Sharnjean's Seasonal Shortlist!

I'm funny about feelings. 

Ever the analyst, I'm constantly scrutinizing as to whether or not I'm "feeling" the right feelings for the occasion. Like Christmas, for instance! When I was a teacher, festive fol de rols filled the air everywhere with the program, and parties, and presents, and caroling, and one couldn't help but have a magical mood! (Most of the time!) But now at the beginning of this holiday time, I realized that I would have to make the magic happen mostly on my own! If I didn't consciously Christmasize, I would be Grinching about quite grimly. Elaborate amounts of time or money to promote the proper perception were not an option, so I came up with this simple 6 item shortlist to add seasonal spirit to each and every day! 

I'm loving the word "shortlist" ever since adding a gift to my Google shopping shortlist. Especially the playful part defined as "winnowed from a longer list of possibilities."  Awww...the whimsical wistfulness of  unending possibilities!

short list

or shortlist

• Examples
• Word Origin

noun

1.

a list of those people or items preferred or most likely to be chosen, as winnowed from a longer list of possibilities.

1. SPRINKLES. 

Add holiday sprinkles to EVERYTHING! Blop Coolwhip on coffee, add some tiny sugar holly sprigs & berries, and you instantly feel like singing "Joy to the World!"

(Be like me and buy up on Christmas sprinkles after the 25th when everything is 75% off!)

2. SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS INSTEAD OF LULLABIES.

Instead of crooning "Mama's Gonna Give You a Mockinbird" while rocking Danielle, I've switched to "Silent Night," and I feel just a tiny bit like Mary must have felt...the awe of my own tiny (aka huge) baby. And then the feelings of thankfulness that I can lay her down to sleep in a soft crib instead of in a scratchy manger of hay.

3. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER & LOCKSCREEN.

I have these on mine and every time I see them they give me a glow.

4. GIVE SOME MONEY TO EVERY SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGER YOU SEE.

There's just something so simple and satisfying about walking up to the red bucket, plunking in some pennies (or bills), and giving the ragged ringer a hearty hail of "Merry Christmas!"

5. SEIZE THE SCENT.

Make your house smell Christmasy! I put cinnamon oil in my Scentsy burner, and have also been burning fir branch candles.

6. REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

Even though I wish to make cute crafts, sew festive frocks, and bake bunches of baked goods, none of these things are truly the backbone of this bustling time 'o year. If I can lower my expectations, and just make sure there's room for Him in my inn,

 it will be the merriest Christmas ever!

WALMART PICKUP CHANGES LIVES!!!

I had intended many mental blog posts ago, to next write about the stuff I scored at Aunt Donna's garage sale. And maybe I will yet, but right now I am bubbling over to blog about WALMART PICKUP! My life will never be the same. I had been wanting to try it out ever since receiving a $10 off code in the mail. Alisha had also been expounding on the joys of grocery pickup, saying how awesome it was saving time and money since it curbs impulse buying! Two things I never seem to have enough of: TIME and MONEY. I'm so going to do this! So Tuesday night I loaded my virtual buggy, selected a 4-5 pm time slot, redeemed my $10 off, checked out, and went to bed. Rhonda and I plodded about Pensacola during the only monsoon in months (#thankfulforrainboots) and arrived at Walmart a few minutes after 5. A Walmart Grocery employee had already called to let me know that my order was ready! I checked in on the Walmart Grocery app en route and whipped into an empty Pickup parking space, feeling so sad for my sister as she had intended to bask in this luxury as well, but had suffered the misfortune of checking out at 10:11 am instead of 9:59 am. This caused her time slot to expire, because the same-day cutoff is 10:00 am SHARP. This was a painful lesson to learn. Rhonda bustled in to handpick her own items, while Danielle slept peacefully on in her car seat. Almost immediately, a chipper Pickup employee came wheeling my parcels out to meet me. I agreed to the one substitution she had made, (Full-size Viva paper towels instead of "choose-a-size") scrawled my e-signature, and gleefully accepted the new-customer goody bag which contained a bottle of water, Quaker oatmeal thingy, small bag of BBQ chips, Tide sample, 3 oz bottle of Vaseline lotion, and a shampoo and conditioner sample!  I asked Kassie if she likes doing this grocery pickup thing, and she replied that she loves it! I had read in the FAQs that they aren't allowed to accept tips, so I did what I could for her and gave her a 5 star rating on my follow-up email. She said she'll get to get a little something in the store if she gets a top score! My bag of frozen raspberries had not thawed, the avocado she picked out was beautiful and unbruised, and the fresh strawberries looked super! For the first time ever, going to Walmart was the highlight of my day! Well, the second highlight; the first one was hearing that Danielle no longer has ear infection! Yay! At least she won't be in misery from her ears while she simultaneously cuts 5 teeth! 

Back to the Walmart Pickup thing, you all really should try it out!!! And since I desperately love to make piles of money without working very hard, I'd really appreciate it if you'd sign up under me by using this link.  http://r.wmt.co/eGUUk You'll get a $10 off code and I will too! So hurry and sign up today! The first 10 of you will get the blessing of helping me along on my pathway to riches! :) (Only 10 referrals allowed per calendar year)