I have been really enjoying an Advent playlist on Apple Music. This was just a user created playlist by Joel Ainsworth, but itās moody and peaceful and just the vibe I need!
Very very late to the comments for the obvious stroke reason ā thank you SO MUCH for sharing and donating! š Iāve also had the distinct *pleasure* of suffering from COVID: first with my mom last week (she brought it home from my sisterās house, but of course nothing is ever the sisterās fault so Mom *must* have got it when she went to the ER š¤¬). And now Iāve had COVID this week. Iāve lost count how many times Iāve cried and screamed in frustration at (a) my mom for being no help to me š, (b) my sister for being such an ass, and (c) my body for failing so miserably. The fatigue from COVID is *extreme* so all week weāve been useless sloths just trying to keep ourselves fed and hydrated.
Tests still show us positive but Iām hopeful that next week will be better. I have a chance for some county healthcare assistance, but they require in-person interviews AND their form is a scanned PDF download. A REMINDER: make all your forms disability accessible. A person with one non-dominant hand *cannot* fill out a form with a pen!!! I have to convert each page to images, then import them one by one into Word and type answers *over* the background, re-spacing each line manually. š So much extra time and effort! I wish the world would remember that not everyone has people in their lives who can (or will) help with small things. š
šChristmas isnāt really happening at my house, unfortunately. We have to isolate and donāt have the strength or energy to decorate this year. But Iām trying my best to keep the spirit in my own heart through music. ļæ¼My go-to album every single year is Kenny Loggins āDecemberā and ļæ¼Iām also a huge fan of the Hadestown holiday recording: theyāre both the right kind of mood for this yearās holiday season, less joyful and more mournful , but still a celebration of its own kind.ļæ¼ ļæ¼
I am currently watching the Mariah Carey Christmas Special on Apple+ and it is SO funny and just the right cheese. So good. I also adore Kelly Clarkson's Christmas albums, but especially the first one (Wrapped in Red). And all of Amy the Christmas Queen; I can't pick just one. Also, randomly, the Destiny's Child Christmas album is excellent for the car. :D
I resonate deeply with the weighted blanket tweet.
We're co-hosting the in-law Christmas party tomorrow & after having multiple complete meltdowns since Monday, I've finally identified why this is feeling so hard for me.
I want to love people the way they want to be loved.
Or rather, I want to be loved the way I want to be loved, and I don't feel like I can ask that of my people if I'm not also willing to offer that to them.
But it feels.... complicated when historically (and on-goingly) the way they appear to want love is incredibly high-touch. Like, to the point of burnout. I'd know, because I've done it.
So it feels hard to step back into that space and try to figure out if there's a good landing/middle space where I love them the way they want to be loved without abandoning self.
I'm still mulling all of it over, and only found words to start figuring out what I was actually freaking out over yesterday, but I'm finding more permission I can give myself to do what I need to have space enough to not lose my entire sanity (thank you dear Lord Jesus for Amazon same-day delivery, I now have a pair of Loop earplugs to help cut down on the noise of eleventy-billion children).
Wish me luck!!
Also, grateful I live a life where I can opt out of most of the shenanigans without harm since it's just hubby and I for the human component of our household & the dogs for sure don't need as much socializing as our wider family has to offer.
Good afternoon swipes! I work at a college, and this week, as the week before finals, is colloquially known as Dead Week. And personally, I also feel dead on the outside and the inside. ššļæ¼
Here are a couple of Christmas that you should not sleep on:
Laure Daigle (brings her vibe to every song and makes them more refreshing because of it)
Leslie Odom Jr (Christmas-jazzy and you will want to melt into his voice)
Christmas Together by the Piano Guys (honestly the most perfect background music)
ļæ¼Ingrid Michaelsonās Songs for the Season (perfectly Christmasy, and your favorite songs in a way that you wonāt want to stop listening)
I hope you are able to rest and enjoy the things you love this weekend! ā¤ļøš
Christmas album I grew up hearing: Percy Faith and his Orchestra. Brings back all my childhood joyful anticipation of the season! My dad gave me his old record a few years ago and now my kids are growing up hearing it!
Modern Christmas album I love to spin: Ingrid Michaelson, Songs of the Season.
Christmas albums y'all: Paul Zach released his album Christmas Hymns last week and it is a WINNER. If you, like me, have ever felt sad about the fact that most popular Christmas albums don't include a beautiful rendition of Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, this album will bring you what you have always longed for.
And honestly, this week has been awful. On Monday I learned a water situation from my washing machine is going to require the removal and eventual replacement of the flooring on my entire main floor--which is half my home. Insurance is involved and has been helpful so far, but the whole situation feels like a part-time job. I'm single and live alone, so while I have supportive parents and friends, the burden is still almost entirely on me. Thankfully my Christmas shopping is almost done, but it's hard to try to be festive when my home is filled with fans and dehumidifiers (for now at least) and is generally unpleasant to be in.
I have a question for Lil Swipes! Every year, as a (figurative, not literal) stocking stuffer, I make my husband a new playlist of love songs. But part of the process is I seek out new songs we didnāt already know, and that makes up about 80% of the playlist. This is my 8th year doing it and it is a treasured tradition. But, every year it gets harder to find new (to us) songs! So my question for all you fellow music lovers is: What are your favorite lesser-known love songs? It can be quirky and weird or sincere and sentimental; we love it all! Thanks for your help!
I love the buttermilk biscuits recipe!
I have been really enjoying an Advent playlist on Apple Music. This was just a user created playlist by Joel Ainsworth, but itās moody and peaceful and just the vibe I need!
Very very late to the comments for the obvious stroke reason ā thank you SO MUCH for sharing and donating! š Iāve also had the distinct *pleasure* of suffering from COVID: first with my mom last week (she brought it home from my sisterās house, but of course nothing is ever the sisterās fault so Mom *must* have got it when she went to the ER š¤¬). And now Iāve had COVID this week. Iāve lost count how many times Iāve cried and screamed in frustration at (a) my mom for being no help to me š, (b) my sister for being such an ass, and (c) my body for failing so miserably. The fatigue from COVID is *extreme* so all week weāve been useless sloths just trying to keep ourselves fed and hydrated.
Tests still show us positive but Iām hopeful that next week will be better. I have a chance for some county healthcare assistance, but they require in-person interviews AND their form is a scanned PDF download. A REMINDER: make all your forms disability accessible. A person with one non-dominant hand *cannot* fill out a form with a pen!!! I have to convert each page to images, then import them one by one into Word and type answers *over* the background, re-spacing each line manually. š So much extra time and effort! I wish the world would remember that not everyone has people in their lives who can (or will) help with small things. š
šChristmas isnāt really happening at my house, unfortunately. We have to isolate and donāt have the strength or energy to decorate this year. But Iām trying my best to keep the spirit in my own heart through music. ļæ¼My go-to album every single year is Kenny Loggins āDecemberā and ļæ¼Iām also a huge fan of the Hadestown holiday recording: theyāre both the right kind of mood for this yearās holiday season, less joyful and more mournful , but still a celebration of its own kind.ļæ¼ ļæ¼
I am currently watching the Mariah Carey Christmas Special on Apple+ and it is SO funny and just the right cheese. So good. I also adore Kelly Clarkson's Christmas albums, but especially the first one (Wrapped in Red). And all of Amy the Christmas Queen; I can't pick just one. Also, randomly, the Destiny's Child Christmas album is excellent for the car. :D
I resonate deeply with the weighted blanket tweet.
We're co-hosting the in-law Christmas party tomorrow & after having multiple complete meltdowns since Monday, I've finally identified why this is feeling so hard for me.
I want to love people the way they want to be loved.
Or rather, I want to be loved the way I want to be loved, and I don't feel like I can ask that of my people if I'm not also willing to offer that to them.
But it feels.... complicated when historically (and on-goingly) the way they appear to want love is incredibly high-touch. Like, to the point of burnout. I'd know, because I've done it.
So it feels hard to step back into that space and try to figure out if there's a good landing/middle space where I love them the way they want to be loved without abandoning self.
I'm still mulling all of it over, and only found words to start figuring out what I was actually freaking out over yesterday, but I'm finding more permission I can give myself to do what I need to have space enough to not lose my entire sanity (thank you dear Lord Jesus for Amazon same-day delivery, I now have a pair of Loop earplugs to help cut down on the noise of eleventy-billion children).
Wish me luck!!
Also, grateful I live a life where I can opt out of most of the shenanigans without harm since it's just hubby and I for the human component of our household & the dogs for sure don't need as much socializing as our wider family has to offer.
NSYNC Christmas + Amy Grantās Home for the Holidays are on repeat over here!
Is it just me or is the link for the college student video broken? It keeps taking me to the tweet about the 12 days of Christmas
Good afternoon swipes! I work at a college, and this week, as the week before finals, is colloquially known as Dead Week. And personally, I also feel dead on the outside and the inside. ššļæ¼
Here are a couple of Christmas that you should not sleep on:
Laure Daigle (brings her vibe to every song and makes them more refreshing because of it)
Leslie Odom Jr (Christmas-jazzy and you will want to melt into his voice)
Christmas Together by the Piano Guys (honestly the most perfect background music)
ļæ¼Ingrid Michaelsonās Songs for the Season (perfectly Christmasy, and your favorite songs in a way that you wonāt want to stop listening)
I hope you are able to rest and enjoy the things you love this weekend! ā¤ļøš
Christmas album I grew up hearing: Percy Faith and his Orchestra. Brings back all my childhood joyful anticipation of the season! My dad gave me his old record a few years ago and now my kids are growing up hearing it!
Modern Christmas album I love to spin: Ingrid Michaelson, Songs of the Season.
Okay hear me out- the Justin Bieber Christmas album is a banger š
Also a big fan of the relient K Christmas songs!
Amy Grant's first Christmas album has been must listen since my family had the tape when it first came out š
Yay thanks for the biscuit recipe!!
Also the album Iām loving right now is Lauren Daigleās Behold. Itās Charlie Brown Christmas meets Adele. Hope you had a great trip!
Christmas albums y'all: Paul Zach released his album Christmas Hymns last week and it is a WINNER. If you, like me, have ever felt sad about the fact that most popular Christmas albums don't include a beautiful rendition of Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, this album will bring you what you have always longed for.
First up, some favorite Christmas albums:
Decade the Halls by Tenth Avenue North
Home for Christmas by *NYSNC
Once Upon a Christmas by Dolly Parton
And honestly, this week has been awful. On Monday I learned a water situation from my washing machine is going to require the removal and eventual replacement of the flooring on my entire main floor--which is half my home. Insurance is involved and has been helpful so far, but the whole situation feels like a part-time job. I'm single and live alone, so while I have supportive parents and friends, the burden is still almost entirely on me. Thankfully my Christmas shopping is almost done, but it's hard to try to be festive when my home is filled with fans and dehumidifiers (for now at least) and is generally unpleasant to be in.
I have a question for Lil Swipes! Every year, as a (figurative, not literal) stocking stuffer, I make my husband a new playlist of love songs. But part of the process is I seek out new songs we didnāt already know, and that makes up about 80% of the playlist. This is my 8th year doing it and it is a treasured tradition. But, every year it gets harder to find new (to us) songs! So my question for all you fellow music lovers is: What are your favorite lesser-known love songs? It can be quirky and weird or sincere and sentimental; we love it all! Thanks for your help!
My top 3 Christmas albumsā¦.
When My Heart Finds Christmas by Harry Connick, Jr.
A Rose in Bethlehem by Selah
Kenny and Dolly A Christmas to Remember