Tag Archives: christmas

Why It’s Never Too Early To Start Christmas Shopping

June 28, 2020Brainpowerballin on a budget, christmas, christmas in July, summer christmas shoppingBeth Berger

A lot of people can’t even start to think about Christmas until after Halloween has passed, whereas others start their Christmas shopping for the following year in the after-Christmas sales. My vote is for somewhere in between. It’s nice to get ahead of things, and when it comes to gifts, buying them earlier can allow for more planning — both in thoughtfulness and budget.

*This post may contain affiliate links.*

When you like to put thought into buying gifts, leaving your shopping until the last minute should be the last thing that you want to do, yet, many of us still find ourselves shopping for Christmas presents as late as Christmas Eve. Although it’s nice to feel prepared with lists, not having a list can enable you to buy things that make you think of certain people as you see them or when you find them for a good price.

If you do this throughout the year, or at least from June/July onward, you will be more than prepared come December. It’s never too early to start Christmas shopping!

So, let’s have a look at some of the ways it can benefit you:

It’s Less Stressful

There will be no more scrabbling around last minute and much more time to relax if you shop all year round. You will be able to fully enjoy the magic of the holiday. And, that one person you can never figure out? Well, you’ll have plenty of time to sort it out and get it ticked off your list. You will also no longer have the stress of worrying if something will arrive on time, and you will have plenty of time to exchange if it’s not quite right or damaged.

No More Increased Prices

Have you ever noticed that near Christmastime prices can shoot up? Or are much higher than the sale prices you spotted earlier in the year? That’s because you are paying for the convenience of shopping right before Christmas. You should most definitely take advantage of sales like Black Friday and any early Christmas sales, but don’t forget about sales that happen before Thanksgiving even rolls around and throughout the year. If you see something that someone would love, get it at a reduced price rather than buying later at full.

Finding Unique Gifts

You know those gifts that you can’t wait to give because you know it’s going to surprise the recipient? Well, shopping earlier means you have more time to plan and get it just right. If you shop earlier, you have more time to research and do the searching that is often needed for a unique present like personalized first christmas ornaments. If you’re not working from a list, then you have more freedom and may find something unexpected. Just because it’s not near Christmas, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get it ready. When it’s most definitely the thought that counts, finding the perfect gifts no matter what time of the year, can’t be missed.

These are three very good reasons why you should shop at any time of the year for Christmas, and it’s never too early to get started. When do you normally start your Christmas shopping? Do you shop all year round and take advantage of the benefits above or are you a last-minute shopper?

How to Stay Healthy Over the Holidays

December 18, 2017How to'sbusy season, christmas, food and fun, healthy holiday, holiday season, it's the most wonderful time of the year, mindful celebration, New Year's Eve, staying on trackBeth Berger

Hey guys!

Today I thought I’d share my tips and tricks to stay healthy during the holidays. I know it can be hard when there are Christmas treats at every turn and the holiday spirits are flowing (if you catch my drift;) ). Not to mention, it’s a super busy time of year! Sure all the shopping and parties and traditions are fun…but they can cause things that keep you on track the rest of the year, like exercise and meal prep, to take a back seat. So, here are some ways we can all have a healthy, happy holiday!

Sneak in exercise. Walk wherever you can. (To and from work, to a friend’s house who lives near by, or from the very back of the parking lot.) Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Prep some foods on a Sunday or Wednesday to use throughout the coming days. Cook a protein, roast some veggies, and make a big pot of rice or quinoa. Cook once, eat twice (or as many times as humanly possible)!
Find a few fuss-free, go-to recipes that you can make when you’re super busy and running around. Here are a few of my favorites for inspiration.
When eating out, opt for the cleanest menu items — protein + veg, fish, salads. Substitute a veggie side or a side salad for fries and pass on the bread. Dress salads with oil and vinegar.
Treat desserts as a special goodie for special occasions and not a free-for-all for the whole season. So, have that slice of cake at your company Christmas party but don’t munch on Reese’s christmas trees every afternoon when you need a pick-me-up.
If you’re out and about and feeling stressed out, resist the urge to head straight to the kitchen when you get home. Instead, go to your bedroom and put on some comfy clothes, run yourself a hot bath, or practice a little yoga.
Savor and enjoy all the delicious foods of the season by eating mindfully and slowly.
Enjoy warm cups of tea. Licorice Root tea can help curb a sweet tooth, Ashwagandha tea is great for mental and physical fatigue, and Peppermint tea will cure an upset tummy.
Bring a water bottle with you wherever you go so you can be sure to drink plenty and stay exceptionally well hydrated. You’ll be glad you did if you find you’ve had one too many glasses of champagne on New Year’s Eve!
Give yourself a lot of love!

I always love to hear from you so please leave a comment below and let me know YOUR favorite tip for staying healthy during the holidays! xoxo

mid-week round-up

October 18, 2017Wednesday Linksarticles, book recommendation, boredom busters, business, charitable giving, christmas, emergency preparedness, Halloween, links, natural disasters, news, products I love, round-upBeth Berger

Hello friends! What’s going on this week? With everyone’s talk of “sweater weather” and cooler temperatures, I’m feeling a bit like I have the opposite of Seasonal Affective Disorder. We’ll call it OMG WHY HAS IT BEEN HOT FOR SO MANY MONTHS??? Syndrome. Maybe some activities to mark the passing seasons would be helpful?? I already put up some Autumn/Halloween decorations but what else could be fun? Any ideas?? I’m all ears! Also, the comments on this post make me excited to continue sharing about mantras in the coming weeks. ‘Til then, here are some links…

Fleeing the fires in Sonoma County.

In the poorest towns, where even Wal-Mart failed, Dollar General is turning a profit.

A run-down of the best emergency preparedness supplies.

On my reading list.

My charitable donation for October went to Center for Reproductive Rights.

U.S. officials inadvertently included a Bloomberg reporter on an internal email list about Hurricane Maria.

The Halloween costume everyone was wearing the year you were born.

And I just ordered some Christmas decorations because it’s never too early.

Have you heard of the new online grocery store where everything costs $3?

Residents of Barbuda return to pick up the pieces after hurricane.

15 things to do when you’re bored at work.

What’s next on your reading list? Find out how long it will take to read.

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — Too Many Books, Never Enough Time and Desk Drawer Must-Haves.

10 Holiday Gift DIY’s You Should Start Making Today!

November 4, 2016How to'scandles, christmas, coffee, DIY, eco-friendly, fashion, food, gift giving, gift guide, gifts for family, gifts for friends, gifts for kids, holiday, home decor, laundryBeth Berger

Here are a few ideas to get you started if you plan on making holiday gifts this year. DIY gift giving is a great way to save some dough during the costliest time of year. Not to mention, there’s something so sweet and personal about receiving a gift made especially for you, don’t you think? The 10 DIY’s listed below range from “extremely simple” to “easy but time consuming.” All the supplies needed are readily available. (At second hand stores, Dollar Tree, or your local hardware/craft store.)

Please excuse how many involve jars…

Gold Polka Dot Mugs

Make these for: Someone who loves to entertain. Think: Your best friend who hosts a monthly book-club or your sister who always offers to throw wedding showers.

The How-To: Find a few mis-matched white mugs at Dollar Tree or a second-hand shop. Decorate with different sizes of polka dots. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and let cool in the oven.

Pair with: A bag of Fair Trade coffee beans.

Mason Jar Candles

Make these for: Anyone who spends a lot of time relaxing in the great outdoors. Think: An aunt who spends most every evening on her screened in porch or your sister-in-law who considers the ideal vacation something akin to a chapter from Little House on the Prairie.

The How-To: Instructions HERE.

Pair with: A historical fiction novel.

Polka Dot Jeans

Make these for: A jeans and t-shirt kinda gal. Think: Your art-obsessed daughter or a friend who always discovers enviable flea-market finds.

The How-To: Find some suitable denim and cut the legs to achieve a casual, cut-off’s vibe. Dip the tip of a pencil eraser into some white fabric paint and stamp the jeans to create a polka dot print.

Pair with: A clever tote bag.

Colorful Braided Rug

Make this for: A cuddly kid. Think: Your toddler son who is always on the floor surrounded by toy trucks or your sweet niece who would rather be curled up with a chapter book than anywhere else in the world.

The How-To: Instructions HERE.

Pair with: A lamp that makes ceilings look like the night sky.

“Love You” Jars

Make these for: Someone who loves dainty decor. Think: Your little sis who is in need of decorations for her brand new apartment or your gal pal who matches mantelpiece decor with each approaching holiday.

The How-To: Attach a doilies and red paper hearts to glass jars. (You can glue, decoupage, or just tie the string tight enough to hold the paper pieces in place.) Wrap red and white bakers twine around the middle and tie so the knot is hidden in the back.

Pair with: Fairy lights.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Make this for: Anyone who believes in Taco Tuesday. Think: Your brother who fancies himself somewhat of a celebrity chef or your co-worker who always posts her meals on Instagram but you don’t hate it.

The How-To: Follow the recipe for your favorite homemade taco spice blend. Package in whatever container you think most suitable.

Pair with: Taco holders that keep your hard-shelled tacos up-right.

Eco-Friendly Dryer Sheets

Make this for: The people in your life who never forget their reusable bags when they go to the grocery. Think: Your Greenpeace donating Mom or your yoga instructor.

The How-To: Instructions HERE.

Pair with: A clothes hamper.

Chai Tea Latte Mix

Make this for: Someone who likes to start their day with a hot cuppa. Think: Your Starbucks-obsessed boss or the mom you share carpool duty with.

The How-To: Find a recipe for chai tea latte and mix it up. Add the mix to a jar and embellish with some twine and a pretty tag. (Great for bulk gift-giving!)

Pair with: A tumbler for drinking hot beverages on-the-go.

T-Shirt Produce Bag

Make this for: Anyone who frequents the Farmers Market. Think: Your green-thumbed boyfriend or your BFF who recently got really into juicing.

The How-To: Instructions HERE.

Pair with: Gift certificate to your local produce market or co-op.

Flavored Syrups

Make these for: Someone who fancies themselves a barista. Think: Your husband who wouldn’t be caught dead drinking plain, black coffee or your budget-savvy bestie who has sworn off her coffee shop habit as an upcoming New Year’s resolution.

The How-To: Recipes for vanilla, raspberry, coconut, and caramel syrups HERE. Add each syrup to a bottle with a pour spout. Package in a basket or tray so they’re kitchen counter ready!

Pair with: A coffee cookbook for added inspiration.

Which DIY from above is YOUR favorite? Do you plan on making any presents for the holidays this year?

The Christmas Tag

December 14, 2015Personalchristmas, facts about me, holiday traditions, tagged post, tis the seasonBeth Berger

Let’s talk Christmas!

My friend Ashley, from Deep Curves Ahead, asked me to participate in this Christmas themed tag and share a bit about my holiday traditions. Check out her post, read through my answers, and leave a few of your own Christmas facts in the comments below! Happy Holidays!!!

Favorite Christmas Film? Last year, Chet and I went on a Christmas movie watching spree! We watched everything from The Santa Clause to Love Actually and everything in between. My favorite probably goes to Home Alone or The Muppet Christmas Carol. As for Christmas Specials, I love Charlie Brown! And all the old claymation Christmas movies just take me right back to childhood.
Ever had a white Christmas? I remember a few growing up. I’m currently, however, experiencing the warmest holiday season of my life down here in Miami. (I went to the beach on Saturday and have the weird tan lines to prove it!)
Where do you usually spend your holiday? I typically spend Christmas with my immediate family in Lexington, KY. This year Chet and I will be heading to Louisiana for our holiday R & R. We can’t wait!!!

Favorite Christmas song? I will always and forever contend that Diamonds by Rihanna is my favorite Christmas song. Although I also enjoy all the Christmas songs in Home Alone. Sidenote: My Favorite Things from the musical Sound of Music is NOT a Christmas song. Diamonds? Yes. My Favorite Things? No. Got it?
Is your tree real or fake? Fake. We upgraded to a 7 foot tree this year (Thanks Target sale!) and I love it. Here are a few of my favorite ornaments…

Best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? Ahhh! So hard! I’ve been spoiled with so many wonderful presents over the years. As a kid the Playmobil Dollhouse probably takes the cake (although I remember getting strangely jacked about a can of Tinker Toys…even though the gift tag was made out to me AND my siblings which, anyone with brothers and sisters knows, is sometimes a recipe for disaster). Last year Chet gave me a computer he built himself which still blows my mind.

All-time favorite holiday food? My mom makes a cheese-ball that I could, no lie, eat in one sitting…if I wanted to and had enough Ritz crackers to spread it on. (I would pay the consequence for that much dairy. Alas!) I also love all the cookies my grandma used to make, especially Peanut Blossoms. Yum!

What made you realize the truth about Santa? As with most things I don’t really need to find out but end up doing so anyways, I found out the truth about Santa from snooping. I happened upon a receipt from a toy store and thought “Hmmmm….wonder what was purchased for MOI at this establishment…” On Christmas morning the toy I saw listed on the receipt was under the tree…but it said it was from Santa, not my parents. It didn’t take long for me to put two and two together after that.
What makes the holidays special for you? The holidays offer a much-needed chance to slow down and simply enjoy quality time with your loved ones. This opportunity to re-connect is so special to me. I love making memories with the ones I love during the Christmas season.
What’s better, giving or receiving presents? Giving! I love shopping for others–contemplating the perfect purchases and anticipating their reactions. So fun!

How do YOU celebrate Christmas? Share below! I hope you ALL are having a wonderful holiday season.

Christmas crafting with corks!

December 10, 2015DIY, How to'schristmas, cork trees, glue gun project, ornaments, winosBeth Berger

Even with the tropical temperatures I’m in quite the Christmas spirit this year, you guys. I’ve been deckin’ ALL of the halls. I’ve also been feeling a compulsive urge to buy random craft supplies. Sooooo….gotta make like an elf and get to work! Here are a few snaps of my latest crafting endeavor. If you, too, have a few corks tucked away in a jar somewhere, PULL ‘EM OUT! This is how I used mine…

I rifled through my craft box to see what sort of supplies might be useful…

…and came up with these! Little pom poms and push pins make perfect “ornaments.” Twine can be used to turn your little trees into ornaments. And those foam stickers in the center were a Dollar Tree find (and the ones pictured are just a FRACTION of the amount that came in the bag). I used the E6000 glue to attach my embellishments but ended up using my trusty glue-gun to connect all the corks.

I made one little guy as a stand-alone tree to nestle onto a shelf on our TV stand. I love how the colors come out different on each type of cork. How cute is that gingerbread man?

And I made another to hang on our tree. For this one I included a tree stump by cutting a cork in half (with a kitchen knife and a cutting board…livin’ dangerously!) and adding a bit of ribbon for embellishment. I also secured some twine below the top cork for hanging purposes.

I’m totally in love with them and think they have the perfect rustic look. They’ll also look totally different based on what you have on hand! So give it a try! It was a super simple and cozy evening activity.

And c’mon, don’t you just love an excuse to drink more wine this time of year?!

What sorts of ornaments do you hang on your tree? Do you make your own or do you stick to store bought baubles? Does your tree have a theme? I’d love to hear!

My Holiday Season: a look back in photos.

January 12, 2015Personal2015, Chet, christmas, family, holiday season, New Years, personal, photo dump, traditionsBeth Berger

Hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season full of family, food, friends and fun. I hope you all made many beautiful memories. I know I did! This past weekend Chet returned to Louisiana to start his spring semester so now it feels like the holiday season has officially come to a close. I was super lucky to have him here for an entire month (!!!) and we spent the days eating wonderful home-cooked meals, Christmas shopping, braving the cold to scamper around the city, and spending quiet nights at home with blankets, TV and Wink in tow. We had our own little Christmas on Christmas Eve and opened our presents to each other under own tree and Christmas Day we went to my Mom’s house for more presents and food with my fantastic family (my brother got super sick right after we opened our presents which was a bummer and we all felt terrible for him). New Years Eve we cooked a fancy dinner and watched the ball drop in our comfies. I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas/NYE/winter break! Here are a few photos I wanted to share, if you’d like to take a peek…

Our tree topper for our adorable little tree was made by Chet circa the first grade. We decorated our tree with old ornaments from our childhoods and it was so fun to merge them into one place. I was sort of obsessed with all the Disney movie McDonalds ornaments he still had in his collection. Sebastian from The Little Mermaid may have taken the cake for me as top ornament this year. Although I still have a soft spot for my “Feliz Navidad 1992” ornament featuring a mouse wearing a sombrero. OLE!

I love this dude so much! We had so much fun decorating for Christmas as soon as he got into town. As you can see above, his grandparents sent us adorable stocking ornaments with our names on them and his parents sent two presents to be opened specifically when we were decorating. One was a beautiful 2014 frame ornament for us to pop a picture of ourselves in and hang in a place of prominence on the tree. The other was…

A Godiva hot chocolate set for some fancy, festive sipping. Mini marshmallows FTW!

And speaking of trees… one night, for work, I went to a lighting at a local fire station. The carols, sung by a local high school choir, definitely put me in the Christmas spirit that night.

Chet and I also did a lot of camera experimenting since my camera is still fairly new (he got it for me for my birthday in October). One evening we walked up to Ashland Estate to get some shots, even braving the crazy cold. I had fun with some texture shots of the old buildings (and selfies, always selfies) because THEIR Christmas tree was nothing to write home about and by that I mean not all that fun to photograph.

Due to the temperatures we made a LOT of soups from scratch. I love this picture because the reflection in the pot totally gives it away that we’re both wearing flannel pj pants to cook dinner. YOLO.

Another evening of braving the cold, we ventured to The Kentucky Horse Park for their annual Southern Lights. The drive-thru Christmas light display was pretty as always but this alpaca family totally upstaged everything ever.

We brought a lot of class to the Southern Lights establishment, IMHO. Even thought we’re definitely freezing our butts off in this picture. ; )

Hot beverages (chai for him, hot chocolate for me) and a wander through a winter wonderland makes for a magical night in my book.

Have I mentioned that this boy CAN. COOK.? Check out those knife skills! I’d say his specialties are Asian dishes (think: Japanese curry and spicy bowls of piping hot noodles) and of course Cajun (think: huge servings of Gumbo and buttery crawfish etoufee).

Have you ever been down the terrifying yet strangely intriguing rabbit hole that is The Lexington Peddler’s Mall? We have! Sometimes you really do find that needle in a gigantic haystack. Note: the sunglasses Chet’s sporting are not one of those needles.

Remember those crawfish potatoes I was seeing in my dreams for weeks after Festivals Acadiens? We successfully created our own version and I’d say it was down right, to the T, SPOT ON. Food hack success!

I did a spot of holiday baking after gaining inspiration from Lily Pebble’s Vlogmas videos on YouTube. These are her Internet-famous “Brookies” –a cross between a cookie and a brownie.

As I mentioned above, Chet and I opened our presents to each other on Christmas eve at the apartment. I was absolutely stunned and elated to receive this GORGEOUS computer!!! Talk about spoiled. Chet built it himself AND painted it that lovely Tiffany Box blue/retro shade. I don’t think anyone has ever made me such a customized gift. It works so well and is cute to boot, not an eyesore like a typical desktop tower. I’m already obsessed with using it!

Later that evening, we enjoyed some drinks and appetizers at my Mom’s house. My sister Katie was in from St. Pete and my brother and his fiancee, Dawn, were in from Savannah. A happy little clan. Christmas morning was spent opening presents, bein’ a bum (pj’s for as long as humanly possible!!!) and seeing Into the Woods. I don’t really have any photo documentation of these endeavors on Christmas day because I was too busy being me, BUT…

…here’s one of Wink opening his presents! I received some lovely presents from my family that I am so thankful for. Hiking poles, a lamp, a lovely bowl for noodles, lots of books about crime and (too) much more. They know me so well. One thing I’ve gotten better about in the last few years is putting my Christmas presents to use pretty much immediately. In the past, I would want to “save” them but where is the fun in that? That’s a quick way to end up with too much STUFF ie) leaving that nice lotion in your bathroom cupboard for months. Why not crack it open right away!?

One thing I treated myself to in the post-Christmas sales was this organic blanket from Target. I can’t get enough of it and neither can my cat. I also scored a wicked cheap set of knives and a pair of jeans in my Boxing Day mad dash.

Bummed the holiday season is over…

yet so glad I got to spend so much time with these two!!!

Hope everyone had an equally rad time this past month. My goal is to start cranking out some more regular content on Finding Delight in the coming weeks so stay tuned and check back often! I’m so happy to have you along for the ride.

Let’s catch up! Tell me about your holiday season. What was your favorite Christmas present? Who did you kiss on New Years? Did you brave the cold for any fun outdoor excursions? Don’t be shy, share in the comments!