by Vicki Peel | Dec 18, 2024 | Lifestyle, Preserve |
Christmas is a time for family and traditions. It’s a time when our stories are molded and meant to be remembered, shared, and retold.
I am proud to share today’s blog post about how Christmas family traditions are the “building blocks of our legacy”, which was written by Giavanni Swanger.
Building Memories and Meaning: The Power of Christmas Traditions
As a child, Christmas always felt like the most magical time of the year—with the smell of cookies filling the house, the excitement of seeing family you have not seen in a while, and who could forget the highly anticipated visit from Santa, which created a whirlwind of excitement. Now, as a parent, I see the same excitement mirrored in my children, but what truly makes the season magical are the traditions we have created together—the annual Christmas party with extended family and the peaceful, slow morning spent in pajamas opening presents with immediate family. These traditions are more than just rituals; they are the heart of our holiday celebration. Our traditions connect us, provide comfort, and create memories that will carry on for generations to come, reminding me that traditions are what make the season, and life, so meaningful.
Traditions have a wonderful way of bringing people together. Every year around Christmas, our family plans a Christmas party to exchange gifts and have one guaranteed day a year where we get to spend time together amidst busy schedules. We order the same 10-foot sub from a restaurant called Baldino’s, we get wings from JJ’s Buffalo Wings—half lemon pepper and half mild—and my mother-in-law makes her homemade cookies, Rice Krispie treats, and deviled eggs. We catch up on life and share stories of things that have happened since our last gathering. Every year my mother-in-law gets gifts for a game that we play that involves dice. (My husband and I always pick out which items we want and try our hardest to leave the game with the gifts we want.) We may not all be able to get together throughout the year, but simple traditions like that help us maintain our connection with one another.
Traditions provide a sense of stability and comfort. My husband and I take Christmas morning slow —or at least as slow as our children will let us. We stay in our pajamas, brew a fresh cup of coffee, turn on the Grinch, and begin sorting out presents. We take the time to enjoy our company as a family before the excitement of new gifts takes over. The slow pace of the morning gives a certain comfort after having a busy, and sometimes crowded, Christmas party. Our small family tradition provides us with a sense of peace that I hope will continue for years to come, as the lessons of love, patience, and family are passed onto the next generation.
Traditions are a good way to solidify a family legacy. They can be enjoyed for generations; I hope my children will look back on Christmases from their childhood and smile. The games, food, and laughter shared at the Christmas party have helped nurture and create bonds with our family and closest friends. I remember my grandparents sharing stories of their holiday traditions growing up, and we would gather around the table and play the same dice game my great-grandmother used to host. Those moments left a lasting imprint on me, and now I see my children creating their memories one holiday at a time. Our kids will take the lessons of generosity and the value of spending time with family and carry those values into adulthood. Though future generations may make changes to how the tradition is carried out, the underlying value will stay the same.
As I imagine myself 15 or 20 years from now, watching my children carry on our family’s Christmas traditions, I feel a sense of warmth and happiness. I can picture them hosting their own Christmas gathering; I know the traditions will live on—filled with laughter, games, and togetherness. The food may be a little different, and the rules of the games may have changed, but the same joy will come from their time spent together. Perhaps they will take Christmas morning slowly, enjoying their time together, and passing the tradition down to their kids. The traditions that we hold today such as gatherings and shared memories are more than just events or moments in time. They are the building blocks of our legacy.
GUEST BLOGGER, Giavanni Swanger’s essay was selected as one of the best in her Writing and Communication Class at Mercer College in Macon, Georgia, which is taught by Christina Harris. As a result, I excitedly agreed to post her essay on my HER Life Hacks blog.
Giavanni is a college student studying IT and a proud law enforcement wife. After nearly a decade working in the veterinary field, she decided to return to school to pursue her passion for technology. She’s also a mom to three kids and three dogs, and is turning her love for baking into a growing business. Her family traditions inspired the essay featured here, written as part of her college studies.
The Author – Giavanni Swanger and Children
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, go to my website – https://HERLifehacks.com, and pick up my free copy of HER Heritage HOMEwork Checklist. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever.
https://HERLifeHacks.com
by Vicki Peel | Dec 16, 2024 | Lifestyle, Preserve |
Christmas is a time for family and traditions. It’s a time when our stories are molded and meant to be remembered, shared, and retold.
I am proud to share today’s blog post about family traditions, which was written by Tiffany Kochensparger.
A Cobb Family Christmas
Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. Much like the dinner bell a mother may use to gather her children for supper, the jingle bells of the season call my whole family together. Each year, the holiday season celebrates our family’s love. Aunts, uncles, and cousins from states away gather to celebrate and catch up on the year’s events. In my family, Christmas day is filled with a plethora of traditions that act as a glue that holds our family together.
Every Christmas, the mornings begin with each immediate family starting the day with their own traditions, whether opening presents or enjoying breakfast. But as the day progresses, everyone knows where they will be in the evening: my father’s house. My father, Craig, has been hosting Christmas dinner for as long as I can remember. He takes such pride in this gathering, placing Christmas lights in every inch of the home and creating a magical, colorful display throughout the yard. As the family begins to assemble, they enter through the Christmas-lighted archways that my father made, which line the driveway, symbolizing the beginning of our Christmas festivities. No formal invitation is sent, and there is no Facebook event scheduled; it is a known tradition that everyone will be at Craig’s house at 7 pm every Christmas.
As the family begins to trickle in, the smack-talking also begins. Every Christmas, we start the evening with our annual family kickball game, and this means serious business. My family is extremely competitive; not even the youngest is safe from being pelted with a kickball thrown from across the yard. The youngest cousins, who were five and six when this tradition began, are now teenagers, and this year, they are excited for the chance to be team captains. This tradition may seem silly to some, but it has become something meaningful and joyous in our family. It is a lighthearted, fun competition that is talked about all year long.
We excitedly gather for the highly anticipated dinner after the annual kickball game. My father always prepares the turkey and stuffing; my cousin Rachell masterfully makes the mashed potatoes, Grandma Judy makes the casserole, Aunt Lynn makes her famous cherry dump cake, and various other cousins prepare sides and fixings that fill the kitchen countertops. Everyone piles into the kitchen and the dining room as we hold hands while Uncle Tim blesses the food. Uncle Tim always says the best prayers as he thanks the Lord for the opportunity to have everyone together on Christmas day. After the prayer ends, the race begins, not to the turkey or to the ham, but to Aunt Lynn’s cherry dump cake. It is the first thing to go every year, so everyone sprints to the sheet pan, makes their dessert plates, and stashes them away until they are ready to eat dessert. Without fail, the cherry dump cake is the first thing to go every year.
For the next couple hours, after everyone has eaten and had a chance to catch up, the last game of the night begins: the box game. If you thought we were competitive over kickball, you have seen nothing yet. The box game consists of everyone gathering around a table to try to open a box, but not any ordinary box. This box has been tightly wrapped in packing tape, and inside you will find another box, also covered in packing tape. Inside that box is another box, and so on and so on. The goal is to be the person who opens the last box and pulls out the mini- Christmas stocking. But you can only try to open the box after rolling a six on the dice. After rolling the six, you must put on a beanie, a scarf, and mittens before taking your stab at opening the box. It becomes two hours of bonding, laughing, memory building, and pure childlike fun.
To some, traditions may seem boring and mundane. Others may prefer their evenings to be spent with more spontaneity. While I consider myself a spontaneous person, traditions such as these allow me to feel grounded and connected to my family. This one day of the year provides a sense of reliability, showing that no matter where we may be, as a family, we are still close and will also prioritize each other. My family’s traditions act as a reference line on a chart– unwavering, constant, and connecting us all.
GUEST BLOGGER, Tiffany Kochensparger’s essay was selected as the best in her Writing and Communication Class at Mercer College in Macon, Georgia, which is taught by Christina Harris. As a result, I excitedly agreed to post her essay on my HER Life Hacks blog.
My name is Tiffany Kochensparger. I was born and raised in Florida but have spent most of my adult life in Georgia after moving to Savannah as a military spouse. I am a branch manager at Navy Federal Credit Union and truly enjoy my job. At 28 years old, I decided to go to college and have been pursuing a Bachelor’s in Organization Leadership at Mercer University. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and watching football (Go Bulldogs).
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, go to my website – https://HERLifehacks.com, and pick up my free copy of HER Heritage HOMEwork Checklist. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever.
https://HERLifeHacks.com
by Vicki Peel | Oct 22, 2024 | Lifestyle, Preserve |
HER Life Hacks has narrowed its focus. As I reflect on my life in this 4th quarter of my life, my perspective has shifted. Therefore, the content I create and share is now reflected in these three pillars: Clear Clutter, Organize, and Preserve.
Hence, the slogan “C.O.P. Out!” (HER Life Hacks)
The value of legacy
And this is what I’m doing in my life – Clearing the Clutter, which means simplifying my surroundings to get rid of things I don’t need, want, or love.
I’m Organizing the stuff I have after the clutter has cleared.
And I’m Preserving my legacy and heritage for future generations – nothing so grandiose as to impact the world, but for family – my world.
There was an old song (1972) entitled “I Can See Clearly Now”, which pretty much sums up why I’m taking HER Life Hacks in this direction. I narrowed my content down to these three concepts.
But the driving force behind plans, content, and action is Preserve.
Mindset adjustment: What do you want your children, grandchildren, and/or other family members to remember about you?
Preserving Values, Not Just Things
Many of us reflect on our lives as we age, but preserving our heritage goes beyond nostalgia—it’s about creating a meaningful connection for future generations. It provides a sense of belonging to know where you came from. And that provides a measure of grounding in one’s life for planning future direction.
That’s why preserving family heritage and legacy is so powerful. creating your own legacy – who you are and where you came from – your heritage. The result of your actions can leave a powerful and lasting impact on your family and future generations.
While I possess many precious items from my parents and grandparents, those things are not the most important.
I’ve discovered through the years that my children may not be as sentimental as I am. They have stuff of their own, and my stuff may not fit their lifestyle. There was a time when this concerned me a lot. I wanted to see those things passed along to their children and grandchildren.
But I’ve come to realize that it’s more important to preserve values, not just things.
Our life experiences – the lessons we’ve learned about resilience, kindness, perseverance – are more valuable than any material possessions. And when we see those values reflected in the lives of our children and grandchildren, we then recognize the true impact of living your values.
Those values passed down become a family’s moral compass, shaping decisions, behaviors, and relationships for years to come. Just by sharing our beliefs, struggles, and moral lessons, we can influence how future generations approach challenges and opportunities.
For example, surviving hardship could teach the value of perseverance and gratitude, offering guidance during tough times. We’ve seen that story played out in the lives of the victims of Hurricane Helene and the many volunteers, friends, neighbors, and strangers who have given of their time, possessions, and money to respond to this crisis and provide the help needed. The strength of connection is powerful.
Therefore, preserving and passing on is how I’m framing my decluttering and organizing experiences. And that has shifted my thinking and decisions about what to do with stuff.
Our Preservation Project
My husband, Wayne, and I started a video series on YouTube called HIM & HER. Our first video was about when we began dating – a LONG time ago.
Now, we’re working on telling and preserving our story for our children and grandchildren.
I created My Life, My Legacy Journal to capture and share your story. And that is what we’re doing. We are working our way through the journal, answering the questions in it and videoing the process.
You can see the first video in which we address questions in the Introduction. These are just basic questions to get started telling the story of our lives together. And we completed only half of that section.
You can see it all revealed here: My Life, My Legacy Journal 📝 Written in Real Time by HIM & HER.
We will continue to record and share our responses. Spoiler alert – the second part of the Introduction is hilarious! We reveal our most embarrassing moments! Part 2 of the Introduction to My Life, My Legacy Journal will be released soon!
What are your thoughts? How have you considered and/or taken action to preserve your legacy?
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, go to my website – https://HERLifehacks.com, and pick up my free copy of HER Heritage HOMEwork Checklist. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our July through September focus on LIFESTYLE!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
by Vicki Peel | Sep 6, 2024 | Lifestyle, Preserve |
Question: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?
Answer: One. But the lightbulb must want to change.
You’ve probably heard that riddle before. But even though it may make you smile it does get down to the heart of the matter of changing your life. To change your life, you must want it.
Our habits drive our lives. They make things easier because we don’t have to think about them. We just do them.
We brush our teeth twice a day. We have that morning cup of coffee to get us going. We take a shower daily.
Habits are powerful. We don’t have to make decisions about many of the things we do daily. They are simple habits.
Have you ever tried to change a habit and replace it with a new one that serves you better? I know I have. But most of the time, I failed. I tried to change too much all at once. Or I tried to change too many things.
When I tried to count calories by writing down everything I ate, I failed. When I tried to cut out all sugar in my diet, I failed. When I tried to exercise 30 minutes every day, I failed.
So, what did I do? I quit trying.
But what if I changed one tiny thing consistently? How might that affect my life?
Check out this video to see how one microhabit and using a habit tracker changed my life.
And you know what? If you start doing one thing differently until it becomes a habit, it changes your perspective about things. I found that what I drank at meals or snack time wasn’t that important. I could focus more on enjoying the food I ate. I also found that I started feeling better by drinking water instead of Pepsi. And then, I started feeling better about myself because I was successful at doing something to improve my health.
It was a tiny microhabit. But it had powerful results.
So why is it better to make tiny, incremental change in your life instead of revamping your entire life at once? Because microhabits are simply doable
They are easier to start.
Often, the reason we have such a hard time making changes in our lives is that we just don’t know where to begin. The whole process seems so daunting and overwhelming. With microhabits, the difficulty is removed. When you’re only changing one very small thing, it barely feels like a change at all. In fact, it can be kind of fun trying out an incremental change just to see what kind of result you get.
They are easier to sustain.
While big changes tend to get real old really fast (like changing from a diet full of processed foods to something Keto or Paleo), micro-changes (like adding a vegetable to every meal) never feel hard at all. The simplicity of incremental change carries momentum all on its own.
They are fairly painless.
The big changes are sometimes so sweeping that they can actually hurt. Imagine throwing out every piece of unhealthy food in your kitchen. Then imagine standing there staring into the abyss of an empty refrigerator trying to figure out what to eat. You have nothing left that your actually liked to eat!
The nice thing about microhabits is that the change is in increments. So, if you’re working to change your diet, you may be only changing one food – like giving up soda – while still enjoying the things you love.
And ultimately, you may find it much easier to start adding other healthy microhabits in your life.
They use less energy.
Those great big changes are only going to wear you out. It’s like going for a full-fledged workout when you typically rarely leave the couch. Your body certainly isn’t ready for that kind of work, and the whole process (finding workout clothes and equipment, going to the gym, knowing what machine to use and how long, and for how many reps) can be pretty daunting.
Microhabits encourage you to take things slow, leaving you with more energy for the rest of your day. So instead of worrying about all that time at the gym, maybe you’re just deciding to take the stairs at work or to park further away from the building, so you get that extra walking in. That bypasses all that energy you’d spend going to and from the gym, and still gives you some exercise you wouldn’t normally get.
They keep you motivated.
Great big goals can feel a million miles away and easily leave you discouraged.
Microhabits set smaller goals that are achieved in tiny increments. This means you get to your destination a lot faster, leaving you with a feeling of accomplishment. That feeling helps keep you motivated as you continue to work towards change. Creating microhabits is a self-sustaining cycle of change and momentum.
While these might not seem like big achievements, the feeling of having done something special is still perfectly valid and will make you feel good about yourself, and what you’re doing.
Is there something you would like to change in your life? Can you simplify it into a microhabit?
Here is a simple habit tracker I designed and used to establish my habit! My One Thing Daily Habit Tracker is an undated printable that you could print out to complete or use in digital format and save in a file. You have a choice of three colors – green, pink, or white, and can use it over and over because it is undated.
And start your tiny, incremental change toward huge rewards in your life today!
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, go to my website – https://HERLifehacks.com, and pick up my free copy of HER Heritage HOMEwork Checklist. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our July through September focus on LIFESTYLE!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
by Vicki Peel | Apr 23, 2024 | Lifestyle |
Continued from 15 Seconds of Fame – or Less..
After 5 days of quarantine in the hotel and practice at the studio, the MrBeast challenge was set to start.
Expecting to start the challenge bright and early, I got dressed and waited for directions to board the bus. And I waited. And I waited.
By the time we were bussed to the studio and practiced marching to our cubicles a few times, the official challenge started about 3:00 pm.
Once we stepped into our cubicle, we had to stay inside until we were eliminated. If we stepped out, across the red line at the door space, we were automatically eliminated.
We still had no idea what the challenge was all about.
The only things in our cubicles were a bed with white linens and a pillow, a box underneath the bed with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a few snack items, and a tablet on a podium in the corner of the cubicle.
First order of business was to test the tablet. Pictures of all contestants and their ages were already loaded onto the tablet.
MrBeast then directed us to vote for one person who we thought should win the $250,000 prize. If everyone voted for the same person, the challenge was over.
Most people voted for themselves. I voted for the 100-year-old.
On the tablet screen was a picture of a toilet. If we needed “to go”, we pushed that button and a port-a-potty was wheeled down the aisle on our level and into our cubicle. When we were “finished”, we came out and the port-a-potty was wheeled out and back down the aisle to be sanitized for the next consumer.
Now, we’re ready.
MrBeast announced that he needed 10 of us to leave on our own volition.
If 10 people did not leave, then 25 people would be randomly selected to be eliminated from the challenge. Ten minutes was allotted.
Ten people did not leave. The 1-year-old, 3-year-old, 89-year-old left, and one other person left. That’s all.
I don’t think the 1-year-old and 3-year-old were responding to the request. They just ran out of the room!
Getting down to the business of elimination of 25 people!
A machine with popup ping pong balls with each of our ages on them was used to make the selections.
#18! #85. #82. #73.
OK – good. #73 was gone. The odds were in my favor that #74 wouldn’t be chosen, at least not right away.
So, I sat back on my bed and relaxed. I was feeling pretty confident.
#74!
And just like that, my 15 seconds of fame never materialized!
However, I am sharing exclusive photos that prove I was actually in the challenge.
You can watch the entire challenge here:
I missed seeing Howie Mandel, who was a guest of the challenge at a crucial point. Afterward, MrBeast gave Howie a tour of the studio. (Click on Howie to see that!)
In case you missed me, (If you got to the 3 minute mark and didn’t see me – you missed me) here are the exclusive and conclusive photos of my participation:
Look for the yellow circle in the back on right side!
#74 getting settled in!
#73 eliminated! Odds for #74 staying improve!
Walk of Shame: the 25 randomly eliminated before the challenge started!
Until the video was published, I had no idea what happened after that! At the time of this posting, the video had been on YouTube for 3 days. Almost 80 million views. Over 163K comments.
And after all that, I remain anonymous. Fame is fleeting – or nonexistent as the case may be.
Was it worth it? Absolutely!
I took a chance at doing something I never would have volunteered for when I was much younger.
I met some interesting people in spite of my introversion, including a writer from Los Angeles, a family of a mother, father and son who owned a restaurant and a “dueling pianos” bar.
My new writer friend from Los Angeles told me about #82, a mother of 8, grandmother and great-grandmother of a LOT, who had never worn pants before this challenge. She was from Kentucky and requested they send her the fabric for her to sew a skirt to wear. However, the fabric didn’t arrive before she had to fly to the challenge. So, she wore the first pants in her life for this challenge. She was the 3rd person eliminated in the random 25! Bless her heart! (We say that a lot in the South!)
I also met a former principal of a school in a county near me. His wife was in basically the same challenge of ages 1 – 100 the previous year and came in second in the entire challenge! She made it to the last two contestants and made the wrong decision at the wrong time!
Because I live only about 30 miles from where MrBeast lives in Greenville, N.C., I wanted to know what it was like to see him in action and where the studio was located.
It was a great experience!
I also know several people who have won money from MrBeast challenges or “encounters”.
My granddaughter’s roommate was a participant in the 100 girls vs 100 boys. She was one of the remaining girls left who won the challenge and won several thousand dollars.
My grandson’s friend won $35,000 by making a basketball shot.
And my husband’s friend and former co-worker was one of the 1000 people who received hearing aids from MrBeast. I’ll call him G. MrBeast talked with him afterward and asked him if he needed a car, and G said he didn’t. Then MrBeast asked him what he would do with the money if he were given some. G said he would put it in a college fund for his grandchildren. When MrBeast asked him how many grandchildren he had, G replied “12”. He was given $12,000. A nice little jumpstart on college funds.
I didn’t win the money, and I was eliminated before the challenge really got started, but I didn’t come away empty-handed.
We were told we would receive $500 if we didn’t win anything else. But we were given $1000 instead.
I don’t think $1000 is too bad for 5 days in a nice hotel with meals brought to you, high-speed Internet, and all that time to work on my business and watch TV!
I’m a pretty proud Introvert, who put myself “out there” for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
By the way, did you identify what each of the items on my rejected artwork represented in Mr.Beast world (from previous post)?
Here are the answers, clockwise from top:
- Tree – 23 million trees planted, estimated to absorb around 2 million pounds of harmful carbon air pollution
- Trash bag – removed over 8,000,000 kg (17.8m lb) of trash from the oceans and rivers worldwide
- Well – built 100 wells in Africa, bringing clean drinking water to an estimated 500,000 people
- Candy bar – introduced Feastables chocolate bars in several varieties, making over $250 million in first year
- Numbers – MrBeast first viral video breakthrough, counting to 100,000
- Bee – MrBeast red the entire Bee Movie script in a video
- Eye and Ear – paid for 1000 people to have their vision restored and donated hearing aid technology for 1000 people
- Dictionary – MrBeast read the entire dictionary in one sitting
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, look for the Subscribe block (below right) and submit your contact information. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
