Christmas was almost a month ago, but I’m just now writing up what I did for the Christmas Rebel badge. Part of it is that I’ve been busy, but part of it is that I’ve been working on getting organized and resetting our house after Christmas. I’ve set a lot of good goals for this year, and I’m looking forward to sharing those in a minute, but first, the recap of what I did for the Christmas Rebel badge.
There were sixteen clauses to choose from, but one only had to complete eight to earn the badge for the Rebel Badge Club. Originally, I had chosen different clauses from what I wound up completing, and I’d done an about-face because I was still in quarantine for most of December. I completed 9 of the clauses. Here’s what I did.
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1. Decorate a Gingerbread House
While this is the first clause on my list here, it’s actually almost the last one I completed for the Christmas Rebel badge. I had my husband pick up gingerbread house kits from Walgreens, and then I built them with my kiddos and let them have at the decorating of them. They had a lot of fun. Here’s how those turned out.
2. Make a Festive Wreath
I used another kit for this one. I got this wreath kit from Michaels and had to stop everything I was doing to make it. I actually still need to put it away. It’s hanging next to the front door on the inside of the house because I need to figure out a good storage solution for it so it doesn’t get damaged while waiting for Christmas 2023.
3. Make a Festive Ornament
I actually wound up making several festive ornaments. I had a kit I received from Annie’s Farmhouse Craft Club with wooden stamped ornaments to make, and then I ordered some kits from Herrschner’s Craft and Hobby. I had a lot of fun with this and wound up subscribing to Mary Maxim’s bead and sequin ornament of the month kit club. Here are the ornaments I made:
4. Do a Good Deed for a Stranger
For this clause, I donated to a few charities and to a fundraiser for a fellow Rebel who experienced a tragic loss just before Christmas. I also participated in the Angel Card Project, which is something I do every year. The Angel Card Project has volunteers sending cards to those who could use a good bit of holiday cheer. It’s a really great holiday activity to be involved with and is easy to add into one’s normal holiday card-sending activities. This year I’m hoping to send out many more, and I plan on making a good number of them.
5. Handmake at Least One Present
My Mother in Law was having a rough time this year as her Parkinson’s has continued to progress. I made her a Mala Necklace from an Amazon kit I purchased to help encourage her to take mindful moments and remember that she has a family around her supporting her. The photos I took of it and the matching bracelet really don’t do it enough justice. It’s gorgeous. It’s hand beaded and there’s a knot between each bead, just as there would be on a pearl necklace.
6. Take Part in Whamageddon
I didn’t last very long at all. I heard “Last Christmas” on December 3rd and that was that. That’s what I get for listening to a Christmas station on Pandora when trying to avoid the song!
7. Watch at Least Three Christmas Movies
This clause was fun. I’d intended to watch three movies I hadn’t seen before, but instead, we wound up watching Elf and Christmas Vacation for two of them. They’re two of my favorite holiday movies ever. For the third, I watched a Hallmark Movie – The Holiday Sitter.
This movie had all the cheesy elements you’ve come to know and love in Hallmark Christmas Movies. Character who works too much and needs to learn the true meaning of Christmas? Check. Small town charm (do places like this actually still exist in 2023?) Check. Over the top warm-fuzzies? Check.
It also added a bit of diversity to the Hallmark lineup as it follows a gay man who is dead set against having kids and mushy love and all that jazz. And, you’ll be happy to know, I cried at the end because, well, if you don’t tear up and cry and fan your face because you’re crying at the sap, are you really watching a Hallmark movie?
I recommend it to my cheesy Christmas movie-loving friends. I was able to stream it on Hulu.
8. Make Your Own Mulled Wine
I don’t have a good picture of this one, but I can definitely share the recipe I used, and the recommendation that it’s a must-make recipe and I plan on making it for the holiday season of 2023 as well. I made Erin Clarke’s Mulled Wine Recipe. It was phenomenal.
9. Make Your Own Festive Cards
This was a lot of fun. I decided to try my hand at paper cutting. I found a Christmas card paper cutting kit and ordered it as well as a craft knife and cutting mat. I really love how these turned out, and I sent them out to friends who I knew would really enjoy them.
Looking Ahead into 2023
I didn’t set a word of the year this year, but I have made some very tangible goals for every area of my life this year. I’ve broken down those goals into projects and, well, I’m very determined to make things happen and get back into my life as it was pre-pandemic. Maybe not quite as hectic, but I’ve already accepted my previous position working with JB Dondolo as the Director of Communications and Fundraising. I’m really excited about what this year has to offer, and I look forward to sharing my progress as the year goes on.
My biggest goal for this year is to focus on my health – physical, mental, and spiritual – and really make sure I’m investing in myself as well as all the projects I enjoy doing for others.
What are you looking forward to this year? Share in the comments below.
