Thankful for What You Have

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Last night I blew a fuse, of course it was the fuse that powered my stove, refrigerator and microwave.  Basically, the entire kitchen.  The building that I live in is a little old and I had to wait until this morning before they could come and change the fuse.  At first I started to panic, because that is what I would normally do.  However I had to take a moment and be thankful for what I had.

While there was no power in one room of the house.  There was power in every other room of the house.  And since it was below zero outside, the loss of power did not affect my heat in any way.  Because it was below zero, I was able to put some of my items from the freezer on my balcony (the ice cream of course!) because priorities.  To make a long story short, the blown fuse in one room did not affect anything else.

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What I had to stop and remember was that I was warm.  A blessing.  I had power and lights in all of the other rooms of the house.  A blessing.  I had already eaten and it was late, so there really was nothing left to do but go to bed.  Blessed with food and a bed, double blessing.  I am also in a position to replace anything that went bad in the refrigerator or freezer.  Another blessing.

I had to think of my priorities.  In a city where I frequently see people living under the bridges and where I know people are living exposed to these deadly elements, I had to check myself about being frustrated about a blown fuse.  In this life, one thing is for sure and that is that you will have some uncertainties and things will happen both good and bad.  The key to navigating this life is being thankful for what you have.

The lesson I learned was a powerful one.  Well I would say that there are multiple lessons learned.  The first and most important one was to be thankful for what I have.  Food, shelter, health, strength, activity of my limbs.  I have a great deal to be thankful for.  I also learned to not take anything for granted.  I almost short circuited over a fuse, while it was not worth, the frustration it would have caused me.  I had to be reminded to roll with the punches and to allow the cards to fall as the may.

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I didn’t lose anything.  All of the food was spared.  Nothing spoiled or was ruined in the process.  The ice cream survived a night on the balcony.  I still have more than enough food, I have a place called home and everything is in working order.  There are times when I too, lose focus on what is really important and have to readjust my thinking to understand that I have so many things to be thankful for.

During this season of giving and during this time of perpetual hope, it is the things that we often take for granted that offer us the biggest blessings.  Let me, no let us never forget to be thankful for the things we have no matter how big or how small.  In our over commercialized society, it is the little things that matter, not the things we can buy or purchase.  The greatest gifts we can offer are normally our time and attention as opposed to something you can buy.  Remember over all to be thankful for what you have.

Be Blessed!  Be Fabulous!  Be Thankful!

pink-lips

Holiday Gifts Under $25

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So here we are at day 5 of my holiday gift guide.  We started with gifts under $5 and here we are at gifts under $25.  Here are 10 unique gifts for the important people in your life.  These options provide you with a budget conscious way of shopping for all of the people on your holiday list without being in debt when 2018 starts.  Following is a list of gifts for under $25

  1.  Wave Mug and Coaster Set $20.40 (The Grommet)

    Of all of the gifts I have discovered, I think this is my personal favorite.  I enjoy having tea everyday and what a stylish way to have tea without wondering where to place your used tea bag or a small snack.  I really think this is a gift that the tea or coffee drinker in your life would cherish (hint*hint).

  2. Charcuterie Cutting Boards under $25 (World Market)

    This is two of the various options you have to choose from.  Since I added the Marble cheese slicer and marble coasters on previous list, the marble charcuterie board would make a wonderful addition to a hostess set gift.   Or for a more natural look the wood option works as well.

    3.  Map Maker Passport Holder $24.99 (Anthropologie) Mappassport holder 24.99

For the friend or work colleague that is jet-setting around the globe, what a great gift for them.  A stylish way to cover their coveted passport and see the world in style.

4.  Lush Holiday Gift Set price varies (Lush)

Lush set $19.95You can never go wrong with a gift from Lush.  One of the great things is that most of their gifts are already wrapped.  So if you are one of those people who hates the thought of wrapping a gift, Lush is your spot.

5.  Hairo Cold Brew Coffee Pot $25.99 (Bed Bath and Beyond)

Coldbrew bed bath beyond $24.99

A great gift for the coffee drinker in your life.  This cold brew coffee pot allows you to brew your iced coffee without destroying the flavor with ice.  A quick and easy way to brew your iced coffee without the space of many of the larger coffee makers.

6.  Champagne Bears $20 (Nordstrom)

champagne-bears-nordstrom-20-00.jpgA great treat for the adult candy lover in your life.  Candy + Champagne= YUM.  What a great combination.  Who knows they may even share a few with you.

7.  Planning Cork Boards $24.99 (Bed Bath and Beyond)

bed bath beyond cork planner boad $24.99For the person who plans everything or for the person who works from home, these are stylish options to keep them on track.  A great way to plan your week and that all too important ‘girls night out’, this set of 4 boards would be the great addition to the home office or personal workspace.  Who says work has to be boring?

8.  Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle $19.95 (The Grommet)

 

Another great gift for the traveler in your life or the person who always has a water bottle.  The great thing about this bottle is that it collapses, so it is easy to carry in your purse, work bag or workout bag.  The bottle also comes in several colors so find the right option for the person you decide to gift with this bottle.

9.  One Line a Day Five Year Memory Book $16.95 (Urban Outfitters)

Anthropologie 5 year journal $16.99An appropriate gift for the writer or person who loves to journal in your life.  A great way for them to document the changes in their life and the lives of the people that mean the most to them.  This would also be a great sentimental gift for a person going through a transitional phase in their life.

10.  Liz Claiborne Charging Clutch $19.99 (JCPenney)

clutchAnother option for the person on the go who needs to keep their phone charged.  This is an excellent gift option for the blogger in your life or the selfie addict.

I hope you have enjoyed this series of gift guides.  I have provided you with over 50 gifts that you can purchase for the people under you list and all for under $25.  This year you do not have to break the bank when shopping, there are some unique, budget friendly and affordable options for the friends, family or co-workers in your life.  With the money you save you may even be able to pick up an item or two from this list for yourself.  Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

 

Be Blessed and Be Fabulous!

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