Christmas Cheer & Free Printable

I'm going to be honest with you.  I am trying so hard to get into the Christmas spirit.  This season is really hard after 9 months of Covid and some other stuff that's going on.  We're tired.  We've grieved our losses.  We've pivoted (just like the couch in Friends).  We've rested.  We've stretched ourselves.  We've grown.  Our state is basically shut down again due to an incredible rise in cases here and I know that we aren't the only ones.  Christmas will be very quiet around here and I am curious to what that will look like.  

I needed some joy this week.  My kids needed some joy, too.  We also needed to look outward and see how we could spread some around to our neighborhood.  We've always been fans of boo-ing people in October, but we've never joined in the Elf club.  This year, we thought it was necessary.  The kids and I found ourselves wandering Target looking for goodies to share with our friends (an excuse to go to Target. . . yes, please!).  The kids put together the bags, I designed some tags and made some bread and we headed out into the neighborhood.  I think we were caught my almost everyone, but it is so much fun!  We laugh.  I think Weston hid behind some trashcans and a tree. . . but still got caught.  It's so much fun!

I think that when things are so hard, it is so easy to focus on ourselves (self care is beautiful, don't get me wrong) when sometimes the answer is to do something for someone else.  One friend posted her kids reactions to being elfed and it made there day. . . one of them may or may not have been wishing for a candy cane just moments before!  Friends, it brought joy to our hearts!!!  This definitely helped our attitudes!

Some items we found to fill our treat bags were some hot cocoa, pencils and erasers, candy canes, festive chocolate.  We found all of those things at Target, but I wanted to find a few other fun things.  Hobby Lobby was the best!  Plus all their Christmas stuff was half off like normal, so I grabbed rubix cubes, stampers, and maze ball things for super cheap.  We made 12 treat bags and then the boys got to decide who in our neighborhood they wanted to deliver to.

I also baked my favorite bread for this time of year.  THIS recipe is the best!  It's super easy and makes 6 little mini breads that can all be baked at the same time.  This year, because of COVID, we put who it was from because getting baked goods right now from random people might be a bit questionable.  I bought some cardboard loaf pans so there's no touching the actual bread and then I wrapped it in larger clear treat bags. 

The door knob holder was super easy.  I just punched holes at the top and tied string through it making  a loop. 

The kids and I really want to challenge you to spread some cheer around your neighborhood.  Take some time and brainstorm how you could make someone in your neighborhood's day.  Remember to be safe, where a mask when necessary. Spreading cheer in a world where people are socially distancing and lonely might just might just be the thing that fills someone else up with joy. I promise you, it will fill your hearts with so much joy!  

Here's the link to the free printable.  Please remember that these are for personal use only.  I'd also love to see how you use them. . . don't forget to tag me or use #outoftherightbrainblog

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