Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. Did you find all of the Black Friday Deals you hoped for? I perused the internet but didn’t find anything I couldn’t live without! In fact, I have not been out of the house since I got home Wed night after work. It has been lovely to just relax, watch football and do hand work. My hope is to not leave the house until tomorrow when we go get groceries!

I have never been a big in person Black Friday shopper. I have been known to take advantage of some sales online. This year I may buy a little something today on small Business Saturday that I have been keeping my eye on, charm packs! Overall, buying things to just buy things seems really pointless. I have a couple of gifts to buy for Christmas however, I don’t need to get them this weekend. I am trying to be more practical and give people things that they need. Mostly consumable items and gift cards because we all have small houses!

I posted a podcast yesterday so if you want to hear all about what I am working on check out yesterday’s blog post with the link to the podcast.

I am really embracing slow living this weekend after being so busy and I have to say that I need all four days off to rest up! It’s funny how I am finally able to embrace a mindful, intentional life. It has taken me years to slow down and savor each day. I don’t have all the pressures of modern living that I did when I was raising kids. My work is close to home, so the commute is short and when I clock out at 5 pm I am able to leave it and all it’s stresses at the door. I am so thankful I don’t do weekend on call anymore and I truly have time to myself! We used to always be traveling and going places, filling every second of every day with things. I must say that I really enjoy having empty spaces in my days and calendar. It’s all about balance and knowing your limitations.

I am also finding that I would rather save up my resources to do and experience things that I haven’t done before. One day I want to go to some Christmas markets in Chicago and in Germany! I think that would be so much fun! All to say that buying too many items and over filling my time doesn’t appeal to me anymore.

Today is the BIG GAME between U of M and Ohio State. I am going to hand work while watching the game. My husband is out hunting and hopefully he will get a deer as he didn’t take a shot last weekend. He has some remorse over that, and I would like him to have a successful year. I don’t eat venison, however he enjoys it, and we have a lot of freezer space for it!

It has been very cold, and I am preparing myself for the long winter. I have taken account of all the quilts I need to finish or longarm. It’s not as many as I thought it would be, yay!! I have less plans of all the things to make in 2024 in the spirit of having more empty space in my calendars. 2024 the year of really embracing Slow, Intentional Living.

Hope your weekend is as lovely as mine has been!

Vicki