Good Stuff from Rene: Volume 12 – I’m really unsure

Full disclosure – this newsletter is right at the edge of the deadline (I told you I’d email you twice a month) AND the topic I had originally planned… well, I was unsure about it. So, hence the title and the weird conglomeration of images and links below. I need to rework my editorial calendar for real.

Anyway, today I’m headed to WordCamp US. Wooooo!!!!! It’s a big conference for WordPressers, and this year it’s in Nashville. So far it seems like it’s going to be one big party. I’m exhausted already.

Let’s Talk Christmas Movies

It’s late and I’m feeling loopy, so let’s talk Christmas movies. There are a few movies I absolutely must see every year. I’ll tell you mine and you tell me yours.

• It’s a Wonderful Life. The ending gets me every time!
• White Christmas. I love the dancing and Bing Crosby’s voice. Plus that lodge in Vermont looks absolutely delightful.
• Home Alone 2. The second one ONLY! I love NYC.
• The Santa Clause. The first one ONLY! I remember my sister watching this movie a lot when I was younger.
• Love Actually. I had never watched this until a few years ago (same with White Christmas), but Damon recommended it and now it’s one of my regulars. Some parts make me sad, but overall I like it.
• Little Women. I cry every. single. time. Basically the whole time. I know this isn’t a Christmas movie, but the first scene is at Christmastime, so I associate it with that. My grandmother had this movie at her house when I was younger, so it always makes me think of her.
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The cartoon ONLY! Not that creepy other version.
• And Elf. NYC and all the good quotes.

On My Mind

Sometimes (okay, most of the time) I feel like I don’t fit in. This article suggests that maybe it’s because I actually don’t. 

How do you see the failures of others compared to your own? The Sketch Guy is brilliant and thinks you should be nicer to yourself. I agree with him – you’re awesome!

If you don’t have the Insight Timer app on your phone, you need it. Listen to a guided mediation by Sarah Blondin. Any one will do. Every single one I’ve listened to hits me right in the feels.

I love this article on idle parenting. It’s funny and thought-provoking. Sometimes I wish I was more idle. (Does it count that we didn’t leave the house for two whole days after Thanksgiving? AND I let Eli stay in his PJs the whole time? And he loved it. Seriously, he was so excited.)

Tis the season for holiday shopping! I know you’re shopping online, right? Because going to the store is terrible. If you’re not using ebates, you should be. Sign up for a free account then get the browser plugin because EASY. Anytime you’re on a site that offers cash back, you just have to click the button that pops up. My five most recent Christmas gift purchases all came with cash back. Proof.

And, I wrote another thing about thinking about what you need on your website. Read it here. (Spoiler alert – another life metaphor!!!)

Thanks for reading! 

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P.P.S. New here? Curl up with my past newsletters.