“Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more.'" —Dr. Seuss

Remember the “I needed to smudge the house” story?

If you’re new here and missed it, the skinny is this: I had some paranormal activity going on that scared the bejeepers out of me. 👻 Doors closing, lights flickering, feeling ..something …and — the worst of all — a piece of clothing moved from the bathroom floor into the tub.

I ended up smudging the entire house—I had to—Larry was going away and I wasn’t in the mood for an exorcism, so I smudged every corner, window, door, and room in the place. I do believe it actually worked.

MOVING ON…

I had a terribly emotional week last week — came out of nowhere. I was teary over EVERYTHING and worrying about EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY. The more I tried to pull myself together, the more I spiraled.

Ever have those spells? Just can’t snap out of it?

One morning I woke up, plugged in the Christmas tree, turned on the fireplace, grabbed my blanky and my coffee. I was ready to replay the record in my head and wallow in self-pity once again when I decided to play my all-time fav: Make Me A Channel of Your Peace by Sinéad O’Connor. I had forgotten about that song for a bit, it’s my go-to when I’m super off.

And as true as you’re reading this… my ceiling fan turned on as soon as the song started!?!

It circulated very slowly — and I can tell you that fan has one speed —psycho!
But this was a very slow rotation. Never saw it before. Never happened before.

Then I took note of something even weirder….I was shockingly calm. Usually I’d be smudging and chanting the Our Father and throwing holy water around like it was… well… holy water. But nah. I was actually…peaceful.

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace. 
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope.

I think it was a sign from BIG GUY to just chill and that everything will be OK. Trust the process little Kimmy — Let It Go. The ol’ saying Let Go and Let God.

I swear on my children’s lives, my parents and my husbands’….the fan stopped exactly as the last word faded.

I was lighter.

There was a shift. Indeed there was a shift.

Amen.

Here’s the song in case you want to see if your ceiling fan turns on.

Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace. Sinead O’Connor

This salad dressing is my go-to.

Trust me, if I’m whipping up my own salad dressing in a snap then it MUST be quick, easy and delish.

✔️ Much less sugar and cheaper than store bought.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
My arms are like jelly
My butts’ flat too.

For the reader who wrote in saying “My daughter says I have no ass.”, this one’s for you.

Tracey invites us into the kitchen where her Grammie Hicken’s memories still live warm and sweet. ❤️

Grammie (Rita) Hicken was always in the kitchen if you stopped in to visit. She was either knitting, sewing quilts, baking or cooking meals on the the old fashion (Elmira) wood stove with stack of wood piled high behind it.

They had a large vegetable garden and berries on the farm. She was always a phone call away or I’d just drop in.

She made pickles, jams and jelly, ,homemade bread, biscuits, oatmeal cookies with the icing in the middle and the molasses cookies were always kept in a jar in the pantry.

I’m very lucky to have a few of my favourite recipes I cherish. And now I gift you my favourite, so you too can make Grammie Hicken’s Scotch Cookies.

Does anyone else wonder where their upper lip went?

According to the beauty pros here’s a lip hack 👄

Start with a lip plumper and wipe it off after a few minutes. Then line the outside of your lips with a slightly darker shade, making sure to reach all the way to the corners. Soften and round out your cupid’s bow, apply a matte lipstick to the center, and finish with a tiny dab of concealer for that lifted, fuller look.

Then Voila - the lip is back inside my mouth within 60 minutes.

Guess I just have to live with it.

Ummmm, no I’m not, you are.

Ok fine.

Pretty sure I’m a YES. My husband deeply agrees.

A note from Jeannie, a subscriber and friend ❤️

Not until recently have I taken the time to get an official diagnosis, but now that I have one I am slightly relieved that I have ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder. I

t definitely has connected some of the dots.

I have often had difficulty focusing and been easily distracted. Being distracted (although not my only excuse) has left me losing track of time and forgetting everything. Staying on task partnered with perfectionism, can also be difficult.

It helps explain why completing tasks seem to take me longer, usually being the last to pass things in, even as a teacher. I’m still and forever will be working on it. Being diagnosed later in life isn’t unusual, especially for women.

Thanks to my own children I finally listened and explored the possibility and go figure... checked off almost all of the boxes! Later in life means continuing to use those coping skills, becoming more and more self aware, and developing your own list of adaptations.

As a suggestion, setting your clock ten minutes earlier doesn’t hurt either.

Thank you Jeannie ❤️

Perfect for family, friends and staff parties.

Mystery String Game (Pretty sure I wouldn’t be tying $100 bill to a string but heyyyyyyy)
Christmas Pong (think cheap prizes inside)
Reindeer Marshmallow Pickup, Build the Tallest Snowman & more (1 video, many games)

I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden... but I DO promise you refreshed, beautifully scented skin that will make you happy. 🌹

These books offer a gentle blend of journaling and creativity—because some moments need words, and others need colour.

The 50 Shades Collection was created for the women who’ve lived, learned, and earned every ounce of their wisdom — and aren’t afraid to keep growing.

🌿 50 Shades of Wellness
A mindful journey into the wellness of mind, body, and spirit.
This guided journal offers calm, clarity, reflection and motivation — perfect for anyone craving a gentle reset in a noisy world.

🌟 50 Shades of Great
A celebration of how far you’ve come… and how far you’re going.
With inspiring prompts and empowering reflections this one honours your wins, your resilience, and the strength you sometimes forget you have.

🔥 50 Shades of DONE
Because at 50+, we finally know what we will — and will NOT — tolerate.
This book is your unapologetic permission slip to be DONE with what no longer serves you. Own it. Release it. And step boldly into the life you actually want.

 🌹 Colour Me Graceful 
My newest little sanctuary on paper—a blend of gentle journaling prompts and calming colouring pages created to help you slow down, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. It’s a soft place to land at the end of a busy day, a moment to check in with your heart, and a mindful ritual that feels both creative and restorative. If you’ve been craving something simple, soothing, and meaningful to ease into the season, this is a beautiful place to start.