the season of giving



photo by jaimiearnold.com. dorky embellishments by me.

 What an incredible holiday season it has been so far this year.  At last, the gifts are piled under the Christmas tree and there is nothing left to do but enjoy the glow of the lights and anticipate the excitement and joy on the kids' faces in the morning.  We've visited with loved ones, and are looking forward to seeing more tomorrow.  We've watched our favorite holiday movies, and exchanged a few too many cookies and cupcakes with our wonderful neighbor.  I really do feel blessed.

Last week I had the honor of travelling to exhale spa in New York City for training.  I immersed myself in the classes of some incredibly dynamic, skilled and talented Core Fusion teachers there, and even got to teach a class at exhale's Central Park South location while I was in town.  What a treat!  When I returned from New York I received an early Christmas present from the amazing lululemon athletica team at the Prudential Center when they invited me into their ambassador program!  Wow, let me tell you, that was a huge goal realized.  :)  I see the many gifts around me and I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude.

I was scanning the aisles at Target a few days ago to see if anything caught my eye to put the finishing touches on my holiday shopping list, when a memory from about eleven years ago floated to the surface of my mind.  I was in a Target store (or something similar), buying paint to dress up the hand-me-down dresser for my baby's room.  I was a very young mother, with very little money.  I was so filled with judgment for the people I saw around me doing their holiday shopping.  It seemed like such a completely mindless exercise.  I remember thinking, "They don't even know what they're shopping for, they just want to spend their money on something!" 

The memory struck me because I found myself now, eleven years later, doing the same thing.  I wasn't really shopping for anything in particular, I just wanted to give something to the people I love that might make them happy.  I have enough now.  And I want to share.  And that doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me anymore.  This got me thinking about how I've judged the whole "Consumer American Christmas" experience a little harshly in the past as well.  Do we overdo it?  Probably.  But there is something incredibly gratifying about gift-giving.  It really makes you feel good.  And let's face it, receiving gifts feels pretty wonderful too.  Just ask any child, they'll tell you honestly!  ;)

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, whether for you it is a deeply religious holy day, or just a cherished custom, I wish you all the joys of the season, the giddy, beautifully human experience of giving, and receiving.

xoxo
Andrea

favorite new family-friendly spot

This month was my son Roman's 11th birthday.  (Does that make him a pre-teen?  Never mind, I don't want to know.)  It was a great time, and both kids and grown-ups got to catch up with some friends we've been missing!  We celebrated at the new Flatbread pizza location in Davis Square, Somerville, MA.  Flatbread has several locations in the area, and this one was the perfect place for a party -- on top of being in a fun and funky neighborhood, it is located at Sacco's Bowl Haven, which features candlepin bowling, perfect for little hands and less-skilled adult bowlers as well.  ;)  Flatbread prides themselves on their delicious organic ingredients.  I love their salads, and for those like me who like to avoid cheese, the vegan pizza with olives, caramalized onions and other veggies is a great option. 

Flatbread has a full bar with great local beer like Harpoon U.F.O. White.  This is one of my new favorite spots, with or without the kids!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROMAN!!!

:)