Happy Holly Days!
SO glad they're over this year. I'm usually into the holidays from about September. The minute kids go back to school, I start daydreaming about Halloween and digging out decorations on October 1st. Christmas? The minute Thanksgiving is over, decorations go up.
Not this year.
Just feeling blah. Not depressed, just blah.
We didn't really celebrate Christmas much this year. Usually my daughter, Brandi, goes overboard with gifts for her dad and me. But this year I made her promise to spend only $50 on both of us. She did, but I could tell she didn't want to.
We both work retail, and at our job, I fell in love with this piggy bank. She's white, as you can see, wrapped with Christmas lights. I don't usually go gaga over pigs. I'm a horse-cat-dog person, but this little pig just captured my heart.
This was Brandi's Christmas gift to me. A little pig.
I love it.
In this picture, she rests briefly in a curio cabinet, but currently little piggy is sitting on my desk. I am a terrible saver. Always have been. But this little piggy, wrapped in her Christmas lights, is a reminder to put a few dollars away for the CRW writing conference coming up in May.
I missed the last one. Not this year. I'm determined to go. As you all know, conferences aren't cheap. They cost an arm and a leg. I can't just write a check, or put it on a credit card. I wish I could.
But I can save a little at a time until I have enough. And my little Christmas pig is going to help me keep my eye on that goal.
Thank you, Brandi, for giving me a pig for Christmas. Thank you for believing in me. I love you.
that pig is soooo cute! I think your idea is fab - great way to keep your eye on the prize.
ReplyDeleteThat's what the holidays are really about--giving gifts from the heart. I blogged about the perfect gift on Author Expressions on Dec. 15th and got a bunch of interesting responses. But I think your blog is the nicest on the subject.
ReplyDeleteI love your little piggy. I was a lot like you, just blah over the holidays when I'm usually Miss Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOh just had to share with another horsy person--I got a new set of horse clippers!!! I'm so happy!!!!
Aww it is too cute and what a fantanstic thing to use to save for your conference. I have my own tax business and during that time of year is when I have extra dollars for things like writers' conferences and stuff. I try to stock up on office supplies and things for my computer. ALways look forward to it. Now this year I am looking forward to using it to survive. With my husband's poor health and stuck living with my sister I hope to use our tax refund to get into our own place. If things keep going downhill my husband may be put on hospice care. He has so much wrong with him. He's been in hospital in ICU since 23 Dec this time.
ReplyDeleteEye on the prize...yeah!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I missed that blog, Jaqueline. I would have liked to seen the responses.
ReplyDeleteI love her, too, Brenda. I think I got Brandi clippers one year for 4-H. Great gift!
ReplyDeleteKathy~
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about your husband. You have really been through the wringer this year. I pray things get better soon.
Hugs.
That is a totally cute little piggy. I'd stick her on my desk too, if she was mine... What was your address again? :)
ReplyDeleteMine, Piper, mine. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI saw a pig just like that in the store before Christmas. I picked it up as a present for my granddaughter. I figured it would be a great way for her to learn about saving money when she got older. I put it back when I realized I haven't learned that lesson myself yet. Maybe I'll buy one for myself.
ReplyDeletewhat an adorable pig!! your daughter is a kind heart....=)
ReplyDeleteI really do like that pig...
ReplyDeleteShawn, Carrie, Liz~
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments and coming by!
Very cute pig. And great idea for saving. I want to go to a conference this summer. I think I'll take your advice, but I don't have a pig. . .have to settle for a Mason jar!
ReplyDeleteI still have the porcelain pig my mom gave me when I was a wee lil girl. Her pink ear is chipped and you can see glue holding her leg on. But I still, to this day, put my spare change in her. I save up for whatever mad-money I need it for. Eye on the Prize is right, D'Ann. Stay the course and you'll arrive on time. Have a great New Years! And this little message is for Kathy: I truly hope 2011 brings you smiles and tears of joy. Best wishes to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteRobin~
ReplyDeleteAin't nothing wrong with a Mason jar! I collect old ones. What conf do you want to go to?
Sheri~
ReplyDeleteThat was nice of you to wish Kathy well. I know she's been through a lot this year. I'm going to make that conf if I have to saddle a horse and ride over the mt to get there!
I am saving up for RWA Nationals. They are in NY this year and being in Philly there's no excuse not to go. But it's still not cheap. The hotel is already booked and anything near Times Sqaure costs a fortune. So, AJ & I will be staying at some roach motel prolly, like the one in the movie BIG. But, at least we'll have stories.
ReplyDeleteI have a pink baby bottle bank from when my tweener was born. Using that.
Love the piggy. Is it wrong to say that, being as I had ham for dinner?
Great blog, D'Ann. I love the pig, and what a great reminder to save for the conference. Christmas is about family and friends, not how much we spend.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, as always, D. Awesome gift from Brandy. It's a real purrty pig. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. I have great intentions for saving, but you know where good intentions get you. :>/ A visual reminder, given to you by someone you love, will make saving easier. Plus, the pig is cute.
ReplyDeleteUsually I am a major Christmas fan, but this year I also was blah over the holidays. No special reason, just blah. Didn't even get all my decorations up. Must be a writer thing. LOL
What a cute pig! When I was growing up, we raised pigs and cows and chickens...I love pigs and cows...hate chickens--LOL
ReplyDeleteI think you hit what the holidays are all about. Nice idea about saving for a conference. Maybe I'll do that for Nationals. NY is so close to me that I really don't want to miss it.
Happy New Year!!
I love the pig--so cute! Sometimes one simple present is the best gift. This one definitely works double-duty for you. Not only is your pig adorable, but it helps you save up for your RWA goal. Maybe the pig will become your 'lucky pig' in all your writing endeavors :)
ReplyDeleteI saw those pigs the other day at my Target,except they were the new spring ones, I think. Anyway, I thought of you and understood why you had to have one. They're adorable.
ReplyDelete