Having A Grinch-Free Holiday

December 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Christmas grinch glow

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more.”
~The Grinch (Dr. Seuss)


I find myself feeling a little Grinchy these days.  I think I’ve lost sight of what the holidays are really supposed to be about.  It seems that I am bombarded by retail, blogs touting great deals, and commercials offering me the “must haves” of the season.  The pressure is on to get the best gifts for family and friends … to indulge and not be left behind when it comes to the latest trends, fashion, and entertainment.

grinchlooking

I enjoy living a simple, quiet, homebody life most of the time.  At home, I can hide out from the world and its lures.  I can be oblivious to what is out there.  The things they show on TV or the internet can be impersonal and not applicable to me and my little world.  I am content with such things as I have – my cozy house, food, clothes, and more stuff than I need.

Then during the holidays, I get out and see all the fun and flashy STUFF, and I begin to covet.  I enter the stores and am bombarded with things I can’t afford but would really like to have.  The discontent starts to seep in.  I feel myself get all cranky and Grinchy and dissatisfied.  Wouldn’t it be more convenient and fun to have more things?  Yet how much is enough?  John D. Rockefeller said we’d still need “just a little more.”

So, as I approach Christmas, I want to shout, “BA-HUM BUG!”  But I know that isn’t what God wants me to do.  And really, inside, that isn’t what I want to do either.  I want to focus on all the things that I have, the most important of which are not material things anyway:  my family, my friends, and my faith.


As I focus on these important things, the world and its holiday sale ads can just pass me by.  Of course, it isn’t wrong to fulfill your loved ones’ Christmas wishes or to shop for presents; but overspending, stressing out, and being frustrated with what you can’t afford is not what this season is about.  God sent His Son to be born; the greatest gift we can receive as well as share during the holidays is His love.
Heart too small

I am hopeful my Grinch-y heart will grow 3 sizes this season.  I hope the true meaning of Christmas will come through, and I’ll find the strength of 10 Grinches, plus 2.

Conny is a stay-at-home mom to 3 children (ages 12, 10, and 1 year).  She is celebrating 18 years of marriage this month.  She and her husband work together for their church and its Christian school ministry.  Conny blogs about being an “ordinary hausfrau” at www.thehutchhaus.blogspot.com.

Filed Under: Holidays & Celebrations, Life at Home Tagged With: , , , ,

From the Hip Designs Handstamped Jewelry Giveaway

December 15, 2010 By 170 Comments

Don’t you just love Etsy?  I love to browse through Etsy shops, finding unique creations that were created by other crafty moms.  Lately, I’ve had the privilege to work with Carol of From the Hip Designs.  She got her Etsy shop off the ground in August of 2010.  She sells all kinds of handmade and vintage items, including beautiful handstamped jewelry.  She is a painter, a knitter, a metalworker and jewelry buff, a mom, a dog and cat lover, a jewelry designer and collector of all things vintage. Many of her items have free shipping for the holidays.

Thanks to From the Hip Designs, we are offering a giveaway here on MamaBuzz!  From the Hip Designs has gorgeous jewelry, each piece unique in its own way.  No two are ever solely alike.  Hearts in All Sizes is a beautiful Sterling Handstamped Charm Necklace with a 1″ charm.  This charm is covered in different sized hearts.  It actually comes on a sterling 16″-18″ chain.  This piece would be a great gift for anyone, especially a young tween perhaps.  With Christmas coming, it would also be a wonderful stocking stuffer.  You can purchase Hearts in All Sizes for $28.00.

One reader can win the Hearts in All Sizes handstamped necklace. You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following; just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter.  I’ll draw the winner, via random.org, on Wednesday, January 5.  This giveaway is open to U.S. only.  Good luck, and have a wonderful day!

  1. Visit From the Hip Designs, and let me know, via comment, which item is your favorite.
  2. Follow @FromTheHipTexas on Twitter.
  3. Tweet about this giveaway; you can tweet once daily to earn extra entries.
  4. Like From the Hip Designs on Facebook.
  5. Subscribe to or Follow the From the Hip Designs Blog.
  6. Follow MamaBuzz or subscribe to our posts.
  7. Follow @mamabzz on Twitter.
  8. Like MamaBuzz on Facebook.
  9. Stumble this post.
  10. Blog about this giveaway, being sure to link back to MamaBuzz.

(Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.  From the Hip Designs is providing the giveaway prize, free of charge.)

Filed Under: Accessories, For Mom, Giveaways, Handmade, Jr Highers, Reviews & Giveaways, Sr Highers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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