Category: christmas
Pictures of my Christmas Tree
Merry Christmas
Merry christmas. I finished wrapping gifts a couple of hours ago. I was chillin with netflix for the last few hours.
It is 4 am and I have to be downstairs to take my kids to Christmas with their grandparents, father, cousind and Aunt and Uncle in 5 hours. So I have to sleep quick and wake up in 4 hours.
I can take a nap after that I think. I wish I could do Christmas my way but you know how it is when you live with people and they have to be in charge.
They have a very strict system / routine for Christmas morning that goes against my grain but hopefully my k8ds will have fun.
I miss my own family. My ex husband’s family always demanded or guilted us into having every holiday with them. The few times in 20 years I went to my father’s on a holiday always resulted in years of reminders by my in laws and shaming.
They are very sure they are entitled to every holiday with the grandchildren and do not want to show compassion that my dad never sees them.
I actualy would have ignored them thus year and gone to Baltimore anyway to see my Dad, but I did not have the funds to travel and my arthritis has gotten too much to be able to make the 6 hour drive by myself.
Maybe next year I will have a second driver. My older daughter should get her license this year. Better yet, maybe there will be a nice guy in my life by then and they can drive for me.
I took pictures of the tree which I will post later today. I even made some crafta today which I will also show you. I really enjoyed that. It has been a long time since I made anything.
The kids are asleep and I tucked the bunny into his cage and kissed him goodnight. So good night and see you all later this afternoon.
Try to have a relaxing and peaceful Christmas day. Don’t be afraid to tell people NO if you don’t want to do something. They probably get their way more often than you do anyway.
Much love and wishing you peace,
Annie ❤💕💙🌷🌷🌹🌹🍒🍒💞💗💐❄❄⛄⛄⛄🌠🌋🍀🌼🌾🌿❄❄🌔🌓🌘🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋🌌🌌🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌋🌋
Top 10 or 20 Christmas List
Christmas List
- Peace of mind
- Meaningful connection
- Conversation with a stranger that makes them feel good about themselves
- Children’s laughter
- Another step towards enlightenment
- Financial stability leading towards independence
- Passion and intimacy
- New creative projects
- Better sleep
- More learning
- New frienships
- Another bunny
- A new flute
- A wooden rennaissance recorder
- Art supplies
- Someplace that feels like home
- Someone that feels like home
- More NLP and hypnosis skills and practice
- Help with the business part of my business
- Love
Christmas Foods from Around the World
Are any of you making or having foods from your culture for the holidays? I think it is fun to try new foods from around the world.
I was thinking of trying to make some simple recipes for my kids to try, by getting recipe ideas from my followers.
I do not have normal cooking facilities so they would need to be able to be achieved with a large toaster oven, and an electric skillet.
My grandmother on my father’s side was from Poland….or at least her parents were. I think that her older siblings were born in Poland and she and the younger ones were born in the United States.
There is a cookie recipe that was passed down to me and I will share it with you before Christmas. I think I will have to ask my father to send it to me again.
The other thing I remember my grandmother makinig is kilbasa. We always had two platters of kilbasa.
One plate had hot kilbasa, with a bowl of mustard next to it. The other plate had cold kilbasa, with a bowl of white vinegar to dip it in.
I grew up with the cold kilbasa and white vinegar. My father loved it. I did not like it as a little kid but it grew on me over time.
So what special foods or recipes are you planning to have for the holidays ? If you want to share a recipe on your blog you can put a link in the comments.
Blessings,
Annie💕💙💜🌷🌹❤
Do You Have Barbara Millicent Roberts Under Your Christmas Tree?
Who is Barbara Millicent Roberts? You have known her for years but you probably don’t know her by her full name. Nor did you know she had a last name at all.
Barbara is one of those people who go by one name. You know…like Cher …or Madonna….or “Formerly Known as Prince.”
Barbara Millicent Roberts was born in 1959, but she looks like she is in her 20’s. She used to have feet that always pointed like she was wearing high heals but now she is sometimes seen with her feet flat, which people were beginning to wonder if she could physically do.
Barbara goes by the nick name Barbie.
image from Pinterest
Barbie has been a household name since the late 1950’s and has not been forgotten. Barbie often takes on the last name of “Doll.”
In 1992, a Barbie doll was sold every two minutes around the globe.
Source – The Intentions Behind the Creation of Barbie by Briana Piche
Barbie Doll was born in 1959, as we know, and she has an extensive wardrobe, including the outfits and uniforms for the many jobs she has help. Barbie began as a fashion model and then as rumors have it, went back to school several times to achieve advanced degrees.
image from Pinterest
She has been seen with her head in the clouds as a stewardess and also as a night club singer. She has worked both as a teacher and as an officer of the law, pulling over drunk drivers.
image from Pinterest
You can see a variety of Barbie’s outfits at THIS link on Flickr.
The first Barbie doll was thought up by Elliot Handler of the Mattel Toy Company, with the initial suggestion by his wife Ruth. Mrs. Handler thought of the idea that children would play with an adult aged doll. Prior to Barbie most girls played with baby dolls and practiced being mommies.
There was a German doll called Bild Lilli that was an adult female doll. Ruth Handler saw this doll during one of the trips her husband and she took to Germany.
The Lilli doll was based on a popular character appearing in a comic strip drawn by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Die Bild-Zeitung. Lilli was a blonde bombshell, a working girl who knew what she wanted and was not above using men to get it. The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany in 1955, and although it was initially sold to adults, it became popular with children who enjoyed dressing her up in outfits that were available separately.
source – Wikipedia
They used this doll to help with their idea of how the Barbie doll should look, but came up with their own unique design.
The Bild Lilli doll had her own comic strip where she was a sexy doll of a woman. Excuse the pun.
In the comics, Lilli was witty, irreverent… and sexually uninhibited. One strip, summarized by Lord, shows Lilli covering her naked body with a newspaper and explaining to a friend…
source – Time Magazine
Bild Lilli was a comic strip in a newspaper printed in Hamburg Germany. The comic was for adults and began in 1952, and appeared in the newspaper called Bild-Zeitung.
One particular comic strip had the following tale of Bild Lilli meeting a police officer and being told she could not wear a two-piece bathing suit in public.
…shows Lilli in a bikini; when a policeman tells her that two-piece swimsuits are illegal, she says, “Oh, and in your opinion, which part should I take off?”
source – Time Magazine
The full name “Barbara Millicent Roberts” appears in a series of novels about her fictional life.
Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents’ names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin
source – Wikipedia
They bought the rights to the Bild Lilli doll in order to stop the production of that doll, which apparently they did not want to compete with.
You can read more about the history of Barbie at THIS LINK and you will see a picture of the original Barbie. Take note of the way her eyes are looking. You do not see dolls these days with that kind of a sexy, come-hither look.
image from Pinterest and Flickr
Barbie dolls became terrifically popular and are sold in 150 countries.
source – Good Housekeeping Magazine
Barbie’s appearance has been changed many times, most notably in 1971 when the doll’s eyes were adjusted to look forwards rather than having the demure sideways glance of the original model.
source – Wikipedia
Proportions of the doll have been redesigned to alter her unattainable body proportions and to make her look more realistic. The original doll had proportions that you do not see on real women. The waist is too small to go with the breasts and the hips.
image from Pinterest
Barbie’s vital statistics have been estimated at 36 inches (chest), 18 inches (waist) and 33 inches (hips). According to research by the University Central Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, she would lack the 17 to 22 percent body fat required for a woman to be healthy enough to have children.
source – Wikipedia
There is also an article that Barbie appears in, which is called “125 Women Who Changed Our World.” You can see a great picture of the original Barbie on page 14 of THIS ARTICLE printed in Good Housekeeping magazine.
I happened to come across a blog called Matisse Fashions and Dolls. She is a talented doll dress designer and you might enjoy taking a peak at her designs HERE. If you notice my earlier posts today you will see some links to some of my favorite designs of hers.
Even ZOMBIE killer Barbie has been spotted recently ! This is a character from the Walking Dead Series . She is Michonne.
Barbara Millicent Roberts has come a long way since 1959 and she is still getting wrapped and placed under Christmas trees all over the world !
Maybe she is under yours…
Holidays for People with Mental Illness, Depression, Anxiety Disorder
The holiday season can be very difficult for people with mental illness. Depression and anxiety can be triggered and it is hard to deal with all the happy people who are excited about the holiday planning.
You have to take care of yourself. Don’t feel guilty to say “no” to things if it is too much for you. Everyone may not understand and some people will react to you by trying to make you feel shame or guilt.
People who try to guilt you into doing things are not the people who are the best people for you to be around, especially during the holidays. If you realize that the worst that will happen by saying no is that they will “react” to you, then you can endure that.
People that try to get emotional reactions out of you are just manipulators. They are not on your side and doing things just to avoid disappointing them is not necessary.
Unfortunately there are those people who will do more that just try to evoke an emotional reaction out of us. Some people will take more steps to make our lives miserable when we do not do what they ask.
If you are dealing with someone like this then you are in a very difficult situation. Just try to minimize the amount of things you do for them and avoid what you can.
Take breaks for yourselves and do things just because you like to do them. You can take yourself to the movies or to the local diner for hot chocolate. You can take a Netflix break and watch a funny movie or tv show.
A warm shower or bath can be very relaxing and no one can disturb you. Find ways to help yourself to feel calm and to feel like you matter. You can make your own traditions for the holidays and forget about what you “always do.”
Doing things the same way every year is not a rule, it is just a habit. If you would be happier making changes to your usual holiday routine then do so. There is no rule that you have to be miserable or that you have to spend all your time making everyone else happy.
People get extreme stress during the holidays because they are trying to live up to other people’s expectations or even their own expectations. Set you bar lower, so that you will not expect things to be a certain way.
Truthfully these are just days like any other days. Society and your family has done the job of putting expectations on you. Keep in mind that a lot of it has to do with the commercial companies wanting to make money. It is a lot of hype that you are not obligated to fall into.
The holidays should be about peace and serenity. They should be a time to calm, rest and spiritual connection. Find your peace during this season however it is the most meaningful to you.
Annie’s Top Ten List – Christmas List for Santa / Top 10 list
What would I want for Christmas if I could pick anything at all?
I thought this would be a good way of thinking about things and taking inventory , if you will, of my brain.
It might be helpful for you to make a list for yourself. It will not be a list that Santa will grant for you or that you may get any of at all. But it will help you to get to know yourself a little better.
1. Peace of mind. This is a phrase which is thrown around all the time. I am sure that different people have completely different ideas of what peace of mind means to them.
When I think of what it would be like to have peace of mind, I think of feeling calm and not having any anxiety, In order to not have anxiety, I would need to be financially stable, feel healthy and have a deep spirituality.
2. Time to create and connect. I always feel like I am squeezing out bits of time for the things that i love, in between doing the things I need to do in order to survive
. I would love to have unlimited time to create poetry, music, art and to write blogs. I would spend much more time really connecting with other people in a meaningful way.
3. A stronger and more flexible body to do yoga with. I love yoga and I feel better when I make the time to do it. I used to be able to do the postures better and with no pain.
I am losing flexibility and getting in and out of the postures is painful sometimes. I would like to be able to enjoy yoga and be able to progress into more advanced postures.
4, Passion. I want romantic passion and love that is unconditional and selfless. I want to have time to be close and not have to fit it in between all of the survival activities.
5. Magic. I want magic. Magical moments of connection. Magical spiritual experiences. Ability to see all the magic around me. Ability to create magic in people’s lives. The ability to put the ideas of quantum physics and the “power of intention”
* if you are unfamiliar with quantum physics, please watch “What the Bleep. Down the Rabbit Hole” movie*
6. Home. I have felt homesick for years. I want to live somewhere I feel I belong. A place that I had input on choosing. A place that feels safe and calm. A place that I can be myself. A place that has furniture and decorations that I love and had input in selecting.
7. To be seen. I feel invisible a lot of the time. I feel misunderstood , isolated and alienated. I want to be seen for who I am and have my intentions understood.
8. Humor. I would like to be able to laugh and smile. I would like to be myself and be able to express my sense of humor without being misunderstood. I would like for life to be peaceful enough that there was more room for laughter.
9. Inspiration. I would love to be able to easily access inspiration for creating music, art and writing without being burdened down with anxiety.
10.Acceptance. I want to be accepted for who I am. I want to be myself and not have to struggle to fit into the status quo. I want to not be punished when I think outside the box and do not just go along with what everyone else does.
Holiday Anxiety
Be proactive this holiday season. Make sure you do not lose track of yourself in the midst of all the chores, errands, and worrying about what others want.
Every season, people become depressed and have horrible anxiety. Keep on top of yours from the beginning of the season. Holiday Anxiety and Depression – It is like an infection – It is easier to prevent that to cure it.
Keep your daily schedule reasonable. Don’t try to do more than you can do. You are not a super-hero. It will exhaust you and your resistance to illness, anxiety and depression will go way down.
Keep up with the basics – sleep and rest !!
Remember , people always expect you to do all kinds of things. But they are not aware of what is going on at your job and in other areas of your life. They are also not aware of what is going on in your mind. They do not know the anxiety or depression you are feeling. They cannot be the judge of how much is too much.
You can’t please everyone. In fact, some people will complain anyway, even if you make inhuman efforts to make them happy. Some people could have the whole world and would still complain it is not enough.
You can only do what you can do. You have to know what is reasonable for you. That is all you should try to do. You will just frustrate yourself otherwise. Then on Christmas you will see that one little thing would not have made any difference anyway.
Make time for yourself. Don’t spend every minute you are not working preparing for Christmas. It is not fair to you.
If you would not expect someone else to endure the level of your errands and chores and work schedule, then don’t try to endure it yourself. Cut some things out. Christmas will come and then it will be over in a flash.
Take care of yourself. You deserve to have a good holiday too. Not just all the people who you are trying to satisfy.
Namaste,
Annie
Annie’s Top Ten Lists – Top Ten Annoying Things About the Holidays
10. The closer you get to the mall, the more people cut in front of you, practically taking the front of your car off.
9. The bell ringers will ring that damn bell right in your ear and publicly shame you if you don’t put a quarter in their bucket, even if your hands are full.
8. Your mother-in-law will ask you what you want for Christmas and then get you exactly the opposite.
7. No matter how hard you try, there will be three hours of wrapping to do on Christmas Eve.
6. Old ladies will rip a toy right out of your hand, in Walmart, because it is the last one.
5. You gain ten pounds eating chocolate, because you know someone will talk you into cutting the junk food for a New Years resolution and you’ve got to fill up now.
4. They start the Christmas music in the stores so early in the season that you can’t stand it by Christmas.
3. When you arrive at the homeless shelter to volunteer, one of the food servers offers you a bowl of soup because the stress of the holidays has reduced you to looking like you slept outside.
2. You run out of scotch tape at 11:30 pm on Christmas Eve when you have three gifts left to wrap.
1. All of the radio stations on Christmas Day are playing Christmas music. You would kill to hear a rock song.
GentleKindness 