Good morning! I’m up early and the house is very quiet, so different from back when the children were small, but this feels good. For the most part I feel like I’ve got it right this year; Christmas will be more about family, than the gifts.

As I sit here I realise that our house, for once, is not overrun with stuff.  There are a few cards, a few presents and just enough food. I feel very lucky and everything feels a lot simpler.

Have a wonderful and safe Christmas time. See you next week.

Merry Christmas is a post from: Move to Portugal

This post is inspired by saving for travel’s post about loving her forever cottage and the treasures in it.  

A few of my treasures (and the things that survived the de-cluttering!)

1) The Gates.  A print that we bought in 2005 on my 40th birthday trip to New York.  Central Park was filled with snow and deep saffron gates.

2) Mugs. A confession: I sort of collect mugs!

3) Home Sweet Home.  A house warming gift from my mum. It’s my lucky tile.

4) Bread Bin. I’ve had this bread bin for years and years.  It was a gift from Habitat (again my mum) and I can’t imagine ever replacing it.

5) Babies. My little darlings all dressed up about ten years ago. It was rare to see them not covered in mud from playing football back then, so I treasure it.

What treasures do you have?

Around the home is a post from: Move to Portugal

Hello and welcome to another weekly round up!

First a few of the articles that I’ve enjoyed reading this week and then a special birthday shout out to my favourite 24 year old (when did that happen!!) on the planet!

• Exchanging Time for Money at Canadian Dream: Free at 45
• The Gift of Zero at Minting Nickels
• Myths About Molly at Molly on Money
• I Just Quit My Job at Regards From The Balcony
• Why So Few Suceed at Early Retirement Extreme
• Not Realistic at The Art of Non-Conformity

I hope that you enjoy these links as much as I do.

Now I’d like to wish a Happy Birthday to my baby Jenni…..who is not such a baby now!

Jenni came into this world weighing more than I’d have prefered at the time, lol, but even so, she was totally worth it.

{she still likes her polka dots}

Today she turns 24 and in roughly two months will finish university, a couple of years later than expected because of a nasty brain disease at the age of 18, to begin her working life; to say that I’m proud of the way that she’s fought back would be an understatement. So Happy Birthday sweetheart, have a great day and enjoy the Bieber video

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Sunday Reading {20th March 2011} is a post from: Move to Portugal

Well it’s almost here and I’m glad.  If you celebrate Christmas, you’re perhaps like me and happy when the day finally arrives and you can actually sit down and spend some time with your family and loved ones.  This year we have all three children at home for a few days and we’re going to make the most of it; it’s a rare thing now that they’re getting older. 

On the to do front, I still have to pop out to get a few fresh food items, pick my eldest daughter up from the train station….snow permitting, finish wrapping a few bits, and then I’ll be done…..well apart from the cooking! 

Every year I try to get closer to the simple Christmas that I crave and reducing our waste is included in that.  This year, instead of buying Christmas cards, I bought goats - I let everyone know what I was doing first, as I didn’t want to upset anyone.

I’m signing off until next week.  Have a wonderful and Happy Holiday! 

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Have yourself a merry little Christmas….. is a post from: Move to Portugal

• I’m thinking about changing blog direction because I’m not sure that this blog reflects who I am anymore….even though I still love it.  What do you think?
• Madame Bovary is my favourite classic ever and I’m unhappy that it took me so long to discover it; I’m also slightly unhappy that it’s taken me six years to discover Hugh Laurie in House and Anthony LaPaglia in just about anything!
• Why has my oven broken? Is it a sign that I’m not meant to bake?   I hope so
• Stephen Covey talks a lot of sense.  Being proactive and concentrating on your ‘circle of influence’ is life changing. 
• When your kids get to a certain age you have to let them make mistakes [however hard it is] and you can’t control everything they do. 
• I often wear my pyjamas all day and no longer feel guilty about it. Besides my dressing gown is warm so I don’t need the heating on.
• I’ve lost all urgency and my life is better for it.
• Tony is getting it done.  Holly is getting it done.   Rachel and Doug are getting it done. Betsy and Warren are doing it. 

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Random thoughts on a Wednesday is a post from: Move to Portugal