Christmas Without the Expletives

I normally don't dive into Christmas until the leftover Thanksgiving turkey has been in the refrigerator for at least twelve hours. However, If your family purchases a live Christmas tree, then you are well versed in the annual Christmas tradition of "Straightening the Tree" (always stressful, sometimes with guy lines).

I'm sharing this recommendation early because everyone that I know who owns this tree stand finds that their new favorite part of decorating the tree is straightening the tree, alone, single handedly. (If you don't get a live tree each year, read on. This stand makes an amazing and thoughtful gift for someone who does.)

"Straightening the Tree:" an annual event

If you don't get a live tree, you perhaps don't know about the memories that can be made just before you decorate the tree. It's that part of the "getting the Christmas tree" event sandwiched between the glow of selecting the perfect tree and decorating the perfect tree. It's the part of Christmas that Christmas movies leave out. The part where you wrestle your tree off your vehicle and through the front door, thrust it into a stand, and ask someone else to hold the trunk straight while you crawl around on the floor carefully tightening each of four screws hoping beyond hope that the tree stands straight when you are done. At this point you are fully committed to "Straightening the Tree".

As the last screw is tightened you (and your trunk holder) both back away slowly, taking care to ensure that the tree doesn't sway so much that it topples over right away. You stand back and examine your handiwork. Oh no. The tree is veering dangerously to the left. So, back to the floor as your trunk holder adjusts the trunk to where it needs to be, and you adjust the screws again. This time you say something to the trunk holder like, "Please just make sure that the trunk is straight, that will help make sure I can line these screws up where they need to go." As if the trunk holder isn't always aware that is, in fact, the essence of their job. This is when you ask the children to leave the room. You say you need to concentrate. But it’s really so the children don’t hear you and the trunk holder saying the naughty words that you don’t want the kids to repeat.

You’ve made your adjustments, so you slowly back away again.The tree is no longer veering to the left, but now it looks like it’s leaning backwards against the wall. Back to the floor again You offer a few more helpful tips for the trunk holder. But all you do is make the problem worse with each successive try.

You’re desperate to be done, but things look close. All it will take are a few wood shims (or children’s building toys) and that tree will finally be straight and level. And there, it worked. And you didn’t even have to tie it to the wall with fishing line.

You just hope no one bumps it, otherwise that sucker is coming down.

This took an hour. But you’re done. Problem is, you’re in no mood to decorate now. I’m telling you, this is the stuff Christmas is made of!

The best Christmas tree stand. Ever.

This is not an ad, it's just a way for you to be holly and jolly even after working with a Christmas Tree stand. This tree stand is so phenomenal that after the first year our family used it we knew we’d be giving it as gifts to the people we love. Honestly, it makes the whole process take about two minutes. Time me.

This stand has an ingenious system to hold your tree quickly and easily. The trunk goes in the large opening where you hold it upright while your helper stands back and guides your minor adjustments to make sure the tree is level. Then — and this is the awesome part — you just press down on a pedal a few times as you hold the trunk yourself. This amazing claw thing grabs onto the trunk and just holds it there. No screws to adjust. You just add a couple gallons of water and you’re done.

If you’re going to give this as a gift to a fellow live-tree lover, be sure to place your order early enough that they get the stand before they go tree shopping. Yes, it may be an early Christmas gift, but it’s a good one. (Amazon ships this in one fast and the box does not give away the gift.) Instruct your fellow live-tree lover to open the box right before they go out to select their tree. They will already have been intrigued by the weight of the box (the tree stand is heavy - almost twenty pounds). On the day they get their tree, expect ecstatic texts or phone calls shortly after its first use as yet another live-tree lover has had their first magical experience. They may even contact you every year on the anniversary of this day. Well, maybe not that.

Ready for the link for the most amazing tree stand experience ever? Here you go.

Here's to kicking off the season without the expletives!

Cozy fall candles November Mix

Every year around this time I would fill my shopping cart with delicious smelling candles. With it's large jar and three wicks to burn, Yankee Candle was my absolute favorite. I loved the cozy glow of a flickering candle and the warm fall scents in my home. I honestly didn’t think much about it until I got my diffuser and I realized I could make my own fall scents.

That first fall with my diffuser was also the first fall that I felt well. Prior to that I always thought that the stomach ache and itchy eyes that I would get was just part of the season. When I ditched the candles it finally clicked that candles were what was causing me and my family to feel the way we did. On top of that, I loved that my diffuser was able to put all of us into a good mood–something a candle had never been able to do!

When it comes to picking what to diffuse in the fall, I tend to find a combination that I love, keep those oils right next to my diffuser and then diffuse the same combination for basically the entire month. Kind of like a good playlist. You too? Then this is the only mix you need this month. Cozy fall: found.

Not only are a few of these oil considered “happy” or “balancing” oils—oils that are designed to elevate our mood–there are also oils that have been proven to help keep us healthy. Perfect as we gather in our homes this holiday season. Give this blend a try and let me know what you think! Or, if you have a favorite fall candle you are ready to ditch? Let me help you find a good substitution to create that same smell with your diffuser!

Pop over here if you are new to Young Living and want to get started diffusing this fall or, if you want a pretty version of my November Mix (perfect for Thanksgiving!) to share with a friend, download it here.

Snippets of My Week

Family day at Disneyland last week, and ending on the Teacups is my favorite.

Parenting pro tip: wait to visit the pumpkin patch until two days before Halloween. Zero crowds and the pumpkins are discounted. (If you call it a #protip, then it’s not a #momfail you are so late!)

Halloween this year: Mary Ingalls (sister of Laura Ingalls Wilder), a witch, a police officer, and Dorothy (with Toto).

Thanks for reading! What were your kids for Halloween? I would love to see a picture–just hit reply if you’d like to share. I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.