Hi, Beauties ♥
Wishing you an Abundant and Prosperous year. Stay Safe and Healthy. Thank you for coming on this journey with me. 🙂
Until Next Time…Enjoy Life ♥
Tag: travel xmas
Guest Post By Noni D’vyne – Blogmas 2023 Day 11
Hi, Beauties ♥
This is my last guest post by Noni D’vyne. Sharing what Christmas means to her by answering five holiday questions asked by Goldie! 
1. What does Christmas means to me? Christmas has meant so many things to me over the years. As a child it was strictly about how many toys you had under the tree and if Santa got you everything you wanted. When I was a teenager all I was focused on was the latest fashion and what nice gear the parents had copped so I could be fly going back to school. Fast forward as an adult I’ve come into my own spirituality and don’t conform to the traditions, however, I like some of the symbolizations surrounding Christmas. I like family, unity, peace, joy and the giving aspects because these are interchangeable with family and friends during this joyous time and you don’t have to put a label on it. The holiday season is ultimately about family and your ability to give of yourself freely without anything in return.
2. What are you looking forward to this Holiday season? When the holiday approaches I look forward to, first and foremost, the day off from the 9-5. I also look forward to seeing the beautifully decorated houses and business in their festive Christmas colors. I like the calmness and joy that you can feel in the air when the holiday approaches as you enter stores. The smells of fresh pine & baked goods (sweets), glitzy ornaments and ugly Christmas sweaters. Holidays bring out a larger presence of relatives and friends, some that you haven’t seen in years, which can soothe your heart and bring on a warm smile.
3. What is on your Christmas Wishlist? My Christmas wish list is simple on one hand and on the other hand one is asking for a little too much. But if Santa could so kindly stick these items either under my tree or in my stocking it would be greatly appreciated.
- A white gold & diamond Ankh necklace
- Prada Perfume- Pardoxe Intense
- Louis Vutton Neverfull GM
- Lime green & black woman’s air Jordan retro 1 mid casual.
- A world full of peace, joy and happiness.
4. What are you top three favorite Christmas songs?
Mary Did You Know by Ceelo Green (Disclaimer: Music belongs to Youtube user/Ceelo Green)
Joy To The World by Whitney Houston (Disclaimer: Music belongs to Youtube user/Whitney Houston)
This Christmas by Donny Hathaway (Disclaimer: Music belongs to Youtube user/Donny Hathaway)
5. What is the one movie you must watch during the Holiday season? Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas until I watch the Best Man Holiday. It’s that one movie that embodies Love, Life, Family, Friends and the ups & downs that come with the season and how love can prevail through it all.
Thank you Noni D’vyne for being my last guest post for Blogmas. It has been a pleasure to have all my guests on Blogmas this year.
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Until Next Time…Enjoy Life 🙂
A Holiday Love Story – Blogmas 2023 Day 9
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Hi, Beauties ♥
We have covered a lot in the last two weeks. I can’t go any further without added a little sprinkle of Love to Blogmas. I hope you enjoy my short story that came to me last night.
A Love Story: Falling in love at Christmas
The air was crisp, and the street was lined with twinkling Christmas lights. It was a magical time of year, and it was about to become even more enchanting.
As the sun began to set, a man and woman strolled down a quiet street, both complete strangers. As they crossed paths their eyes locked, staring as if they’ve seen each other before. They continued to walk further away from one another, but there was a magnetic pull drawing them in, a soul connection that they couldn’t explain. This sensation intensified until they can no longer resist it. Both stopped in their tracks and turned to one another. Had the Universe conspired to bring them together? With a nervous smile she asked, “Do I know you? It feels like I know you from somewhere. You seem so familiar.” The man walked closer to her with a curious smile on his face. “Yes, it feels like I know you from somewhere, too.”
Neither could recall where this familiar feeling came from, as he extended his hand toward hers.
“Hi, I’m Jackson.”
“Harmony.”, she replies as she grasps his hand. Instantly, a spark ran up their arms and all throughout their bodies, as their souls twisted together in a connection they never felt before, it was a big jolt…, They stared into each other eyes, silently asking, “Wow, did you feel that?” The world around them disappeared.
“I don’t want this to end. Do you have time for a cup of coffee, there’s a café a block away.”, Jackson states slowly, still reeling from the sensation shared between them. Harmony agrees and walks in unison with him toward the quaint café she often visits around this time.
They spent hours talking, laughing and learning about each other’s lives. Realizing they had so much in common confirmed that their connection was undeniable.
The days passed quickly with every date they shared: Ice skating under the stars, enjoying hot cocoa and marshmallows during a bonfire, and a movie date with classic holiday films and snuggles on the couch. Christmas was drawing near and they had found something special in each other. It felt like they had known each other for years, so they spent Christmas day together, introducing this whirlwind romance to their loved ones. No one could deny that the two only had eyes for each other. Falling in love during Christmas was the best gift they could ever receive.
Their holiday love blossomed well beyond the season. New memories were made in the winter exploring the city, trying new restaurants and attending events. Spring brought new beginnings and they took their first trip together to a cozy cabin in the woods spending the days hiking, exploring nature, making love and discovering new things about each other. Summer was filled with lazy days at the beach, picnics in the park, and romantic strolls under the moonlight. As the seasons changed, their love only grew stronger. Jackson and Harmony laughed together, cried together, and supported one another through everything.
Years later, as they sat by the fire on Christmas Eve, they reminisced about their chance encounter all those years ago. They were grateful for that magical Christmas season that brought them together and for the love that continues to flourish. The life they built together was filled with Love, Joy, and Wonderful memories. Their love story was one of a kind and they were blessed to have found each other during the most wonderful time of the year.
Stay tuned for the full story.
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Disclaimer: I do not own rights to the music or video.
Guest Post by SiddeeQah – Self-Care Tips for the Holiday Season – Blogmas 2023 Day 8
Hi, Beauties ♥
Hey, everyone! It’s me, SiddeeQah, back again with another guest post.
Embracing the Winter Solstice!
Amidst the chaos of the holidays, we often forget the true star of the holiday season – the winter solstice. It’s a time to unwind, reflect, and focus on self-care. It’s the longest night of the year, marking the start of our collective journey towards summer sunshine. So, let’s bring balance to the season, instead of getting swept up in the frenzy of it all. Give your body and emotions the TLC they deserve with these self-care tips inspired by the energy of the winter solstice!
- Transform Rest with Release
The longer nights of winter is the Earth’s way of telling us to get more rest. But what does that really mean? Sleep patterns can’t change overnight and our stressors don’t go away at the snap of our fingers. We can change the way we rest by implementing a physical release practice before we do. Most of these are lazy-proof for those of us who have a hard time staying disciplined. Give one of these a try:
1. Somatic stretching in bed to release negative emotions and trauma that gets stored in the body, keeping us from mindful moments and better sleep.
2. A talk diary – the practice of speaking out loud to yourself or recording yourself. You can use this diary to make lists, laugh about your random thoughts, cry or vent about heavy situations, whatever you choose! Essentially you are dumping your brain and body of the stimulating thoughts that may keep you from proper rest and mental wellness.
3. Paper ripping. Whether you can fill a journal page or can only manage a few words, the paper ripping practice is a great way to experience a physical release. Write, draw, or scribble your challenges at that time on a piece of paper. Once you feel you are complete and accurate in your expression, rip the paper into tiny shred. Practice as needed and be sure to support the planet by recycling the scraps.
- The Gratitude Habit
Gratitude may be a very popular buzz word in the wellness and spiritual communities… and for good reason. The self-care approach to gratitude is intentionally taking time to say “thank you” to yourself for everything you’ve done this year. It isn’t just a reserved for the goals you reached or the hurdles you overcame, it’s also acknowledging the tiny choices you made for yourself even if you did not feel or do your best. It is showing appreciation to the people and experiences that influenced your year.
Here’s the How-To: Infuse gratitude into your actions daily for 21 days gently. Choose something every day to say “thank you”, whether it’s the comfort of your bed or the warm water from your shower. Get custom with the things you say, there is no right or wrong way to be thankful. You’ll find that your gratitude will grow stronger with time. We are in a season of gift-giving and should be mindful to not gift out of obligation and instead, gift with gratitude. Gratitude practices have shown to improve moods and mental well-being. How do you think you can benefit from a 21-day gratitude practice?
- Light a Candle for Yourself
…or a lamp or a small led light. Whatever you choose is meant to illuminate a moment for yourself. Similar to the gratitude habit, this is a 21-day practice you implement gently. Don’t be hard on yourself if you miss a day, however, attempt to light a candle for yourself daily. When this candle is lit, you are exclusively tending to yourself; this block of time is reserved for you alone to do an activity or nothing at all. If you find yourself saying, “I don’t have time to light a candle for myself today.”, it is a clear indicator that change is needed. Finding moments for yourself should be easy and not a concept you’re chasing day after day. This practice pulls directly from the winter solstice energy, creating a balance of self reflection and self celebration.
There we have it, Beauties! I ask us all to partake in at least one of these self-care tips…we deserve it.
Thank you for having me!
SiddeeQah
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Holiday Activities At Home – Blogmas 2023 Day 7
Hi, Beauties ♥
While traveling and taking vacations can be a great way to unwind and explore new places, sometimes it’s just not possible. Whether due to budget constraints, work obligations, or health concerns, there are times when staying at home is the best option. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun and relaxation! There are plenty of holiday activities you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
One idea is to have a movie marathon with your loved ones. Choose a theme, such as holiday movies or your favorite genre, and stock up on snacks and drinks. This is a great way to bond with your family or friends while enjoying some classic films. Yes they are DVD’s and they play on Xbox.
If you’re feeling creative, you can also try your hand at Paint & Sip. This can be a fun and budget-friendly way to add some festive flair to your home. I found some good pictures on Amazon. Plus I did a Virtual & Sip online.
If you’re looking for a more relaxing activity, consider reading a good book or starting a new hobby. This is a great way to unwind and pass the time while also improving your knowledge and skills. Here are a few books I will be reading over the winter. Plus I have a few fictional ones on Kindle & Audible.
If you’re not into reading you can always partake in some games and puzzles. I love putting puzzles together. It helps stimulate my brain and keeps it laser focused.
No matter what you choose to do, the important thing is to enjoy your time at home and make the most of your holiday staycation.
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What are some of the activities you like doing at home during the holiday?
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Happy New Year
Hi, My Beauties ♥
Wishing you a Wonderful and Prosperous year. Remember, Thoughts Create Reality. Stay Safe and Healthy. Thank you for coming on this journey with me. 🙂
Until Next Time…Enjoy Life ♥
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Merry Christmas – Blogmas 2021 Day 12
Hi, My Beauties ♥
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Thank you all for coming on this journey with me. I had so much fun writing content for you. I am so proud of myself for making it to 12 days of Blogmas. It was a little touch and go around day 8 but I push through it and Blogmas 2021 was a success. Yayyy
Now as we come to a closed of 2021 all I ask is that you Shine Brightly and Take some time to Enjoying Life 🙂
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See you soon, My Beauties ♥
Guest Post by SiddeeQah – Blogmas 2021 Day 11
Hi, My Beauties ♥
I am excited to welcome our guest, my daughter SiddeeQah who will post about How to stay in the Christmas spirit. So sit back and enjoy the blog.
Happy Holidays Beauties! I’m here to guest post and happy to talk about how I’ve been staying in the Christmas spirit this season! It’s safe to say that the last couple of years have been a mixed bag of feelings due to the state of our world. Many are struggling while others are seeing more money and resources coming their way than ever before. However, no matter where you land on that spectrum, staying in the holiday spirit may be a challenge. Hopefully, sharing my experience can inspire another, so let’s go!
I define what Christmas means to me!
Knowing the answers to questions like “What is Christmas spirit?” and “What does Christmas mean to me?” can set you on an intentional path of navigating this season. My mom and I have explored new traditions over the last several years such as exchanging New Year’s gifts instead of Christmas or not exchanging gifts at all. This allows us to focus on family time and doing things together, uninterrupted by the stress of buying gifts and spending large sums of money. This year, Christmas spirit feels like being of service, taking my time and getting lots of rest, and doing simple things in the house with my mom. Knowing that we’ll be having good food and a day to pamper ourselves has me anticipating Christmas Day.
Decorating early!
I pulled out the decorations on Thanksgiving and we set things up around the house over the following days. Having holiday décor around the house genuinely sparks positive thoughts for me about the season, all the good, cozy and warm feelings stick around. It’s from experience that I know I enjoy the season much more when we take time to put up the tree, dress up the walls and furniture, and buy something new to complement the decorations we already have.
Random Acts of Holiday Kindness!
The past two years, my mom has been inspired to create ways for us to perform Random Acts of Kindness for the holiday season. This year, we took things to a new level! Many surprise gift cards, grocery giveaways, and sharing it all with our online communities. As a participant, it reinforced what Christmas spirit is to me. I truly believe that you can turn around your whole mood when you are having a challenging time by taking a moment to do a kind thing for someone else. These Random Acts of Kindness shift your perspective, no matter how tired or stressed you may be. As I witness the outcome of handing off free groceries to someone or a surprise card, I am reminded about one of the most important things in life: gratitude. Gratitude for the ability to give to someone else. Gratitude for the ability to make our ideas a reality. Gratitude for the reminder to be kind to myself and those I love, just as I had been kind to a stranger. I urge you to give it a try!
Holiday-themed activities
…and as natural as possible. This season, I incorporated a few simple activities randomly into my life. For me, as long as it inspired what Christmas spirit means to me, it counts! Here are a few simple things I did:
- Visited LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo. It was completely decked out in beautiful lighting designs with a lot of Christmas influence.
My visit to LumiNature! - Wearing Christmas-themed accessories and clothing on any given day.
- Using Holiday lo-fi music in my Instagram and Facebook stories.
- Taking holiday themed selfies
- Indulging in snacks and food that remind me of Christmas. I know we have to watch what we eat, but I like to eat pie and drink hot cocoa more around this time than any other.
There it is! Some of what has kept me in the Christmas Spirit this year through recovering from a surgery, changes in my work and income, cold weather, and everyday stresses. This year, I was determined to enjoy the holiday season and I have done that mainly by keeping it simple and doing things that make me feel at peace. I hope your holidays are going well and thanks for reading!
What a wonderful way to stay in the Holiday spirit. Thank you SiddeeQah for being a guest on my blog ♥. I hope everyone has been enjoying Blogmas and their Holiday season. It has been fun for me.
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Until Next Time…Take the time to Enjoy Life 🙂
Christmas Tag Part 2- Blogmas Day 10
Hi, My Beauties ♥
Here is part 2 to my Christmas tag.
13. What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
One of the best gift I received was my Madonna album Like a virgin. I would play it on repeat for hours
14. Do you make New Year resolutions? Do you stick to them?
No I don’t make resolutions but I do set monthly intentions.
15. Have you ever had a White Christmas?
No, per my google search Philly last White Christmas was in 1966.
16. What is your all time favorite Holiday food/Sweet treat?
Christmas hard candy which I couldn’t find anywhere this year.
17. When do you start listening to Christmas music?
The beginning of November.
18. What is your favorite thing to do on Christmas day?
I usually go to the movies.
19. What fictional character would you like to spend Christmas with? 
Dudley (Denzel Washington), the angel from the Preacher wife movie.
20. What do you typically cook for Christmas Day dinner?
Its either a Roast or Whole baked chicken, Mashed potatoes, String beans and Biscuits.
21. If you could be in any Christmas movie, What would it be?
Home Alone 2 because New York is beautiful during Christmas
22. Is Christmas your favorite holiday?
Not really, I don’t have any favorite holidays
23. What tops your tree- a star or an angel?
Neither, I have a big red bow for my topper.
24. Share some pictures that you have found for Christmas!
This is the end of my Christmas tag. I hope you are enjoying Blogmas. 🙂
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Holiday Activities At Home – Blogmas 2021 Day 9
Hi, My Beauties ♥
During the Holiday season, I spend alot of time at home. My house is cozy & warm, smelling like my favorite candles. I like going out but mostly I’m a home body, especially now with everything that’s going on in the world. If you’re anything like me, check out all the fun things I like to do to stay positive during the Holidays.
–Virtual Line Dancing– I love dancing and the class is so much fun. Plus, it’s a form of exercise.
–Puzzles– This is an activity I started last Christmas and I really enjoyed it. It has a calming effect on the mind and we all could benefit from that.
–Board or card games– My daughter and I love this card game called Phase 10. We have so much fun playing it. Oh, and you can’t forget the good ole Monopoly.
–Blogging– I started writing again for Blogmas this year. Twelve posts for 12 day of Christmas. It has been a journey :). I’m so proud of myself because I didn’t know I would get this far (Day 9) but I am very happy I decided to do it this year.
–Adult Coloring Books– Now, who knew I would like to color. This is a very relaxing activity. It helps with anxiety and stress and it’s something I love to do while listening to Christmas music.
I recently took a Virtual Paint & Sip class and what fun that was. Poured a glass of Stella Rosa wine, had my fried fish dinner, and I was ready to paint. My picture turn out really nice.
I hope that this list inspires you!
Other than these activities, I have daily practices and moments of fun that keep me feeling positive. Most days, I’m listening to my Christmas playlists and playing with my turtle, Philly. She loves to shake her booty (LOL) I know but it’s true, she likes to dance. I make sure that I’m writing in my Gratitude and Affirmation journals also. There is so much to be grateful for, but I won’t go into that. I will leave that for another post. The most important thing I enjoy is spending time with my daughter. Our guilty pleasure is Hamilton, we really love that Broadway show. I can’t tell you how many times we seen it. Kinda lost count…LOL
Anyway, these are some of my favorite activities during Christmas time. I hope you have been enjoying my Blogmas. We are almost at the finish line.
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What are some of the activities you like to do?
Until Next Time…Enjoy Life 🙂
Goldie's Journey 