Weekly Roundup

Blog Round-Up: Week of December 8, 2014

Blog Roundup: Week of December 8, 2014

We are now officially less than two weeks away from Christmas. Are you ready? I can’t believe how quickly December is flying by. Of course, the fact that it also seems like it is the busiest month of the year probably plays a role! It seems like there is something happening almost every day. We also celebrate Taylor’s birthday at the end of the month, so that’s another big celebration for us too. 🙂

A Weekly Recap

This week I focused on Santa’s Naughty and Nice List. Or what we, as parents, do to wind up on those lists. On Monday, I shared 5 Holiday Mistakes that earn you a spot on the Naughty List. I think almost all of us, myself included, has been guilty of one (if not all) of these holiday don’ts at some point. The good news is they are fixable, so with a little work, you can avoid the dreaded lump of coal in your stocking.

Plus, if you follow my 5 Holiday Do’s, you’ll certainly make your way onto Santa’s Nice List. As much fun as we have with Santa Claus in our home, we never forget the true meaning behind Christmas. If you keep whatever Christmas means in your home, front and center, you’ll not only earn a coveted spot on the Nice List, your kids will truly experience a magical Christmas.

Martinis and Money

I’m also so excited to be on The Martinis and Money Podcast hosted by my good friend, Shannon McLay from Financially Blonde. She’s my East Coast counterpart and blog sister! We’re talking about common investment questions while we drink pink cosmos, and I hope you’ll join our conversation!

A Few Good Reads

Here are my favorite posts from the past week. Enjoy!

DC from Young Adult Money shared Why an HSA is the Absolute Best Retirement Account. Many people confuse flexible spending accounts and HSAs with one another. They are different and many do not realize the investment capability that HSAs offer. They are definitely worth checking out to see if they are an appropriate fit to your investment strategy and retirement goals.

Stefanie over at The Broke and Beautiful Life reminded us that Rejection Isn’t Failure. After a freelance post was rejected by one publisher, Stefanie didn’t let that stop her from posting her article. It went on to earn rave reviews and was widely circulated, which is a good reminder that one person’s no is just that – one person’s opinion.

Tonya from Budget and The Beach shared her Craigslist Epiphany. Sometimes we spend a lot of energy on things that bring small results instead of focusing on activities that have sustainable results. I see this a lot. And while small victories are good, we also need to look at the big picture as Tonya shared to make sure we’re focused on the right things.

Andrew at Living Rich Cheaply shared the meaning behind his blog tagline in Have Your Cake and Eat It Too. I’m a big fan of intentional living and mindful spending and his thoughts on what it means to live “richly” are spot on.

Tanya from Eat Laugh Purr is sharing her annual Holiday Treat Round-Up. It’s full of delicious holiday treats (I know from personal experience!) that will be devoured by your guests at your upcoming holiday festivities.

Well, that’s a wrap! Have a great weekend, everyone! Are you finished with your holiday shopping?

Shannon

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December 12, 2014  •  5 Comments  •  Weekly Roundup

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  1. Friday, December 12th, 2014
    Happy (early) birthday Taylor! Thank so much for the mention Shannon and I hope you stay dry today! I woke up at 3am to heavy winds because my neighbor's fence was slamming back and forth because he never latches it correctly. I was getting soaked and couldn't latch it so I had to drag a heavy pot to brace the fence. UGH! It was comical! I broke two nails in the process. :)
  2. Friday, December 12th, 2014
    I completed most of my holiday shopping this week. Now I am just hoping our Christmas cards arrive this weekend so that I can get them out of the house. I am thankful, though, that all of our friends seem behind on the cards since we have not received many thus far. I hope you guys have a great weekend!! Thank you again for being on my podcast today!!
  3. Friday, December 12th, 2014
    Thanks for the shout out Shannon! I just booked a flight to Denver for the end of the month, so I need to start planning that trip!
  4. Saturday, December 13th, 2014
    Hey thanks a ton for including my post! Yes, this month seems really busy. I've had a 3 day, 4 day, and 4 day work weeks the past three weeks but I still feel like I'm barely keeping up with everything. I don't anticipate it slowing down until after Christmas has come and gone. Not that being busy is a bad thing and I'm definitely grateful to have a lot going on. I hope you have a great weekend!
  5. Wednesday, December 17th, 2014
    Shannon, I think the 5 Holiday Do's has been one of my favorite article this week. It's nice to know these five Dos not only to make Santa happy but also to let us celebrate Christmas in a more meaningful way. Nice list to do, indeed.
Shannon Ryan SHANNON RYAN, CFP®
  • Meet Shannon

    "As a Certified Financial Planner, it is my passion to help individuals and families build a healthy relationship with money. I look forward to helping you raise financially confident kids.” - Shannon Ryan