It's that time again!! Haul out the holly, and buckle up, because it's gift guide season! And, to kick it all off, I'm sharing some of my favorite gift ideas for kids. Now, this gift guide has a broad range of gift ideas for children of all ages. Be sure to check out my Gifts for Kids tab on the blog to get even more ideas. 

If you're like me, you have children of many ages in your circle that you're buying for. This year, I'm planning on giving gifts to kiddos ranging from age 1 to 21 (ok, so 21 is an adult, but I still view her as my baby cousin). Like I said last year, it can be challenging to find the perfect gift for someone who (1) is in a completely different life stage than you and (2) isn't even your own kid. I still stand by the ideas that gift cards never hurt anyone, toys without batteries get you brownie points with parents, and gifts for infants should actually be gifts for the parents. However,  a new tip I've learned in the last year is the Four Gift Rule. 

My sister has two children now, and on her first Christmas as a mother she realized just how overwhelming the pressures of giving your kids the "best Christmas ever" each and every year can be. She read about the Four Gift Rule which suggests giving your kids something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read, and it's really helped guide her shopping these last few years. Now, as the self proclaimed "cool aunt," I sometimes have to stop myself from buying my nieces and nephews excessive amounts of gifts. So, I try to just pick out one or two items and make sure they fit into one of those Four Gift categories. However, most of my gifts usually fit into the "something they want" category because, again, I'm the cool aunt. 😎

Cool Aunt Abby doling out gifts

Matching vest I gave to my niece, Harper, last year! It was found in debris from the tornado this Spring! 👏👏👏

Happy shopping!

XOXO, 

Abby 

*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

It it not lost on me that the holidays this year may look different or even be completely non-existent for some. My family is still hoping to have a small get together for Thanksgiving, but of course, that could quickly change in the next few weeks. In years past, I've usually dressed up for Thanksgiving, but honestly, my standards have gotten lower and lower with each month of 2020 that passes. 😂 So there's no telling what I'll show up wearing this year. 

This dress comes in a ton of colors and would be a great holiday option!

I recently came across the phrase "stuff-envy" in a First5 app devotional on Ecclesiastes 6. In the lesson titled Roving Appetite Recovery, Wendy Pope discussed how, "even as an adult [she] struggled with an appetite for what others had." She reminded readers that, "obsessing over things we desire robs us of the joy of God's blessings." 

If you've been a follower of mine for a while, you know that the concept of"stuff-envy" is something with which I've really struggled. I've considered shutting down Abbylish on multiple occasions mostly due to the moral quandary of promoting materialism when it's something that can so consume my own life. 

While it seems so obvious and easy to just find satisfaction in God rather than things, it's not always so simple to make that mind shift. So today, I'm sharing five practical ways to avoid "stuff-envy" and to help correct a "roving appetite" from the inside out. These are just some of the applications that I've put into place in my own life over the past few years that I've found to be successful and beneficial. 

1. Get off social media

This is obviously hard for me to recommend because I don't want to lose my online friends and followers. But, I know first hand how cleansing an extended break from social media can be. 

It's amazing how much you stop caring about what everybody else is doing when you just don't see it 24/7. You can't have FOMO if you don't even know it's happening in the first place! I encourage you to take a social media hiatus every so often, whether for a week, a month, or even longer and see how it makes you feel. I guarantee you won't regret scrolling the internet less. 

2. Do NOT create more storage

Another reason we can't have kids any time soon is that I'm using every square inch of storage space in our  home (including both spare bedrooms and closets) for my own crap. Greg and I have talked about opening up access to our attic, but honestly, our current lack of storage space deters me from buying a ton of things I don't need. Sometimes more space = more things to fill it.

Do I want a Christmas tree in every room of the house, each with their own holly jolly theme? Of course! But I don't have the room to store them, and so I'm forced to recognize the fact that said Christmas trees aren't a need and that I can even *happily* live without them. 

3. Two Week Rule 

My mom once told me that if you didn't wear something within two weeks of purchasing it, return it. Not sure where she first heard that advice, but it's some of the truest in my life. If you're not dying to wear it the next day after buying it, you will most likely lose interest. That's why I have a love/hate relationship with events like the Nordstrom Sale. You get yourself all hyped up for overpriced sweaters and boots in JULY, months before you can even wear them!

Basically, the Two Week Rule helps you decipher if the stuff you're envying will actually serve you in some way. It helped me realize that I don't need to buy any business-type clothes. I can appreciate a structured blazer or a pencil skirt, but I know that I'm rarely ever going to find myself in a time or place where I will need those pieces. So, while I may be tempted to buy them, when I really stop and think about it, I know I don't need them. Same with "church dresses." I grew up attending a more traditional "Sunday best" church where I wore pretty dresses every single week. Now, Greg and I attend a gathering with a more casual vibe, so the formal dresses just aren't really a necessity in my closet anymore. I'm still so attracted to pretty frocks, but I have now realized that my money is better spent elsewhere. 

4. Refresh > Hoarding

Another rule I've adopted in life is: if you do get something new, get rid of something old. Channel your inner Marie Kondo and occasionally declutter areas of your home. As hokey as it sounds, I love her idea of "thanking" the items for serving you when they did and sending them on to a new life! Try not to feel like you're losing something by donating or selling old items. Consider the fact they're going to get much more use from a new owner than they will by sitting in storage at your house. 

5. PRAY!!

I guess I should have listed this as number one, because it really should be your first line of defense. Pray for God to fill your heart with love for Him instead of things. Ask Him for wisdom and strength to overcome the struggle of "stuff-envy." And thank Him for the many blessings in your life. I've often found that when you stop and focus on all of the things, experiences, and relationships God has already blessed you with, those things that you seemingly don't have start to lose their importance. 

If you struggle with "stuff-envy"like I do, I hope these suggestions are helpful. Please know that I don't believe consumerism, shopping, or even materialism to be inherently evil things. However, when not kept in check in my own life, they can grow into sinful idols that rob me of the abundant life that Jesus came to give me.  

Let me know if you have any other suggestions to keeping "stuff-envy" at bay. Prayers for all of you who may be working on this with me!

XOXO, 

Abby 

I've always enjoyed dressing up in fun Halloween costumes. When I was a kid, I would plan my costumes months in advance. Some of my most memorable Halloween costumes were Disney's Esmerelda (I think I was 5, and I was OBSESSED), an 80's Valley Girl (I was in high school and my girlfriends and I nailed the looks), and when my sister and I dressed up as Sonny and Cher (guess who was Sonny #bowlcut).

Not sure what your Halloween plans entail this year, but who says you can't dress up even if you're just partying at home. I've rounded up some simple costumes that are easy to throw together and won't cost you a lot of time or money. In fact, you may even have some of these pieces in your closet already!

Keep scrolling to check them out and maybe even see some spooky photos from Halloweens past! 😂

Rocked the Flapper Girl costume last year for a Murder Mystery party

"My Pleasure" 2018

Stranger Things Season 2 Joyce & Hopper - 2017

Zack & Kelly - 2016

Hipster-ween 2015

Valley Girls 2008!

Esmerelda and Friends. Love this photo. 💗 1997??

Baby Nurse circa 1994

While Greg and I both, in fact, came down with COVID-19 a few weeks ago, our symptoms were never super serious, and we were able to self treat and recover without any trips to the hospital. I guess a more accurate title would be, "How I Survived Quarantine" as this post is centered on all of the things that kept me sane during my 10+ day stay at home. Thankfully, my symptoms were mild in the grand scheme of things (I never even broke a fever), so the house arrest was, by far, the worst part. 

As if being on lockdown wasn't bad enough, this quarantine also fell during my 21 Day fast from social media. When mindlessly scrolling the socials would have been the easiest way to pass my time, I tried to avoid it. (Disclaimer: I did log on a few times for various reasons, but I tried not to linger). Ultimately, I know that having endless access to Instagram and Facebook would only have accentuated my FOMO and definitely wouldn't have made this quarantine any better, so I'm glad I stuck it out. 

I obviously hope and pray that none of y'all also contract COVID, but in case you do, (or you just find yourself stuck at home for whatever reason) here are some of the things I did to pass the time. 

1. Puzzles

My sister brought us some jigsaw puzzles as well as books of (easy) crossword puzzles and word searches. Those have been such life savers. They require some brain power, but not too much, and they were a welcome break from when we just couldn't look at a screen for another second. 

2. Read

By the grace of God, I got a library card the week before I got COVID. Greg bought me a Kindle for our anniversary back in July, and I have several books that I want to read but am not actually invested enough  to purchase them and keep them forever. I downloaded the Libby app so that I could read some library books on my Kindle.  That being said, if I hadn't gotten the library card in time (you have to go in person to get a library card which obviously wouldn't have been feasible while quarantining), I probably would have just bought the books. Reading was a great a way to pass the time. 

Y'all know I love everything written by author, Beatriz Williams. I'm already caught up on all of the novels she's written so far, so I've started on her collaboration novels that she wrote with Karen White and Lauren Willig. There are three, and they're just as good as her stand alone work! 

3. Home Project

There were a few days during quarantine when I actually felt pretty miserable and was definitely not getting off the couch. But, once my energy returned, I was itching for something to do. I've been so inspired by this photo from Pretty on Fridays, and I'm wanting to do a sponge accent wall in our guest room. Unfortunately, I thought I had enough leftover paint from another project to go ahead and tackle this. But, alas, I did not. So, this project will have to wait until I can go to a paint store! I looked into Clare paints which can be shipped to your door, but it appears as though they only come in gallons, and I really don't need that much. 

4. Piano

I took piano lessons during most of my school years, and I have a nice electric piano that my Dad let me borrow (does it still count as borrowing if I've had it for over five years???). I've gotten pretty rusty, but it's crazy how fast an hour goes by when I sit down to play. * This is especially ironic because my teacher used to have me practice 30 whole minutes a day, five days a week. At the time, that was practically torture!! 😂 Anyway, what better time than quarantine to brush up on an old skill? 

5. Record Player

For Christmas last year, Greg and I bought my Dad a little record player so that he could dust off his vast collection of old vinyls. Since then, we became interested in getting into the hobby of record collecting ourselves. After a few fails (some cheap record players are just that...CHEAP) and many YouTube rabbit trails, we finally landed on a nice, affordable record player that's perfect for beginners. We've been loving the records we've bought so far, but we're looking forward to the day that we can visit a record shop in person and search for some hidden gems. 

6. Podcasts 

The most strenuous thing I've done in the last two week is take Luna on a few walks. I love listening to Podcasts while we walk. They were also great background listening for when I was working on my puzzle (I realize that was the most Grandma statement ever, but this is where we've come, people). These are my current favorites:

• Absolutely Not with Heather McMahan - NOT appropriate to listen to with kids around 
• Be There in Five - This podcast has been around for 2 years now, but I'm just now getting into it. Host, Kate Kennedy, seems to like literally all the same things I like, so I've been enjoying it. 
• Correct Opinions with Trey Kennedy - for more family friendly laughs
• The ASMR Garden - Ok this is weird, but I went down a deep rabbit hole learning about ASMR one night during quarantine. If you don't know what it is, I encourage you to give it a Google. Whether you're into it or not, it's definitely intriguing. Anyway, I found this podcast, and it is the best thing ever to get you off to sleep. When you listen, you get so relaxed, your head gets all tingly, and before you know it, you're out like a light. 
• Zack to the Future - Haven't actually started this one yet, but it's about Saved By The Bell so it's a no brainer for me. 

7. Early Christmas Shopping

There was honestly no point in buying a single thing for myself during this time (that's not to say that I didn't purchase a few things for myself) because I've been wearing sweats for 10 days straight. And, I really don't plan on rushing out into tons of social activities once I'm free to leave the house. God forbid I get the 'rona AGAIN!! Anyway, I started scoping out some gift ideas the other day to go ahead and get ahead of the holiday game. I love having my Christmas shopping done early. And, hey! One positive of this absolute dumpster fire of a year is that, at this rate, I could have all of my shopping done by next month! 

I went ahead and started a few gifting tabs on the blog that will help you find the perfect Gifts for Him, Gifts for Her, and Gifts for Kids no matter what time of year. I'll obviously be updating them as I find new things, so by the actual holiday season, there should be tons of ideas!

What a weird, freakin' year this has been. I've never wanted time to move faster than I want it to right now. Which is so strange for me because, all my life, I feel like I've wished for more time or for time to go slower. My mother always cautioned me not to "wish my life away."

I'm doing my best to continue living by that motto. I'm striving to keep the faith, and I try to distract myself from feeling lousy by counting my blessings, which are abundant. But the fact remains...this year has just been crappy! Regardless, I have this feeling that I may reflect back on this time of quarantine, and this year in general, with a few fond memories...maybe?? hopefully?? Even though it was a challenging several days, (here, I'd like to you visualize Greg making the absolute most noise he's ever made in his life while I'm attempting to meditate in Savasana pose), I've enjoyed finding different and creative ways to occupy my time. Ways that don't include keeping up with the news, politics, or what everyone else is doing. 

Whether you have COVID or not, I'm sure you're spending more time than ever within the walls of your own home. As the colder seasons approach *sigh*, I hope this rundown of things that helped me ward off cabin fever will bless your life in some way. I'd also love to hear any of your own tips, tricks, and ideas that you've implemented during this year of social distancing. 

XOXO, 

Abby

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