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Christmas Gifts and Naked Barbies

December 19, 2013/1 Comment/in Commentary/by Katherine Cowley

It’s easy to get caught up in consumerism at this time of year, and to put material possessions–both the giving and gaining of them–above everything else. As a family, we made the decision that this would be a light Christmas. In part, it’s for the cost savings, but in part it’s a philosophical decision. Yet […]

Talk Like Jane Austen Day: October 30th, 2013

October 30, 2013/0 Comments/in Arts, Randomness, Updates/by Katherine Cowley

This is my first Talk Like Jane Austen Day. And I think I’m ready for it. Copy of the complete works of Jane Austen? Check. Love for old, big words and talking in formal, complex sentences? Check. Excited to go fangirl on an author who has been dead for almost 200 years? Check. Liked the […]

Christmas Gifts and Naked Barbies

December 19, 2013/1 Comment/in Commentary/by Katherine Cowley

Talk Like Jane Austen Day: October 30th, 2013

October 30, 2013/0 Comments/in Arts, Randomness, Updates/by Katherine Cowley

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Christmas Gifts and Naked Barbies

December 19, 2013/1 Comment/in Commentary/by Katherine Cowley

It’s easy to get caught up in consumerism at this time of year, and to put material possessions–both the giving and gaining of them–above everything else.

As a family, we made the decision that this would be a light Christmas. In part, it’s for the cost savings, but in part it’s a philosophical decision.

Yet even though we’ve made that decision, I find myself second guessing myself, thinking thoughts like: I know my husband said he didn’t need much, but what if I don’t get him much and he’s disappointed? Am I a bad parent if I’m only getting my child two or three small presents? But that’s really cute/awesome/perfect/doesn’t cost much…should I just go ahead and buy it?

We went to the thrift store a few days ago, and as I was walked down the aisles I saw this hilarious and terrible spectacle:

Yes, that is at least 50 naked, semi-broken Barbie dolls.

My first thought was to laugh. And then as I kept looking at those naked Barbies, I realized it was a good reminder.

That is where all the presents I’m giving this year are going to end up. You give a present. It’s either used or not used, loved or not loved. But ultimately, it’ll end up at a thrift store, in a trash can, or shoved in the back of a closet.

There’s a lot of pressure that says you need to BUY, BUY, BUY! There’s pressure that says your house has to look a certain way, you have to make certain food, you have to do a certain number of activities. And all of it just adds stress.

And so this Christmas season, here’s a few things I’m going to do:

Try not to compare myself to others. I always compare my negatives with other people’s positives, and when I compare myself to others, I always seem to come up short.
Say many positive things to the people I love every single day. I find myself being too critical of the people around me, and it damages relationships and makes me feel bad as well. But when I’m positive, everyone is happier.
Enjoy the little moments. It’s too easy to miss the beautiful things around me, or to take the time and energy to be grateful. But when I let myself enjoy the little things, I realize that they might actually be the most important things.
My daughter, excited about finding blankets in a museum.
Think about the Savior. For me, that’s the real meaning of the season. And I’ll probably watch some videos to help get me in the mood. This one, “A Gift to the World,” is one of my favorites:

Talk Like Jane Austen Day: October 30th, 2013

October 30, 2013/0 Comments/in Arts, Randomness, Updates/by Katherine Cowley

This is my first Talk Like Jane Austen Day. And I think I’m ready for it.

Copy of the complete works of Jane Austen? Check.

Love for old, big words and talking in formal, complex sentences? Check.

Excited to go fangirl on an author who has been dead for almost 200 years? Check.

Liked the Talk Like Jane Austen Day Facebook page? Check.

I could not resist, and I even put together a list of 5 tips for Talk Like Jane Austen Day:

Admit it, Talk Like Jane Austen Day is at least as cool as Talk Like a Pirate Day. And there are just as many fun, Jane Austen films to watch as there are pirate films.

Also, my Ignite Phoenix presentation on Jane Austen and Argument (or in other words, how to talk like Jane Austen) is now live on youtube. Conveniently, you can also watch it here:

Have an amazing Jane Austen-inspired holiday. Maybe your boss will even let you take the day off.