Motivate Monday – Holiday Fever

The holidays always seem to leave me a bit anxious. Not anxious in a bad way, more that nervous excited where I can barely focus and all I want to do is decorate and cherish every second of December. I love the gift giving and I love everything about the holidays, music, baking, decorating, trees, the smell of Fraser fur.  I get Christmas fever right about midnight of Thanksgiving Day. Something sentimental about spending time with family and celebrating the year behind us and looking forward to the one to come. But most of all, I love the feeling of being in bed Christmas Eve, all cozy and waiting for Christmas to come.

Growing up in Texas we never had snow. Surprised? I think my mom prayed it in existence more than we know about, and I remember fondly her waking us up in the middle of the night on multiple occasions to see the tiniest flurries that would disappear in a matter of seconds. That woman has a heart for snow like no other. Now, fast forward a few decades and here I am as an adult woman living in Minnesota and typically we have more snow than you physically or mentally know what to do with. Currently we have zero which seems extremely odd. I couldn’t have imagined those sleepless flurry watching nights in Texas would one day bring me here. Each snow fall I still see the tiniest snow flake and instantly think back to those moments as a child. Mostly I remember the excitement on my mother’s face.

Tonight, I sat watching my niece play with a Christmas ornament and it made me think of my mom. The same excitement and joy from the tiniest thing. I want to hold on to those childlike moments. The ones that are still inside all of us. Like the way my mom sat in our front porch last year while visiting, watching and willing the tiniest little piece of snow to fall. Something I take for granted, we all do.  The fleeting seconds where we can forget all of our troubles, throw out comparison, stop being so hard on ourselves, love each other, live in the moment.

That is what Christmas is to me. So many good memories all wrapped up with a bow and just sitting in my heart. I know it is a tough time for so many, and my heart goes out to those who are struggling. I know it must be so very hard on you. I think of my friends who have left this earth too soon, especially our friend Joe who recently passed away. His family will celebrate this holiday for the first time in 31 years without him. How my grandfather has been in and out of the hospital multiple times.  How many of my girlfriends are suffering miscarriages and infertility when all they want is a baby to hold. My heart breaks knowing I can’t change a single thing about any of these situations.

It is my hope that this will motivate you to spend this Christmas just being in the moment, cherishing the smallest of joys, watching the tiny snowflakes fall. When I started Motivate Monday’s with Tonic I had no idea that in sharing with you it would give me so much in return. Sitting down to write these posts brings me so much motivation to be a better person, wife, friend. I am beyond blessed to work with this company and I love that I am able to share with you.

You can shop this cozy look pictured below by clicking on the images at the end of the post. There are links to each item I am wearing. I am absolutely in love with the sage color of my Spruce Leggings and this whole outfit is easy, comfortable, and a perfect way to enjoy a cozy Christmas morning. Any questions please ask!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

XO Tamara

Images – Ellen Ashton Photography

Tights – c/o Tonic Lifestyle Apparel