The best gifts don’t come from stores.

I don’t usually get up on a soap box, but with all this hoopla about Black Friday starting ON Thanksgiving this year, I’m getting increasingly irritated. & I feel like the holidays are losing their real meaning.

I suppose I’ll credit this shift in my thinking to motherhood too–as I used to be a major shopper. But things are different now. What matters to me is clear. & I’ve finally realized that what is important during the holidays cannot be found in a store.

Gifts are personal. The best gifts I’ve ever received are those bursting with personal significance. They don’t have a dollar value. They cannot be replaced. No one else has them. They were carefully thoughtfully made and given, and they mean the most to me.

It’s not about how much something costs. It’s about the thought, care & time that went into it, or finding it. This is the lesson I want to teach my babies.

So in the spirit of thoughtful giving, the majority of this year’s gifts are etsy finds, small business creations or handmade items. I’ve always tried to gift thoughtfully. & I’m determined not to let an ad tell me what I want, nor what I should buy for anyone else.

But back to this shopping on Thursday thing…whatever happened to enjoying our family during the holidays? With shopping & the anxiety surrounding “getting the best deal” creeping into our meaningful time together ON Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think this country’s priorities are seriously flawed.

I will not be part of black Friday. Or black Thursday.

But I will be crafting. ;) Starting with these…oh…and some barn doors that will be built & hung before the weekend is over. HOORAY!

 

Wishing you the best gift of all this season: time with your dearest family & friends, doing all of the things you enjoy doing…together. ;)

[sidenote: I spent well over an hour trying to share multiple projects I am planning to do, inspired by pinterest & wordpress is giving me the finger. Any of you have trouble embedding the html codes back to back to back? Found a solution? I’m ready to bang my head against the wall!]

Hi! Hello! I am Shawna, the founder of Styleberry Blog. This creative corner of the internet has become a learning haven for moms and creatives, offering a warm and encouraging nudge to those who wish to be better and do better, but often don't know where to start. From Decorating to DIY to Diapers and Paleo-ish Dishes, I strive to make the complicated simple and empower women to take action beyond their personal comfort zone. I subscribe to the Shine Theory & so strongly believe that we shine when the women around us shine and mutual support—lifting up instead of tearing down--will always be the culture here. Are you in? I hope so! Beyond the computer, I run Styleberry Creative where I work with clients to create low fuss, high function spaces that are pretty and practical in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. I LOVE making a house a home. My own studs out renovation is now complete and I am now back to working with clients. Please don't hesitate to drop me a line if you'd like to work together! I hope you’ll join me on this fun new adventure! Xo.

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