Updated: Aug 21, 2022
Welcome to Sunday Stealing - hosted by Bev Sykes.
For those that celebrate Christmas
What’s your favorite thing about the holidays? Celebrating with my family and having dinner.
Do you send out Christmas cards and if so how many do you send? I have sent out Christmas cards for over 20 years and I intend to keep doing it. 😊 We still receive a few cards every year. Be honest: holiday newsletters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em? I don't do them, but sometimes I enjoy reading them. My parents used to get a holiday newsletter from someone in our family that we had never even met. I guess after several years, you can say you know them. LOL! Be honest: photo cards. Love ‘em or hate ‘em? I prefer an actual card, but I have sent out a couple. I always get photo cards from some family. I think the younger generations are more into this. How soon do you start shopping? I always tell myself I am going to start earlier, and I never do! There have been a couple of times where I found a really good deal after Christmas, and kept it for a gift the following year. Real or fake tree? FAKE! I love the smell of pine, but I do not enjoy the dry needles in an indoor environment or the cleanup. When do you put up your tree? We usually put up our tree the week after Thanksgiving, but we got a bit sidetracked this year. LOL! When do you take down your tree? Normally, about a week into January. Last year, our tree stayed up through March and I actually decorated it for St. Patrick's Day. 😂 Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type). Our tree is a slim 7ft pre-lit and is usually decorated with rustic, vintage ornaments. I still have a few Christmas Coca Cola ornaments that my mom and I collected, and every year her Elvis ornament is put on the tree, too. I sure do miss my mom. What do you top your tree with?
Do you put Christmas lights outside your house? Yep, every year! This year hubby constructed a couple of arches that we wrapped lights around and put the deer and sleigh under. We ran lights at the foundation of the house (we live in a pier and beam) since hubby cannot get up on the house any longer. We also have a cute little lantern post with two Christmas dogs sitting under it.
Is there a wreath hanging on your door? Yes! Tradition!
Do you hang up stockings? This is another tradition that I carried on from my mom. My mom used to fill stockings for us every Christmas! I still do this even though my kids are longer kids!
Your favorite Christmas Movie(s). Every year we watch Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty, and It's a Wonderful Life!
Be honest: A Christmas movie you hate - Oh, there are quite a few of them out there and honestly, it would take too much time typing them. LOL!
Favorite Christmas Song(s) - Rudolph, Jingles Bells, Silent Night, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas (it's still in the 60s here in Texas), Mary Did You Know, etc. Any classic Christmas song really.
Be honest: If I hear this/these Christmas songs again I will throw up - I do not really care for remixes, especially when these pop artists try to put their own spin on them.
Give or Receive? I enjoy both! 😉
Eggnog or Mulled Cider? Eggnog. We get all of our dairy products from Braums and they actually have some tasty eggnog. Top it with a bit of cinnamon and a stick and we are good to go!
Ham or Turkey? By the time Thanksgiving ends, I am turkeyed out! The last couple of years we have been having Christmas dinner with just us. We usually make a ham and all the 'fixns'. In the past when we got together with hubby's side of the family, we all put together a huge Mexican spread.
Welcome to Sunday Stealing - hosted by Bev Sykes.
1. Day 1 of serious isolation behavior. I don't like to get out and go many places unless I know exactly what I am going out for, or a planned vacation.
2. First trip you had to cancel. We don't travel much, so no plans were cancelled.
3. Other trips canceled. None.
4. Last trip out of town before isolation. Out of town?? LOL That would have been when we went to Galveston in December of 2018.
5. Furthest from home since isolation. Only shopping, which is within ten minutes of where we live.
6. Last Meal sitting in a restaurant before Isolation. That would be last June when we went to Edelweiss (our favorite German restaurant) for Father's Day. They have always had awesome food, but because of the pandemic, it has changed everything. The menu had been downsized to less than half of what they usually serve, so we were unable to order what we usually get. Haven't been out to eat in a restaurant since.
7. How many books have you read? According to my challenge on Goodreads, I am at 38 out of my 50 books, but I know I have read a few more that I forgot to add. LOL! Reading is not pandemic related. I am already an avid reader. 😁
8. First event you didn’t attend due to virus. We don't attend many events anyway, so this really hasn't impacted us.
9. Date and event of last over 200-person event. Yeah, that would have been when we went to Dicken's on the Strand in Galveston back in December of 2018.
10. Last live music event. In June when we went to Edelweiss for Father's Day. They always have live German music and Helga plays the saw! Oh how I miss the old days!
11. Things you are eating more of since isolation. Pizza. 🍕 Definitely pizza. LOL.
12. Things you are eating less of since isolation. Mexican food. We fix tacos, enchiladas, and hubby will make tamales every now and then, but we used to go out to eat every couple of weeks to a Mexican restaurant down the street.
13. What restaurants have you gotten take-out meals from? Zero. The point of going to a restaurant to begin with is the atmosphere and being able to eat there.
14. Have you found yourself bored in isolation? Not at all. Except for the occasional outing, I prefer to stay home. I enjoy gaming, especially with my kiddos. I hang out with my hubby. I just binge watched Cobra Kai, and I am stoked for Season 3. I also can't wait until The Last Kingdom airs. Boredom is not an option.
15. Have you gained or lost weight? LOL! I have GAINED weight! It has been worse since I have a foot injury and cannot exercise how I am used to. Things are getting ready to change!!!
16. Do you drink alcohol? Yes. Yes I do.
17. If so, more or less in isolation? Same. I have a few beers every single night. 🍺
18. What entertainments have you explored? Nothing new. I pay for several game memberships already. I have Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Pureflix.
19. Gotten into anything new? Nope. LOL.
20. Have you done crosswords? Board games? Jigsaw puzzles? Not really into crosswords or jigsaw puzzles, but we play board-games like CLUE, Monopoly, LIFE, as well as Minecraft UNO, Exploding Kittens, etc.
21. Have you cleaned out some cabinet, drawer, closet, etc. thoroughly? I am so sick of cleaning. /done! LOL!
22. Are you spending about the same amount of money? We are trying to spend less money considering I was one of tons that lost their jobs. I had finally found another one and had to resign because I couldn't be on my feet for more than four hours. I am hoping that once the holidays pass by, I will get to see my specialist. Praying!!!
23. Done Zoom, Facetime, etc. meetups? I am a tech junkie - but I don't like being on camera. But because of Covid, almost every doctor appt we have had has been by video. My daughter's therapy - video. I have an appt in a couple of weeks - video. Um, hello - I haven't been to a doctor in years because of no insurance and my first appts are video. smh. I need my foot examined and I don't think that can be done via video. LOL! I am so over this.
24. Had a social occasion with a small group of people you consider safe? Nope. Considering quite a few think wearing a mask is stupid and restricting their freedom, I would rather not be around them. I am very much avoiding people right now.
25. Did you vote? In Person? On Election Day? I voted in person and during early voting. I hardly ever go on Election Day if I can help it. 😉 If I can go to huge box stores for shopping, I am going to vote in person. LOL!
Welcome to Sunday Stealing hosted by Bev 2 Skykes. This 3 feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal 4 all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise 5 to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and 6 intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. My biggest barrier to weight loss is...my left foot. Years back, I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and it would come and go. But here lately, the pain in not just in the bottom of my foot and it has been hurting for months now. The pain extends to the sides and wraps around my heel. Hopefully, my doctor can find out what is wrong in the coming months. Until then, I guess it is the stationary bike. Can someone send some motivation my way?
2. What is your relationship with food like? A so-so relationship I suppose. I know I should eat healthier but it is easier to just grab the chips and dip for a small snack.
3. What was the last time you had fun that made you smile for a few days? The last three weeks. My kids grew up with their cousin, who practically lived with us every summer and on weekends for years. She was like another daughter to me. A few years ago, she just quit coming over to hang out and life as we know it went on. She would swing by or stay a night here and there, but it was not like it used to be. My daughter comes to me the other day and asks if her cousin can come stay a few days. Of course, she is always welcome! Well, a few days turned into a few weeks and we played Minecraft on PC and played PS4 (we are gamers), watched movies, and chatted. It was like the old days and seeing the three of them together made me smile and my heart soar. She stayed for Thanksgiving and we ate too much. I think i am still full. LOL!
4. What are triggers in your life that lead to eating? Boredom and movies. If I am not doing something constructive, or playing games where I am using my hands, I tend to go find something to munch on. This happens way too often if I binge watch shows.
5. What inspires you to be healthier? Seeing other people my age and older that look fabulous! If they can do it, I know I can. I just need my determination and motivation back.
6. Name two foods that you think are “bad”. I don't think any one food is bad but I believe eating in moderation is the key.
7. Are your expectations for yourself too high? Right now, my expectations are low. We will see when the new year arrives, but I sure would like to see the terms first.
8. Would you like more fun in your life? Fun has never left. I believe in working hard, but I also believe you need to have fun and enjoy life. Everyone needs balance.
9. What is your one comfort food? Peanut butter and crackers.
10. How would you give someone encouragement? Never give up. Set up small goals to achieve and take everything day to day.
11. Do you get enough sleep? This is a definite no. I am a night owl and I enjoy staying up late either gaming or reading books. But I also enjoy getting up in the morning and having my two cups of coffee.
12. What activities make you feel more relaxed? Reading. I love to read and I usually average a book a day. This month has had too many distractions and it has taken me three weeks to read one book. 😲
13. Where do you need to practice forgiveness in your life? With myself. Over the years, I have bottled up a lot of anger. Not necessarily towards others, but because of things that I feel were left unsaid. God and I talk about it all the time and he has told me that I am too hard on myself and to let him handle it.
14. What is one thing you have not done because of how you looked? Probably being in pictures. I know I have gained weight and I feel like a balloon. LOL! I tend to just take pictures of everyone else and if I do end up in the pic, I try to get only my upper body.
15. What would you like more of in your life? Less stress! I feel like this year has been nothing but stressful and it has led to some serious setbacks, especially with me having to resign from my job because of my foot.