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Christmas

Need A Break From The Holi-Daze?

December 17, 2019 By Kimberly A. Cook 4 Comments

Kimberly A. Cook
Spec Ops Cat offers his holiday advice. Including letting me know it’s time to scram with the camera, so he can nap.

It’s official. The holiday crazies are here. At a time of year when life is normally hectic, between crazy weather and a quick-turn between Thanksgiving and the holidays, coping is required. No matter how I try to slow down the days, get organized, and stay on top of things; life happens.

So here are a few tips for my fellow crazed humans trying to survive this time of the year. Heads up. If you’re visiting Costco from now until New Years, it’s official combat shopping season in that arena. Be prepared, take your patience, and pack protein snacks.

At any point in the day, except while driving snowplows or piloting the space station; sit, stay, breathe, blink, repeat.

This is a hectic time for family pets too. Make sure you give them the required cuddle time to calm their nerves. And yours. A two-fer!

Making memories doesn’t require money. A visit and laugh with a good friend does make the world go round.

Everybody has hard times. Reach out to others you know who could use a boost. Positivity is catching.

Get some rest. I saw a USPS truck being towed away yesterday. Obviously it had given it’s all for the busiest season. Nap like a champ.

It’s okay to buy pre-made cookie dough. I have three rolls in my refrigerator right now.  Remember, Martha Stewart has 300 staff. We don’t.

As long as Christmas/holiday cards are mailed before or after the holiday, they count. Friends understand and are just glad to hear from you.

There are no calories in December. Just know they rollover to January, like a cell phone plan.

Cozy is a good four-letter word. Practice it.

We miss folks we have lost this time of year, so let’s revisit a favorite happy memory to be grateful they were in our lives.

The Winter Solstice arrives this weekend. Shortest day of the year? Done! We get another minute of light! Wear your Hawaiian shirts!

If you missed National Chocolate-Covered Anything day on Monday, feel free to celebrate late. It’s all good.

Need more light this time of year? I switched my light bulbs from soft to daylight in the bathroom and about fried my retinas. I may be seeing things I’d rather not, but my body thinks its Maui in there. Wear sunglasses if necessary. Who needs makeup?

Send good wishes and prayers for all the folks dealing with family and health challenges this time of year. And all the first responders and medical staff working to support them. There are angels amongst us.

Buy yourself a present. There are tons of cool and fun things at Dollar Tree. Like my pink paper clip holder in the shape of a mini to-go coffee cup. Cute, functional, and cheap. Three of my favorite words.

Hugs are power transfers from one person to another. Ask permission first when it comes to strangers.

Greet the bell ringers and wish them happy holidays. Thank them for their volunteer time. Give a buck or two if you can.

Take time for yourself. Even five minutes. Take a walk, watch the sunrise, or refill the hummingbird feeder.

Say a wish of gratitude for all our troops serving around the world and their families who support them, whether they are home or far away.

Keep an eye out for Santa. The North American Aerospace Defense Command is on the job clearing his air space. The NORAD Santa Tracker launches in six days.  Rudolph on point.

Hugs and happiness to all my blog readers. You guys are fabulous and extremely good looking.

Let’s gear up for 2020!

Right after I eat all the cookies and finish the eggnog.

 

“Need A Break From The Holi-Daze?” Copyright © 2019 by Kimberly A. Cook. Image Copyright © 2019 by Kimberly A. Cook.

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Filed Under: joy Tagged With: cat, cats, Christmas, Christmas cookies, cookies, coping, December, hectic holidays, holiday blues, holiday stress, holidays, Kimberly A. Cook, Matchmaker Cat, memories, military, military romance, Need A Break From The Holi-Daze?, NORAD, pets, romance readers, SADS, Santa Tracker, stress, USPS, veterans, Vintage Veterans

Christmas Confessions?

December 6, 2017 By Kimberly A. Cook 3 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook

How is it December? The past five months I’ve been involved in packing and moving my mother to her new house, three major home repair projects and the holidays. According to my personal internal calendar, it should be September.

IMG_2985
Big pink teddy bear with baby bear! Demonstrating exactly what I want to do for the holidays. Relax and recline. 

 

Still working on the glamour of cleaning out the family home and moving items from here to there.  And there to here. And back again. More about all that move stuff next week.

So to say I’ve become even more attached to Lowe’s and The Home Depot is an understatement.  Imagine my glee on a recent trip to the orange box store when this giant pink teddy bear appeared next to the light bulbs. In the lounge chair and ottoman. So cute.

On another trip, you can’t make just one trip a week to Home Depot, there were more big pink teddy bears. One sat on a bar-be-cue, kids don’t do that at home, and one in a lawn chair. No idea why the big pink bears have invaded The Home Depot, but I approve.

So with Christmas fast approaching, I’m trying to get organized. The wreaths went up outside on Monday; right after the contractors finished the eave vent holes for the roof and the new gutters were put up.

Plus tomorrow is the big day I can drive Subie back into the garage. She’s been on the street for ten days while my driveway was ripped out and poured due to tree root damage. Which means now I need to heft the other move boxes out of the garage to Goodwill so I can get her back inside.

Maybe if all the boxes I’ve lifted in the past three months were gift-wrapped I’d feel more festive. On the good side, my biceps are finally back in shape. And I got to fill up a dumpster last week too. Woo Hoo!

Just heard footsteps on the roof. Not reindeer. Must be the roofers getting ready to replace my skylight; which happens to be over Spec Ops Cat litter box in the office bathroom. Spec Ops Cat is not a fan of the roofers, or the gutter guys or the concrete jack hammer dudes. I can relate. Will need to pry him out of the pantry or from under the bed. Again.

In all this continuing chaos, I did manage to do some fiction writing. Flipping miracle! My kingdom for a yurt in the woods or “not a creature was stirring, not even a roofer.” Not sure that’s exactly how it goes. (They’ve been on and off our row homes for five months. Don’t even ask.)

Besides making my holiday to do list, maybe I need to go buy a big pink bear. To match my big pink rabbit. Tis the Season!

Got Christmas confessions?

 

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Filed Under: home Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas Confessions, holidays, home repair, Kimberly A Cook, move, moving, packing, teddy bears, The Home Depot, Warrior Tales

Let The Holiday Chaos Begin!

November 18, 2016 By Kimberly A. Cook 3 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook                   (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Confession: I bought Christmas bows last night. But they were on sale! Since I saw my first neighborhood Christmas lights ablaze on Veterans Day, I’ve surrendered to the holidays. Figure it’s a grand distraction from everything else and it comes with food. Lots of food.

So in the interest of a holiday public safety announcement, watch this video and learn. Yes, Temptations cat treats are Spec Ops Cat’s favorite. He approved this message.

Stock up now for your furry friends!

https://youtu.be/WeZ9g4TXylk

 

 

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: animals, Cat treats, cats, Christmas, holiday safety, holidays, humor, Kimberly A Cook, kittens, pets, Spec Ops Cat, Temptations, Warrior Tales

Rolling Into The Holidays

December 25, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Today is Christmas to many people around the world and maybe other bloggers are being very profound and insightful; not me. Because today I am eating every holiday goodie in sight; including lasagna, garlic bread, fruit salad, coleslaw, and tons of cookies. Plus chocolate. And eggnog. And hot chocolate. With whip cream. (No calories on Christmas! Santa says so!) Accompanied by family all around to help me snack away the day.

So when I finish all my happy noshing, I’m going to move like this little(?) pet raccoon to get around the house. So here’s hoping everyone enjoys the holiday of their choice, with friends and family who bring you joy today and all year. Plus all our feathered, furred, finned and four-legged critters who are our best pals all year long.

Merry Christmas to all, Happy Holidays to all, have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Christmas Friday!

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: animals, Christmas, food, holidays, humor, Kimberly A Cook, pets, raccoon, rolling raccoon, snacks, somersaults, treats, Warrior Tales

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