Blog Posts

Hot Cocoa & Simplicity

11/21/2022

Photo by Annie Spratt at Unsplash

Just a thought - a reminder, really

As you head into this holiday week, remember to breathe. And to help your children to breathe deeply. Share a cup of cocoa - not too sweet - with your kiddos; they will need breaks from any holiday craziness more than you might.

If your kiddos are feeling anxious choose one simplicity credo statement as a focus and talk about ways to put it into practice during the week!

Love people & admire our differences.
Respect animals.
Wonder at the magnificence around us.
Use things.

Anything else leads to heartache.

May you and your kiddos experience
oodles of peace this week!
Nonna

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Coffee & The Holiday Season, Game-On 2.0

11/14/2022

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Photo by Jeffrey Wegrzyn at Unsplash.

A Simple Cup of Joe

Sometimes a simple cup of coffee is just the thing. It's hot and satisfying. Making it does not require barista training. And nothing is added, so forget the trip to the store for mocha flavoring, almond milk, or coconut sugar.

A quieter holiday season is like that simple cup of joe.

Let me explain -

In the Holiday Season Game-On post at the beginning of November I offered encouragement and affirmation supporting your choice for a quieter holiday season. And I said to watch for more resources. But a funny thing happened while searching for and reading the resources I wanted to share with you - I realized you do not need them!! In fact, most of them will simply create more stress for you!

This year's posts and podcasts titles run along the lines of

"how to create a calm holiday season"
"your minimalist Christmas"
"our three-gift rule."

You would think these are great resources, but they can be quite demoralizing when you read or listen to the whole article/podcast:

to create a calm season, you must keep meticulous lists of gifts, food, parties, etc., etc., etc.
do everything you usually do, but make all your presents using just the things you can find around the house
turns out the children receive three gifts from Mom & Dad, a gift from Santa Claus, gifts from each other, stockings full of little gifts, and gifts from Grandparents, Aunts & Uncles, cousins -- math, people!

You do not need to scour the web looking for other people's ideas on how to create a quieter season.

You already know the secret.

The Secret

The secret to a quieter, calmer holiday season is to think of the whole season like a simple cup of coffee.

And believe basics are the most satisfying.

Choosing a calmer, quieter season requires only your gift of love and presence to those most important to you. Adding more and more and more to this basic tenet is likely to leave you frazzled and dissatisfied.

So, grab another cup of coffee and spend a few quiet moments thinking through your basics - you've got this!
Nonna

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Coffee & Calvin's Parents

11/7/2022

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Parenting Tips

Recently - well sometime this last year - I was asked where we learned how to be parents. My first thought was we read too many Calvin & Hobbes comics, so I thought it best to check in with the Boss. He said we also balanced our parenting reading with Baby Blues!!

Enjoy your coffee & 6 Parenting Tips from Calvin & Hobbes!

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Coffee: Good News about Parenting

11/3/2022

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Photo by Heather Ford on Unsplash

"Parenting is confusing, it said. Experts give conflicting advice. But be of good cheer. The heart of parenting is a relationship—where parents teach kids, but also kids speak to parents. They will listen to you, but you should also listen to them. And over time, you will tell each other how to thrive. "

David French

I love this quote - it is a succinct statement of my own beliefs about the relationship between parents and children. Please take a few moments during your coffee break to read French's full article - the title can be off-putting, but his focus is one of encouragement!!

The Mistakes That Parents Make
David French, The Third Rail

You've got this! Breathe and enjoy your coffee,
Nonna

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Coffee: The Holiday Season is Game-On!

11/1/2022

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Photo by Foodie Flavours on Unsplash

Time to take 10 minutes for a reprieve - Halloween is over and the holidays are now game-on! From here on out, all the way to New Year's Day, life becomes a bit over-frothy and all-too-sweet.

It's important for our well-being to TAKE or BUILD or FIND time each day to slow down, to pause, to reflect. Personally, I don't like sweet coffee or overly busy holidays - both make me want to hide!

So if you need encouragement and affirmation to slow down and to purposefully create a quieter holiday season, here are a few resources! Watch for more over the next few weeks.