Most people say they plan on doing very little during their holiday break, and to that I say “Hell yeah.” But even I can get bored and find myself restless, looking for little projects or things to do during my time off. So I put together a list of little “at-home” projects, some productive, some relaxing, and some just plain lazy, that I may or may not do during my time off. Hopefully these ideas inspire you to do the same!

1.) TV or MOVIE BINGE-A-THON

Yep, we’ve all done it: indulged in a complete escape-from-reality-and-the-entire-world TV binge session. When done correctly and with the right series, it’s pure, unadulterated laziness, and holiday vacation approved! First step: agree on the series or flip a coin to decide if you’re stuck between two options. After you decide your theme, put on your favorite jammies or lounge wear and get the room temperature and lighting just right (adjust shades if necessary). Grab your favorite blanket and pillow and turn off all phone ringers. And lastly, get your snacks and drinks at the ready and prepare to immerse yourself in hours upon hours of great, naughty, fun. Some movies/series ideas that I’m considering this holiday break are as follows: 1.) Rom Com-A-Thon: including When Harry Met Sally, Pride and Prejudice, Sleepless in Seattle, 13 Going on 30, Notting Hill, you get it….. 2.) Avengers-A-THON: including all four Avengers movies which are ALL great and extremely entertaining. I’m an Iron Man girl at heart but Thor’s pretty hot too! Just sayin. 3.) John Hughes-A-THON: His movies were the best depiction of what being a teenager was like in the 80’s and I love him for it. In my opinion, two other movies that hilariously captured 90’s high school eras were Clueless and Napoleon Dynamite. If you’re looking for a TV series, Euphoria and Sex Education are also excellent series’ depictions of high school life today. 3.) Yellowstone: This series is TV crack. I’m in love with everything about this show: the hot cowboys, the breathtaking Montana skyline, interesting and exciting storylines, and, of course, the baddest ass bitch to ever walk the earth, Beth Dutton. Plus the series finale is due out any day now!! 4.) Billions: I’ve watched the entire 7 seasons and I could do it all over again thanks to the genius cast and outrageous, immensely entertaining story lines. Thank you Paul Giamatti and David Costabile for playing two of the best characters on television in the last 10 years! I realize I didn’t mention any holiday movies here, but we’ve already watched a ton of those already and break hasn’t even started! Please share any series or movies you plan on watching over the holiday in the comments below!

2.) PUZZLES & GAMES

People don’t play board games or put together puzzles like they used to. I’m certainly guilty of being one of these people but this is something that I plan on doing, without fail, during my holiday time-off. Game Night is on and Puzzle Time is happening folks! My top game picks will be Majong, Uno and Sequence. I’ve been playing Mahjong since I was 8 thanks to my Filipino heritage. It is very similar to rummy so if you know rummy, you’ll love Mahjong. I taught my husband and children how to play and it’s been a bonding, nostalgia game for us for a long time. My mom purchased a Mahjong set for us years ago while visiting Chinatown in New York and here is one I found on Amazon for a decent price: Mose Cafolo Chinese Mahjong Set. Uno is, well, Uno. Anyone can play and it’s easy to learn, although the UNO competition is fierce in my house despite the simplicity of the game. We go can go round after round playing UNO - its fun, easy and generates lots of laughter. My brother and sister-in-law introduced us to Sequence a few years ago and we were immediately hooked. This game is awesome fun if you are into strategy games. It’s a card game that comes with a unique playing mat where you place your cards while in play. You can play in teams or singles. (Let me know of any fun games you like to play with friends or family in the comments)

Puzzles get a bad wrap for being an old person" or child’s activity. I for one love puzzles because they exercise your brain while simultaneously relaxing you. I’ve already got a few puzzles I bought on Amazon and can’t wait to dive in. One is a puzzle of the National Lampoon’s Griswold Christmas Vacation house and the other is a Unicorn puzzle I bought as a Christmas gift for my daughter since she loves unicorns. There are tons of puzzles on Amazon so take your pick! I recommend doing a puzzle early in the morning with coffee or tea over a sunlit table. It’s a relaxing way to ease into the day and it’s a proven way to get those creative juices flowing.

3. CLEAN & ORGANIZE KITCHEN DRAWERS & CABINETS

I’m sure your kitchen cabinets and drawers look like mine: crumbs, empty cereal boxes, stale chips and crackers, half-used pasta boxes, expired canned & boxed goods, missing tops to storage containers, old cookware and utensils, etc…. So this holiday break I plan on taking a few hours to purge, clean and organize my kitchen cabinets. Here is what I plan on using for this project: 1.) A cordless handheld vacuum or other Vacuum with hand-held tool 2.) cleaning cloth and cleaning spray 3.) trash bag and or box nearby to throw away old food boxes, cans, and other old, expired items 4.) Drawer organizers and dividers that will help keep drawers and cabinets tidy. I’ve attached Amazon links below for organization tools that I personally use in my kitchen that make a world of difference: Adjustable Silverware Organizer with Removable Dividers, Large Utensil Storage, Organizer Bin Box - 3 Divided Sections, Stacking Drawer Organizer Box, 3" x 12", 6 Pack Bamboo Drawer Adjustable Dividers. I’m fortunate to have cabinet drawers that allow you to see what’s in front as well as what’s in the back of the cabinet, But if you don’t have this feature in your kitchen yet, here is a link to cabinet organizers you can install yourself for a small investment: Lynk Professional Cabinet Organizers.

TIP - Do one cabinet at a time. This way you don’t create an overwhelming, war-zone in your kitchen and people can still navigate around you if they need to. Empty all of the contents one by one and either throw it away or set it aside to place back in the cabinet after it’s been cleaned. Make sure to wipe down any items you plan on keeping if they are sticky or dirty. Vacuum all shelves and then spray some cleaner on them and wipe them down with a clean damp cloth. (rinse out the cloth between cabinets) Wipe down shelves with a clean dry cloth and then return your items to the cabinet, categorically. For food items I usually put pastas and pasta sauces on one shelf, general canned goods on another shelf, cooking oils and condiments on another shelf, you get the gist….. You may have your own system but just try to categorized your items so that they are easy for you to locate. For cooking items follow the same steps. I usually store sheet pans and baking pans in one area, food storage items in another cabinet, every day glasses/cups in one area, everyday plates and bowls in one area, etc… Just use the same method for cleaning and organizing cited above. You will be amazed of how much you get rid of and it will feel and look great when you’re done - promise.

4. PURGE, ORGANIZE & DONATE CLOTHES AND SHOES

Holiday breaks are a great time to organize your closet - or Marie Kondo your whole life if you’ve got the time. I suggest starting with your own closet first, and then tackling the linen closet or someone else’s closet. There is something about an organized closet that feels empowering. I love walking into my closet and knowing exactly where everything is. It’s the side of me that gives me a sense of control in an unpredictable and sometimes, chaotic world. First, I recommend an hour or two of purging. My husband and I have done this together in the past to make it more fun. First, start by moving everything from the drawers onto a made bed and one by one, purge or keep items. I’m usually the one telling my husband what I think he should keep vs. donate since I already love to purge items I haven’t used in years - make room for the new, right? Then go through your closet(s) and shelves and subtract anything that you know damn well you haven’t touched in the last 2-3 years. It can be difficult to let go of things, especially if you only wore it once, but letting go of unused “stuff” can be cathartic and transformational. It’s literally like getting rid of “old baggage” that’s weighing you down. Next, neatly place your purged items into trash bags and then place the bags directly in the trunk of the car to be delivered to a local donation center. This is the quickest and easiest way to get rid of gently used clothes, but if you prefer to consign your items, by all means do it. I don’t have the patience or time to go through consignment store process, but more power to you if you can! You can make some extra bucks through consigning gently used clothing and shoes that can go back into a clothing, travel or other savings fund.

5. CURL UP WITH A GOOD BOOK

When I retire, I just want to sit outside on my patio, drink my coffee or tea, and read. I love getting immersed in a good book and I love pretty much any genre: fiction, biographies, self-improvement, business books, you name it! As long as it has an interesting story, lesson or message, I’m in. I currently don’t make a lot of time to read, but it’s something that I try to incorporate into my day, even if just for 20 minutes. So when I have more leisure time on my hands, like during the holiday break, I try to read at least one book. This holiday I plan on reading The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah (a WWII story of two sisters embarking on their own path of survival in German occupied, war-torn France) There are so many other books on my reading wishlist and I will share them with you in a separate blog! Here are links to a few of my favorite books if you don’t own them already: Where the Crawdads Sing (a coming of age story of a girl who raised herself in the marshes of North Carolina - a combination of adventure and romance), Educated (a triumphant memoir of a girl who grew up in a survivalist family and defied all odds) West with Giraffes (a part adventure/part historical saga inspired by a true story of two giraffes who made headlines during the Depression-era America) Please share any other amazing books you’ve read that you were inspired or moved by in the comments below!

6. BAKE

So let me first start off by saying that baking isn’t something that I’m great at, but I try to do it during the holidays when friends and family are more likely to be come over for a visit or holiday party. It’s always nice to offer up something sweet like a slice of spiced cake, lemon bar, or a chocolate chip cookie. After all, the holidays are the best time to indulge in sweet treats, right before the healthier resolutions begin in January. So here are a couple of family recipes that you might like to give a try. They are super easy baking recipes yet very good in their own way.

First recipe is for Sugar Cornstarch Cookies with Sprinkles, these little guys are my favorite - not too sweet, really light, and flaky. I sprinkle them with multi-colored nonpareils sprinkles for that extra special crunch. These disappear quickly in my house:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Add 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla to a bowl and mix until creamy. Add one egg and 1/2 tsp kosher salt and mix until well combined. Add 2 cups of cornstarch and mix until combined. You should be able to shape the dough into a ball and it should be soft and flexible enough to be able to use in a cookie press. (tip: add more cornstarch if the dough just until it stops sticking). Roll the dough into little balls and place them onto the baking sheet and flatten with a fork (dipped in cornstarch for non-sticking). Sprinkle the flattened dough with lots of multi-colored nonpareil sprinkles. Bake for about 10-12 mins . Check them at about 8 mins as ovens vary. Just make sure you don’t brown them too much. The cookies should have a light, golden color around the edges when they are ready. Let them cool and enjoy!

The Second recipe is 5 Layer Magic Bars. This recipe was passed down to us from my mother-in-law and don’t let the simple recipe fool you, they are truly decadent!:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 1 + 1/2 cups Graham Cracker crumbs and 1 stick of melted salted butter in a bowl. Press the graham cracker mixture into a 9 x 13 baking dish. This is the first, base layer of the Magic Bar. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of chopped pecans, 1 cup of chocolate chips and 1 cup of shredded coconut (in that order) on top of the graham cracker crust. Pour one, 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the mixture and bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely and cut into bars. Delicious!

7. CREATE A BUCKET LIST FOR 2024 & BEYOND

Time to sharpen the pencils and get ready for some New Year goal-setting fun! I like to call this a “bucket list” because its less serious and I can write down any of my ideas, hopes and dreams for the upcoming new year with abandon. If you don’t already have a journal or composition book, here are some nicer ones that I recommend: Lined Journal Notebook with pockets, You are Worthy of New Beginnings Journal, Christian Classic Journal.

First, brainstorm and write down all of the things that you’d like to see, accomplish, do, etc… There are no rules in this first step except to just dream and write it all down - ideas, goals, hopes & dreams. Next, circle the ones you’d like to accomplish, see, or do in the first month (write down 1 month next to the goal). Then, circle the ones you’d like to accomplish in the next 3 months (write ‘3 months’ next to each goal). Then do this for the next 6 months, and then one year. This way, you have a milestone map of how and when you’d ideally like to see your bucket list items come to fruition. If some of your goals are more “long-term” in nature, just add more milestones: 2 years, 5 years, 10 years. Next, organize and re-list each goal under the corresponding time-frame. Then step-back and admire the bucket list items you’ve chronologically planned for your life! These items can be as small as losing 5 lbs, and taking a walk everyday, to big things like writing your first book, owning your own vacation home or making your first million! I ended up with about 5 bucket list items under each timeframe. Whatever your list looks like, it is achievable. And don’t fret if some hopes and dreams don’t happen in the time frame you originally listed them under. You may have to adjust the time frame for certain goals, but just be realistic, non-critical, and keep working on them. You will be amazed at how many actually do happen within your assigned time frames, especially if you look at this list regularly and apply actions towards your goals. Remember, anything is possible with diligence, hard-work, and faith. Happy Bucket Listing for the New Year and Beyond!! And please share some of your hopes and dreams for 2024 in the comments section below. We’d love to get inspired by your bucket list!

8. CREATE A 2023 FAMILY NEWSLETTER

This last project is an easy and fun one that all family members can take part in: a 2023 FAMILY NEWSLETTER . And no, you don’t have to use Mailchimp. You can send your newsletter via U.S. post as an alternative to a Holiday Card, send via email, or send it to your loved ones via social media. Pick the delivery option that feels right to you. Either way, people will enjoy hearing about your ups (and downs) of the year. I’m a private person by nature, so I completely understand if you’re not comfortable sharing everything that happened in your life. My overall advice is to keep information in your 2023 newsletter “high-level”, not too detailed, not too heavy, and not too lengthy. And only be as transparent as you can and/or want to be. This approach still allows the receiver to empathize, support and celebrate both your victories and setbacks. And many of them will feel validated because let’s face it, everyone has ups and downs in life.

WRITING TIPS: Have each family member write their own 2023 highlights section or do it for them if they can’t or don’t want to do it. A small paragraph is sufficient for each person. If you’re writing a section for someone else, just make sure that they approve what you have written about them before you send it out! Also, consider including photos that correlate to each person’s section or a couple of family photos from 2023. When creating your newsletter, you don’t have to use a template at all, writing directly in an email or plain document is just fine (but it is a little more fun if you have a holiday or newsletter themed background). There are many, awesome, free holiday-themed document templates online or via Google docs. I highly recommend writing it in Google docs because of their Auto-Save feature while writing. No lost information here! After writing, adding photos and editing is complete, name and save the final document, (ie, O’Connors 2023 Year in Review) and create a link that you can send via email or social media. If sending via email, cc or bcc your friends and family after your newsletter is complete and hit send. Easy peasy. Here are some newsletter templates I found online: Canva Family Newsletter Templates, Microsoft Newsletter Template, Microsoft Holiday Stationary Template, You can also purchase this 8x11 Holiday Printer Paper if you prefer to print and send them via U.S. mail. Have fun reminiscing and creating your family newsletter! And let us know if you have any newsletter ideas to share!

So there you have it folks. My personal bucket list of projects that I “might” do over the holiday break. Ideally, I’d like to do all of them, but realistically, I may only get around to 2 or 3 on this list. If I don’t get around to all of them, I’m not sweating it. That’s the point of this holiday project list. It’s more inspiration then perspiration. So happy holiday break! - whatever that looks like to you. Hopefully you have some fun “projects” you have planned. And if so, please share them in comment box below. I may add them to next year’s holiday break bucket list!

All the Best,

Penny

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