Sometimes, Just Licking The Bowl Feels Like Too Much!

Hi!


Well, we did it! We made it to 2020!!!


After all of the fabulous chaos of the holidays, it's time to get back to whatever your normal might be.

Reality.

It's like when, after a full day of baking, after countless pies, squares and cookies, just licking the bowl feels like too much.


But, we've got this.

Whatever this year, this decade wants to throw our way, we'll handle all of it, maybe not perfectly, but handle it, we will.

When you watch the news, the fires in Australia, the guy in the Whitehouse getting trigger happy, Brexit, all of the other craziness, it can be hard not to get overwhelmed.

I'm choosing to be optimistic.

In Australia, the world is coming together to help, and it began to rain.

The guy in the Whitehouse, is either an impeachment conviction or an election away from being evicted.

The reasons for Brexit are, to me at least, still unclear, but it looks like a resolution is imminent-ish.

As for all of the other craziness, we'll just have to roll with whatever comes.

For now, let's just take our time licking the bowl, savouring every last morsel of the fabulous chaos.

Normal is still a day away.


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Sorry to write and run, but I'm fighting the tail end of a lovely Christmas cold. Gotta go drink some tea with lemon and have some chicken soup.

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May the first few back in the normal be laced with good things, fun things, happy things.
May the first few back in the normal carry no burdens, no tethers, only wings.

May you face the first few with hope, with optimism, with the knowing that good things await you.
May you face the first few with confidence, with a smile, allowing your best to shine through.


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Until next time!!!

www.margyreidbooks.com

Stepping Into The Roaring 20's...

Hi!


And just like that, another year has passed. And, with this year, the calendar steps us into the roaring Twenties, 2.0. Ten freakin' years! Years filled with everything, change, loss, hardships, growth, and blessings.

We, my friends, are on the threshold of an entirely brand new decade. One, as of yet, free of consequence, good or bad. On the threshold of a brand new starting point. The threshold of the sweet unknown.

We are perched, pen in hand, poised, ready to begin a new chapter.

All of us. Every single one.

Now, is the magical time between. We can take a beat, reflect on the year to which we are bidding goodbye, take another beat, and think about how we want to approach the days ahead.

We have choices to make.

Every year has its own set of challenges, administers its own tests of strength. We wade through, acquiring some bumps, bruises, and sometimes, scars, along the way. Through is our only option, no matter how muddy we get. We can't avoid any of it, not really. All we can do is keep moving, clearing paths as we make our way.

If 2019 was hard, and I know it was for many, now is the time to look at those hardships, take them apart, take the mystery out of them. Monsters are always less scary once you know what they look like up close, find out what gave them strength, discover their weaknesses. In doing this, you can design a very specific monster spray to make sure that that particular monster never darkens your doorstep again.

With every monster we slay, we gain wisdom and strength. Each one has something to teach us that gives us the tools we need to clear our path moving forward.

Hardships allow us to see our true selves. They allow us to grow, to stand up, to change direction, if need be.

We are perched, pen in hand, poised, ready to begin a new chapter.

Write boldly, fearlessly, for the worst thing is rarely as bad as we imagine. Write unapologetically as your true self. Write, ready for unpredictable plot twists, adjusting the story as you go. You have the power to write out poisonous characters, and write in better ones.

Look back long enough to recognize monsters from your past, but don't let your gaze get stuck in the rearview mirror.


The roaring twenties 2.0. They are going to be fabulous. How do I know? Because that's exactly how they will be written.


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Happy New Year!

I hope you will indulge me while I send a huge thank you to all who read these ramblings. Some have been reading since the beginning, others only since yesterday. To all of you, thank you.

It can be overwhelming when I allow myself to think about it.

The fact that as I write this, in this very moment, hundreds of people in 23 different countries, on 7 different continents are taking time out of their lives to read these posts will never cease to amaze me.

I am forever humbled that you take the time, and forever honoured that so many of you trust me with your stories, your truths, your heartbreaks, your joys.

Thank you is such a tiny phrase, I wish it was bigger.

Thank you.

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May you leave behind any burdens that threaten your ability to fly.
May you create days, weeks, months, where you can consistently, confidently look yourself in the eye.

May you write your next chapters allowing ample room for comic relief.
May your story be one of contentment, where tears of laughter forever outnumber tears of grief.

May you find a way to live life in a way that makes your soul smile, makes your heart sing.
May you see it's not always about how much joy you get, but how much joy you bring.

May you see it's okay to not have all the answers, all of us are just doing our best to find our way.
May you see it's okay to not be sure, keep moving, a wrong turn is just a stop along the way.


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To order books : www.margyreidbooks.com

For the digital copy of Once Broken click the link below:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071HTFTX6?pf_rd_p=05326fd5-c43e-4948-99b1-a65b129fdd73&pf_rd_r=JJZV4Q5RRVKG3HR0EJCQ

Real Life Happens In The In Between....

Hi!


And just like that, it's time for the littles to sing their hearts out as they try their level best not to wave at their Moms, Dads, Aunties, Uncles, Grandmas, and Grandpas in the adoring crowd.

There are those who love it, those who don't, all remembering the lyrics and choreography in differing degrees, weeks of rehearsal but a faint, foggy notion hazed over by nerves and exhaustion.

And just like that, it's time.

Time to take a beat to play some board games, time away from phones, clocks, and schedules. Time to hang out, get some fresh air, then cuddle up with some steamy mugs of chocolate smothered in marshmallows, a blanket, and some old movies.

Time to share some laughs, some cookies, some hugs, and make some solid memories.


Time sweeps by quickly.

We have jobs, we have kids, we have obligations, we have responsibilities, we are surrounded by "have-to's"

Jobs change as do the chapters of life in which we live. Real-life is what happens in between the milestones.

We mark them, as we should, they are important, but they aren't what matters most.

In between the milestones and special occasions are the long conversations that lower guards enough to really let people in.

In between are the moments that sow the seeds from which inside jokes grow, and create the stories that always begin with "remember that time..."

In between are fits of the giggles that make you weep, and the heartbreaks that do the same. 

In between are the conversations your kids have about you when they don't know you can hear them, the ones that both make you smile and reflect.

In between are kindnesses, shared secrets, matching scars.

In between there are arguments and deep wounds hopefully followed by eventual apologies that are often more felt than heard.

Real Life happens in the in-between.


The time between our first steps and last breaths is fleeting.
Cherish the in-between.


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Until next time...


May you embrace the in-between, for it is filled with gold.
May you see the shine need not fade even as we grow old.


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For the purchase of my books: www.margyreidbooks.com 

For the digital version of Once Broken:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071HTFTX6?pf_rd_p=05326fd5-c43e-4948-99b1-a65b129fdd73&pf_rd_r=H0FF60776SGAV1BJ9WVR

With My Tongue Firmly Embedded In My Cheek...

Christmas on a budget....

The Holidays are expensive. Period. The gifts for teachers, bus drivers, mail carriers, blah blah blah, not to mention the presents that are supposed to measure up to the letters to Santa, the eight hopes of Hanukkah, the requests of Kwanzaa, or the exchanges that you enjoy celebrating, that have zilch to do with religion or historical tradition.

We all have our reasons to celebrate the season. It's awesome! No matter what drives yours, it generally promotes a mindset of kindness and generosity. Embrace it! Run with it!

But, with that, can come expense stress. So, with my tongue firmly embedded in my cheek, I give you the following money-saving holiday hacks!


Coming up with the perfect hors d'oeuvres for your upcoming Holiday soiree can be difficult and labour intensive, not to mention, costly. To procure said appys with minimal effort and even less money, line a cooler with tin foil, grab your roll of plastic wrap, make a trip to your nearest Costco and hit the samples. There is always an endless, grand variety, a little something for everyone. Boom.

Stuck for a gift for that person on your list who has everything? Simple. I'm sure you are aware of the recent scandal in the art community wherein someone ate a $120,000 art installation of a banana he freed from being duct-taped to a canvas. Piece of fruit + duct tape = priceless gift. Boom.

In need of some Christmas confections? Virtually every business has treats sitting out this time of year and they are absolutely expecting you to help yourself.  You are but an errands-run and a few Ziploc bags away from filling your candy dishes to the brim. Boom.


Unable to fulfill every wish on your little one's wishlist to Santa? Crafty or not, craft yourself as close to the desired gift as you can, then simply explain that Santa's elves had eaten too many cookies, and made some gifts while on a crazy sugar high. Theirs must have been part of that batch. You saw the story on the news. Boom.


Last, but certainly not least, home decor. Ahhhhh, the tree, (if that's how you roll) the garland, the mistletoe, the stockings, the sparkle, the glitter... first spend some quality time at your local dollar store, then let the kids in your life go nuts. It might look a little wonky when they are done, but that, my friends, is nothing a few glasses of wine, a couple of shots of tequila, and some skilled squinting can't cure. Boom.

You're welcome.


Disclaimer:

The above information/advice is for entertainment purposes only and not meant to be taken literally... just sayin'...



The lesson:

This time of year is supposed to be fun, don't let unrealistic expectations of perfection suck the joy out of the season.

Those who matter won't care how the tree is decorated, by whom, or what's under it. They won't care that the food isn't Insta-worthy. They won't care that your holiday may lean a bit more toward National Lampoon than Hallmark.


Those who matter just want to see you happy. Period. Boom.


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Until next time...


May your dollars stretch like the waistband of three child deep maternity underwear.
May you redefine "perfect" for it really means laugh-filled memories made and shared.

May you remember chasing the old perfect is like trying to capture a unicorn with golden wings.
May you see that those that matter, who really matter, care about you, your happiness, not things.

May you take a beat, take a breath, take a break, take a walk, take a nap, take a turn on the backyard swings.
May you know your best is always enough, you're doing awesome, you are awesome, you bring the magic, you are the magic, you, the unicorn with golden wings.


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For you book browsing pleasure visit  www.margyreidbooks.com


For your digital copy of Once Broken:


https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071HTFTX6?pf_rd_p=05326fd5-c43e-4948-99b1-a65b129fdd73&pf_rd_r=SZB4G740QT7GE71Q39N8

Canadian Bathroom Graffiti...#youmatter...

Hi!

"Please do not lose hope. You Got this!"

"Have faith and be good to yourself" #youmatter

This, my friends, is an example of Canadian bathroom graffiti.

With all of the divisiveness going on in the world right now, it does the heart good to walk into a public washroom in the middle of Saskatchewan for a quick pitstop, and find this level of kindness gracing a bathroom stall. 

We get hit with the horrors of what we are capable of on a daily basis. The good things, the kindnesses, usually get buried, well behind all of the breaking news.

Breaking news. 

A term that used to refer to articles of current events that were so important they couldn't possibly wait.

Now, when you see the banner come across your screen, you know the 'breaking' means heartbreaking. It no longer means urgent, at least not most of the time. It just means someone did something soul-crushing to someone else.

If we want to see the good stuff, we have to find it ourselves. 

On social media, there are countless videos of strangers literally giving the clothes off their backs to help someone in need. 

Out and about, there are, without cameras present, doors being held, cars being pushed out of slippery situations, sidewalks being anonymously shoveled, drive through orders being paid for, treats being shared.

There are people donating clothes, food, and money to those less fortunate. 

There are people doing incredibly noble, selfless things. Donating time, blood, bone marrow, organs.

Humanity has a great capacity for extraordinary kindness. We've proven, throughout history, that our instincts tend to lean heavily toward taking care of each other as opposed to taking each other down. 

There are those out there that test that theory on a fairly regular basis. Those driven by fragile egos and greed. But, if you look back, even though they sometimes rise to the top of whatever pile they are climbing, they rarely stay there for long. There are a few exceptions, but those are cases wherein they remain unchallenged, unaccountable.

When unfettered ego and greed are the dominant characteristics of any kind of leader, teachers, coaches, clergy, politicians, it becomes a test as to how quickly humanity can right the ship. 

Apathy can not be an option.

If you came around a corner to discover someone hitting a child or kicking a puppy, would you just walk by, or would you do step in to stop it?

Racist jokes, mean-spirited gossip, exclusion, abuses of power, it's all kicking puppies. 

None of us is perfect, none of us do the right thing 100% of the time, that is one of the few things in life that is a certainty.

But, when you pay attention, when you catch yourself making those choices about walking by, #youmatter

Whether, in this story, you are the passerby, or the puppy, #youmatter.

If you look at this scenario and see yourself in the position of the kicker, it's time to take a long look in the mirror because #youmatter.

Humanity has a great capacity for extraordinary kindness. We've proven, throughout history, that our instincts tend to lean heavily toward taking care of each other as opposed to taking each other down. 

#youmatter

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May we all work hard to prove, every day, that humanity is better than what we see in the news.

May we remain openminded, fluid in our mindset, willing to grow, considering others' views.

May we never choose apathy out of fear, fear of discomfort, fear of judgment, fear of aftermath.

May we find the courage to intervene, step in, speak up, accepting the possibility of wrath.

May we show those who will follow us, this moment in history was more than vicious chatter.

May you take your place in history's pages knowing you count, your voice counts, #youmatter.

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There is still time to fill the stockings of those you love with stories! 

To purchase books click here:  www.margyreidbooks.com

For the digital version of Once Broken click the link below:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071HTFTX6?pf_rd_p=05326fd5-c43e-4948-99b1-a65b129fdd73&pf_rd_r=XTZ232QYFHJNF0KSS6JM

Magic Is Magic

And just like that, November is gone!

The holiday gatherings have begun. Work parties, get-togethers with friends, and concerts put on by the littles that would rival any Broadway production.

My snowmen have successfully migrated from the basement and are doing well. Our grandbabies had the opportunity to participate in the "Friendsmas" at their Auntie and Uncle's house, and will be beginning their rehearsals for the concerts very soon.

Work parties are... well, work parties. They provide all kinds of opportunities, good and bad. Just remember, as you attend, everybody has a camera, and they aren't shy about using them.

For us, added into the holiday madness, are the final few of the tradeshows at which we will be selling and signing books.

Tomorrow, we head to Moose Jaw. For those of you not from here, yes that is the name of a real city. Next week, White City, also real, then Kindersley. 

Throughout the fall we've met, and continue to meet, incredible, gifted artisans who display an incredible variety of talents that produce everything from handmade hats, mittens and plush toys, to home-baked goodies of every kind you can think of, We've seen hand-tooled jewelry with mind-blowing detail, wood carvings big enough to sit on and tiny enough to fit in your dollhouse. We've had the privilege of seeing beauty framed, some painted, some put there through the eye of a lens.

Over the next little while, if you have the opportunity to attend one of these shows, the craft fairs, the tradeshows, the extravaganzas, do yourself the favour, and go. It would be hard to be disappointed in the treasures you will find. 

Now I hate to write and run, but I have to get ready for tomorrow's tradeshow, and I have some squares that need to be cut and taken to the freezer before my hubby gets home,

So go, take it all in, spread some joy, or, if you are in need of some, take yourself to places where you can bathe in it. 

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On a sadder note, our son-in-law lost his Granddad early this morning. Although he lived a long and full life, it's never easy to say good-bye to someone you love.

When you are 7, 5 and 3, it can be particularly tough. It hurts to know our grandbabies are having to deal with this depth of grief at such a young age. In their sweet innocence, they have decided to leave extra cookies out for Santa this year, with a note to ask Santa to bring one to Granddad.

Magic is magic.

Time spent with loved ones is precious. A gift, not a given.

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May you embrace the magic of the season, take it all in through the eyes of a child.

May you let it carry you through any heaviness, let it make the mayhem mild.

May you share the magic, sprinkling it generously over everyone you meet.

May the warmth this brings keep you toasty from your head to your feet.

May the magic from others find you, if you are having trouble tapping into your own.

May you see the depth and breadth of your magic are vast, yet untested and unknown.

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Until next time...

Books can still be shipped in time for Christmas!

Check them out at www.margyreidbooks.com 

For a digital copy of Once Broken click the link below...

https://www.amazon.ca/Once-Broken-Margy-Reid-ebook/dp/B071HTFTX6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35TL5NB4B0CG6&keywords=once+broken&qid=1575067573&sprefix=once+broken%2Caps%2C346&sr=8-1

Make It Better...

Hi!



The Holidays are just around the corner!




Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, wherever, however, whatever the name of your holiday, Cheers!

Personally, we celebrate Christmas, and with that comes the homemade treats that only get made at Christmas.

Tarts, pies, squares, and cookies. Familiar smells bringing back memories of when our girls were little, there to savour the remnants of batter that clung to the beater, licking the bowls, my trusty taste testers.
Now, it's my babies' babies who light up at the bottomless cookie jar, the gooey tarts, the chocolatey goodness of fudgy delights.

For me, baking, putting together traditional favourites, creating new tidbits, is relaxing.

Everyone prepares for the holidays in their own way.

It's the time of year when things can feel a bit hectic, and stressful

Try not to let it. I know it's hard. It can seem like the list of things to do between now and then multiplies while the time to do it in shrinks.

It's a time of year that can be tough for many.


Maybe a loved one has passed, maybe your family situation is less than ideal, maybe finances are tight, maybe you're just not sure if you can make it happen at all.

One step at a time, one breath at a time.

Hang in, hang on, reach out.

So, let's do each other a huge favour, and just be kind. No one gets through life without struggle. A friendly voice on a phone, a kind act, a smile. These things that cost you nothing, require precious little effort, and can make a much bigger difference than you realize. Each person you come in contact with every single day is facing something they would rather not be facing. Although we may not have the power to fix everyone's problems, let's all, at least, agree to just do what we can to not make anything worse.

With every connection, an impression is made. How we make a person feel lingers on their soul.

Make it better.


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Until next time...


May kindness drive your every encounter, leaving smiles and light in your wake.
May any struggle you are facing become smaller, more walkthroughable, with every step you take.

May you see the best holiday memories are rarely made by dollar signs wrapped in fancy bows.
May you see it's the time spent in laughter, playing games, watching old cartoon holiday shows.

May you, if this time of year pushes you to shadowed places you don't care to tread,
May you find a way to hold on, hang on, reach out, see beyond today, to the brighter days ahead.


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To shop for great stocking stuffers, check out....  www.margyreidbooks.com


Digital version of Once Broken available at:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071HTFTX6?pf_rd_p=46535598-d2e0-4bc4-8392-182d8c1e93fc&pf_rd_r=YHTDEH3PD62R6GNQCWQN