Ho-ho-ho, it’s time to share my 2019 mini-Christmas bucket list. So happy to have you here to help me kick off the festivities. In 2017, I started making my mini-Christmas bucket lists. You can read that year’s list, here. But this time last year, my mom was suicidal and had just been admitted to a psychiatric center for the 3rd time in 7 years. I didn’t create a mini-Christmas bucket list because I wasn’t sure we were going to celebrate Christmas at all.
With worries about my mom, PC’s mom after her wreck in October and our (un)employment situation, I have been hanging on by a thread over here again this year. To be honest, I hadn’t thought much about the holidays until I started putting together this list. And then the magic started happening. I started thinking about decorating, putting up the tree, cocoa and Christmas lights. My eyes glassed over, my heart grew 3 sizes and I started daydreaming about all the fun we are going to have.
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I grabbed pen and paper, dashed off my list then checked it twice. And here it is for your approval!
My 2019 Mini-Christmas Bucket List
With only a month to bring this list to fruition, I needed to get busy yesterday! And I did!! Here’s what I am hoping and have begun to do.
The Details
While there are lots of things I hope to do between now and 12.25.2019, these are some of extra activities I have planned. Of course, we will put up the tree, but not before fighting about it a little. PC doesn’t like Christmas. I would like to put together another Bethlehem dinner, and do another Christmas light scavenger hunt. But the things on this year’s list are like extra credit.
Be Blessed to be a Blessing
Remember last week’s post about my 10 favorite gifts for 10 on the 10th? And the give away? You’ve entered, right? If not, click here and do that pronto!! For this activity I want to be a blessing in some small ways to others.
- Pick up trash.
- Take donations to the El Paso animal shelter.
- Collect food for church.
- Provide books for some Little Free Libraries.
- Donate arts and crafts supplies to the children’s hospital.
- Adopt a classroom through Donors Choose.
- Provide a new blanket to the Extreme Weather Task Force (EWTF).
- Put together a care package for a deployed soldier.
- Check with the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home to see what donations they need.
- Take a name from the Christmas angel tree.
Make a Gingerbread Something and Decorate It
When my daughters were little, Lauren especially loved to make gingerbread houses with her step-father. I felt like that was an activity they shared together so never really got involved. Here I am at 61, hoping to make and decorate my first gingerbread house, or, at the very least, gingerbread man.
Read Christmas Stories to Lucia and Cadence
I have several favorite Christmas picture books but would like to build on my personal holiday library. Maybe I will video record myself reading a book or two so the girls will have it to share with their children someday.
Put Together a Cocoa Bar
Last year, I bought some really cute cocoa bar decorations on sale as the season for hot chocolate came to a close. I stored them away with my Christmas stuff but want to set up a cocoa bar and use them this year. I have a delicious Mexican hot chocolate recipe, here. Thinking I could make a crock pot of cocoa and then have all kinds of goodies to add to it, toppings, etc. And maybe bake goodies to serve with the hot chocolate.
Find a Christmas Ornament to Represent This Year
Whew, what a year it has been! Thinking maybe I can find a whirling dervish or a tornado ornament to represent the turmoil! Stay tuned.
Give Our Christmas Decorations Some New Life
We would like to try something new outside in the yard. Maybe our first inflatable? Inside, I would like to add gingerbread men and more snow flakes, snowmen or as Lucia says, “snow-mams.”
Now to take my vitamins, eat my spinach and make this list happen! Wish me luck.
Your Turn
What activities made your 2019 mini-Christmas bucket list? Are you trying anything new this year? Do you have a favorite tradition you look forward to? Please link up your bucket list related post below or tell me about your plans in a comment. Then come back on 12.21.2019 to see how I’ve fared and to share your accomplishments.
Off to bed. We were awakened by a mean ole thunderstorm last night that we thought blew up our pool equipment but, hallelujah, it came back on this morning. Hoping for a good night’s sleep tonight.
Hugs and kisses,
Holly Breton @ Pink Lady
Oh I love these ideas- thank you for sharing 🙂
Dara
This is a great list!
Rebec
A cocoa bar… YES. Love it!!!
I love the make a gingerbread “something” 🙂 Possibilities are endless
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ordered a pre-fab gingerbread house on Walmart. Will try our hand at creating the decorations. Want to do something unique and fun.
Bojana Krienke
I love all of these thoughtful ideas, but the one that stuck with me is the gingerbread house/man. My girls have been doing this now with their grandparents the last couple of years and it’s been wonderful to see them bond with them rather than us doing it, but I do miss it. One thing that I didn’t put on my list, not sure why, bit my girls and I have been talking about making connections with some of the homeless people in our community and giving them a gift. Also, your recording a book is a great idea. I know book stores used to have it as my children have one. Thanks for organizing this, it really is nice to dive into something other than fashion . I am really enjoying it.
bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
Deb
Great list and I’m sure you’ll have everything ticked off by midnight on Christmas Eve 😉
We have a family tradition of putting up the tree the weekend closest to Paul’s birthday, which is on the 12th so I guess ours will be going up in two weeks time. I think this year we may have to move all the ornaments up a little so that Rosie and Max’s little hands can’t reach them!
Leo is already excited about Christmas, I’m not sure he can wait another month!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Sounds like you’ve got some good ideas!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!
Anne/The Cajun Couple blog
Enjoyed reading your list. I hope all of the job issues are resolved soon so that you may relax and enjoy the holiday season. Hugs to you!
Natalie
What a fun-filled and generous list! Your granddaughters are going to love story time and making a gingerbread house with you. Thanks, Leslie, for hosting the link-up. Look forward to hearing your update on Dec. 21.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Natalie, for joining me. I am excited about the gingerbread myself. And having all of my girls under the same roof for awhile. Those are the things that make it all worthwhile.
Debbie Harris
What a fabulous Christmas-ey post Leslie! Your enthusiasm shines through and your positivity is infectious especially when you consider all that you have going on. I wish you all the best and a happy time ahead.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, dear friend. Looking forward to having both girls here with me as we ring in the new year. Hoping we all have easier, brighter 2020s!
Kellyann Rohr
Your list inspires me! I know what you mean about wondering if the holidays will happen. But I also know that once you start, the Christmas spirit takes over! We always get together with our best friends and put together gingerbread houses. We used to bake them but learned a long time ago we are more the decorating only type so now we buy pre-built homes.
You can check off the first item on your list – you have been a blessing to me already!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are so dear. I hope you know how much I treasure your friendship and support.
I didn’t know you could buy pre-baked/built gingerbread houses. Wow. Where would one find something like that, pray tell!!
Hope you will continue some of your great holiday traditions this year, even though I know hard it will be. But there
is comfort in the familiar.
Deborah Stinedurf
This is a beautiful list! I’m sure your grandbabies will love the story time and the hot chocolate bar sounds delicious!
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Debbie!! It is hard to find ways to be an active part of Cadence’s life when she is 500 miles away. I send packages and surprises but I wish we could just be together for hugs and to play Barbies and read books. We visited on Facebook video or Facetime yesterday for 30 minutes. She told me about school, read to me for a change. Can’t wait to hold her in my arms in a month!
Shugunna Alexander
Great ideas!!!! I wish you nothing but joy doing these holidays😘😘
Amy Johnson
Awww, I love your comparison to the Dr. Seuss story. That is good to hear. I have learned over the years not to expect a lot over holidays/vacations because I always end up disappointed. It’s the small, sweet, intimate moments that matter.
Laurie
Your bucket list for Christmas this year sounds wonderful. I always go into the Christmas season dragging my feet a little bit. Then, once I begin decorating and shopping, I get into the spirit of the season. I am still in foot-dragging mode right now! 🙂 I am thinking about making some Christmas gifts this year, even though I am not very crafty. We will have to see if I hop on that project or not.
ShootingStarsMag
I hope this is a really awesome Christmas season for you, and you get to check off all these items. I have random acts of kindness on my list!
-Lauren
Cindi
Love the cocoa bar. I need to get me one of those!
Great list.
I don’t want anything for myself this Xmas (except a good massage!)
I’m hoping to do something nice for someone like I did last year.
That’s the greatest gift of all.
Bri
What a great list! Your grandchildren are blessed to have a grandma like you, Leslie! Doing these fun activities with them is something they will remember forever. Hope you are having a beautiful week!
Joanne Tracey
What a lovely thoughtful and generous list. We’re off to the UK this year for Christmas so are not giving gifts – it will be instead shared experiences. Wishing you a lovely week.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
How wonderful to enjoy a vacation of memory making rather than giving gifts. Safe travels, my friend. I will look forward to your photos!!
Christie Hawkes
Hello Leslie. I just got around to reading your Christmas bucket list. I hope you are doing all of these fun things and enjoying your holidays! I know things are extra crazy right now. Are you planning to host the Winter Bucket List later this week?
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Some how this comment just showed up!! Ha!! Not sure what is going on. But thank you for the visit and the encouraging words.
Dani
Wow, you’ve certainly had a tough couple of years. I’m happy to hear that you’ve found your Christmas spirit though! This is a great list, but I’m most excited about your cocoa bar. I’m making an “adult” hot cocoa in the crockpot on Sunday and watching Christmas movies- I can’t wait! Looking forward to see what ornament you come up to represent the year!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, doll!! Glad you stopped by!