How to Avoid Depression During the Holidays

For most people, the holidays mean spending time with family. That’s ideal if the family gets along well.  But for those who do not have the best relationships with their family, this can be a stressful time of year. Additionally, if people are experiencing loss, illness, injury or ovewhelm, the holidays may be especially difficult.

5 Tips for True Forgiveness vs. Being a Doormat

In a previous post, I wrote about forgiving someone who continually hurts you.  I wanted to write this blog to make sure that we’re crystal clear about the difference between true forgiveness vs. being a doormat.  Forgiving others is important.  Harboring bitterness and hatred in your heart is detrimental to your own well-being.  So, I’ll
tips to save money

6 Tips to Save Money During the Holidays

The holidays are a common time when people overspend. It is easy to make last-minute choices that have long-term consequences if you are not intentional about creating a budget for holiday spending. It is also a good idea to research some tips to save money to give you an idea of ways to decrease your

6 Undeniable Reasons Why We Need Friends in Our Lives

No matter our stage in life, we need friends. Friends bring so much value to our lives. And let’s face it: friends are fun! My life is undoubtedly so much sweeter because of my friends. There are several reasons why we need friends in our lives, but today we’ll focus on six of them.  I

7 Simple Tips for Setting Boundaries for Your Family During the Holidays

There can be so much pressure during the holidays to do things and go places that may not necessarily fit into your vision. Sometimes, it seems like everyone has an idea of how they want you to spend your time, money, and energy for the holiday season. Instead of getting frustrated or overwhelmed, how about

15 Stress-Relieving Tips for Holiday Self Care

Having a regular self-care routine is important, but do you have a holiday self-care routine? Thanksgiving and Christmas are two very popular holidays that often come with lots of chaos for the person responsible for all the planning.  If you are part of the crew that makes the holiday magic happen, you’ll want to read

45 Fun Christmas Gift Ideas for a College Girl

If you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas for a college girl, you’re in the right place. This is the ultimate guide for shopping for the best gifts this holiday season. When shopping for gifts for college students, you want to focus on thoughtful gift ideas that are functional. Otherwise, the gift might just end up
Thanksgiving theme ideas

6 Exciting Thanksgiving Theme Ideas for Family Gatherings

Thanksgiving is a fun time to for families to get together and celebrate their love and gratitude for each other. Many families enjoy a gathering filled with traditional recipes that everyone looks forward to. Adding a fun theme to the mix will make the celebration a little more exciting! Today, I’m sharing some fun Thanksgiving

7 Thanksgiving Activities that Create Lasting Memories

When you think Thanksgiving, I bet the first thing that comes to your mind is food. I think of the large spreads of traditional recipes that we look forward to all year long. You probably also think of family. Thanksgiving is a time that lots of families gather and spend time together. I hope you

How to Set Healthy Boundaries During the Holidays

The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time. But in the blink of an eye, holiday dysfunction can come along and crash the party. Everyone does not have good intentions when it comes to spreading love and joy, but you do not have to let their negativity rub off on you. Knowing how to

3 Reasons You May Feel Stressed During the Holidays

The idea of the holidays usually brings excitement and joy for most people. The pumpkin spice lattes, the festive decor and the holiday music can spark all kinds of emotions.  Sadly, those emotions are not always positive ones. For some, the thought of the holidays brings added stress. Let’s talk about three reasons you may

How to Express Gratitude During Difficult Times

Thanksgiving is the time of year that we are often reminded to be thankful for the people and things in our lives. It’s easy to be grateful when things are going well, but when things are going tough, it can be a challenge to remember exactly how much we have to be thankful for. Let’s

5 Nontraditional Thanksgiving Dinner Alternatives Your Family Will Love

Turkey is often what you will find at the center of Thanksgiving dinner celebrations year after year. But what if you are not a fan of this popular holiday family favorite? There are many nontraditional Thanksgiving dinner alternatives that are just as delicious and I’m going to share some ideas with you today.  Now, if

How to Set Boundaries when Thanksgiving Feels Overwhelming

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude. It’s a time to be grateful for your blessings and the things that matter to you. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving can sometimes be an overwhelming burden due to finances, family members, health issues and other worries. To keep from feeling totally stressed out this Thanksgiving, it’s important to know how to

7 Thanksgiving Self Care Tips to Protect Your Peace

Thanksgiving can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work! The joy of preparing for your family and friends can quickly turn into frustration and a big headache. Before you know it, the excitement can turn to chaos and your to-do list can quickly become way too long to

9 Creative Alternatives to Traditional Holiday Celebrations

Over the years, your family has probably developed some holiday traditions that you hold near and dear to your heart. Some of those traditions may have been passed down from several generations. As times change, the need and desire for new ideas may arise. You may want to incorporate some new practices into your traditions

15 Best Things to Do at Dollywood for Self Care

Self care means doing things to take care of yourself. That includes taking time to have fun! One of my favorite places to have fun is Dollywood Theme Park. Located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Dollywood offers fun for the whole family. And though it is a popular destination for fun and excitement, today I’m sharing
woman at Christmas

How to Practice Self Care During the Holidays

The holidays are a wondrous time of year filled with all the things you love. There’s great food, beautiful décor, soft and fuzzy sweaters, and that music that only comes around once per year. There’s no wonder people can’t wait for the holidays to help them escape into a time of family, fun, and festivities.

29 Powerful Bible Verses About Forgiveness and Healing

Forgiving others is the right thing to do, but it can be very difficult. This is especially true when a family member or close friends do something hurtful to you. It can take a long time to go through the healing process needed to reach true forgiveness. Reading Bible verses about forgiveness and healing can
two kids sitting on couch reading a book.

Best Places to Find $1 Kids Books

As a career educator, English major and mom, you’ll always find me advocating for literacy. And while I love the Internet, I firmly believe that nothing takes the place of real live book. I have so many fond memories of reading books with my mother and I also can remember reading books with my own