Christmas 2022.

A Holly, Jolly Christmas It Was. Different than any other Christmas I have ever experienced.  Magical to say the very least. 💕✨

For this holiday, I made the very tricky decision to not go home to family in Ohio for the very first time, EVER, in my whole life.  My family is VERY tradition oriented & the holidays are a BIG DEAL- *not to be missed! At first, this decision process was clouded… by what my family might think or how they might feel.  By guilt, and worry, and pressure to please.

Eventually, I took a moment to remember all the other times I’ve made a decision for the sake of keeping others happy, and how that went.  I took a moment to remember what I teach & preach.  OHHH!! OHHH SHIT! Answer to myself & my own needs & desires first.  Disappoint others- before disappointing myself.  Yes, yes, I almost forgot.  

So, Ty & I made the decision to spend Christmas in a new way this year.  To switch it up a bit.   To do something for us, that we wouldn’t normally do.  A “mini-moon” as we now like to call them (little honeymoons for ourselves where there is NO work, very little phone usage, and maximum time to reconnect with each other & our flame).

We got Pookie a sitter & road-tripped our way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Along the way we stopped at one of Ty’s favorite places that I had never visited before- Monuments Valley. I treated him (us) to a hotel reservation with a VIEW, as well as an astro-photography tour, knowing how much he’d appreciate these gifts in his special spot. I got to ride a horse for the first time ever, in the MIDDLE OF MONUMENTS VALLEY! We made silly stops along the way home like Four Corners Monument, and he surprised me with a spot I’ve always wanted to go with rainbow rocks. We spent Christmas Eve walking the Faralito-lit streets, Christmas day skiing in the Santa Fe National Forest, and the rest of our time hot-tubbing or cozied up next to a fire in a little Adobe cabin. It was a Christmas of magic, romance, connection, and FUN! One I’ll never forget, and never regret.

I love the family traditions I grew up with, but at the end of the day, I am creating a life of my own, aligned with MY values, and MY Truth.  A path unique to me; and this means, starting some of my own traditions too ❤️

To see more from this Christmas adventure, check out my Instagram Post.

Happy holidays to you, however you choose to spend them 😌❤️