could dedicate many separate blogs for all things Disney and Walt Disney World, this entry was just a chance for me to openly discuss how I’ve been reflecting about my upcoming trip. This will be my third time at Disney World, and I am happy to say that I have had the opportunity to visit the parks with my BFF each time. For all the fun vacations can be, they can also be tiring and uncomfortable at times. Yet, when I travel with my BFF, we never have a dull moment and quite literally are the perfect travel companions. We have travelled so much together that we understand each other’s behaviours and patterns and travelling with her really takes any worry out of the travelling process. Partaking in an adventure like Walt Disney World can be quite the ordeal because there are so many things to consider (like dining, how long you want to stay at the parks, what kind of rides or attractions you like) and what you want out of your experience. Since we are BFF’s it is easy for us to stay on the same page, while still knowing that the other one will get the most out of our trip. As I’ve said in prior posts, the company you keep is SO IMPORTANT!

I will definitely be writing about my trip, probably in more detail, when I get back, but preparing for my vacation has given me the opportunity to really relish in what makes a vacation to Walt Disney World so magical. I truly enjoy the little moments and details of Disney World, and capturing everything I can in photos and video! I love getting swept up in all the magic and getting lost in the moment. When I visit Disney World, I am reminded of why I love Disney so much; it allows me to adventure to a far off place and forgets my worries! Hakuna Matata – it means no worries

(until the end of your stay- when you get your credit card statement!) Bahaha!

I’m Really Not A Morning Person and That’s Okay.

January 9, 2019January 15, 2019 manda_faromeiro

You’ve heard it before, and so have I. Yep. I’ve read many articles and have received much advice from adults and teachers and responsible people alike about the benefits of getting up early and why people who wake up earlier tend to be more productive. I also know there are counter-arguments on this topic, and while I am not here to debate the pros and cons of waking up early, I am here to share my own insights on why I myself will never be a morning person, and why I am totally okay with this.

I am sure you’ve all met those people who might be coined as “Nighthawks,” those individuals who rather than getting up early in the morning, sleep in and stay up very late into the later hours (after 11pm). My brother and I had an interesting conversation about this recently, and how we both are firm believers that sometimes you’re just wired a certain way and how some of us will never be those early birds. I know habits and routines can change, and I even had a period a few years ago where I was getting up at 6:30 am every day for work, and honestly, I really hated it. Even getting up for school in the morning was dreadful, if it happened before 7:45 am.

Ever since I can remember, I have always been the most productive in the evenings. When I was in high school, in addition to after-school sports and clubs, I also had a job. This meant that at least 3 school nights a week, I wasn’t getting home until 9:30 pm. Of course, I had to then start my homework, have a shower, and possibly have some leisure/downtime if time allowed. Basically, I wasn’t going to bed before midnight unless my school workload was lightened. Completing my homework so late wasn’t ever a drag for me, and I always found I had this burst of energy after coming home from work. It seemed that my most creative thoughts and ideas would come about after dark, and my concentration was at an all-time high. I attribute this to many things.

After being at school for 6 or so hours and focusing all day long, it is important to give your brain a break. For me, these breaks included going to work, but also participating in activities like sports or drama club, or even hanging out with my friends. My parents were pretty lenient in that they always understood that we always got our homework done, so finishing our homework before going out with friends wasn’t a necessary rule in our house. My parents knew that if I didn’t get home until the evening, or if I had friends come over, my homework would get done regardless. I have always had strong organizational/time management skills so trying to find a work/school/social life balance never was hard for me. Having a few hours break between after school and homework time allowed my brain to focus better on completing those tasks and thinking about what material I learned throughout the day. For those days where I had nothing going on after school, I still found myself not working on any homework until well after supper; the only exception to this was group projects or studying for tests or exams.

Some of you are probably reading this thinking, no teenager likes getting up early in the morning, so what? Well, for me, this wasn’t just a phase of puberty. I really liked to work in the evening and into the night. When I went off to university, 8:30 am classes were hell for me. I tried so hard to get into routines of waking up at the same time every day, going to bed at the same time every night, planning activities for the morning, leaving sections of time in the morning to ease myself into waking up earlier, but nothing was sticking. I went through a phase where I would work on any readings, essays or projects in the morning and earlier part of the day so that my evenings could be free. This was met with limited success. I found myself taking almost twice as long to get anything done, compared to when I would start after 6pm. Finally, I stopped fighting it and started listening to what my internal clock was telling me; my brain worked best late in the day.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much more work I got done in university once I completely accepted that my brain’s primetime was after supper hours and that this didn’t need to change. Yes, I’m not going to lie, there were quite a few 8:30 am classes that I outright missed or slept through, and while I struggled not to feel guilty about missing school (nerd alert), I found that getting up later, catching up on content via the textbook with the aid of my friends’ notes, was more productive for me than sitting in the classroom listening to my professor talk for 1.5 hours straight first thing in the morning. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I hate mornings, but I am not the best version of myself in the morning. It’s not that I can’t function as a person before 10 am, because I can, but I am at my most productive, enthusiastic and happy later in the day.

As I mentioned briefly above, at my old job, I had to wake up for work at 6:30am every day. I only worked 20 minutes away, so commuting wasn’t ever a real concern. A full school year went by under this schedule and it never got any easier. Sometimes I enjoyed finishing work at 4:30 instead of 6pm or later, but any chance I had to switch to a later shift, I would jump on it in an instant. I recognize that while I am a very talkative and happy person in general, I am not this person in the morning. Waking up in the morning is a process for me. I need time to process the alarm going off (sometimes 3 or 4 or 5 times) and getting the day started. I recognize that if I need to be “out of bed” by 7am that I really should start my alarm at 6:30 so that I have intervals to seize the day and get out of bed. I bet some people are reading this thinking how terrible this is for me and how much worse it is to set so many alarms, and while science probably agrees with you, this method is honestly what works for me. I don’t drink coffee, and while many have suggested this would help me to wake up, I don’t want to rely on caffeine to keep me alert. Instead, I take my time waking up. At my old job, I was required to be “on” early in the morning. Working with children, you don’t really get the chance to sit and be calm in the morning, you have to be all in; this means you’ve got to be talking, interacting, sharing ideas, playing, asking questions, and helping them learn new concepts and ideas. While some of the kids definitely made getting up earlier a little easier, I always found my afternoon classes ran much better because I was more alert and seemed to have the most creative ideas for projects and activities.

Taking the time to “wake up” was and still is an interesting concept to me because while I do need time to ease into the morning, I also cannot have a morning that drags on. Basically, I need to wake up with just the right amount of time to get dressed, get makeup on, maybe eat breakfast at home (or stop on the way to work) and that’s pretty much it. Any other lull in time tends to make the process of being alert and ready for the day that much longer. In general, I enjoy being busy so I think this is a good reason for it, but also focusing on all the things I have to do for the day kicks my brain into gear. The drive to work is a good time for me to become more awake and ready to conquer the day too, even if its only 15 or 20 minutes, it allows me to not have to engage in conversation, but ease into listening to some music or a podcast and get ready for whatever interactions I might be met with for the day. Of course, this doesn’t mean that I’m not productive at work in the morning, I can definitely be when I need to be, but if you want me at my best, most creative, insightful and delightful, perhaps come engage with me around lunchtime?

Now that I am 30 and can’t hide from being an adult and all the responsibilities that come with it, sometimes I can’t help but feel the societal pressure to become a morning person and seize the day as early as possible, because how can you really be an “adult” if you struggle to get up before 8 am? Well, it used to bother me. When I graduated and started my career I used to think there was something wrong with me because I still hated to (and struggled to) get up early. I thought that eventually, I would get used to waking up early and going to bed at a “decent” hour, which I think is before 10 pm? People still remind me that sleeping until 7:30 or 8 or 8:30 is too late for an adult, especially because I don’t work a job that requires me to work until 1 am or whatever late night shift, but I don’t know what else to say other than it’s just the way I am. I no longer worry about being a late riser, it doesn’t bother me, despite those who want to make me feel bad about it. I accept that I am not a morning person, nor do I want to be. Sure, I’ll wake up early when I need to (work, making an appointment, catching a flight, or when it’s better to do so (like when on vacation or a trip) but my preference is still late evenings over mornings.

Understanding my own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to getting up early was and still is a work in progress. As I said, there are times that call for early mornings, and it’s not as though I am totally unbearable when I do have to get up early, but I thrive in the later parts of the day. I can get up early if I need to, and all “fine, but I’m going to complain the whole time” jokes aside, the mindset is a key factor here. Being an early riser is doable, and for me, it just needs to have a purpose and needs to feel fulfilling. If I can say with confidence that waking up earlier than my normal is necessary because ______________, then I won’t dread it as much. Mindset is also relative to mood. Maybe a contributing factor to dreading those 6:30 am work mornings was attributed to something about my job? Maybe not?

It is quite an interesting rabbit hole to crawl into, but for now, how about a nap?

Just kidding! Thanks for reading.

A Board Game Appreciation (and Recommendation) Post

January 5, 2019January 5, 2019 manda_faromeiro

Many people have set New Year’s Resolutions, or for those who do not like to call them resolutions, New Year’s Goals. I’ve never been the type to make resolutions, but I do promise myself to continue trying new things as the year goes on and to do more of what I enjoy. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, 2018 was a very busy year, so busy in fact that I had very little time to do the little things I enjoy; like playing board games.

Board games are a pastime that I thoroughly enjoy, and it has become a staple at almost every hangout with my friends. My collection of games has grown immensely and anyone who has been over to my house can tell you for certain that there is definitely something for every type of gamer. Over the last several years, there has been a real resurgence in the popularity of board games; board game cafes are popping up in many areas and group party games like Cards Against Humanity seem to be beloved by all, even those who may not own any other games on their shelves. I really appreciate these board game cafes because they allow people to become reacquainted with some old favourites, or even try something new without having to outright buy the game themselves. These cafes have presented many fun new games that I’ve since added to my own collection and because of these cafes, it has become easier for me to pinpoint the kind of board game I thoroughly enjoy playing.

For me, board games are a wonderful way to not only pass the time, but test your whits, work on your strategy, escape to new worlds, or simply just unwind and have fun. I enjoy all levels of board and card games whether they are party style, team-based, strategy, cooperative, negotiation, guessing games, trivia, or word games. With so much variety and style of gameplay, how could you not enjoy playing games? It is very easy to get lost in all the choices, and it can even be overwhelming to branch away from the standard games we all grew up playing like Monopoly, Scrabble, Guess Who, and Yahtzee. This is why I think those board game cafes are very important!

While the New Year is only 5 days in, I can say with much joy that I have been able to partake in quite a few games board (and card) games already. Games like Catan, Blokus, Fluxx, Exploding Kittens, SET, Powergrid, King of Tokyo, and Sheriff of Nottingham, just to name a few. I could truly write a separate blog entry on each of the games I play the most often, and why you should really give them a chance if you haven’t already, but I thought that since I am just beginning to explain the joy of playing board games, that I will provide just a short list of games that are interesting and fun to play. So here we go…

Settlers of Catan
Yep. Anyone who knows me knows how much I really love this game. For those who don’t know, Catan is a multi-player game (anywhere from 3-6 players) where players assume the roles of settlers, each attempting to build and develop settlements and cities, while trading and acquiring resources. Players gain points as their settlements grow; the first to reach a set number of points, typically 10, wins. Catan became an instant favourite for me, and the added bonus of so many different expansion sets really adds a variety of new elements to the basic gameplay. Some of the expansions allow for settlements to take place across the sea, while others have you battling pirates or traitors, and even having to work together with your enemies to build up your armies of knights and fight off the pirates trying to take over your settlements. It is difficult to become bored with Catan, simply because there are so many variants that change up the outcome of the game. There is even an option where you can combine some of the expansions together and make an intense board consisting of a 42″ x 33″ playing space (pictured below). Now, some of you might be thinking that Catan is simply too long of a game and you don’t want to be playing for hours on end. Honestly, you are partially right. I’ve played so many games of Catan, I’ve seen the game be as quick as 25 minutes, or as long as 5 hours and 20 minutes. It all depends on the variants, the number of players, and how quickly the players take their turns. I highly recommend it though, at least give it a chance.

OrganATTACK!
For anyone unfamiliar with The Awkward Yeti- Heart & Brain Comics, google them right now! Nick Seluk created the most hilarious, heartwarming comic about the organs in our bodies and how they react and interact with each other during a day-to-day experience. Thanks to Kickstarter, he was able to create a quick-play card game based off of our organs. OrganATTACK is all about trying to remove your opponents’ organs before they remove yours. The last person to still have at least one organ is the winner! Players use related afflictions to attack their opponents (for example, playing Gallstones on Gallbladder). Apart from how sweet the drawings are, this game is loads of fun mostly because of how simple it is to learn and how quickly you become hooked. OrganATTACK is an instant favourite because each hand you are dealt is different, and the draw pile is full of various action cards that can totally turn the game around, including a poison card which instantly kills one of your organs! Seriously give it a chance, I promise you’ll be laughing and have a great time playing.

Ticket to Ride
Like Catan, Ticket to Ride became an instant favourite in my board game collection. The objective is to build train routes to various cities and ultimately collect the most number of points based off of the routes and cities you connected. Each player starts the game off with a minimum of two destination tickets and you can acquire more if you choose, but you won’t know the other destinations your opponents are trying to connect; most routes only have one path so you have to plan accordingly. You are able to create a train route once you’ve collected the appropriate number of cards in the appropriate colour (i.e. 4 yellow cards). Ticket to Ride also has different versions that introduce new twists, but mostly just give you a brand new board to build on (i.e. Europe or Germany or New York City). Playtime runs about one hour, but you’ll be surprised how fast that hour will go by when you’re focused on connecting your train routes from Seatle to El Palso.

Dutch Blitz
I was introduced to this game from a Reddit Gift Exchange that I participated in back in 2017. I gifted this game to someone and their feedback on it was so positive that I thought to try it out myself.
The objective of Dutch Blitz is to score points by playing as many cards as possible on Dutch Piles, and by emptying the Blitz Pile as quickly as possible. This is done by playing cards from the Blitz Pile, Post Piles, and Wood Pile on the Dutch piles. It may sound confusing, and at first, I was a little confused, but once you look closer at the instruction sheet and see how the piles are set up, it is very easy. Dutch Blitz is an absolute hoot to play! The cool thing about this family-friendly fast-paced game is that all players are playing their cards at the same time. The quick pacing of the gameplay coupled with the fact that you can have up to 8 players at a time, makes the game a whole lot of fun. Each round lasts anywhere from 3-7 minutes depending on the skill level or intensity level of those you are playing with; many times I’ve played this game with friends it has gotten to the point where everyone stands up in anticipation of seeing where they can play their cards. I honestly think this game is great for all ages and all intensity levels. Also, it is very inexpensive on Amazon – my copy plus the expansion pack cost me only $10.00.

As I said above, I could go on and on listing games that I thoroughly enjoy playing, but I am confident that these four have been a good start. I chose these four not only because they are my favourites, but also because of the style of play; I thought that discussing two longer paced more strategy based games and then two short-play quicker games would be a good way to get a conversation going about the variety of games that exist. My goal for 2019 is to continue trying new board and card games, while also taking more time to play those that I really enjoy playing and have a lot of fun doing so. Yes, this includes old school favourites like Monopoly, Clue, and Risk- we still play these in my house!

What are some of your favourite board games or card games?

Pinkies Up: A Tea-Time Appreciation Post

January 3, 2019 manda_faromeiro

Once upon a time, I only drank tea when I was feeling under-the-weather or dealing with an unhappy digestive system or an upset stomach. I never envisioned that one day I would open my kitchen cupboard to find a plethora of tins and canisters filled with assorted flavours of loose leaf and bagged tea. Like most things, my appreciation for tea did not happen overnight. Oh, and yes, I will tell you the tale of how I came to really enjoy having a cup of tea, at almost any time of day.

As I said above, I only ever drank tea to soothe any uneasy feelings I might have been experiencing, or if I was sick. As someone who never really enjoyed hot beverages anyway (I am not a coffee drinker nor do I enjoy hot apple cider or anything like that), whenever I was offered a beverage, it hardly was a warm one, and if it was, it was hot chocolate. In my house, tea was always readily available, and my mom often drank tea and so did our guests. I recall having the typical varieties like Orange Pekoe, Earl Grey, Chamomile, Green, Peppermint, and English Breakfast. Now I know you avid tea drinkers are reading this thinking about all the different varieties under those I just listed, and I understand there are also subcategories like brands as well as loose-leaf tastes vs pre-bagged, but I am trying to keep it simple for the sake of this blog. Anyway, exposure to tea was not the issue, it was simply a matter of preference.

When I ventured off to university, many of my friends and classmates would bring Thermus’ filled with coffee or tea to classes, more often than not, as going to school in North Bay means you’re basically in the cold the whole entire school year. The odd time, a friend and I would head over to Twiggs and grab a small snack and a beverage, but even still I rarely chose tea, and if I did, it was always under the category of Green Tea. I always understood that there was such an assortment of tea flavours, and depending on whether you wanted green, herbal, black, white, oolong, or whatever, that list got more complex. One could really get lost in all the choices, and picking the wrong kind over and over again could really leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Alas, the university days were over and I tea still wasn’t my go-to beverage but there were people in my life who really wanted it to be…

Finding something you love and wanting to share that experience with those around you is something we all do from time to time, so friends of mine who really enjoyed tea (and the oh-so-many selections to choose from) often encouraged me to try all sorts of options; especially on those late night hangouts while we were playing board games or watching movies. By 2015, I had started branching off and trying new flavours like fruit flavoured teas, but I wasn’t ready to indulge in flavours like S’Mores or Popcorn; those are foods, not beverages, how could they possibly make sipping them as good as munching them? How unnecessary…

In 2016 a friend and I had been talking about some things we wanted to try for the new year that we had never done before. One of the things on both our minds was trying new foods and food-like experiences. I expressed to my friend that a co-worker of mine was telling me all about her High Tea experience when she was visiting England with a friend over the summer, and it sounded very intriguing. She agreed that she would love to go, and so we made it happen.

As someone who wasn’t well versed in the tea game, experiencing High Tea was enjoyable for many reasons. First, the lady who ran the tea-shop was very friendly and was able to describe and explain the types of tea she offered in a way that was simple to follow and easy to match up your preferred tastes. Secondly, the atmosphere of High Tea really brought to life why tea-time was such a lovely experience: having a pot of tea alongside some finger foods and good company in a quiet setting was soothing for the soul. Seriously. Most of us don’t realize how little time we take to take to stop and eat, drink, and socialize – in a calmer, cozier atmosphere than at the restaurant chain down the street. The experience of High Tea allowed me to really be present in the conversations we were having and to really savour and relish in the different types of foods and snacks; it was such a well-rounded experience for me as a whole.

As the months went by, I decided I would try a new flavour of tea at least once a month. I realize as I write this that it would have been helpful to have written down all the new flavours I have tried, but once you start branching out, you really begin to develop a sense of what you do like or prefer. It might sound odd to some of you reading this, but the trial of High Tea reaffirmed the importance of giving something another chance; like an old hobby or pastime, what once was could once again be something beloved, simply by trying again (oh-and having the right company too- this one plays more of a role than you might think). A few of us even began hosting our own versions of High Tea time, and it was tea-lightful (look, a pun!)

A year and some has gone by since my first High Tea experience, and I am pleased to say that I have had the opportunity to experience many more, including a special High Tea at Casa Loma in Toronto! Appreciation for tea time was carried over to home, as the home collection of tea selection began to grow. I began to buy some take-home boxes or tins of the teas I tried during these High Tea experiences, and then I finally started paying closer attention to the tea aisle at the grocery store and even began walking into David’s Tea shops at my local malls. Before I knew it, tea fever had already begun to spread, and the cupboard was filling up with teas galore!

I encourage you, even if you don’t care for tea too often to try a High Tea at least once; there are more options around you than you might think and each experience is totally different. If that isn’t your cup of tea, (yes another pun!) then perhaps you can stop by your local tea shop and try a cup by random, tea roulette could be kinda fun?

By no means am I a tea sommelier. I cannot offer any advice on what are the best teas for “beginners” and I can’t say that I have even begun to get the brewing temperature and timing just right; it really is a process and such a science! But I can honestly say that tea has become quite enjoyable for me, and it too was a process. Sometimes, I still find the choices to be overwhelming and find myself sticking to similar realms of flavours; anything with peach seems to be golden for me! With such a collection growing in my cupboard, every time a friend comes over and wants a cup of tea, my hope is that they are inspired by the selection to try something new, or perhaps partake in one of their favourites. And if not, that’s okay too!

Is there something you never really cared for in the past that you now really enjoy?

My First Fashion Themed Blog Post

December 30, 2018 manda_faromeiro

I never thought I’d see the day when I would write a blog about fashion. One thing that I have always loved about having my own personal style is how people can look at an article of clothing or an accessory and think, “Oh Yeah! That is totally something Amanda would wear!” It is flattering when people see something and think of you, especially because style and fashion isn’t something I ever thought long and hard about defining for myself. I always believed that if you liked something then you should just wear it.

Growing up, I had many different fashion phases. Most notably, I certainly went through a skater phase and punk rock phase (without the multi-coloured hair), and also a sporty phase. At the moment, I never considered these to be phases because they simply paralleled my interests. Once upon a time, I used to skateboard, just like I was quite athletic and very into sports; specifically basketball. I also went through a dressy/professional phase, well before I was a professional. It sounds strange to word it that way but it’s true. I really enjoyed collared shirts, dress pants, ties, and the like. There was a time where I didn’t own a single pair of jeans for about 10 years… only dress pants and shorts made up my lower-body wardrobe. Fascinating…

Like fashion should be, my fashion was simply an expression of my tastes, likes, and interests. Looking back, what interests me the most is seeing how many of my “fashion phases” overlapped each other and now that I am an adult (or so I am told because I’ve levelled up past my 20s) I see elements of these phases coming out in my closet; I love it! As I’ve mentioned before, confidence is not something I ever really lacked, so choosing clothes was always a fun process for me because I never really thought about following fashion rules or styles. Again, If I liked something, I bought it and coordinated into the other pieces of clothing I had in my closet.

When I think about my own style and tastes, I think about the articles that I am most drawn towards. If I think about what is most consistent for me, it’s simple: shoes & sunglasses. There is nothing more satisfying than when you find a killer pair of shoes and an awesome pair of shades. I can say with confidence that these are the two articles of clothing/fashion that I am most well known for having many of and for consistently wearing the most.

This year, I added a new article to this list. This year I became obsessed with jackets. Oh, it’s true, it’s damn true. Something about jackets really spoke to me this year, and I can’t pinpoint the moment it happened, but next thing I knew I had about 6 new jackets in my closet when I realized that I was officially obsessed. Just like shoes and sunglasses, jackets are a beloved article of fashion for me – and writing this blog made me realize why. These three articles of fashion speak to me because of their versatility. All of these items can be dressed up or dressed down, and add that extra flair to any outfit; at least that’s how I feel about them! If fashion is supposed to make a statement, that’s just what these three articles of fashion do for me.

What I love about my own style is that it pulls from a variety of influences; whether it be pop culture, a particular decade, or simply what speaks to me when I see it hanging on a rack. I can’t speak to what is super trendy or in style, but I do know what I like. I hope that whatever your style, you truly own it and continue to love how you look & feel in it because honestly, that is what fashion should really be about.

The beautiful thing about fashion is that it’s always evolving, changing yet being reborn again. Who would have thought that we’d be so happy for bright colours and neon to come back in style? Or is that just me?

What articles of fashion (clothing or accessories) are your go-to pieces? What do you feel most confident in? Where do you draw your fashion influences from?

How I Came Around to Enjoying Art

December 28, 2018December 29, 2018 manda_faromeiro

When I was in school, Art was always my least favourite subject. As a student, I was always up for a challenge, but there was something about the art class that always made me cringe. I guess I should clarify, I am referring specifically to the visual arts (drawing, painting, pottery etc.) as I have been and always will be a drama kid; as for music, I cannot play an instrument to save my life…

What always stressed me out about art class was the expectations. The balance of mastering the techniques while also adding your own creative flair to whatever art piece you were working on, always made art class very stressful for me. Getting good grades was always important to me, yes, I was a nerd that way, so while most people felt relaxed and excited about art class, I was dreading it.

Anyone who knows me knows that confidence is not something that I lack. Yet, I was never confident in my artistic abilities, most specifically with drawing and painting. I was relieved that I never had to take another art class in my life after Grade 9, but then I reached the final year in my Concurrent Education program at Nipissing, and I was required to take Art as one of my teachable subjects (yay for choosing the elementary stream!) – such sarcasm…

Once again, I found myself faced with the stress and nervousness I felt in school during art class. I didn’t feel my skills were up to par, and if I couldn’t produce a good sample of art, how would I ever teach the skills and techniques? That art class in Nipissing was truly dreadful for me, especially because our final assignment was to design a portfolio showcasing a variety of different mediums and skills learned throughout the semester. The only project I took any pride in was an Art Integration Assignment, where we had to create a piece of art that blended two sections of the curriculum together. My friend and I chose Art & Grade 7 Geography and created this Model of the Nile River. Truth be told, the only reason I was happy with it was that I myself had done the exact same project when I was in Grade 7, so I already had an idea of how it was going to turn out; I had already done all the trial and error stuff when I was a kid…is that considered cheating?

Nipissing University J/I Visual Arts Class 2010

Long story short, I didn’t fail the class, and actually ended up with a very decent mark, but I was still so glad it was over and I would hopefully never have to do art ever again…until December 2012.

Remember when there was that whole thing about the world ending in 2012? Well, my friends and I had an “It’s the End of 2012, Not the End of the World” party, and my friend thought it would be cool to paint and make t-shirts. Sounds fun right? Well, once again, all these horrible memories of trying to perfect techniques and get your brush strokes just right came flooding over me. I realize as I write this that I am sounding very much like a perfectionist, and a tad dramatic, but this is honestly how much I detested art. Anyway, I went along with it, but you better believe I complained the whole time.

The night was fun, but not because of the art. After this, my one friend, in particular, continued to tease me about how whiny I was about “art class” and that one day I would learn to enjoy making art. He might read this, and he already knows, but he was right. In years to come, I would grow to really like art, and here’s how that happened.

In Summer 2014 I worked a Summer Camp and we had the opportunity to take the kids on many field trips throughout the summer. One of the trips was to Creative Cafe in Barrie. If you don’t know what Creative Cafe is, look it up, it’s amazing. Here, the students got to experiment with painting their own pottery pieces. Seeing how excited and creative the kids were getting really got me thinking. Most of the kids were really excited about designing the colours and patterns and were quite polite and encouraging to each other about how cool their designs looked. It was touching to see how much fun they were having and it really hit me: that was how art was supposed to be.

It would still be a few years before I really gave art a chance. In early 2017, I partook in one of those Paint Nite events in town. I truly had mixed emotions about the whole thing. What I did not know about Paint Nite before agreeing to sign up was that the painting was predetermined depending on the night you chose; I felt that I could do a pretty good job if it was a landscape or something without a face or too much detail. You better believe the painting that night was an owl, so I really was being tested here. I sat down in front of my easel and tried my best to remember that this was all for fun and everyone’s painting would look a little different, and that was okay. It was more than okay. That was the whole point. As the teacher went through the steps and did her best to explain how to achieve certain brush strokes or how to properly mix the colours together to get the right shades, I found myself getting less and less excited and more and more nervous. It was happening again, I was being far too hard on myself trying to achieve such a perfect piece of art. It was a shitty feeling. I was supposed to be having fun with my friends!

When I got home that night, my husband asked me how it went and if I was happy with my painting. Right away I was very hard on myself. I started to laugh and I said, “Well, it’s not horrible, but it’s not really that great.” I reluctantly turned the canvas over to show him. As he glanced at it, it felt like minutes went by before he said anything (it was really about 3-5 seconds). Confused, he looked at me and said, “What’s wrong with it? I like it. He’s got a lot of fur to keep him warm. He’s a snow owl isn’t he?” I couldn’t help but laugh. My husband is always very supportive, wonderful, and truthful. If something didn’t look right, he would say it. I wanted to believe him that it was actually a nice painting, but I still had my doubts. I set it down on the table to finish drying and told him that I would think of a place to put it in the next few days.

The next day I went to work. When I came home that night, I opened the front door and when I stepped inside my foyer, I noticed something new hanging on the wall. My husband greeted me and had the cutest little smirk on his face. I looked at the wall and looked at him. “You hung up my painting?” I asked him with much joy (and some confusion) in my voice. He replied, “Of course. Art is supposed to be hung on the wall. Besides, I really like this.” It was one of the best compliments I had ever been given in my whole life. I was hit with many feelings at that moment. It occurred to me that I was so critical on my skills when I absolutely had no reason to be. The grading process of art was over, it was time to just roll with it and have fun. There was much fun to be had.

Eventually, I returned to Creative Cafe and tested out my skills with pottery. Pottery led to mosaics, and mosaics led to more paintings. Over time (and with each new art project) art was enjoyable. Art was fun. Art was relaxing and peaceful; it allowed me to be calm and just enjoy the steps and process at my own pace. It was a long journey, but I am very glad that it ended up here. Most importantly, I was reminded not to take myself too seriously and enjoy the little things. These were things I already thought that knew, and I did, just not when it came to art!

2018: A Year in Review

December 25, 2018 manda_faromeiro

A few years ago I started a tradition on Facebook; I made the conscious effort to reflect and highlight some of the positive things that I experienced throughout the year. When I started the post, I did so because it seemed that the internet (and almost everyone on it) was having a pretty shitty year. Rather than feed into the negativity, I decided to combat it because even though misery loves company, happiness is contagious! Now I make sure to reflect every year…

As I reminisce about 2018, I recognize that I am quite fortunate. 2018 was truly a marvellous year filled with love, happiness, and important moments and milestones. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for everything that I have experienced this year, and for all the people in my life whom I experienced it with. I won’t touch on everything, but here are some highlights:

I had the opportunity to travel to Panama with 7 of my closest friends at the beginning of 2018, and it was really a trip of a lifetime! A week in the sun, poolside with some of your best friends was bliss. While in Panama we got to venture into Panama City and travel to a National Park Waterfall. Many laughs were had and the trip was a symbol of the bonds we have built over time, but also as a way to relax and unwind before the business of 2018 would kick into full gear; three of the people in this photo were getting married later on in the year.

Speaking of weddings, I had the utmost privilege to be the Matron of Honour and Best Woman in two of my friends’ weddings this year. Being chosen as the Matron of Honour in our friends’ wedding was extra special because my husband was asked to be the Best Man. For us, the love we have for the couple who got married is hard to summarize into words, thus being asked to be in their wedding was truly heartwarming. We wanted nothing but the best for those two, so we made it our mission to ensure their wedding day (and every event related to it) was everything they wanted and more. Planning a Tea-Party bridal shower was quite fun, especially because High Tea is something special the bride and I started doing together a few years ago. We added an extra dash of fun by making it a Mad Hatter Tea Party Theme…

Spring 2018 also included road tripping to Myrtle Beach with some fabulous friends. We partook in some golf at Myrtlewood Golf Club, celebrated Cinco de Mayo at one of the best Mexican Restaurants, enjoyed the beach and pool (maybe a little too much), and experienced a very sweet Wine Tour! If you can think about the cliche phrase, “it’s the journey, not the destination” – that basically sums up the road trip to Myrtle Beach. Such an amazing time! I seriously recommend road trips at least once a year…

Celebrations in 2018 were not just about getting hitched, many of my friends also turned 30 this year. Birthdays have always been important to me, and I honestly believe that every birthday is worth celebrating because you never know what birthday might be your last. Sorry to be a downer here, but birthdays should be celebrated, whether that means treating yourself to something small or throwing a huge bash; whatever you wish! 2018 was filled with many fun-themed birthdays including Medieval Times, Old School Dances, Carnivals, and Road Trips to Ottawa!

Medieval Birthdays
30th Birthday Dances

Life’s a Circus – Birthday Bash

Turning 30 was memorable for me because it gave me the chance to really appreciate everything that I have accomplished in my life so far. Apart from having an amazing husband, a wonderfully supportive family, and a supreme squad of friends, I am thankful for the continued opportunity to work with my family in Real Estate, while also being able to continue influencing young minds through my academic mentoring and tutoring. I’ve been working since I was 12, so knowing that I wake up every day and enjoy going to work is satisfying. I want my work to be meaningful and fulfilling but I don’t ever want it to make me miserable. Thus, I often reflect on how lucky I am to have work that is low-stress.

I will now touch upon the three weddings that I attended this year. As I mentioned above, I had the honour of being the Matron of Honour and Best Woman in two of the weddings, but the third wedding was also very important to me. Someone very special in my life was getting married, and he decided to do so on his birthday- what madness! It was an extra special day, and I was privileged to attend as a guest. I don’t know how to put into words how much I love all the people who got married in 2018, so I can only hope that they really do know how much I care for them. Being able to be with all of them on their wedding days and create new memories on is really priceless. Especially when you get to be in a room with so many people who love them too! I don’t think I ever danced or laughed or smiled as much as I did at these 2018 weddings…

July 21st, 2018

September 29th, 2018

Overall, 2018 was a fantastic year. It was filled with laughter, love, adventure and memories. 2018 made some of my friends new parents, or parents again, and getting to witness these people take on these new roles is exciting. 2018 granted me the honour of being a 3x Auntie, as a new nephew was born into the family. 2018 reminded me why it is so important to be your truest self, to tell those who are important to you when they’ve upset, hurt or disappointed you, but to also tell those same people that you love them and why you do. 2018 taught me how adulting can really be fun, as my husband and I were able to do some additional renovations to our home, like completely finishing our basement!

2018 was a very good year, and I am glad that so many positive things happened in my life. Thanks for the memories! 2019, if you’re even half as good as 2018 was, I can’t wait to write about it.

Being The Best Woman is Not Just For the Day…

December 23, 2018 manda_faromeiro

Just like 2015, 2018 was the year of weddings. Three sets of friends got married this year, and it was quite the experience. Actually, it was more than just an experience, it was a long year of experiences. Honestly, I could write for hours and hours about how different each of these wedding experiences was for me and how different they were from each other, but perhaps another day…

I am going to dedicate this blog entry on the last of the weddings I attended this year. But before we get to September 2018, I want to take you back a little bit.

I became friends with the groom in 2007 while we were both attending Nipissing University. I won’t elaborate on how our friendship evolved over time, but I will highlight some key points. When I met the groom, we instantly clicked. We had the same type of humour, were both history majors (and nerds), and had many shared interests. Like any good relationship, the more you get to know each other the more you learn new things not only about each other but because of each other. When you’re away from home, the friendships you form at school instantly mean that much more because those friends become your second family. You become very attached to these people, at least I did.

Summers were hard. You got used to seeing these people so often over the school year; they lived in the same building as you or you had the same classes, and they could come over at any time and stay over until 4 am, even if you had 8:30 am class the next day. Those bonds and those friendships are even more special because they are tested and tested in the most stressful of circumstances; not only are you away from home, buried in homework, essays or exams, but you’re also under pressure to make the most of your time at school while also buckling down so that you can graduate and get settled into your career. Ugh, more on that in a future post…

The years at Nipissing passed and we found ourselves graduated and living on the opposite ends of the province; okay a tad dramatic but we were living over 5 hours away. Luckily, my graduate program landed me in Kingston, so for a year we actually only lived 2 hours away – and you bet we made the most of it! But there did come a time again where we were indeed 5 hours apart, catching up over iChat (whoa, do I sound uncool?) or long elaborate facebook posts or messages, and phone calls too! Regardless we did our best to stay connected and involved in each other’s lives.

I am so thankful that we were able to stay friends through all those years and all those experiences. I am even more thankful that as the years continue to pass that we are able to share even more experiences and memories. I would be lying if I said that being asked to be the Best Woman in my friend’s wedding was a surprise to me, but nevertheless being asked was still heartwarming and flattering.

When I was asked to be the Best Woman in my friend’s wedding, it wasn’t a surprise to me because I knew the kind of friendship we had, and of course most people want their best friends to stand by their side on their wedding day, and I was delighted to be one of those best friends. Anyone who knows the groom would also not be surprised by this choice, yet it blew my mind how many random people still found this concept so shocking.

The number of times I heard the comment, “Really? The Best Woman? That’s interesting…” or “Oh, there’s no Best Man? Hmmm.” and even, “Well what does the bride think about that? That’s not traditional.” was alarming. Is it really surprising to people that in 2018 men and women can be best friends? Why is society still stuck in these traditional wedding rules and expectations? And why does anyone who does anything “non-traditional” have to justify or explain themselves?

The truth is this. Being the Best Woman in my friend’s wedding was one of the best experiences of my life. When I got married, the amount of love and support I felt from my wedding party was incredible. I promised myself that if I ever got asked to be in another wedding party that I would do everything I could to make them feel as loved and special as my wedding party made me feel. I have had the privilege of being at several weddings, be it as a bridesmaid, maid of honour, matron of honour and now the best woman. The greatest thing about taking on these roles is getting to see all the behind the scenes moments leading up to the moments that everyone else gets to see. Not only do you witness these behind the scene moments, but you get to be part of making them too.

The adventures leading up to my friend’s wedding were magnificent. As a trio, we were able to take a road trip to Myrtle Beach and make hundreds of new memories and inside jokes. We relived some of our fondest undergrad memories by revisiting old stomping grounds’ and we continued to have fun and be ridiculous. This friendship was such a journey; it had many pit stops along the way to get us to the big day in September. We didn’t stop believing, and we held onto that feeling… yes that was totally a Journey reference!

The wedding day was magic. Three friends sharing drinks, laughs, rocking out to Tom Petty, Hall & Oates, and many other 80s tracks, while reflecting on the moments that got us to that very day.

Being the Best Woman in my friend’s wedding was years in the making. If you would have asked me in 2007 if I thought I would be there the day he got married, I would have said yes. Sometimes you just know, and I knew from the day I met him, that he was a friend for keeps. I know that he will read this blog, so when he does there is just one last thing to say:

Thank you! Thank you for giving me the honour of being one of the Best Women in your life. Asking me to be your Best Woman wasn’t a role that concluded when September ended. I have been and will continue to be one of those people you can count on today and every tomorrow.

The Internet Keeps Telling Me I Don’t Have Time for Friends After 30.

December 21, 2018December 21, 2018 manda_faromeiro

Like me, you’ve probably scrolled past a meme or two highlighting the “sad” truths about becoming an adult. A lot of these posts seem to be mostly about two things: how our childhood punishments are now our adult goals or how as adults we don’t have time for anything, especially not friends or social life. Depending on the day, sometimes I’ll laugh and other times, I keep on scrolling.

Yesterday, I came across this one and it literally made me laugh-out-loud, but it wasn’t one of those “it’s funny ’cause it’s true” type of laughs and here’s why…

A very good friend of mine, one who has been in my life for over 12 years, is one of those friends who you can go from real talk to ridiculous all in the same sentence. Over the years we have talked about almost everything and anything under the sun. I am sure you’re reading this thinking, “okay, yeah we all have a friend or two like that.” And you’re not wrong. But, have you ever had an engaging and deep conversation about what friendship truly means? Can you define it? Can it be defined? What does it mean to really have a friendship with someone? I’m not trying to be philosophical here, I’m honestly asking you to think about it because I have. This friend I speak of, we’ve had this conversation, many, many times, and we continue to have this conversation again and again.

What’s crucial about these kinds of questions, and trying to define what friendship really means is how much the answers evolve. The answers aren’t universal either. What I need and how I manage or nourish one friendship doesn’t necessarily work for the others. Sure, the same basic foundations need to be there, but the level of attention, time, and communication differ. This isn’t always easy, but honestly, it’s also not that hard.

In the past I’ve had coworkers, even family members comment to me, “Wow, another (insert party/birthday/wedding/event)? You have too many friends.” Sometimes I’d laugh it off, but most of the time I’d reply, “Yeah. What a good problem to have!” No sarcasm. It is a good problem to have. I pride myself on the relationships and friendships I’ve built and maintained throughout my life. Yes, I’ve had many friends come and go, some of them for good, and some of them come back. I acknowledge that my personality can be polarizing at times, and I learned very early in life that not everyone is going to like me, and that is really okay. I also learned that you can grow out of friendships and that friendships can’t be forced. Please don’t ever force it, especially as an adult! We are all busy, and each of us has our own definition of what it means to be busy. None of us are really busier than the next person, because our perspectives and perceptions of what being “busy” means are personal.

I don’t expect my friends who just had a baby this year to have the same kind of “busy” schedule that I do or my friend who just got a promotion at his job in the city. I don’t have to worry about my relationship with these people because there is a mutual understanding of the kind of friendship we have together. Sure, we don’t see each other as often as we used to, but when we do, the conversation is meaningful and satisfying. The friendship is more than just reminiscing about old memories and stories, it’s also about sharing news and telling tales of current events that took place in our lives. Ultimately it’s about accepting and understanding that we are not the same people we were ________ years ago, nor should we be!

The point of this post wasn’t a humble brag about how great my friends and friendships are, and it wasn’t meant to make anyone reading this feel like having a lot of friends is important. What is important is having meaningful friendships. Meaningful friendships with your spouse, parents, siblings, roommates, classmates, coworkers, or whoever in your life is important to you. Also, understanding what makes that friendship meaningful to both of you. Quality over quantity!

Not that any of us should take the internet too seriously, but I am sure some of you read that meme above and the idea of entertaining or hanging out with 12 people at one time exhausted you. That’s okay. Reading that meme could have also delighted you. That’s okay too. Ultimately I hope what you take away from this post is this: friendship means different things to different people.

Sorry internet, I do indeed have time for friends in my 30s. It’s a choice I make and one that is a priority to me. Priorities shift from time to time, and that’s okay because sooner or later they’ll shift again.

What traits in a friendship are important to you? If you want to chat about it, I’d be happy to listen and engage in conversation!

I Stopped Buying Christmas Gifts, And It Was The Best Decision Ever.

December 19, 2018December 20, 2018 manda_faromeiro

Wait. Keep your jingle bells on. This is not an anti-Christmas post. I’m not a Grinch or a Scrooge. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and your favourite Christmas sweater and read my tale of Christmases past.

In 2015 I threw the biggest, most expensive party that I will ever throw in my whole life. It was indeed what dreams are made of, amazing food, awesome music, and an epic guest list. Yes, it was my wedding! My husband and I were together for 10 years by the time we got married in 2015, and planning our wedding wasn’t stressful, it was actually very enjoyable and fun. The best part was, we thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the day. We did get to indulge in all the 5 courses of our dinner, in addition to taking advantage of the antipasti station, so it wasn’t as though all of our hard work planning was just for the guests- oh my no- it was phenomenal! So what does this have to do with Christmas?

My husband and I were very blessed to have such an incredible wedding party. After our wedding, instead of taking a mini-moon for just the two of us, we decided that we would plan a little getaway for our whole wedding party. Our wedding party consisted of 6 people who (to this day) we still love and adore very much. Alas, after the wedding we loaded up the cars and embarked on an epic road trip to Niagara Falls, more specifically, Great Wolf Lodge. Who doesn’t want to follow up a milestone celebration like marriage with two days of relaxation and waterpark fun? More importantly, it was our way of saying thank you to the people who helped to make our wedding as wonderful and unforgettable as it was. So what does this have to do with Christmas?

Upon returning home, we gave each other one last big group hug before everyone went their separate ways back home. Such epic memories and laughs, and barrels of fun – well tubes, water tubes of fun – had been had, what next? Before parting ways we made a pact. 2015 was such a busy year, and our wedding party was so generous and thoughtful both with their time and money in this whole wedding process that we all agreed that we would not buy each other any Christmas gifts that year. Instead, we would get together over the holidays and just hang out, catch up, play board games and do what we do best. Everyone was pleased and relieved.

Relieved is such an interesting word choice. I don’t want to make it sound as though buying gifts for others is a hassle; its not. Anyone who knows me knows I thoroughly enjoy giving gifts to people. I give gifts because I want to. I see something that makes me think of that person or something I know they have been wanting for a long time or something I know they will love. So why was not buying Christmas gifts that year such a relief?

Truth is, Christmas is obligatory gift giving. Buying Christmas gifts in your adult years is very impersonal. The chaos that ensues around the holiday season and the expectations to get those perfect gifts for everyone actually makes my eyes roll so hard, they almost fall out of my head. If I want to get you that perfect gift, I will. I’ll get it for you when I see it or you next. Maybe I’ll wait for your birthday (stay tuned later for a blog or two about my love for birthdays) or maybe it will be when we hang out next time. Either way, I’m not going to rush out and drive myself crazy just to get you a Christmas gift. With all those gifts you’ll unwrap anyway will you even really remember or appreciate what I got you?

Remember when I said this wasn’t an anti-Christmas post? It’s still not an anti-Christmas post. I enjoy Christmas carols, Christmas movies, Christmas decorations and lights, and I enjoy the spirit of Christmas that is alive in the hearts of children and adults alike, I just don’t like the obligation to buy gifts.

If we can go back to 2015 for a moment, that Christmas my husband and I hosted our first Friendship Christmas, and it was magical. Instead of exchanging gifts, we exchanged stories, memories and shared pictures and tales from the wedding and other events throughout the year. So heartwarming and right out of a Hallmark Christmas movie! If you’re still not convinced, ask my friends, they’ll tell you how wonderful it was! Anyway, this year makes our 4th annual Friendship Christmas, and the guest list grows a little more each year, but the list of people to buy Christmas gifts for, does not. The Christmas list has two people on it, and both are under the age of 10. There is something very calming and satisfying about that…

So no Christmas gifts for your friends is one way to stay on a budget for the holidays but what about your family? I never felt like a black sheep in my family until I brought up the idea of no Christmas gifts. I was met with mixed responses. Mixed responses turned to a unanimous reply, “But it’s Christmas and it’s a tradition.” Oh well, if it’s tradition then we must continue to comply. No. Nope. No, thank you. I love my family very much, and that love is not measured by what is under the tree.

The first Christmas without giving gifts was a tad awkward. Almost as though our bluff was being called. When Christmas Day arrived, my husband and I greeted everyone with hugs, kisses, and empty hands. Yep. No gifts. Everyone still got their Christmas cards with heartfelt messages inside, but no gifts. We gathered as a family and just hung out sharing stories and having a meaningful conversation. It was debt free and stress-free Christmas. That is true holiday magic.

Opting out of buying Christmas gifts was one of the best decisions I ever made because it eliminated a lot of unnecessary stress and financial burden. As someone who worked retail for more than 10 years, I can honestly say that the holiday hustle brings out the worst in people. Everyone is busy, tired, stressed, overwhelmed, worried, annoyed, angry, and impatient, and very impatient. Did I mention impatient? It all seems very unnecessary. How weird is it to hear the cliche messages about the true meaning of Christmas followed by messages about getting those jaw-dropping gifts to put under the tree?

As I said above, the only people who continue to get Christmas gifts from me are my nephews, who both turned 7 this year. You don’t have to agree with this post, you don’t even have to like it.

I respect people’s choice to buy gifts at Christmas and keep their traditions. I understand that for many people, receiving a gift at Christmas is actually very special because maybe they don’t get gifts any other time of year. Christmas can actually be a very sad time for people, so the gesture of gift-giving can really brighten one’s spirits. Just don’t drive yourself crazy trying to check off those items on that list.

Ultimately, whenever or however you give gifts, I hope it truly is meaningful for you. I hope it gives you joy. I just hope it doesn’t overwhelm you or cause any unnecessary worry or stress, or debt because that is a real thing. Happy Holidays!