Currently in December: 2023
Well, it's the first Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for the currently link up with Jennifer. This month we're talking about what we're currently loving, gifting, wrapping, hoping, and attending.
Loving: I have been playing around a lot with ink blending and making backgrounds with card making and I am loving how much fun it is!
Gifting: I'm actually not gifting much this year my boys each asked for just one big gift and my husband and I decided our cruise is our gift to each other. We don't exchange gifts with most of the rest of our family members though I do sent money to my nieces and nephews.
Wrapping: Most of my wrapping is done and I try to wrap each thing as it arrives so I don't get overwhelmed.
Hoping: I am hoping that no one gets sick before/while my husband and I are away and that the weather cooperates for our flight and sailing.
Attending: I don't have much of anything to attend other than 3 family Christmas parties this year-- we'll celebrate Christmas with my father in law, his wife and her boys' families on the 23rd. My mom, step-father, and brother (and his family) on Christmas eve. Then Christmas day/morning we'll see my mother in law and husband's brother (and family). It sounds like a lot but all the celebrations really are so much smaller than they used to be when we had more family around.
So excited for your cruise. Would you believe I have never been on one? I hope you have great weather and that all goes smoothly at home, too!
ReplyDeleteThis is only our second, and while we loved our honeymoon we never gave cruising a second thought all these years. I'm getting nervous about being needed while we're so far away and rather unreachable!
DeleteThat card is stunning! I adore the colors. I am planning on making my gift wrap this year. Enjoy the rest of your holiday season!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you! I love the idea of making your own gift wrap; that sounds neat!
DeleteI am like you with wrapping- I wrap the gifts almost as soon as I get them (I do wait until I have several to wrap at once since it´s kind of a pain to get out all the wrapping supplies). I also like how wrapped presents look under the tree so another reason I like to get them wrapped is to have them look pretty under the tree.
ReplyDeleteI do wait until I have a good handful or so to wrap together. I too like to see them under the tree looking all pretty. We never had any gifts under our tree at all until Christmas morning but I think the tree looks naked with nothing at all underneath.
DeleteI'm excited to hear about your cruise! When do you leave? I'm so glad you linked up with us today, friend! I hope and pray everyone stays healthy until you're back home!
ReplyDeleteWe leave January 5th.
DeleteI'm hoping with you for no sickness and good weather for getting to your cruise. Isn't it nice to not have to worry about gifting so much?! I feel a lot freer this year.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! I definitely feel a lot freer this year.
DeleteYour wrapping station is genius! I like to wrap as I go because I don't have many places to hide things. This year we are spending Christmas in Atlanta with Jon's family and then flying up to Michigan. It's a lot, but I know it means a lot to them.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I find if I try to hide gifts I inevitably misplace a few along the way.
DeleteLoving your wrapping paper! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am too. We got some really lovely double sided rolls from a selling project at Alec's school and I am wishing I had doubled my order.
DeleteSo fun that you're going on a cruise!
ReplyDeleteI can not wait! I can already tell I am going to be waaay overpacking.
DeleteI tend to wrap in batches. My hubs and I both were under the weather last week so I fell behind on the wrapping (my least favorite Christmas task!). I'm not hosting this year, so there's a little less work to do in terms of preparation. Enjoy your voyage! Happy sailing!
ReplyDeleteI love to wrap; I try to make it as enjoyable as I can. I put on a festive movie (or music or audiobook), grab a little snack, and lock my door so no one can disturb me.
DeleteI'm so excited about your cruise!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHave fun on the cruise!
ReplyDeleteOh that cruise sounds so exciting! We still haven't got plans for Christmas. I'm very relaxed about it this year, lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's good! I am very, very relaxed about the holidays this year too.
DeleteSo excited to hear all about your cruise! What a wonderful getaway for you and your husband.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHave a wonderful time planning for your cruise! We've never gone on one, but I'm beginning to wear Mike down. We used to go to so many different families. It was hard because it was always on the same day!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thank you! We used to visit 3 of ours on Christmas day and after one year with the kids I swore I'd never do that again... I felt like we spent the whole day strapping them into car seats and the poor kids never got to play with any of the new toys they opened.
DeleteI love your ink blending too, it looks so pretty on the card. How exciting to be going on a cruise. I have never been on one before. Look forward to hearing all about it and yes, fingers crossed that nobody gets sick!
ReplyDeleteRuth@playworkeatrepeat
Aw, thank you!
DeleteHi Joanne - I love your card! That's the kinda thing I enjoy doing - ink and did you use watercolours? My boys are getting one big gift each this Christmas, and my daughter too! I bought some new linen for our bed so that's the Xmas gift for me and my husband. Your cruise sounds exciting. I can't remember if I read somewhere where you're cruising to but I hope you remain healthy and well and enjoy it immensely! Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy & have a great week! xo
ReplyDeleteI used water based inks and then gave it a light spritz with water to give it that speckled/watercolor look. At first I was kind of bummed that they each only wanted one gift knowing our Christmas morning would be over so fast but I am really starting to enjoy how easy it all has been this year. We're heading to the Western Caribbean-- Belize, Roatan, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman.
DeleteYou are far ahead of me! I still swap a lot with friends -- more than I wish, actually. But it's fun and festive. Now, I need to get on with things. Company is always fun (that's this week and why I'll be slow visiting) but a lot doesn't get done! Still, worth it!
ReplyDeleteI hate to say I don't have any friends, but I haven't exchanged gifts with any friends since college!
DeleteThat card is beautiful, Joanne. Lovely work. We have just two Christmas gatherings this year: Christmas Eve with my siblings and their children and grandchildren (which is a rather large group) and then Christmas Day we host an open house for family and friends. I am really looking forward to both. Enjoy your cruise and try not to worry about things at home!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try not to worry about things at home; I know my boys are quite capable but it's going to be hard... we've left them home alone while we've been on trips before but not quite so far away!
DeleteI love that y'all are taking a cruise!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was such a surprise when my husband (who rarely wants to travel anywhere!) suggested it.
DeleteMy husband and I really don't buy each other gifts any more - haven't for many years, but going on a trip of some kind would be our gift to each other. Going on a cruise together is a fantastic gift!! I hope the weather is great for your trip and that everyone stays healthy and happy all through the holidays!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.
DeleteI'm thinking a cruise sounds like a great gift!! Good idea. I would love to get to the place of very few (if any) gifts...but not sure when my family will agree with that idea. They think I'm the grinch!!:)
ReplyDeleteIt just sort of organically happened that way this year and I am embracing it since I have no idea how long that will last.
DeleteWe only give presents to the kids in the family now. For the adults, as we get older, spending time in each other's presence is the present! My husband and I also gift experiences not things - enjoy your cruise, I hope you have a magical time. Have a fun family filled festive season!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYour cards are always so pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are all sorted for Christmas when it comes to the gifts. I still have all of the wrapping to do. Eek!
I hope you all stay fit and well for your trip. x
Thank you so much!
DeleteSomebody always seems to get sick when we travel, so that's always in the back of my mind, too, when we have a trip approaching. I'm hoping everyone stayed well for y'all!
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