Tag Archives: Christmas

3 Ways to be Kind this Christmas

December 18, 2017 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , , , , 24 Comments

Christmas is in the air and we need to remember to be kind. It is a season of giving and receiving. And one of the things I want to ensure I give everyday going forward is Kindness. I want to go out of my way to be deliberately kind to strangers and people I may never see again. I think being kind is as good for the person on the receiving end, as it is for the person being kind. Kindness is very contagious and it has been proven to help lengthen life expectancy and a variety of mental health issues. A kind act a day can help keep the therapist away.

One thing you must remember is that you should be kind for the sake of it, and not to get something back in return. That defeats the whole objective.

 

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So how can you be kind this today. Here are 3 ways –

 

Be Supportive

I wrote a post about how to keep going without support and I was glad to see it touched so many people. Being supportive is a great way to show kindness. We all need a form of support system, so offering some kind of support to as many people as you can is always a good deed. Research has also showed that offering some kind of support to others can help reduce our worries.

So go out of your way to be support this Christmas season and after.

 

Complain Less

I try as much as possible to not complain. Sometimes it is impossible but I always remember so many millions of people have it a lot worse. That keeps me sane and humble. Complaining less is an act of kindness for me at least. It helps my state of my mind when I remain thankful and I am sure many feel the same way.

Excessive complaints are so negative and they spoil the mood for everyone involved. Touch a life today by complaining  less.

 

Give to Charity

There are so many charities to support, there should be no excuse with this act of kindness. I like to give back to as many charities as I can and this Christmas, I have a few in mind to reach out to. It feels great to support people in need. I get a bit of a high whenever I do.

You don’t have to spend money to support a charity. Sending pre-loved toys, shoes and clothing could put a smile on so many faces this Christmas.

 

 

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Don’t Go Broke for Christmas

December 16, 2017 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 30 Comments

It is now 9 days to Christmas and everyone is going MAD! The shops are filled up with shoppers that won’t stop shopping. Deliveries are coming on very late and the whole world has gone crazy getting ready for the big day. I am trying not to join in with the craziness of it all. I am done with my Christmas shopping and wrapping. Just waiting on a few deliveries to come in and wrap some last minute gifts, and that is it really.

I am trying to enjoy the countdown to Christmas and not get carried away with the madness. Which brings me to this post. Many of us get carried away with the Christmas cheer and spend a lot more than we planned to, just because Christmas. It is all well and good if you can afford to buy the presents you buy. Christmas is a season of giving and receiving, so good thoughtful gifts are expected. But that doesn’t mean you should rob Peter to pay Paul. Let me explain…

 

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Many of us spend way more than we can afford. We get carried away with the amazing gift ideas around and go way over our planned budget. Then January comes, and we start to panic with the empty bank accounts, maxed credit cards and bills to pay. Does this scenario sound familiar? Here are ways you could ensure you don’t go broke for Christmas.

 

Start buying Christmas Gifts Early

I started buying Christmas gifts in October and that is late. I usually start earlier than that so I have an upper hand. My aim is to target sales and shop around calmly without the Christmas rush. That way I can spread the cost of the Christmas gifts and shop in peace.

 

Have a Budget

This should go without saying but many of us still walk around shopping without a budget. Having a Christmas shopping budget for every person on your list ensures you don’t get carried away with the amazing options out there. And trust me, there are.

 

Buy for those that Matter

I don’t shop for everyone I know and I don’t expect Christmas gifts from everyone either. I only buy gifts for close family members and teachers. If I don’t see you on Christmas Day, there is a high chance I won’t be buying you a Christmas present except we are tight. I don’t think it makes financial sense buying Christmas gifts for every member of my family.

 

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Buy Only What you Can Afford

Many of us result to using credit cards and store cards to shop for Christmas gifts. That was normal for me some years ago but not anymore. I have seen the light and it makes zero sense to buy what you cannot afford. If you must use store cards and credit cards, make sure it is interest-free, and you make repayments before the interest-free period ends.

 

Focus on the Reason for the Season

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, so I like to focus on the reason for the season, with my family and take it all in. As we count down to Christmas, we spend our spare time relaxing with Christmas programmes, singing along to Christmas carols, reading Christmas books and just enjoying the season. My kids are quite contented with staring at the Christmas lights all day if I let them.

 

These are the ways I make sure I don’t go broke for Christmas. Do you do any of these things? Please share your Christmas shopping experience in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Please share this post if you enjoyed reading it. Have a lovely weekend.

 

How to Rock the Sparkle Trend this Holiday Season

December 6, 2017 By in Beauty, Fashion Tags: , , , , , 24 Comments

Sparkles! Yes, the Christmas season is a sparkly season and the sparkles are all out! But this season, the Christmas decorations are not the only things sparkling. From hats to jewellery and makeup to shoes, there is a bit of glitter everywhere. And that is what the sparkle trend is all about.

Is it something about the Christmas vibe that’s inspiring all the shimmer? Maybe. But whatever is the source of the inspiration, Christmas is the time to get the sparkle right?

 

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I have observed a lot of shimmery blunders and creative glittery ideas in the fashion scene so I thought it would be great to do a bit of damage control and let you all in on the best ways to rock the sparkles.

 

Ease up on the glittery makeup

This may sound a bit counterintuitive since this article is focusing on rocking the sparkle trend, but if you want the glitter to resonate the spirit of the festive season, then too much glitter is not the way.

Glittery eyeshadow, especially in the classic colours of silver and gold, work amazing. This is true only if you restrict the sparkles to your eyelids alone. What some people do is to abuse the glitter and add a lot of shimmer on their cheekbones or apply a lot of glittery lipstick. That makes your face full of glitter and you miss the whole aim of keeping up with the sparkle trend.

The rule of thumb here is to flatter a specific part of your face or keep it moderate on all sides. Aim to strike a balance. You don’t need to put on too much glitter to be fabulous.

 

Get your hair involved in the sparkles

I love this idea and I think it’s something worth a try this Christmas. It’s the glittery ponytail. What’s wonderful about this new fashion trend is that it’s really easy to recreate and it’s just right for the festive season.

So far, the best way to sport the glittery ponytail is to have the tip of your ponytail covered in styling gel mixed with glitter. Next hold it together with hairspray to let it all set in. The end result is amazing.

If you’re a little adventurous this Christmas, I recommend you give it a try.

 

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Avoid sparkle overload in your outfits

You know that shimmery dress that you admire but makes you wonder if it will be a good idea to buy it or not? Buying a glittery dress is a tough decision to make. Although it looks great, the amount of glitter can be overwhelming.

The key is to creatively balance out the glitter and the best way to do this is to use non-glittery accessories. For example, you can easily tone down a glittery gold dress with black heels, clutch purse and a long dark coloured necklace. You can even take it further with a dark jacket.

If you’re wearing something that has no glitter and you want to add a little shine to it, then make your sparkly accessories your best friends. Shiny accessories help direct people’s attention to where the sparkle is. It’s that effective!

 

How do you plan to rock the sparkle trend this holiday season?

 

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