week(s) reflection: Thanksgiving recap + holidays kickoff

Phew! What a packed last couple of weeks — and the holiday season has only just officially kicked off. And, speaking of kicking off the holiday, we officially became one of those families who decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving. In our defense though, we were out of town Thanksgiving weekend and the weather was just so nice the weekend prior that we took advantage. Plus, we were feeling extra festive after treating ourselves to the Brown Palace’s holiday champagne brunch (which will likely be our one and only participating — WAY too many people).

Thankfully, Thanksgiving was pretty low-key. We road tripped it to SoDak and chilled with my family for the weekend. We were grateful for unseasonably warm temperatures, which equated to clear roads. Our Christmas will be spent at home with Denver-area friends and family — which we’re both really looking forward to — and fits nicely with my goal of spending the final month of 2017 relaxing, reflecting and recharging. And, because our focus experiences instead of things (few exceptions include adopt-a-family gifts), the stress of shopping has all but been eliminated.

Hoping you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday and December is treating you well so far. ❤

“You did it! Congratulations! World’s best cup of coffee! Great job, everybody! It’s great to be here.” ~Elf

week in review
gratitude: family
this week’s intention: slowing down
 what I’m reading: Today Will Be Different
successfully completed no-buy November
annual tradition of watching Elf with nices + nephew
book club
dinner out with good friends
DEN > SoDak for Thanksgiving
sent out save-the-dates
therapy
How I Built This: too many to list
visited our favorite zero waste market
continued donating + selling stuff
made a few final tweaks to wedding website
dinner with fiance’s friends
booked a trip to LA for January
annual Starbucks selfie with the nieces
enjoyed the last remnants of fall
decorated the house for the holidays
put up our Christmas tree
treated to fireworks in my hometown
lots of time catching up with family
attended Cerebral Brewing anniversary
spoiled the pup with her monthly Barkbox
wore pants for the last time until the new year
kicked off Dressember
celebrated friend’s birthday
enjoyed an evening out in Boulder with Elephant Revival
very productive + rewarding workweeks
received playbook
wedding invite consultation
decided we would design our own wedding invites
many walks with the pup
enjoyed unseasonably warm weather (although I’m ready for some cooler temps)
lots of baking and cooking
continued our winning streak for fantasy football
became more and more disengaged as the Broncos continue to lose
many walks with the pup
wrote + posted week reflection
wrote + posted pages from my past: ’90s bucket list
wrote + posted what I’m loving this week: squash

weekend happenings + intentions
host monthly Denver Creates
peruse local artisans’ offerings at Denver Flea
make holiday gifts for parents
continue Dressember
shop for “adopted family” gifts
lots and lots of errands
read new episode of Bella Grace Magazine
visit our favorite local cidery
flu shots
find a creative gift for book club holiday party
began preparing for year-end posts
preliminary 2018 planning (because, new planners!)
rest + relax
read new episode of Bella Grace Magazine