Microblog Monday - Let It Snow!

It snowed last night. The timing was perfect. We just put our tree up and put the lights in the windows. Waking up this morning it felt like the holidays. The smell of the tree was the first thing I noticed when I went downstairs.

Working from home has its benefits on a day like today in New England. If it stayed like this I'd be happy. The more snow we get the harder it is to get around and the bottom line is even when you have the choice of working from home getting out to see people is necessary. How is the holiday season going for you so far?

View from my office window.

November Challenge and The Month of Change in the Rearview Mirror

Photo by Arkady Lifshits - Unsplash

December 1st 2016 is here and my self imposed challenge of posting daily on my blog is done. 21 posts in the month of November. I did not plan to post on the weekends so that means I only missed one post. Yay me!
I don't know about you but I have times in my life where I wonder what my life will be like the next week, month, year. I worry about the unknown. This past month was one of them with my planned job change and blogging gave me an outlet for that nervous energy.

One thing I have learned is that things you dread are often not as bad as you imagine they will be. I learned that pouring oneself in to activities you can control help you deal with the things that are out of your control.
I feel lucky, it all came out great in the end.

December 1st marks the end of something and beginning of a new journey. The timing could not be better with the new year one month away.

My wish for all of you is that it is a happy and prosperous 2017!

Wendy

Wordless Wednesday

Photo by Ken Wu, Unsplash

Change

"If nothing ever changed there'd be no butterflies." - Unknown

I mentioned in some of my earlier posts that November would be a month of change. 

As it always does time flew by very quickly and it is time for me to take the next step in my career. I have accepted a position with another company and my first day is today. Wish me luck!

I am sad to say goodbye to the amazing team of real estate agents, managers and support staff at my former company. It was an incredible 9 years.

I am proud of each of the agents and of the office and how much we have accomplished. I will miss my friends and colleagues but am looking forward to exciting opportunies.

Wendy

Microblog Monday - I Am Not Ready

Changing over to Christmas happens earlier and earlier each year. The turkey is barely digested from the Thanksgiving dinner and people are out the door shopping for Christmas.

I will be ready soon. I am just not ready yet. December 1st is Thursday and that day, to me, is the day to start getting in the Christmas spirit.

How about you? What holidays do you celebrate in the upcoming month and are you preparing already?

The Challenge of Buying Gifts For Teens

Happy day after Thanksgiving! Does the rush to get ready for Christmas start for you now? I know things start for me but I am hoping not to rush too much.

It's so hard to know what to buy for teenagers that will delight them at Christmas. Those 2 words don't even go together - delight/teen.

Here are my best finds, I hope they give you some helpful ideas:

Girls - Instant camera. Fuji makes a great little instant camera that is reminisent of the instant cameras I had growing up. www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-mini
They also have a cool little printer that prints photos from a smart phone on the same instant camer film. www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-INSTAXprinter
The selfie crazed teen girls will love both of these.
Texting gloves. If you live in a cold climate you know that the challenge of texting or using your phone in the cold is a challenge that is real. Your always connected girl will thank you for these gloves.

Boys - Drone. It is crazy how inexpensive these have become and it will be a favorite with teen boys on your gift giving list. Just imagine if they came home with this video ...
 https://www.youtube.com/watchdroneamusement
Have a boy on your list who would like to learn programming and coding? Rasberry Pi peaked my interest and I know it's on the hot list for teens again this year. Get more info here www.raspberrypi.org/help/videos/

Last but not least for both boys and girls Bean boots are back. Also known as duck boots they were also a favorite when I was a kid.

What are you thinking of for the teens on your holiday shopping list? I'd love to hear more ideas!

A Thanksgiving Love Story From the Great Depression

Once upon a time on a  Thanksgiving day a young man living away from home during the Great Depression found some luck.  The result of that is a ripple effect that I give thanks for this and every Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving 2016 I am lucky and I am thankful.

Enjoy this short story about how my grandparents started out in life as I imagine it.

mymiddletonchronicles.blogspot.com/1000beans

A Wedding Day Long Ago