Welcome back for another edition of Random Ramblings (read the last post here). I kind of like putting these posts together because it lets me talk about whatever and also gives you a glimpse into my everyday brainwaves lol
A new tradition the hubs and I started a few years ago was to adopt a child or children and supply them with the things they want from Santa. Each year we partner with our favorite travel friends so we have a bigger budget to give an even better Christmas for the child/children. This year we adopted 3 children and had a blast picking out toys, craft projects, and clothes for each of them. We made it an event; shopping followed by dinner with great friends.
It feels good to give. It doesn’t have to be reserved for the holiday season, there are many ways to give back throughout the year. I challenge everyone to give back, if not financially, through service or acts of kindness.
Also finance related, this year we were given a Christmas bonus. A first for me because that’s just not something my University does. It came as a total surprise and was well used. As of today I have paid off the first of my graduate student loans!!! Insert excited scream It feels so good to pay it off in 3 months when at the minimum payments it would have been another 10 years before being paid off. It’s truly silly to sit around paying the minimum on something when you could be focusing on becoming debt free.
The hubs and I are still making progress and it feels really good. I reflected on our journey since 2015 in the Instagram post below so go check it out (and follow me please).
The best thing I did for my blog this year was to join Style Collective. Style Collective is a platform for female influencers to connect, grow, and learn how to be successful bloggers and entrepreneurs.
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I have “met” so many amazing women through Style Collective and can’t wait to see what 2018 has to offer for Lexi & Lady. Annie Spano, the founder, is a true entrepreneur and Girl Boss!
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This time of year gets me thinking about what I did with the year and what I want to do in 2018. At the beginning of this year I set out to grow Lexi & Lady. While I did not achieve everything I thought I would, I learned a lot of things along the way. This year I know I want to continue to grow and impact readers positively. Please help Lexi & Lady grow by following me on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’), subscribing to my newsletter (enter your email address below, promise I don’t spam you!), and telling your friends and family about the blog.
The second thing I’m thinking about is doing something that scares me. Nothing amazing happens in your comfort zone! Now…I am not sure what I plan on doing in 2018. There are always things that scare me and I hold myself back from achieving and experiencing because of the fear of failure or embarrassment. This year I want to put those feelings behind and do things I normally would avoid.
What is your 2018 New Year Resolution(s)? Leave them in the comments below. I’d love to hear what your plans are! Thanks for visiting! Until next post…xoxo Becca
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Growing up I remember my mom baking for the neighbors; cranberry bread and GORP (type of trail mix) are the two items I remember most. p.s. I tried this one year…our neighbors didn’t seem as excited as I remember neighbors being when I was young. Talk about disappointment! Anyway, she’d box them up with cute ribbon and gift tags. Family Christmas traditions have always intrigued me because everyone does it different. The hubs’ family has an oversized coloring book they’ve colored in every Christmas Eve for the last 30 years (pictures below). I think it has seen better days, but dang what a fun memory to have and to look back on. This year is the last page of the book, who knows what we’ll do next year…
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| First year, 1984 |
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| 2014 |
What are your Christmas time traditions? Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Decorate gingerbread houses? What about wearing matching pajamas? One day the hubs and I will start traditions for our own family, here are some that piqued my interest (thank you Pinterest).
Becca
born and raised Texan
Hi all and welcome to my cozy little place in the blogosphere. My name is Becca and I'm a born and raised Texan. After college I got married. Got a puppy. Got a house. And then I decided I wanted to share daily life, struggles, ambitions, and everything in between.
