GiGi's Playhouse - NYC’s Post

You are allowed to move through Christmas YOUR way Here’s some loving permission slips 💌 Which one do you need? Or add your own in the comments 1. You can stop doing traditions, even if your family always did them. You can choose to create your own 2. You are allowed to sit and watch the Christmas movie without jumping up to get everyone drinks and chocolate Celebrations 🍬 3. You don’t have to cook turkey for Christmas dinner! Unless you enjoy eating it 4. You don’t have to love and enjoy every moment 5. You don’t have to take on Uncle Knobby’s negativity/opinions/judgement. Like my gorgeous mentor Michele Armstrong wisely says “it’s like your Nana’s hand knitted jumper; she may give it to you, but you don’t have to wear it!” 6. You don’t have to be responsible for creating ALL the magic for everyone. It’s ok to share that baton ✨ Let me know which one speaks to you 💝 Let’s do this season, our own way, and making it more enjoyable, more peaceful, more intentional 🎁 #setboundaries #selfcareatchristmas #peoplepleasing

Did you know… 💍 38% of couples get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. 💍 On average, couples spend $6,000 on an engagement ring. 💍 2 out of 3 people stick to their budget, but many spend more than planned! Beyond ring sizes and wedding plans, discussing finances before popping the question can lead to financial wedding ease. #BetterMoneyHabits #FinancialPlanning #EngagementRing

Many of my adult friends have an ambivalent relationship with the Christmas season. Why is that? It's often because their mothers were stressed and anxious about achieving a "perfect Christmas."  In a recent discussion, Diane Boden, the creator of the Minimalist Mom's Podcast, joined Jennifer Pepito to talk about how to create a minimalist Christmas. The focus is on planning, creating meaningful moments for your family, and choosing what brings you joy and connection. During the holiday season, there are numerous external pressures—from the vast selection of Christmas decorations at stores like Target to expectations from family and the community. It's easy to say yes to everything, buy more than you need, or feel guilty about your actions. Don't let yourself fall into that trap. Avoid letting the pursuit of the "perfect holiday season" turn you into a frazzled mom. Instead, aim for simplicity so your children aren't left wishing for more relaxed times and a happier mom. This great conversation is made possible by the Peaceful Press! With Winter and Winter Holidays around the corner, check out the Peaceful Press resources and blogs for good literature, engaging ways to celebrate, and the Four-week Autumn Guide. Purchase any Christmas Guide Volume 1 or Volume 2 and receive a copy of the Unearthing Wonder Advent Guide.   In this episode– Plan your holiday season for the best Christmas Pine and fir make great holiday decorations  There is a mental and emotional cost to material things, so be aware of that when you are shopping Check your motivations when you purchase, plan or participate in the holidays  Remember to take time for yourself in the Holiday season  The Christmas Planner You can learn more about Jennifer here- Jennifer's Instagram You can learn more about Diane here- Diane's Instagram   Some Amazon Affiliate Links.

Wait! Have you ever had to teach this concept? Of waiting. Past an unfulfilled longing? My puppy dog. With an insatiable hunger. And an inexplicable fear of humans. With Bulan, I used her rollicking desire for food to train her into wanting to be with people, through their giving her treats. And despite it being distinctly unAsian, allowed my dog to be at the table, waiting for a handout. Wait! Today is the first Sunday in Advent. The countdown of 24 days to Christmas begins, even in secular Switzerland. Maybe even more so, for those cashing in on gift and food shopping as the Swiss prepare for multiple family and office gatherings. For those whom these days mark Christian spiritual significance, the dissonance between longing for days of quiet reflection and the need to hustlebustle prepare can be jarring. Wait! I once left Bulan waiting with a treat laid at her paws, while I got engrossed in conversation with friends. Until I 'felt' a pair of eyes relentlessly aimed at me. (And realised the truth of the Bible verse, "...as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes always look to God :-)“ From Bulan I realised... Pockets of waitingpeace. A focus in longing. Relentless hope. Would be enough. My gentle readers. Whatever your wait might involve during this season. I wish you the same. Wait... #swisschristmas #interculturalcompetence #doglifestories #christiantraditions #globalstorytelling +++++++++++++++++++++++ Why is it "unAsian" to have a dog at the dining table? What might Swiss Christmas celebrations mean at the workplace? Whether work or business related, if there's any aspect of this story you'd be interested in discussing, ask me Anne or write to annesemadenigeorge@outlook.com

🎶 What if one song could define an entire season? 🎄 Every year, right after Halloween, Mariah Carey pops up with her "It's tiiimmmeee!" video and suddenly, it's like Christmas officially starts. Her song? It's basically the holiday anthem. Why does this work so well? 👉🏽 Consistency: Mariah's yearly tradition keeps her in the spotlight. 👉🏽 Nostalgia: Her song brings back all those warm, fuzzy holiday memories. 👉🏽 Perfect Timing: Dropping it right after Halloween catches the early holiday buzz. But here's the real kicker: Mariah's not just singing a song—she's owning the whole season. 🎄 In a world where staying relevant is everything, her strategy shows that being timely and emotionally connected keeps you ahead. 🎯 The future? It’s all about those who connect deeply and authentically. 🌟 Anyone else feeling inspired by her playbook? 🤔 ♻️ Repost if you found this insightful. 🙌🏽 ##SeasonalBranding #NostalgiaMarketing #CulturalRelevance #MariahCarey #HolidayMarketing #BrandStrategy

⁉️ I don't know who needs to hear this but here it is... 7 Toxic Behaviors to Avoid Before Thanksgiving Gatherings ✨🦃 1. Attention Seeking: Focus on genuine connections, not the spotlight. Like your cousin, Pedro, who always tells the same embarrassing childhood story to steal the show—again! 2. Being Overly Competitive: Embrace unity and celebrate each other. You know, like when, La Tia, insists her turkey recipe is better than everyone else’s, even though she burned it last year! 3. Playing the Victim: Own your story and take responsibility for your actions. Just like when Abuelo who claims he “never gets invited” when he’s the one who always brings a fruitcake nobody wants! 4. Seeking Validation: Trust yourself and your worth—no approval needed. Think of your bro who constantly asks, “Do you think I should wear this?” while modeling last year’s ugly sweater! 5. Passing Judgment: Practice kindness and understanding towards others. Especially when La Abuela critiques everyone’s life choices over la ensalda de coditos—“When I was your age, I had three kids!” 6. Holding a Grudge: Let go of past grievances and choose forgiveness. Like that time your sister “borrowed” your favorite sweater and never returned it—just let it go, you’ll find a better one! 7. Comparing Yourself: Appreciate your unique journey; everyone’s path is different. Remember when your cousin graduated and you thought, “What am I doing with my life?” while secretly wondering why they can’t cook! As we gather with family and friends, let’s let go of these behaviors and instead focus on gratitude, love, and connection. 🧡 🍂✨ #Thanksgiving #SelfGrowth #LetGoAndEnjoy #TimeToReflect #ALittleLaughter #LifeCoachingTips #BuildingRelationships #RelationshipCoach #SheBuildsPowerfulMindsets #SBPM

IT'S CHRISTMAS 🎄 🎅 🤶 If you know me, you probably know that I love Christmas. I try and keep my love for this season under wraps until roughly this time of year... or at least I try to. I certainly relate to this video, though. In my house, as the Halloween decorations come down, the Christmas decor slowly starts going up. But let's talk about this video from a personal branding point of view. Each holiday season, Mariah Carey reclaims the spotlight as the Queen of Christmas, with "All I Want for Christmas Is You" landing in the top 10 year after year. There are other bands who have Christmas hits that reclaim a spot in the Billboard 100, like Wham's Last Christmas and Slade's "It's Chrissttmaaas" hit. What sets Mariah Carey apart and establishes her as festive royalty, is that she leans into Christmas being a main part of her personal brand. The other day SocialB posted the importance of focusing on what works for you/your brand and what resonates with your audience, instead of getting caught up with marketing tactics. This video is another example of how brands can do that, Mariah Carey isn't releasing TikTok/Gen Z viral music, she is continuing with what her audience engage with. Of course, a VERY important part of marketing is innovating and experimenting. Mariah Carey experiments whilst sticking to her Christmas niche by collaborating on more Christmas albums with other stars who help establish her Christmas Queen status. https://lnkd.in/eaGw98hz 👍 Follow me for more marketing insights. 🎄🎅 🤶 54 Days till Christmas! #PersonalBranding #Marketing

The Thanksgiving Turkey That Stole the Show For me, family isn’t just the people I'm related to —it’s also the friends who’ve become family along the way. This moment from Friends never fails to make me laugh: 🦃 Joey Tribbiani, in true Joey fashion, gets his head stuck in a turkey. (I think I might have been Joey in a previous life 🤣 ) 😡 Monica screams. 😱 Chandler panics. 👀 And Phoebe? She’s just trying to process it all. (or maybe I was Phoebe 🤔) It’s absurd. It’s chaotic. And somehow, it’s perfectly ... F.R.I.E.N.D.S. But here’s the thing ... ... as ridiculous as this moment is, it reminds me of something bigger. Thanksgiving has never been about perfection. 👉 It’s about showing up ... even when life feels messy. 👉 It’s about embracing the chaos—because it’s part of the journey. 👉 It’s about finding joy in the quirks—the ones that make us who we are. So today ... whether your table feels more like a sitcom or a drama, let’s take a page from the Friends playbook: 😆 Laugh at the mishaps (yes, even if the turkey burns). 😎 Accept the differences—they’re what make us better. 🙃 And hold onto the unexpected moments—because they’re the ones we’ll retell for years. Pull up a chair, embrace the quirks, and make a memory. Happy Thanksgiving, friends. May your turkeys, Tofurky for me, stay on the table (or at least off of anyone’s head). 🦃🕶️ #Thanksgiving #Friendsgiving #Gratitude #Friends 📸 actual prop used on Joey's head.

Thanksgiving is often seen as a time for warmth and connection with family—unless you're celebrating Friendsgiving, of course! But let’s be real: family gatherings can be tough. They sometimes bring out those familiar dynamics—the ones that leave you feeling annoyed, frustrated, or even hurt. Here’s the thing: how you habitually interact with family members plays a big role in how these moments unfold.  💻📱→ In this quick video, I’ll share two key approaches to help you feel more at ease, not just for Thanksgiving, but for other holidays and family gatherings down the road. Take a few minutes to watch—I promise it’ll be worth it! CTA- And please, leave a  like 👍🏽👍 or a comment! #familydysfunction #familydynamics #thanksgivingdinner #thanksgiving2024 #Thanksgiving #siblingrivalry #inlaws

🎄 Story-Time Sunday, part 2: We're officially in December, and the magic of Christmas? It isn’t in the gifts – it’s in the moments. Full post 👉 https://lnkd.in/e7RyzKTm The thing about Christmas is it should not be commercial. The pressure to buy the perfect present, spend the right amount, and wrap it all up pretty with a big ass bow. You are missing the point. Christmas should be about moments, family, friends.. nostalgia. It’s about the fondness of old traditions and the joy of creating new ones. Those are the best gifts of all. And when December comes around; when the trees are bare, the crisp winter weather is pinching at your cheers and there's a lingering smell of hot chocolate and mulled wine in the air. When there's merry music playing aloud, and the abundance of sweet activities that come just once a year; that's what Christmas is about. A time to savour; moments that simply cannot be wrapped in paper. The best gift of all? It’s the laughter, chatter, and love you share with others - no matter who, where or how. 🎄So let me ask you this; what does Christmas mean to you? #StorytimeSunday #ChristmasReflections #FestiveTravel #Contentwriter