5 Holiday Activities that are NOT Cancelled

 

Last weekend was a very busy one for us. I am on the Winterfest committee and we had our annual Tree lighting and this year it was a "Remembrance Tree" where we could hang an ornament in memory of a loved one. I actually got the idea from my good friend Rebecca Jo ( you should totally check out her blog) and brought it up to the committee and they were on board with the idea. I think each year we are going to dedicate it to a certain group of people, I believe next year it will be "essential workers". 


Along with the tree lighting, there was a visit from Santa, and then my sister and I headed out for our annual late night shoppers event down town.

This year's event looked much different than last year. Not a lot of vendors were out, no tasty treats while we were shopping ( unless you count the wine samples and boozy whoopie pies, yes they were giving samples of whoopie pies that were made with booze. I had a sugar cookie one and even just having a bite of it, it was strong).  The streets looked like a ghost town compared to last year. We shopped in a few of our favorite boutiques and I bought a pair of earrings and my sister bought a Christmas gift. Since the downtown was almost dead, we left and went to a light show.

The next day we went to a Christmas arts and crafts festival where there were lots of vendors outside. We had a wine and cider tasting, I bought another pair of earrings, and my sister bought some pouch for her chapstick. On the way out I wanted to stop at the  pet store and get some gifts. I'm so glad I randomly stopped there because they were having pictures with Santa. We went home quick and got all the dogs.  When we arrived back, it wasn't actually pictures with Santa, but pictures with the Grinch. My dogs were a little unruly ( imagine that), so I am anxious to see how these pictures turn out!

Okay, so I tell you all the things we did to kick off the holiday because if all that would have been scheduled for THIS weekend, it probably wouldn't NOT HAVE HAPPENED. Our Governor tested positive for COVID and now our State is going into another level of restrictions.  Students will not be coming to school on Friday and we will be teaching online. Hopefully we will all be back at school on Monday.

So with that said, I know a lot of holiday gatherings and what not will be cancelled, but here are 5 things you can do to add a little festiveness to your holiday and some of them don't even cost a dime!


                               5 Holiday Activities that  are NOT Cancelled

1. Find a light show in your area.  We found a really great one at a local church. You sit in your car with the lights off and you watch all these lights dancing to music. 

I know this picture doesn't look too impressive but  this is just one part of the display and it is hard to photograph flashing lights.


The one we went to lasted about 15 minutes. It was really spectacular and it didn't cost a thing.  There are others that you can pay to drive through which I might look into doing as well but they are a little further from home.


2. Watch Hallmark Christmas movies but make it a game! I've watched the news every day since March but I vowed to not watch it during the holidays. I'm only watching Christmas shows. 

I've stepped my Hallmark movie watching up a notch and created this book.  It has a ton of Christmas movies that are scheduled to air on the Hallmark Channel ( and their descriptions). 

Each time I watch one, I will give it a little star in my book. It has become a little game between my husband and I to see how many I can watch. When we are done watching ( yes I say we cus even know he says he isn't going to watch it, he ends up getting sucked in too), he'll ask, "Did you check that one off in your book?"


3. Anyone can bake cookies, but can they make a Gingerbread house?  I've never made a Gingerbread house before but I've been inspired from Shelly ( who use to blog at My Journey to Fit) to do so. 

Last year I bought some gingerbread house kits after Christmas. I don't care if they are stale by now because I won't be eating it anyway. This year I'll take a night with my family and make Gingerbread houses. Hey, sometimes you have to make your own fun at home!


4. We've been saying it since March, Running isn't cancelled. But make this run a festive one. 

Dress in your best festive running gear, put those Christmas tunes on your playlist and go for your run. Bonus if it is even a snowy run!  My sister and I use to do a Christmas run and do the #RunChatHunt along the way. It was so fun running past Christmas lights and decorations. Don't forget to post a picture!


5. Do something for others. Even if there is not much to do this holiday , you can always spread kindness and joy to others. In years past, my mom and I use to wrap presents at the Senior Center, but they haven't had that activity the past year and I know there is no way they will be having it this year.  


I am spreading kindness this year by making a "12 days of Christmas" basket for an elderly neighbor. I'm really having fun creating it, so maybe I will share it on a future blog post.


Is anything you were looking forward to "cancelled" this holiday season? How are you going to make the best of the holiday?  -M



16 comments:

  1. you all were busy this week! I am really glad you are finding ways to enjoy the holiday season safely. We used to make gingerbread houses every year when my kids were little it was one of our favorite things. Always love the holiday running gear. Thanks for the link up

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    1. I'm looking forward to decorating the gingerbread house!

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  2. Happy Holidays to you and Lacey.

    My favorite race through the lights in the park was cancelled but my friend and I ran the course anyway. I plan to do it several times before the end of the holiday season.

    I always go to NYC to see all the holiday decorations. I decided to do it anyway. It was not the same but still so fun.

    I used spend time with the girl I mentor and her two sons. That due to COVID will be re-scheduled when it's over.

    All my parties have been cancelled...just too dangerous to host in houses and restaurants.

    And family time. That is limited as well but we will probably gather on Christmas Day since most have had the virus already. And my MIL is 95...don't know how many more holidays she has.

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    1. I did not get to go to NYC to see the decorations last year because of our trip to Iowa to get the puppy. I will miss it this year of course due to COVID. Let's hope in 2021 we will be back to normal!

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  3. Great ideas, Meranda! Being Jewish, even with Hannukah, it's not an important Jewish holiday. I had to laugh at my friend, who's known me a long time, who texted yesterday & asked if I made a special dinner. It was very sweet of her. I was way too busy trying to get support on the Echo Show for my mom & prepping to go & see her today!

    There's always a way to be festive, and I love that you've got your husband watching Hallmark movies with you. :)

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    1. Yup, sometimes you just have to make your own festive fun! I hope your mom is well!

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  4. I love your 12 days of Christmas basket idea! What a wonderful way to spread the joy of the season. Our small town usually has a big Christmas event. It still happened this year, but in a much scaled down version. There are some private houses near us who do fantastic light shows, complete with their own radio station you can turn your car radio to and watch as the lights are choreographed to the music. We are going to take our grandkids this weekend. We don't even have to get out of the car, so it's the perfect social distancing event. Your Christmas running gear is so cute! I loved the photo of the 2 of you.

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    1. Those light displays sound wonderful! I bet your grandkids will love it.

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  5. You made a Hallmark book. You win Hallmark Christmas movie watching my friend - that's awesome.
    So how does teaching online work for you? Do you still have to go to the school - or do you do that at home youself?

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    1. I have been slacking on watching my movies...lol.
      In the Spring we were all teaching from home. Since Friday, teachers go to school and teach from their own classroom while the kids are at home learning. I actually don't mind it. It gives some sense of normalcy going to work each day.

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  6. When the boys were growing up, we did a Gingerbread House every year! The last time we did it, they were teens and yeah, not too enthused. Sigh

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    1. I bet that was a fun tradition! Looking back, I'm sure they have some fond memories!

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  7. Ha ha, well I'm still dressing in my festive holiday gear for most of my runs. Why not? I certainly won't be remembered for being boring LOL (maybe crazy, though). I actually have a Pampered Chef baking stone mold for making a gingerbread house from scratch. I've only tried it once (#fail), the kits are much more user-friendly.

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    1. I've been loving your festive running gear!
      I believe my mom had a Longaberger baking stone mold for a gingerbread house but I don't remember us ever using it, or maybe it never turned out because I never remember decorating one!

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  8. In-person church is canceled here (by my church leadership, not by law), so that’s a big one. I’m doing my cookie baking party via zoom, so it’s not canceled, but modified. There are great holiday light displays in my neighborhood, so that’s keeping me in the right spirit.

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    1. I think holiday lights are bringing a lot of joy to people this year!
      How does a Zoom cooking baking party work?
      I am glad we have some options for Christmas eve service this year, including a parking lot service!

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