Traci Michele Photography

Photography

How To Make The Climate Of Your Home Inviting This Holiday Season!

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I’m so delighted to introduce a very special guest today:  Angela, from THE GROCERY SHRINK!  I met her over the Summer, and she has so much wisdom and wonderful advice to share!  Listen closely, this is good!
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I’m super excited to be guest posting here at Ordinary Inspirations. Traci has a great blog and a great audience! She’s invited me here today to talk about the coming holidays, my favorite time of year. For me Thanksgiving and Christmas are times filled with family, friends and food—my three favorite things. And the gatherings are meant to be centered around my Heavenly Father which makes it even more special.

But sometimes what is meant to be, and what is, don’t align. Sometimes feelings of frustration and panic crowd in as I try to create the celebration of my dreams within the constraints of a limited budget, a busy schedule, and a non-magazine worthy home. I find myself snapping at the children and my husband because they get in my way while I’m trying to make them happy. Sigh.

In the quiet of the day I think about my children and what they talk about from Christmases past. It’s not gifts or fancy decorations. It’s the time shared with a cheerful mom and dad. As humbling as it feels, I’ve realized that I am the decoration of the season. I am the twinkling lights that spread cheer to those who bask in my glow. I am the beautiful melody of the Christmas carol, the spicy aroma of warm gingerbread, and the sweet creamy taste of eggnog. I set the stage for holiday cheer. And I can ruin it all with a bad attitude.

I need to be reminded often how to make the climate of my home inviting, by making myself inviting. With this foundation holiday decorating, shopping, baking, and gatherings all have their place. But it doesn’t have to be expensive, time consuming or magazine worthy to be spectacular. The presence of the woman of the home with the right attitude makes even the smallest effort spectacular.

To help myself plan, stay sane, and have a happy holiday, I have written my latest ebook “How to Have a Grocery Shrink Christmas: Planning a Beautiful Celebration on a Limited Budget”.
Inside is 96 pages of planning guides, recipes, simple craft projects, homemade gifts, and worship ideas all intended to keep mama stress free and happy during this wonderful time of year.

You’ll love the gorgeous pictures, the delicious traditional recipes that use common ingredients, and the money saving ideas. The book retails for $7 and I’m offering 2 copies for Traci to giveaway. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to this post. If you’d like to enter twice you can also sign up for my free newsletter at www.groceryshrink.com. Just be sure to leave a second comment letting Traci know you did.
If you don’t want to wait you can purchase your own copy of the book, now on sale through Thanksgiving for just $5. Or grab all 3 of my ebooks at 40% off for just $12. You can find out more here. If you do purchase and win the giveaway, I’ll send you a swift refund.  Winner will be chosen Saturday evening!
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas
from the Grocery Shrink home to Yours!



Warm regards,


Angela

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Thanks for visiting!

Comments

  1. Oh wow! Did you ever hit home with this one!!! It is so important to me to create a special holiday season for my family centered around Christ. There have been years in the past when I was so cheery and was more focused on the “work” of making it special than making special time to just relax and enjoy the process with them…creating joyful memories. Thank you so much for the reminder today.

    I would love to win one of these e-books! This is exactly what I have been looking for! I am creating one of my own since I hadn’t found one out there. Would love to see how you do it. Its great to get more ideas from others.

    Blessings to you today!

    Mary Joy

  2. This would be an especially timely thing to win. My husband and I are expecting our first in April, and we’re already buckling down to a tight budget, given that I’ll be leaving work after the baby comes. Thank you for the chance!

  3. My husband and I are hosting Christmas at our home for my side of the family this year–for the first time. I am a little nervous to say the least! Your description of snappiness really hit home for me!
    Would love to win this!

  7. Would LOVE to win one of these 🙂
    With a big family – it’s really all about atmosphere (cause it sure aint about the money!lol)
    I also signed up for the newsletter! 🙂
    Thanks for sharing!
    Michelle

  8. oh wow…this post is amazing! I have 3 grown children and when I listen now to what made an impact on them during the holidays you are right…it was quality family time!
    thank you SO much for this post!

  9. I love the statement that I am the decoration of the season! I think this is true every day and not just during the holidays. Not that I always remember. It’s a good thing to ponder.

  16. Thank you so much for this timely reminder! I pray that I will be the most lovely deoration in my home this holiday season!

  17. Thank you for this timely post! I pray that I will be the most lovely decoration in my home this holiday season!

  19. Yeah. I tend to get caught up in the busyness of preparing all the special stuff and then I’m not available to my family. Not the way it should be. I’d love to win your e-book.

  20. I need to not only make my grocery bill shrink during the holidays, but all of the time. I have been working on it and it is slowly improving, but it sure takes time.

    I, too, have asked myself many times what is most important?

  22. Wonderful post! I think my kids’ favorite Christmas memory was the year we went to the mountains–no presents, just a trip to the mountains. Thanks for this post and the chance to win!

  24. Right on! I think us women tend to get lost in the “how it looks” way too often. Then when we get stressed, we are way too hard on ourselves. Thanks for the chance to win the book!