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Tips for avoiding stress at the holidays!

 

Now is the time to start thinking about your holiday stress. Not a month from now when you're knee deep in it and trying to figure out what happened to all your plans for the perfect Christmas. Here's my tips for keeping a lid on the craziness that surrounds the Christmas season...

Social Events: For many years, my husband and I held a big Christmas bash for our friends and neighbors. I would organize, cook, clean and decorate until I was one big frazzled mess. Raging lunatic may be a more accurate description. A couple of years ago my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I canceled the party. I didn't realize how much stress I was under until I didn't have that stress anymore. This will be our third year of not having the party and I can't say I miss that stress. So this year as you are planning your social events be very picky about what goes on your calendar. The most important thing on my calendar this Christmas is to ensure that my children have a wonderful Christmas. And by that I don't mean a mountain high stack of presents under the tree. I want my kids to have a Christmas where mom is engaged not enraged!

Perspective: When in the world did Christmas become a competitive sport. It's Christmas for cryin' out loud not the Olympics! The perfect tree, the perfect card, the perfect gift, the perfect outfit to wear to the perfect party. When I think about it, I start to feel nauseous. You will be the same person on January 1^st that you were on November 1^st no matter what happens at Christmas or how perfect your tree looks. Unless, of course, you're on a waiting list for a kidney transplant and your number comes up Christmas Eve. There are always exceptions. Seriously, there are no medals to be handed out at the end of the day ladies so lighten up a little and keep it in perspective!

Spirit: Stop and think of the season regardless of your spiritual beliefs. What do you want to see under your spiritual tree when you wake up Christmas morning. Hope, gratitude, peace, forgiveness, joy. Pick a spiritual gift for yourself and plan around it this holiday season. Every time you start feeling anxiety about your list of things you have to do, stop and think about what you want to find under your spiritual tree. If the situation that's causing you anxiety, isn't going to help create your spiritual present then strike it off your list. I guarantee you that your world (or anyone else's) is not going to fall apart if you don't get those Christmas cards sent this year. I haven't sent any in years and I appear to be doing fine. At least, I think I am. Of course, there are days I wonder.

I do hope each and everyone of you has a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and happiness...  If your wondering about that wonderful vintage coke advertisement at the top of the page, be sure to check it out at Surrender Dorothy at Etsy! You'll love her store and be assured that I had her permission to use the above photo!

Be sure to leave a comment with your tip for avoiding stress at the Holidays!

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Christmas Gifts at Back Home Again

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The last day for Christmas shopping at Back Home Again will be December 11^th. As many of you know, I close down shop early during the holiday season so I can spend more time with my family and friends. To celebrate the season, I am offering FREE shipping to continental USA. See store policies for more details.

Handmade items make the perfect gifts for under the Christmas tree: vintage tablecloth tote bag, trinket box created from vintage fabric, eco friendly magnets and gift tags for that special touch...

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Family Caregivers Receive Free Advice and Coaching through November

In honor of National Family Caregiver Month, Toghers {the only comprehensive web-based provider of family caregiver guidance, support, and services) is offering family caregivers FREE online chat with a Caregiver Coach® now through the end of November.

In homes throughout the U.S., adults are taking time off work, using their own money and resources, and frequently compromising their own needs to care for adult family members and friends. In fact, an estimated 120 million adult Americans (57 percent) are either currently providing or have provided care to an adult family member without pay (Source: Opinion Research Corporation, 2005).

Family caregiving can be rewarding, challenging, stressful, and incredibly fulfilling all at the same time. This role often requires that the caregiver provide for emotional and personal care needs, make decisions about the care recipient’s finances, housing, safety, medical care and overall quality of life–all while still working to maintain a loving and enriching relationship with the care recipient.

“Family caregivers take on incredible responsibility in their roles, including the emotional and physical well-being of their moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandparents, or close friends,” says Anne Togher, President and Founder of Toghers. “The dynamics of the relationship change and the caregiver must find a balance between her role as daughter and her new role that puts her in charge of decisions related to daily needs, finances, and medical care for her mother. It’s not an easy transition.”

While Toghers offers family caregivers many resources to help in their role including articles, a Caregiver Coach® blog, caregiver plans, and caregiver tip cards and checklists—they know that caregivers really need to speak with someone who understands their situation and has the expertise to provide advice and guidance.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their role as caregiver, please reach out today for support!

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Flea Market Style

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Many print magazines have gone out of business this last year leaving a bit of a void for us vintage artisans and antique shoppers. Country Home and Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion are the two I miss the most. I'm happy to say there's a new print magazine called Flea Market Style on the horizon that looks like it's going to fill that void. I can't wait to get my hands on the first copy. With Matthew Mead and Ki Nassauer as co editors and Linda MacDonald as editor in large, this magazine is sure to be a success. I've been following their blog and find it inspirational and touchable. Even for an experienced artisan like myself, I sometimes look at the pros and feel way in over my head. But when I read Flea Market Style's blog I feel that I too can accomplish a beautiful home on a dime! Well, maybe not a dime but you know what I mean. I love the way they are bringing the reader behind the scenes with their open and honest approach. It's quite refreshing and I personally cannot wait! I love reading blogs but, for me, it just can't replace the fun of turning the pages, ear marking, cutting out pictures, and most of all saving the magazine for future inspiration.

When you buy your new calendar for 2010 be sure to mark the date...

Flea Market Style is due this Spring 2010!

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Back Home Again Christmas Banner

I've been without my computer for several weeks now and just got it up and running today. I have a back up but don't have my photos or graphics backed up on a disk. Today I was finally able to put my Christmas banner up at Back Home Again on etsy and wanted to share it with my blog readers. I had this banner designed by Rene @ Thompson Designs last year and I really really love it. I thought about having a new one designed to change things up a bit but when I looked at it again I just couldn't do it. Enjoy!

Trick Or Treat? Colorado Snow.....

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The first big snow of the season is a special time in Colorado. Everything slows down and we are reminded that there is something much bigger than us that flows through the universe. Colorado is so big in it's beauty and the snow here is simply magical. No school today (probably none tomorrow) but I did get to work for a few hours. There are no snow days in the retirement community! Our residents set in the family room, snuggle up in blankets in front of the fire place and watch the snow. It's a special time to relax, reflect and spend some time in front of the fire and be close to those we love. For those of you in the Midwest, you better get ready I think this snow is headed your way. For Coloradoans, let's just make a toast to the state we love and rejoice in the magic that is snow!

 

 

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Marimekko OY Suomi Finland 1972

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In the Back Home Again tradition of creating with vintage finds, I have recycled this 1972 piece of Scandinavian fabric. It is Maija Isola “PEPE” by Marimekko oy Suomi Finland! I found it in a box of old fabrics at a flea market and had to work with it. There was some nasty stains that I couldn't get out and some holes where it had been attached to canvas. There wasn't much left when I got finished. Just the way I like it.

I like to keep as much of the original piece in tact when recycling vintage textiles. I used the majority of the fabric that was worth saving to create this table runner. I was even able to salvage the original stamp by using it to create a label to attach to the back.

Next it was on to cutting up as many squares as I could to make these very retro modern coasters. I try to cut around holes but sometimes I will use a piece that has a minor flaw because the graphic is so amazing and I want to save it. Such is the case with one of these coasters! 

Finally, I made these magnets with the tiny scraps I had left. Perfect for your eco-friendly work space!

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Good Neighbors!

Good neighbors are so important. I need my neighbors to borrow things from, help with kids and let the dog out now and then. My parents taught me to be a good neighbor. When your neighbors need help, you help. That's just the way it was in the small town I was raised in. When we bought our house five years ago, I moved in without even seeing it. I was so happy to leave California I would have lived in a tent. I had no idea how large the yard was and how little grass and landscaping there was. We've been living without a yard for the past five years. So our kids play in a dust bowl and the neighbors put up with our weeds.

Last week a friend from down the hill called to say she was cutting up her grass. So we busted our butts to get our ground ready for new grass. Beautiful green grass! Once we got six truck loads of sod up the hill we were ready to go. Neighbors on one side of us helped lay the grass and neighbors on the other side brought us lunch. It's a wonderful feeling to know you live in the perfect spot for yourself and it's great to know your neighbors have your back.....

This is what six truck loads of sod looks like!

This is what good neighbors look like.

This is what a little girl working hard looks like. I was so PROUD of my  kids this weekend. No complaining and lots of hard work from both of them. They are really excited to have a yard.

Now it rains. I can't believe how blessed we are. Beautiful rain on our beautiful grass..

Less than perfect trinket box!

I've talked to my little one on several occasions about the beauty in imperfection. Especially when it comes to her craft projects, hair and broken toys. Today I made a little trinket box that was not quite right and I had to laugh when I decided to pull it from my inventory and give it to her. I usually give away items I deem “less than perfect”. So what do you do with items you see as “oops” items? Do you give them away, toss them in to the Good Will box or sell them as "oops" items? I'd love to hear from others. By the way before you ask, the problem with the box was that I didn't center the graphic and it was bugging me....

You can see in this photo how the floral design is off to the right and I'm not happy with it. These trinket boxes do make perfect organizers for the little one's room

The fabric is Jennifer Paganelli's "Dance With Me" and yes I'm making a new batch of trinket boxes. The new ones have handles instead of the ties. The big news is that I will now be offering DIY tutorials @ Back Home Again. I should have the first one up in a week or so.

Life gets in the way sometimes

I had such high hopes that when the kids were back in school on the 19th that I would be blogging and sewing away. Seriously, all I want is to care for my family, the elderly, sew and blog. But it's balancing it all that creates such a struggle for me. First, I was unaware of my kindergartener's staggered start time until the last minute. I'm sure the memo went out but I must have thrown it away. I had to take a day off work (thank goodness I have a GREAT boss) because my babysitters had already started back to school and my husband was unavailable to help. I'd love to talk to the genius that came up with that idea. So I got over that hurdle, once again I have to thank my boss for that one. It's so nice to have an L.C.S.W. for a boss to take advantage of the free therapy sessions. Secondly, my husband was picked for a jury that involves capitol murder. Are you serious? 150 people in the pool and my husband gets picked for a 12 person jury. I was actually mad at him for being picked. How crazy is that? The point of this post is to let you know that I'm still here. Yes, I love to sew. Yes, I love to blog. But sometimes life gets in the way. Next week for sure you'll be seeing more of me...