Our Family Tradition of Picking Out Our New Christmas Ornaments

Here it is already September.  Christmas is going to be here before I know it.  Now that I live in Florida, it kind of creeps up on me, because it doesn’t get cold here. I don’t have the leaves falling from the trees and the frost on the ground.  I often forget what season it is. It is always summer here.  Time has really flown by lately; soon I will be getting my Christmas tree and ornaments out, and decorating my home in the traditional Sheilacakes family décor.  I love getting all the decorations out and sharing stories with Noah about the Christmas tree decorations we have collected over the years. I am a little picky about where certain ornaments go, The Nutcracker and The Sugar Plum Fairy always have to be together with The Nutcracker Storybook.  I also make sure that Raggedy Ann and Andy have to be together.  My sister and I used to put our first Christmas ornaments up on the very top so, I still do that.

Noah has some ornaments that we got at the apple orchard for his first Christmas. They aren’t as special as the frame ornament we have. It has a picture of me and him on his first Christmas morning.  He is even wearing a little Santa hat.  Some of them are ones we made when I was Noah’s age.  We must store our ornaments well because they are still whole. They have some cracks but what do expect for ornaments that are 25 years old?  Every year we pick out a couple new ornaments.   I can’t wait to see what Noah picks. I am willing to bet that they will be either Lego or Star Wars or a combo. I think he has his eye on an R2-D2 ornament already. You can find really cool ornaments any time of the year if you know where to look.  I have considered doing an ornament exchange with my friends that live in my apartment complex.  I have never participated in one before but, know people who do it every year. I have received ornaments as gifts before, and even though I am no longer in contact with them, I think of them when I hang that particular ornament.  It makes me smile. I remember I received a beautiful butterfly ornament from my speech therapist in elementary school. I had trouble saying the s sound. I would make the sh sound.  Thankfully that is no longer an issue and that Noah didn’t inherit it from me.  

I really want to organize a Christmas ornament swap.   It would be so much fun, especially using the internet to find unique ornaments from Lakeside Collection.  My question is do you get all the same ornament or do you pick different ones for different people? I think I would prefer to personalize it.  That way everyone knows that we took the time to think of them and didn’t just run to the local store and grab ornaments to share.  It’s easier to remember who you received it from if there is a story behind it and if it’s neat.

Tips for Preparing for Long Term Care

There comes a time in a person’s life where you have to start thinking about long term care.  I know that it is nothing anyone wants to think about when their loved ones start to grow older.  Hopefully, you won’t need long term care but, it is good to have in case you do need it.  Planning long term care can be a long and daunting process.  First you have to sit down and find out what your loved one wants.  I am sure this is not something you want to have to discuss as the child or the parent.  My friends at Genworth have some great tips on how to talk to your family about long term care.  I wouldn’t really know how to bring it up to someone.

Do they have a living will; do they want to be resuscitated? Do they want to be at a certain facility? Maybe they have friends at a nursing home that they want to be with.  Will their spouse be able to join them if that is an option, like in assisted living? I know that is an option at some places.  Is there somewhere special they would like to live, like near a certain family member? I know when my Grandma Diana had cancer and in her last days, she wanted to be back in England. She was born there and she wanted to pass away there too.  That was very important to her to spend time with my aunt and cousin and other family members.

After you find out what your loved ones want for long term care, you need to decide on how you are going to pay for it. I read an article on Fox Business about howexpensive long term care is.  It is important that you and your spouse make these decisions before you are in the position where decisions have to be made quickly. Maybe you could start an account where you’re put in a certain amount each month as your long term care fund.  I find that with anything it is easier to put in small amounts than trying to come up with a large chunk of money at once. If you are over 65 Medicare will cover some of your costs.  It is pretty common that those who need long term care also have Medicaid.  Usually with Medicaid when you are in long term care, you have to give most of your monthly Social Security to the facility and Medicaid covers the rest. 

When my Grandma Rose was in need for long term care, my mom sold her house. That gave some money for long term care but you would be surprised how quickly it went.   A good healthcare facility can be pretty expensive. It doesn't include living expenses like clothes to wear, toiletries, books etc. Another good thing to consider doing is prepaying your funeral costs.  That way your family isn’t burdened with that expense in the middle of grieving. That way you can know that they will not have to worry about it. They won’t have to fight about it, trust me I have seen quite a few court shows where there are people suing family members over funeral and burial expenses.The last thing anyone wants is to be a burden to someone else.  

I hope I have helped you to start thinking about long term care and how important it is to plan just in case. With any luck, you will never need your back up plan and you grow older healthy and happy.

This post was inspired by Genworth and Brandfluential. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Struggle of Putting a Child to Bed

If you are a parent, you have probably experienced on more than one occasion the epic battle that is trying to get your little ones to bed.

Research has shown that children who fail to get enough sleep on a night are more likely to be restless, agitated and less motivated. In addition, your child’s lack of sleep can have a knock on effect on you too, leaving you feeling tired and with little time to complete essential tasks that you would have done while they were sleeping.

If the regular bedtime battles are getting too much for you to handle, follow these top tips and regulate your routine…

Remove distractions

Most of the time when children are refusing to go to sleep, it is because they do not want to miss what is going on around them. It can be especially difficult to get your child to sleep if they have an older sibling who is allowed to stay up later than them.

If your child has an older sibling, you should clearly explain to them that the reason their brother or sister is allowed to stay up later is because they are older, and that when they reach that age, they will be able to as well.

In order to try and get your child to bed at a reasonable hour, you should remove all distractions from their bedrooms. Televisions, electronic toys and other gadgets, can be simply too tempting for your child when they should be sleeping.

Try to have a quiet house when you put them to bed. Keep distracting noise, like the television or radio, to a minimum to keep them from hearing and wanting to know what’s going on.

Use their own bed

For some children, the reason why they don’t want to go to bed is because they don’t want to be separated from their parents in their own room. As tempting as it is to give in and let your child sleep in your bed, this will only produce a routine where your child’s bed is constantly empty.

If your child attempts to get into your bed during the night, keep returning them to their own bed until they realise it is a pointless activity. You may experience a few sleepless nights using this technique, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Decorate their bedroom in a way that makes it seem more appealing to sleep in. Go for bedding with their favourite characters on, and remove any toys that could produce any scary shadows at night. If your child is scared of the dark, a nightlight is a great addition that will ensure your child’s peace of mind and confidence in sleeping.

Ensure their comfort

Another factor that may affect your child’s sleeping is how comfortable their bed is. Just like with adults, an uncomfortable mattress can produce a hellish night sleep. Mattresses should be replaced every 5 to 7 years, so if your child’s mattress is a bit on the old side you should consider investing in a new one.

If your little ones wriggle about and lie in odd positions in their sleep, it may be worth buying a memory foam mattress. This special technology works to adjust to your body shape, providing the upmost comfort and support.

A good set of pillows and fluffy quilt will finish off your child’s bed, providing them with everything they need for an excellent night’s sleep.   

Give these tips a try, and give you and your child the perfect rest you need.