Does Anyone Else Despise the Christmas Season? | Finding Joy Beyond the Gifts
If you’ve ever sat at your kitchen table in December surrounded by wrapping paper, half-filled Amazon carts, and a cup of cold coffee thinking, “Does anyone else despise the Christmas season?”—you’re in good company. Christmas Season Don’t get me wrong—I love Christmas. I love the lights twinkling on porches, the smell of cinnamon, and the quiet hum that fills our home when the tree is glowing and everyone’s finally asleep. But what I don’t love is the Christmas gift-giving stress that sneaks in and steals the magic. Christmas Season Image Credit When Did It Get So Stressful? Somewhere along the way, the season turned from celebrating love and togetherness into…
🎄 Cozy Christmas Countdown: Simple Southern Traditions to Fill December with Joy
🎁 Slowing Down the Season The beauty of Southern Christmas traditions is how they blend hospitality, warmth, and community.” December has a way of sneaking up on us. One day we’re finishing Thanksgiving leftovers, and the next we’re staring at holiday calendars packed full of school events, shopping lists, and travel plans. Somewhere in the rush, the joy of the season starts slipping through the cracks. Southern Christmas traditions But Christmas in the South?We do it differently.We grab our cocoa, wrap up in a soft blanket, turn on the porch lights, and find small ways to make the season feel warm and full again. If you’re craving a holiday filled…
December in the South: Warm Weather, Warm Hearts
If you’ve been searching for winter getaways in the Southeast, December is one of the best months to escape the cold and soak in warm sunshine, small-town charm, and family-friendly adventures. While the rest of the country digs out scarves and snow shovels, we Southerners are still catching golden sunsets and sipping sweet tea on the porch. December down here doesn’t mean frostbitten mornings—it means cozy sweaters at sunrise and bare-feet beach walks by lunch. If you’ve been craving a little warmth before the year ends, these are the best winter getaways in the Southeast—close enough for a road trip, easy on the wallet, and full of that laid-back Southern…
Grateful Getaways: 5 Family Traditions to Start This Thanksgiving (That Don’t Involve a Plane Ticket)
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to mean long lines, airport chaos, and reheated rolls in hotel microwaves. Some of the best memories happen right at home — or within a short drive of it. As a mom juggling work, family, and two fluffy travel companions (our goldendoodle and golden retriever), I’ve learned that slowing down during the holidays isn’t laziness — it’s intentional living. This year, instead of hustling through crowded terminals, my family is leaning into gratitude, connection, and those simple little traditions that remind us what this season is all about. Whether you’re near Atlanta or anywhere in the Southeast, here are five easy Thanksgiving traditions that blend travel, food,…
Fall for Small Towns: Cozy Family Road Trips from Atlanta Before the Holidays Hit
Before the hustle of the holidays hits full swing, November gives us a sweet pause, that cozy window between Halloween’s sugar rush and December’s chaos. It’s when the air turns crisp, the fall leaves still cling to a few branches, and local bakeries start smelling like cinnamon and apple butter. If you’re craving one last family getaway before the calendar fills up, it doesn’t have to mean booking flights or breaking the bank. Some of the best fall escapes are within just a few hours’ drive of Atlanta — small towns with big charm, plenty of warm food, and the kind of slow moments that remind you what family time…
