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E scaping V acation G uilt FIND A REASON TO TAKE TIME OFF
DECEMBER 2022
We opened our business in 2010. We took our first proper vacation in the year our first child was born, 2017. After that trip, it was a few more years before we took another. But then I read somewhere that we only have 18 years to spend with our children before they leave the nest. That completely altered my perspective of vacations. I realized I missed three years of traveling with my children, three years of making memories for me, my husband and my children. I made a resolution that year to take every available opportunity to take my kids on trips. Now, we try to take a trip almost every month, even if it’s just something small for a weekend.
During the workweek, everything is so hectic. I rush the kids to school and run them through their baths and dinner before putting them to bed. All this takes place while I’m still thinking about things that happened at work earlier in the day. Vacations and trips allow us to give our full, undivided attention to our loved ones. Before long, my kids will enter their teenage years and might not want anything to do with me, so I’m going to make the most of our time together before then. I was fortunate to realize that I wanted to take my kids on more vacations when I did, as it has allowed me to intentionally build my practice with extra layers of support. I can take those trips without worrying about vacation guilt or the burden of preparing to be away. I’m not the only one who benefits from it, either. I encourage my entire team to take vacations or at least time off from work. If they need time with their family, they should take it. Employees feel shame and guilt when they ask for time off in many workplaces. I don’t want that at my office. Everyone needs time to take a break, disconnect from the stressors in their lives, and do things they enjoy, whether it’s spending time with family or going someplace they’ve always wanted to visit. If you’re planning to take a vacation this holiday season, try not to let the guilt eat away at you. We all deserve an opportunity to take time for ourselves and disconnect from work. So take that vacation, and don’t let anything take away from your enjoyment while you’re away.
The holiday season is rapidly approaching! Many people will take advantage of this opportunity to go on vacation to visit family or experience a new destination. There’s not much holding us back from taking these trips since kids are out of school, but even so, people struggle with vacation guilt. There is the worry that going on vacation makes things more difficult for coworkers or could stand in the way of a promotion or raise in the future. According to annual reports from the U.S. Travel Association, more than half of the employees in our country fail to use all their vacation days by the end of the year. It’s vital that we take a vacation when we get a chance. It’s the best way to reset and refresh. I’ve never been one to truly experience vacation guilt, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had other obstacles that prevented me from taking time away from work. When my practice was much smaller, and the staff consisted mainly of me and Greg, I wondered if taking a vacation was even worthwhile. All the work that I was putting in before the break, and all the work I had to catch up on afterward, made me feel like a vacation was not worthwhile. I also had to work while on vacation, so a vacation never really felt like time off in the way it should. There were many years during the early days of our business when the only vacation we took was to visit my husband’s family in New Jersey for Thanksgiving.
- Esther Vayman
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Before you head to the mall or add items to your shopping cart online, you want to ensure you have enough money to cover your monthly expenses and buy your loved ones Christmas presents. You may feel overwhelmed about your finances and how you will manage to buy gifts. But if you create a Christmas budget, you won’t break the bank! HOW DO YOU CREATE A CHRISTMAS BUDGET? 1. Write down your monthly income: The first thing you want to do is tally up how much money you bring in each month. This lets you know how much money you have before you take out your expenses. 2. Write down your monthly expenses: D on ’ t G o B roke for the H olidays 4 STEPS TO CREATING A CHRISTMAS BUDGET
You want to tally up the total amount of regular monthly costs, including housing, utilities, groceries, and internet. This also includes cars, credit cards, insurance, and other monthly payments. Be sure to add any streaming or subscription fees to this total. 3. Find out how much money you have left over: Subtract your total expenses from your monthly income. The number you get will be the money you have left over for discretionary spending, such as dinner out, a concert, or Christmas presents. But make sure you leave some wiggle room for any unexpected costs. 4. Plan out how much you want to spend on Christmas gifts: Write out whom you want to get gifts for and how much you want to spend. Track your spending as you go to ensure you don’t overspend or forget to buy someone a gift. SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS ON A BUDGET. 1. Look at last-minute sales: Tons of retailers will offer holiday sales as we get closer to Christmas. So be on the lookout
for stores that mark prices down as St. Nick prepares for his journey. 2. Recycle gift cards: If you received a gift card to a store that you never used (or forgot about), re-gift it this year! Just be sure the card hasn’t expired. 3. Go thrifting: You can find great gifts at your local thrift store. Depending on where you go, you can get clothes, books, silverware, furniture, gadgets, and more. Christmas shopping can be stressful, but by creating a budget and sticking to it, you will survive this holiday season like a pro.
C heck O ut T hese A ctivities performances per weekend between Dec. 2 and 18. You can also head to the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta to see their version of “A Christmas Carol.” If you want to experience something new, the cast at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre will be presenting “The Hip Hop Nutcracker.” ICE SKATE OR VISIT SANTA AT AVALON. There’s always something exciting happening at Avalon. They’ve already built their Rockefeller Center- inspired ice skating rink, which provides a fantastic opportunity for those wanting to ice skate outdoors. Santa will also be making regular appearances at Avalon. Santa will read his favorite holiday stories at Story Time with Santa, which starts at 6 p.m. every Monday leading up to Christmas. Make sure you get your tickets to this event early, as they tend to sell out quickly. ENJOY THE WINTER SOLSTICE LANTERN WALK. One unique event in Alpharetta is the Winter Solstice Lantern Walk on Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year. You’ll make your way along an illuminated path with a lantern and your loved ones at The Grove behind the Alpharetta Community Center. There will be firepits along the path to keep you warm. You can even toast a marshmallow on them! LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO?
As we inch closer to the holiday season, we’re starting to look for things to keep our kids busy while they enjoy their winter break from school. Thankfully, there are some great holiday and winter activities to check out around Alpharetta and the surrounding area. If you’re looking for something fun to do before the holidays or are simply trying to create some holiday cheer with your family, check out the following activities this month. SEE A HOLIDAY PLAY. While there are plenty of opportunities to watch Christmas movies in the days leading up to the holiday, some people may prefer to see their favorite stories on stage. There are some great options to see a play this holiday season. ACT1 Theater is performing “A Christmas Story, the Musical” right here in Alpharetta, with three
No matter where your interests lie, there are plenty of great winter activities to check out in our area!
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WHAT’S YOUR
Abby Fisher Reading “The Polar Express” with my family on Christmas Eve night. Thamara Cravalho Our family always has brunch on Christmas Day, we open presents and spend the rest of the day watching Christmas movies! Katie Clark Watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve with my family. Maggie Szutz Opening up our gifts one at a time so everyone can see what Santa brought each person; that way each person gets a spotlight.
Stephanie Weil I am a Christmas-crazy person. I have six Christmas trees and three sets of Christmas china — I basically hose my entire house down in Christmas decor. My family always makes fun of me, but they love the final result! Jenny Ohsberg Driving around to see Christmas lights with my kids. Brynn Barber Driving up to Blairsville to cut down our own Christmas tree with my family! Loni Mile For dinner on Christmas Eve, we serve fish, then on Christmas Day it’s a celebration. Grace Bradford Shucking oysters with all of my cousins in
South Carolina on Thanksgiving Day. Andrea Johnson Trees are everywhere, and it varies from year to year whether it’s six or 10. I put the first one of this season up last night!!!! Kendall Stockton My favorite holiday tradition is setting up my Department 56 Christmas village that I have been collecting since I was around 10 years old! Julia Spitler Every year when we decorate the tree, my family gathers for the annual viewing of “A Christmas Story” and we order Chinese food. Becky Davey Reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas”
with Drew. We started this on his first Christmas, and have continued each year, even though he is now 15 and grumbles about it a bit. If he happens to be with his dad on Christmas Eve, we will FaceTime to be sure we still carry on our tradition! Sara Luke Baking Christmas cookies with my cousin and aunt! Tom Bury Holiday movie marathon with my family! We watch “Home Alone,” “Home Alone 2,” and “Jingle All the Way” every year. Julia Giangualano Every year my family and I watch “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” as a tradition!
FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION?
W hoville R oast B east
ingredients • 1/4 cup brown sugar • 1 tbsp paprika • 2 tsp black pepper • 2 tsp salt • 3 tbsp olive oil • 1 5-lb bone-in rib-eye roast • 3 tbsp butter • 2 heads of garlic, halved
BRAIN BREAK
• 2 bay leaves • 4 thyme sprigs
• 2 rosemary sprigs • 1/2 cup beef broth • 1 12-oz bottle of stout beer • 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes (with liquid)
Inspired by TasteMade.com
No wonder the Grinch stole this roast beast
directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, pepper, salt, and olive oil. 3. Place roast in a baking pan and coat with spice mixture. Let marinate uncovered in refrigerator for 1 hour. 4. Place pan on stove over high heat. Brown the roast on all sides, then add butter, garlic, and herbs. 5. When butter melts, add broth, beer, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. 6. Transfer pan to oven. Braise until meat is tender, up to 2 hours. 7. Remove roast from pan and let rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, strain pan juices and put back into pan and boil until reduced by half. When finished, slice roast and serve with pan sauce.
— it’s absolutely mouthwatering.
A LITTLE HELP
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ENJOYING YOUR TIME OFF BY AVOIDING VACATION GUILT
HOW TO CHRISTMAS SHOP ON A BUDGET ALPHARETTA HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES WORTH VISITING
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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION? WHOVILLE ROAST BEAST
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HOW TO IMPRESS VISITORS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
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W ith T hese H oliday H osting T ips IMPRESS THE GUESTS
The holidays are rapidly approaching, and soon, we’ll share laughs while enjoying the festivities with our loved ones. Before the celebrations begin, you must prepare your home for visitors, especially if they stay overnight. It can be stressful whether it’s your in-laws, best friends, or distant cousins coming to stay with you. You want to leave a good impression, but how do you ensure everyone’s needs are met, including yours? Here are three tips for setting yourself up for a successful holiday, regardless of who stays with you. STOCK UP ON YOUR GUESTS’ FAVORITES. Have you ever stayed with someone who didn’t have extra food for their guests? Don’t put your guests in this situation. Load up your pantry, refrigerator, and cupboards with your guests’ favorite foods and drinks. If you don’t know what they are, ask ahead of their visit! Your guests will appreciate your conscientious gesture and have a much more enjoyable time if they can eat their favorites while visiting. PREPARE A GUEST ROOM. If your guests are staying with you, you need to prepare somewhere for them to sleep. Make sure you make up the bed, have plenty of pillows and blankets on hand, and provide adequate closet space for their clothes. Even
if they aren’t staying in a traditional bedroom, their sleeping area should still be ready when they arrive. Clear off a table for them to use as a nightstand and put sheets on the couch or mattress where they’ll sleep. USE REAL DISHES. When we have company over for a meal, especially a large gathering, it’s usually easier to use plastic or paper options — saves on cleanup, too! The holidays are not necessarily the time for this shortcut. Break out the fine china if you have it, or use regular dishes for your guests. It’s okay for the kids to have paper plates, but if you want to make a good impression on visiting adults, nicer dishes will dress up the table setting and meal.
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