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 | Nov 10, 2024 | Clear Clutter, Preserve |
Company coming to your home for Thanksgiving? Yes? Read on for my novel decluttering idea!
Decluttering can be a deeply rewarding process, especially when we know that the items we’re letting go can find new life with someone else. If you’re like me, you may find it hard to discard items that you once used and loved, but no longer need or want. After all, I was raised with a “waste not, want not” mentality. Basically, we never threw away anything.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m excited to share a how to lighten your load and make room for what truly matters, all while giving back to those closest to you: hosting your very own “Company Store.”
This idea came to me because I’m hosting my entire, extended family for Thanksgiving. So – why not use the opportunity to “share and pare”! I’ll “pare” down some of my stuff, and “share” with people who will give my stuff a good home. It also makes getting rid of stuff a fun (to the extent possible) and interactive experience.
Just think about it. Imagine setting up a mini-shop in your home for family members to “shop” for free from items you no longer want or need. This approach isn’t just a chance to clear clutter, but also a way to create meaningful connections by passing along cherished (or simply practical) items to family members who could use them.
Why Host a Family “Company Store”?
- Hosting a family store for your gently used items can make decluttering feel less like a chore and more like a joyful gathering. It’s a chance to:
- Reduce Waste: Extend the life of items that are still in great condition, saving them from ending up in landfills.
- Save Resources: Avoid unnecessary spending for your loved ones by allowing them to pick up things they may genuinely need.
- Create Memories: Each item comes with its own story. Share those stories with your family members as they find new homes for these items.
How to Set Up Your “Company Store”
Here’s how to prepare for you store and make the setup fun and stress-free.
- Curate Your Collection: As you declutter, set aside items in good condition that someone else may appreciate—a beautiful serving dish, hardly-worn clothes, kids’ toys, or even small furniture pieces.
- Organize and Display: Use a spare room, garage, or even an organized corner in a main living area to set up your “store.” Lay out items so they’re easy to browse, grouping similar items together and labeling as needed.
- Add a Personal Touch: If you’re parting with sentimental pieces, consider adding a note about the item’s history or significance—it’s a great way to honor the item’s past while welcoming it into a new chapter.
Enjoy the Process and Let Go Gracefully
- Invite your family to explore, pick what they love, and even swap stories and ideas. It’s a relaxed way to ensure your things go to people who truly want or need them.
- Giving items away to people who might genuinely appreciate them reduces the guilt often associated with discarding things.
- While this idea is not in my plans, you could encourage family members to bring their own items they wish to give away, making it a collective decluttering effort.
- Make a decision ahead of time to get rid of everything that doesn’t “sell” from your store. Once everyone has had a chance to shop, anything that remains can be easily boxed up and either donated or recycled.
Embrace the Benefits Beyond Decluttering
The Company Store approach brings unique benefits to both you and your family. It lets you:
- Clear Clutter with Purpose: Knowing your items will be useful to loved ones can make the letting-go process much easier.
- Organize for the Future: As you declutter, you’ll find it simpler to organize the items you choose to keep.
- Preserve Your Legacy: Rather than holding onto objects, you’re able to pass along pieces that reflect family stories and shared experiences.
Why don’t you consider hosting a Company Store as a new holiday tradition that combines gratitude, generosity, and the joy of simplifying your life?
This Thanksgiving, give yourself the gift of a lighter, more organized home and the joy of sharing that with the people you care about most. Afterward, take a moment to appreciate how much you’ve decluttered and how many useful items have found new homes.
Happy decluttering!
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 | 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 | Dec 8, 2022 | Preserve |
When we think of legacies, our first inclination is to think about what we leave behind for future generations when we die.
But a legacy is not about death. It is about life. It’s about how you are living your life right now.
Most of us would prefer not to think too much about creating a legacy. Why? Because thinking about creating a legacy makes us think about death, and that is too dark a concept to consider right now. After all, we’ll have time to think about that later. Right? Maybe, maybe not.
“Don’t be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don’t have to live forever; you just have to live.” ~ Natalie Babbitt
What is a Legacy?
Whether you think about creating a legacy or not, you’re doing it anyway. You create a legacy by simply living your life. Everything you do or did is creating your legacy. So, the question becomes – are you living your life with intention so you will be remembered the way you want to be remembered?
“Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” ~ Lin Manual Miranda
Most of us think about a legacy as something passed on to the next generation after our death. And we may even think that legacies are built and transferred by people who have a great deal of money or influence. Great people in history may come to mind. And if that is how you think of a legacy, you’d be wrong.
We don’t have to do spectacular things or have great wealth to leave an important legacy.
A legacy can be built by simply living a life of kindness. Just showing kindness to people we love and people we meet can have rippling effects that we may not even be aware of.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” ~ Maya Angelou
A legacy is built day by day in the little things we do and say that define who we are. A legacy is about memories – sharing memories of what you know about your parents and grandparents and the memories they passed down to you. A legacy is about creating memories with your family in the present so your children and grandchildren will know about you and previous generations, how you lived and what you lived for.
It may also include possessions, which don’t need to be possessions of great monetary value. Their value comes from the meaning they have in your life and what has been passed on to you by previous generations. It is about connections. Connections about where you came from that help to define who you are.
Why is a legacy important?
Simply put, people need to know that life matters. That they matter. That you matter.
Legacies are about hope. Hope that the future for your children and grandchildren will be even better than today. That is especially important today – right now. The world has experienced monumental change. In just the period of a few years, we have seen changes we never dreamed we would experience as the result of a global pandemic. Even the word pandemic wasn’t on our radar before we were in the midst of it. These experiences alone make us think about the fragility of life, it’s meaning, and what the future might look like.
Preserving family histories is valuable. Learning about who came before you and what they were like and what they experienced helps you know who you are. Understanding how previous generations sacrificed and paved the way for the next generation provides a sense of security.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
How do you build a legacy?
The short answer is to live every day with intention, doing the things that matter the most to you and realizing that how you live is a model for the next generation.
People have a need to know where they came from and what that means to them. And while there are many things you can do to create your own legacy, the focus for this article is learning about the legacies of previous generations and preserving family histories.
How do you do that? How do you learn about and preserve family histories? You ask questions.
My daughter gave my mother a lasting gift one Mother’s Day – a journal to record the details of her life. And thanks to my niece, she did just that. My niece asked my mother every one of the questions in the journal and recorded her answers. When my mother passed away, I copied every page of that journal to give to my sisters so we each had a copy to keep and treasure.
My daughter also gave that same journal to my mother-in-law, her paternal grandmother. And my husband planned to ask his mother the questions and record her responses. However, she passed away before he got around to it, and he regrets missing that opportunity to know his mother a little better.
Even though I have treasured memories of my parents and grandparents, I also regret not having asked probing questions about their what their lives were like growing up. What was it like growing up through the Great Depression of the 1920’s? What were their homes like as a child? What do they remember about their parents and grandparents? And so many more questions that I will never know the answers to.
I realize that youth is not the time to ask questions about the past. Youth is a time for present reality and future dreams. The process of aging creates time for reflection and remembering and wanting to know more about past generations.
And that is why I created “My Life, My Legacy” – a journal of questions for anyone who recognizes the value of passing on their personal history before passing on. It may be something you want to complete for your children and grandchildren, who may not recognize the value of preserving oral histories of their family until it is too late for them to ask the questions. Or there may be a family member whose memories about their life you want to record.
Just take a look at My Life, My Legacy Journal- Teal
Or My Life, My Legacy Journal – Leather.
Tell your story now – the way you want it told.
(Contact me for a coupon code.)
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 during our October through December focus on HOME STYLE!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
