☀️ Happy Holidays

Greetings!

Hope everyone is doing great!

Happy Holidays to you and your family! Family, friends, food and festivities.. it is that time of year 🥂 

We are grateful and blessed for everything in our lives and sincerely wish you all the best.

This will be our last newsletter of 2024 and our plan moving forward is to publish monthly newsletters - we always wanted this to just be a fun lifestyle newsletter and we are thinking that once a month would be best for everyone.

Please don’t unsubscribe yet 😆give us a chance in the New Year 🙏 

 Embrace Your Best Life! 

~ Curt & Shari Roese

SIMPLI SHARI 🩷

I wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season!

See ya in 2025 🙏 

CURT’S CORNER
Ask a Favor?

Hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving! We had all of the kids and 8 of the 9 grandkids over so it was chaos and fun.

November was also our 10th wedding anniversary so a special day to celebrate a special woman 💕 Fun fact - we are an eHarmony couple and fell in love almost 17 years ago!! Is eHarmony even around anymore?? I won the lottery, she is the love of my life!

Anyway, we spent a nice evening in St. Augustine to get away - amazing how even 24 hours away can be refreshing! But, back to the real world…

Some good news from my college experience. I entered in to a Business Pitch Competition and was one of the winners - nice to represent the 62+ year old crowd [crowd of 1 😆 ] in the Entrepreneurship program 👨‍🎓 The business idea is also the topic for my final project is my Business Plan class.

This might actually become a part-time little business for us after I graduate but at my age, I take life one day at a time. Time to ask for a big favor.. to finalize my project I wanted to add in results from a quick survey to help validate my idea! It would be GREATLY appreciated if you could click the link below and take a 2-minute survey. 🙏 

Retirepreneur Survey

Thank you in advance and I will let you know if I got an A for my project 😄 

Happy Holiday Edition

Holiday List of Things to Do

Lots of fun things to do during the holiday season. It’s funny how you “forget” just how much is available if you look for it 👀 and believe me, we forget a lot!

So, we thought we would simply come up with a long list of ideas that might just spark some joy and happiness - pick one and have some fun 😂 

In fact, we decided to go to Chicago this year for a 4-day quick trip - we are going ice skating, going to see the Christmas Carol, ZooLights Night, Christkindlmarket and enjoy all the other holiday festivities we can ❄️ 

Holiday Light Tours: Bundle up and tour local neighborhoods or parks to admire festive light displays. It's a magical way to soak up the holiday spirit and enjoy an evening out.

Cookie Decorating: Bake and decorate holiday cookies with friends or family. It's a deliciously fun way to get creative and share treats with loved ones.

Christmas Caroling: Join a group or join friends to spread holiday cheer by singing carols. It's a heartwarming activity that brings joy to your community.

Crafting Holiday Decorations: Make your own ornaments, wreaths, or garlands. Personalizing your holiday décor adds a special touch to your celebrations.

Gift Wrapping Parties: Gather friends and wrap gifts together while enjoying snacks and holiday music. It's a festive way to tackle holiday tasks with extra fun.

Holiday Movie Marathons: Watch classic holiday movies with family or friends. Snuggle up with blankets, hot cocoa, and your favorite seasonal flicks.

Winter Festivals: Attend a local festival featuring markets, ice sculptures, or parades. These events are packed with holiday cheer and unique experiences.

DIY Advent Calendars: Create a personalized advent calendar with small treats or activities. It's a delightful way to count down to Christmas with a personal twist.

Seasonal Volunteering: Give back by volunteering at a soup kitchen, toy drive, or holiday charity event. Helping others during the season of giving feels incredibly rewarding.

Hot Chocolate Bar: Set up a hot chocolate bar with marshmallows, candy canes, and whipped cream. This cozy activity is great for sharing with family or guests.

Holiday Storytelling: Read classic holiday tales like The Night Before Christmas or A Christmas Carol. It's a nostalgic way to enjoy the season and pass traditions down to grandchildren.

Making Snow Globes: Craft your own snow globes using mason jars and holiday figurines. This charming and easy project makes great holiday gifts.

Gingerbread House Building: Build and decorate gingerbread houses with loved ones. Whether it's a simple design or a creative masterpiece, it's always fun.

Ice Skating: Visit a local ice rink for a holiday-themed skating session. It's a festive way to stay active and enjoy the winter season.

Holiday Photo Shoots: Dress up in festive outfits and take holiday-themed photos. Whether serious or silly, they make for great memories and holiday cards.

Wreath Making: Craft your own wreath using fresh greenery and seasonal accents. It's a lovely way to welcome guests to your home during the holidays.

Polar Express Train Rides: Many communities offer themed train rides with hot cocoa and storytelling. It's a magical activity, especially if you have grandkids to share it with.

Attending a Tree Lighting Ceremony: Watch as your town lights its holiday tree. It's a communal event filled with cheer, often paired with carols and hot cocoa.

New Year Vision Boards: Spend time reflecting on your goals and dreams for the upcoming year. Creating a vision board is a creative and inspiring way to start fresh.

These holiday-themed ideas are perfect for embracing the joy and warmth of the season while staying connected with family and friends.

PRESENTED BY ETSY
Support Creators

With the holidays approaching, Etsy is the perfect place to find thoughtful, handcrafted gifts that stand out. Handmade items, from unique jewelry to personalized decor, show your loved ones you truly care. Plus, every purchase supports small businesses, helping artisans continue their craft.

Ordering early is key, as many Etsy sellers create each piece by hand, and personalized gifts may take time. This season, skip the big-box stores and choose Etsy for truly unique, meaningful presents that support creators during the busy holiday season.

PARTING WORDS

Have a great week!

RESOURCE ROUNDUP

Useful links and resources:

🙏 Support Toys for Tots and bring joy and hope to children in need during the holiday season, ensuring every child experiences the magic of giving and receiving.

☀️ Recent articles and posts from the Happily Ever Retired blog!

🔗 Resources to help you navigate retirement issues.

💡 Hot Chocolate Bar: Set up a hot chocolate bar with marshmallows, candy canes, and whipped cream. It’s a cozy activity to share with family or guests.

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ANSWERS

1. 1924

2. Home Alone (1990)

3. Max

4. Mistletoe

5. It’s a Wonderful Life