Category: Holidays

When Is Chinese New Year 2025?

1/25/2025

The onset of spring is celebrated during Chinese New Year, which is also commonly known as Lunar New Year. It is observed in nations with a large Asian population, including China, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, and is known as the Spring Festival in China.

Welcoming the new year and sending good fortune and abundance into the previous one are at the heart of Chinese New Year traditions. There will be a lot of red decor, firecrackers, and fireworks. Red envelopes are used to distribute funds to the youth. Those who have passed on are remembered and celebrated with a feast.

In 2025, the Lunar New Year falls under the sign of the snake, which is also related with the Chinese zodiac.

The beginning and ending times of the Chinese New Year in 2025 are as follows.

When exactly is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year starts on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

How long does Chinese New Year go for?
Chinese New Year 2025 ends Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Usually, the Chinese New Year festivities can go on for up to sixteen days, but only the first 7 days are public holidays. This year, that's from January 29th to February 4th.

The beginning of a new year is signified by Chinese New Year, which is also known as Lunar New Year, when the calendar is based on lunar cycles or the phases of the moon.

Why does Chinese New Year last 15 days?
Starting the first new moon of the lunar calendar, the lunar new year finishes on the first full moon roughly fifteen days later. The lunar calendar is based on moon cycles, so the Lunar New Year celebration dates vary somewhat every year.

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Holiday Stress Busters

12/1/2024

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The holidays are a time for great joy for some, and a time of stress for others. Here are some ways to bust the stress.

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links which help to keep this blog running.**

Get enough sleep. With all there is to do during the holidays, it is easy to pay for the additional time required by sleeping less. The problem for many is that when they don’t get enough sleep, they get cranky and don’t enjoy what they are doing as much. So take the time for adequate sleep. That way you will have the energy to get into the full swing of things and enjoy it as it happens.

Plan ahead. We know well in advance that the holidays will require a lot more of our time for special preparations in addition to our regular routines and responsibilities. The solution is to plan ahead and schedule these tasks and events with greater care. If you didn’t plan accordingly this year you may want to delegate.

Delegate. There is a lot of difference between “I do it” and “It gets done.” Sure it’s fun to “do it all,” but that may be an impractical goal that only serves to frazzle and stress you out. Share the shopping, cooking and cleaning with others. People generally appreciate the opportunity to participate in the preparations.

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Meditate. Research by Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn shows how chronic stress directly interferes with the ability of our cells to renew tissues in the body which is linked to accelerated aging and other nasty diseases. Meditation actually helps to reduce stress and it effects on the body. You don’t have to do it for hours. Just get into a calm, relaxing mode for just a few minutes. It helps!

Get a massage. When you don’t have the time for a massage is when you need it the most

Enjoy the journey. Don’t “dread” any part of it, the shopping, the wrapping, the cooking, the cleaning. Find happiness in all of it and you will be less stressed.

Have any other stress busters to share? Post them in the comments.

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Wish You a Happy Thanksgiving

11/27/2024

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As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of you. Your support, kind words, and enthusiasm mean the world to me. Whether you've been with me from the beginning or are a new reader, thank you for taking the time to explore, share, and enjoy my posts.

This year has been filled with new adventures, stories, and learning experiences, and I’m so grateful to have you along for the journey. Your readership and support inspire me to keep creating content that brings joy, knowledge, and a bit of inspiration into your lives. It’s a privilege to connect with such a wonderful community, and I’m looking forward to bringing you more exciting content in the coming year!

Wishing you and your loved ones a Thanksgiving filled with warmth, happiness, and delicious food. May this season remind us all of the beauty of gratitude and the blessings we share.

With heartfelt thanks,
Linda

Still need ideas for your Thanksgiving menu? Check out these recipes!

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Thanksgiving Day E-Cards Ready for You to Use

11/7/2024

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Thanksgiving Day is November 28th this year. Here are several eCards you can download and send to your family and friends.

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links which help to keep this blog running.**

These E-Cards are for personal use only.

To download, just right click on the image and save to your computer.

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These products featuring my designs are available on a variety of products and colors. Just click on the photo to be taken to my Amazon or RedBubble Store to purchase.

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Recipe for a Stress Free Thanksgiving

11/1/2024

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What is the secret recipe for thankfulness and a stress free holiday? Here are a few things you can do to help make the holiday less stressful for yourself and your loved ones.

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links which help to keep this blog running.**

Thanksgiving serves as a time where families come together to give thanks and express gratitude. In the U.S., Thanksgiving also marks the beginning of the holiday season. While family ties can be close at Thanksgiving, family tensions can run high. If your family get-together feels more like an obligation than a celebration, and causes you to overeat and beat yourself up, don't worry. You're not alone.

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Avoid Over Eating

Stress can cause us to overeat which causes us to beat ourselves up. Then we feel miserable – both mentally and physically- the next day. Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast on Thanksgiving morning such as Caprese Style Baked Eggs. It will help you eat less later.

During dinner, take smaller portions and eat your turkey and healthy vegetables first before the more fattening stuffing and mashed potatoes. Put your fork down between each bite. Eat slowly, chewing your food at least 20 times. This will give your brain time to register that you are full.

Manage Expectations

Often during the holidays, our expectations are elevated. We have preconceived notions of how the dinner should be, how people should behave and how we should feel. Thanksgiving gets much easier when you lower your expectations. If you go into your holiday celebration making fewer assumptions about what will unfold, the less likely you are to be disappointed.

Be Aware of Family Dynamics

Family dynamics can become strained at holiday gatherings for a variety of reasons. Families change through birth, illness, death, marriage, divorce, job loss, and all the other unpredictable events that can happen. Be sensitive to how these changes affect your family members especially during the holidays.

Dealing with Difficult People

There will be family members who love to make annoying little comments just to get the best of you. The best way to approach this is to acknowledge the comment. Be honest when someone says something hurtful or inappropriate. Being too polite can result in a blow-up. Sometimes simply saying "I heard you" is enough. Or try having a prepared comment such as, “I would love to talk to you about what my plans are for the future, but I want to talk to you about that in private, so let’s talk sometime next week.” Hopefully they will stop once they see they haven’t gotten a rise out of you.

Respect Your Differences

It's not always easy to make conversation with a family member who doesn't share your views about politics, religious, raising children, etc. Take the time to understand where people are coming from, and you'll have a much easier time interacting with them in general.

Keep it Simple

You don’t need to serve countless gourmet dishes to have your guests “oohing” and “aahing” about how marvelous you are while you feel deader than the turkey. Prepare simple dishes that will get you out of the kitchen and enjoying the holiday with the family. For ideas check out my eBook "A Gluten Free Christmas"

Also, consider disposable plates and plastic ware which today you can find brands that look like fine china and silverware.

Purchase eBook here

Take a Walk

After dinner, take a brisk Thanksgiving walk. Invite your family to join you to keep holiday festivities going. By taking a walk you increase endorphins which may prevent you from eating seconds or dessert. There is no need to pack on the pounds during the holiday season. And most importantly, there will be no post-Thanksgiving guilt!

By practicing these simple ideas, you can have a stress free Thanksgiving with family and maintain a healthy body image by helping us feel good both physically, mentally, and emotionally.

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