Hanestown, North Carolina

by Leave a Comment

Nestled in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, just west of downtown Winston-Salem (but still within the city) there is a state historical marker that reads:

In 1902, Pleasant Henderson Hanes established a knitting company on Stratford Road, initially producing cotton-ribbed men's underwear. He partnered with his sons P. Huber Hanes and William M. Hanes to operate the business, which encompasses a second Stratford Road mill by 1906 and a third plant completed in 1910. P.H. Hanes Knitting Company erected the first houses adjacent to its spinning mill in 1910 and supplied employees with amenities including utilities, recreational areas, and fruit and vegetable garden plots. The mill village, soon known as Hanestown, had its own graded school, police force, and volunteer fire department. The population increased following another spinning plant's completion in 1915. By 1954, the community comprised 168 residences, a store, a recreation center, a school with a large auditorium, and three churches. The industrial complex grew to approximately 550,000 square feet prior to its July 2007 closure.

Interestingly, PH Hanes and his brother JW founded the tobacco manufacturing enterprise in the 1870s, but they sold their business to the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. in 1900. The Hanes brothers new focus was in textiles, with JW manufacturing stockings and PH manufacturing underwear. In 1902, PH Hanes Knitting Co. was born. By the 1920s, the Hanes brand had become nationally-recognized.

The village of Hanestown and its residents were as tightly woven as the textiles being produced in the local mills. It was a self-sufficient community built for mill workers and their families. In the 1940s, my mother was born in Hanestown. Until her death in 2020, Mom was active in the Village of Hanestown Facebook group and regularly attended the Hanestown annual reunion. Despite the community disbanding with the closing of the Hanes plant in 2007, those who grew up in Hanestown continue to gather and reminisce about the past.

Hanes School

My mother had wonderful stories that she shared from her childhood in Hanestown. One of her favorite memories was how she was selected out of all the employee’s children to give PH Hanes a bouquet of roses following a Christmas pageant held in the village. She talked about the village bully (who had bushy red hair and a not-so-pleasant personality of spreading negative gossip) and the nickname the other kids gave him. She shared how they were one of the first to have a television in the village, and how everyone would gather at their home to watch it. She even talked about trading houses with her best friend’s family when their own family outgrew their mill house. The original family house on the corner of Thurston remains in the village but has sat abandoned for over a decade. Their last house on Townley was demolished and what appears to be a cell tower now occupies the lot.

Mom was baptized and married in Hanes church. Although the church relocated several years ago, the brick structure still stands today and is the location of the reunion potluck. Many small local businesses now fill the mill houses, from marketing firms and boutiques to salons and nonprofits. The city also invested in preserving the original mill site by building Hanestowne Village, a high-profile shopping complex which includes retail stores, restaurants, banks, and a fitness center.

If you find yourself in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, consider visiting historic Hanestown. If you enter 411 Olive Street into your GPS, you will arrive at Hanestown Park. It is a beautiful, shaded area of Hanestown with a large picnic area. There are plenty of parking spaces around the park if you want to walk around Hanestown to check out the shops in the mill houses. Or, head to 700 S Stratford Rd to park at Hanestowne Village. There are ample charging stations for EVs there too!

HanesBrands Inc. continues to thrive as a textile company now headquartered in downtown Winston-Salem. Brands include Hanes, Playtex, Bali, L’eggs, Just My Size, Barely There, Wonderbra, Maidenform, and the recently sold Champion.

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. All photos found online unless property of Eclectic Jenn. Historic information collected via family, the Village of Hanestown, and the City of Winston-Salem.

Fun Sister Activities

by Leave a Comment

National Sisters Day occurs every year on the first Sunday in August to celebrate relationships between sisters. In honor of the holiday, this blog post celebrates my sister, Samantha! It also shares ideas of fun activities that you can do with your own sister(s).

Let me begin the introduction by setting the scene of how opposite my sister and I appear. We were born several years apart, in opposite seasons. She is outgoing, adventurous, and spontaneous. She can control her emotions, she’s incredibly smart, and she will always fight for what is right. If you know me, you know that I am a withdrawn and cautious planner who wears my emotions on my sleeves, can be a little dingbatty, and sometimes won’t stand up for myself. On a superficial level, you’re probably thinking, “How she and I could even be sisters?” and “What do we do with our time together if we’re polar opposites?”

Despite the differences, we actually are similar in many ways. We were raised by the same incredible parents who instilled in us a strong work ethic, independence, confidence, and resiliency. Those same parents taught us the importance of faith, family, and fun. Yes – we work hard, but we play harder and love the hardest. We love the beach. Searching for seashells has become one of our favorite past times together. We also love sports, whether it’s watching college hoops on TV or paddling together on the lake in our kayaks. We’re creative entertainers and can plan, design, and execute some of the best parties. (Or at least, we think so!)

And because of our differences, my sister and I complement one another and make a pretty dynamic duo. Opposites on the Zodiac wheel, we’re the local sprite and wandering sage of astronomy. We’re the perfect combination of left-brain and right-brain; we’re whimsy and logical, creative yet scientific. When we’re together, we’re a force to be reckoned with, in the best (or worst – if warranted) way possible.

Do you celebrate National Sisters Day? It’s a great way to be intentional with spending time with your sister. Some things you can do with your sister are obvious, like getting pedicures, visiting a vineyard, and shopping. But if you’re looking for some fun, unique activities to do to celebrate your sister on this holiday or year ’round, consider these:

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Photos and infographic are property of Eclectic Jenn.

Living Right

by Leave a Comment

Yesterday, I attended a funeral for the father of a friend. He was 95 years old, and lived a wonderfully full life until his health rapidly declined. The memories that were shared about this precious man were incredible to hear. He truly was someone who “lived life right.” That isn’t to say that he didn’t make mistakes. We all do, including him. But he was described as someone who “believed everyone was as honest as he was.” He worked hard, he loved hard, he put others first, and he never harbored bitterness or negativity. I think a lot of that had to do with his faith, but a lot of it had to do with his character too. He never worried what others thought of him because he was always considerate and confident in his intent. His funeral was short and sweet, because his long life had already told the story of what a kind soul he was.

Shortly before arriving to the funeral, I received a Facebook message from someone with whom I once volunteered. I would consider this person an acquaintance; not really a friend since we had never done anything outside of events together. However, if I ran into this person around town, I would speak. I would ask how he’s doing and genuinely care about his response. His message was questioning why I had unfriended him on Facebook. He was immediately defensive and questioned what he had done wrong to cause my actions. He wanted to know what he could do to “fix our friendship.” After the funeral, I learned that a short 30 minutes after he contacted me, this individual had also posted a rant on his Facebook timeline. It stated something along the lines of “if you’re going to unfriend me… please be an adult and send me a message as to what the problem is.” He continued by stating that if “you’re not adult enough, you did not need to be on my friends list anyway.” It was full of bitterness and negativity, and self-consciousness.

Of course when I confronted my acquaintance, he explained that the rant was about someone else. I started to question if that was an honest statement… but I didn’t. All I could think about was the beautiful celebration of life that I had just witnessed, and how much society today puts more weight in social media friendships than they do about living life right. I can’t begin to imagine what someone sees and experiences in 95 years on earth, but I often wonder what previous generations must think about my generation and those that follow. When did unfriending someone on Facebook become the judgement of our character? When did bullying someone behind a computer screen become so acceptable? When did honesty and putting others before yourself become a thing of the past? Why are people so bitter and negative these days? When did we lose our dedication to do the right thing and be our best?

I haven’t been able to get my friend’s father off of my mind. What an incredible example this man was to his family and friends, and to his community. It really makes me think about my life. If my health rapidly declined, would my funeral be short because my life was full? Or would I be remembered for my Facebook rants and my constant unhappiness? It is really something to consider, isn’t it?

When you work hard, love hard, and put others first… you don’t have to worry what people say about you. You can be confident that your life speaks volumes for your character. I want to live a life so full of love, kindness, honesty, and selflessness that the only words that need to be spoken at my funeral are “…until we see you again!”

Originally posted May 12, 2016. I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Photo credits can be viewed by hovering over each image above. All sources found online unless property of Eclectic Jenn.

DIY Body Wash with Clean Ingredients

by Leave a Comment

I made a decision nearly a decade ago to limit the chemicals that I use. I am mindful of food ingredients and product listings from cleaning supplies to toiletries. As a result, I have learned to make my own concoctions that prove to be cost effective too! Here’s how I make my body wash. The scent is customizable to your preference; I change up the essential oil blends often!

Ingredients:

8 oz Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
20 drops Vitamin E Oil
1 tablespoon Sweet Almond Oil
1 teaspoon Jojoba Oil
4 tso Vegetable Glycerine
40 drops Bergamot essential oil*
40 drops Orange essential oil*

*I purchase my essential oils from Young Living (if you copy and paste this URL https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/referral/30124903 and use code SHAREYL you will receive 10% off your first order) or Plant Therapy (this link should get you 15% off your first order).

Mix together and store in a glass pump bottle. Citrus oils are strong and can break down plastic.

I was not compensated for this post. It does contain affiliate links, where I will received a small discount on my next purchase based on the number of orders received from this post. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Photo are property of Eclectic Jenn.

Paint Splashing

by Leave a Comment

At first glance, you might be thinking this is a DIY tips and tricks blog post about how to prevent paint drips, spills, and splashes. Brace for the disappointment – it isn’t. I love to incorporate paint into almost every DIY project I do, but I have not mastered how to do it without getting at least a drop or two somewhere the paint shouldn’t go. I am the normalize imperfections lady after all. Ha!

Today, I want to share a fun activity that is perfect for family fun, a friend gathering, or even a team-building exercise. You likely have heard of Escape Rooms or maybe even Rage Rooms, but have you heard of Paint Splashing Rooms? There are businesses all over North Carolina that specialize in this. After a quick Google search, it appears there are options in major cities of nearly every state in the US. If you haven’t been to one yet, I highly recommend going! It’s an incredibly fun experience.

Every summer, my college roommates (Melissa, Mona, and Yvette) and I try to meet for a day of fun to catch up and make new memories. This year, Yvette suggested that we try paint splashing in Greensboro, NC – the city where we attended college. So, we reserved a room at Mad Splatter.

None of us had been paint splashing before. When we arrived, we were guided to a room where we learned all about the process. We also received coveralls, goggles, canvases, embellishments, paint brushes, and paint. We were even allowed to choose the music from a large selection of playlists that would play in our splash room while we painted. Since we all graduated in the late 1900s, we selected the “Hits of 1998” playlist. Our room was reserved for one hour, which was plenty of time to paint our canvases, act goofy, and add our marks to the room itself.

The concept of paint splashing is as simple as it sounds. Splash paint on your canvas in any way that you choose to end up with a Jackson Pollock-esque piece of artwork of your very own. You don’t have to know what you’re doing – just sling paint – and I promise you’ll have a masterpiece when you’re finished. Abstract is my absolute favorite style of art, and the degree I earned while living with these ladies was a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, so this activity with them had me all in my nostalgic feels. We laughed the entire time. We might have danced a little. We got paint EVERYWHERE. And I am confident we’ll be talking about this experience for years to come.

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Photo credits can be viewed by hovering over each image above. All sources found online unless property of Eclectic Jenn.

Roomies: click here for the videos that I promised 🙂

Three Tips to Beat the Heat

by 2 Comments

A Guide to Hobby Farming During the Summer Months

I established my hobby farm in 2019, completely naive to every responsibility that came with it. All I knew was that I wanted chickens, goats, and a vegetable garden. Over the past five years, I have learned that I likely never will have all of the equipment and knowledge of a large-scale farmer. And that’s okay! But as a result, it is important for me to know what I need to do to protect myself and my animals from summer heat.

Here in North Carolina, it’s quite common for our summers to be very hot and humid. So far, we already have had a few days over 90-degrees. It’s no secret that I love warm weather (by warm weather, I mean triple-digit temperatures make me happy!) but even I struggle with enjoying outdoor work during this time of year.

It can be hard on our bodies to adjust to hot weather. It’s particularly harder on our animals. My goats and chickens tolerate cold weather much better than they do the heat. Wyandottes and Buff Orpington chickens are very cold hardy breeds. They need extra attention during the summer months. Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf goats can handle extreme heat better than other goat breeds due to their smaller size. However, they still have basic requirements during the summer. With the right approach, you and your animals can beat the summer heat together. Here are three quick tips that are sure to help you all.

1. Hydrate — Make sure that you are all drinking plenty of fluids.

For humans, the recommended 64 oz of water per day won’t cut it. You’re going to need more, and you’ll want more than just water. I have found that during the summer months, I drink at least 100 oz of water per day. That does not count the 16-20 oz minimum of electrolytes that I consume. It is important to drink an electrolyte (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium) replacement to replenish what is naturally lost when we sweat.

Our animals need fresh, clean drinking water daily. Depending on the number of animals that you have, fresh water might be needed multiple times in one day. Water containers should be free of algae. Electrolytes can also be given to chickens and goats during extreme heat or when signs of heat stress are present. Be sure to know your animal’s/breed’s needs and consult with a veterinarian if you have concerns.

2. Shade — It is crucial for humans and animals alike to have a place of refuge from the glaring sun. If you have chores that fall between mid-morning and late afternoon, be sure to wear large brimmed hats. I like to keep a comfy chair close by that can be moved from a covered porch to a large shade tree, depending on where the sun is during the day. If you don’t have a covered porch or large trees in your yard, consider investing in a large patio umbrella or popup tent.

Ideally, trees are the best option of shade for animals. Trees allow breezes to help cool animals where other structures may limit or prohibit airflow. For my goats, I have several options since I do not have trees in the pasture yet. Barns and sheds are great for providing shade. It is not necessary for a goat barn/shed to be tall or enclosed. A three-sided structure just slightly taller than the goat is perfect. I also have tents that serve as sun blockers too. Just be sure that any structure, wooden or otherwise, has good air flow.

My chicken coop is elevated, which provides added airflow to help cool the inside, and gives the chicken a great shaded spot where the ground is always considerably cooler than the shavings in their run.

3. Early Morning Work — Have you ever heard the phrase, “getting up with the chickens”? As silly as it might seem, I have found that it is the absolutely best way to beat the heat. Just this morning, I was out tidying up the goat barn at 6:00am. The high today is forecast-ed to be 92ºF but it was below 70º this morning. That was cool enough to get my farm chores done without breaking a sweat. If you can’t do early morning, consider waiting until after the sun goes down to work outside. Temps here in North Carolina start to drop around 7:00pm but it is still light out until 9:00pm. This time of day is not the coolest, but having a break from the scorching sun does provide a little relief.

Just like humans, animals can become overheated during the day too. It is best to move/work animals in the early morning or late afternoon as well. I recently had a goat with scours. When I noticed it, it was still above 90ºF. I didn’t want to cause her any addition stress by isolating her at 5:00pm. Since she had already been with a few other goats grazing in the paddock, I chose to wait until 8:00pm to move her into the goat pen. It was an easier transition for us both!

BONUS TIPS:

Cool Treats — Everyone enjoys a cool treat in the summertime. Instead of ice cream, consider a frozen fruit bar instead. These can be purchased or made, and are less heavy on our stomachs than frozen dairy or dairy-alternative options. If you want something dairy-ish, frozen yogurt is a great choice. You can actually freeze regular yogurt cups. I like to use Greek yogurt because it is higher in protein and usually contains less sugar. Frozen grapes are also a wonderful refreshing snack in the summertime!

Did you know that frozen grapes are also perfect for chickens? I love freezing fruits and veggies for my hens. I have frozen an assortment of things: grapes, pumpkin puree, corn, cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries, and even mixed greens. I give these to the girls on hot summer days to cool them down and keep them entertained.

Goats can benefit from frozen treats too! I do have to be more selective with their treats. A goats digestion track is a bit more sensitive than chickens. I always have to make sure that grass/hay is their primary source of nutrition. However, goats also enjoy frozen watermelon, strawberries, grapes, and bananas. I have also give my kids chilled carrots, celery, and squash. Be sure to always confirm with a reliable source what snacks are safe for your animals to consume.

Stay cool and have a great summer!

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Photos are property of Eclectic Jenn.

Laundry Scent Booster

by Leave a Comment

DIY Recipe

If you’re trying to reduce chemicals in your home;
If you use unscented laundry detergent and want a clean smell;
If you don’t want to pay the $$$ for an overpriced brand name product;

…have I got great news for you!

This simple, three-ingredient recipe will give you 8 loads of laundry scent booster. It can easily be doubled (or more) to make bulk batches.

Recipe:
1.5 cups of unscented Epsom salt
0.5 cups of baking soda
30 drops of essential oil (I use 20 drops of lemon and 10 drops of lemongrass for a fresh, clean blend.)

Mix thoroughly and store in an air-tight container. I usually double the recipe when I make it.

Directions:
Use 0.25 cups in the washing machine drum per load.

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Video is property of Eclectic Jenn.

The Comfort Zone

by Leave a Comment

As someone who has blogged since the early 2000s, I have enjoyed looking back at some of my older (now unpublished) stories. Without intention, some read like letters to my future self. Others are reminders of just how naive I used to be. Recently, I came across a blog written eight years ago about comfort. It was written just before my birthday that year, specifically as I was approaching a new decade.

It mentioned that my twenties were a blur for no reason other than I was young, confused, and scared. My thirties, for the most part, were documented as far more enjoyable. I gained wisdom and confidence that I desperately needed. Today, I can share that my forties have been an emotional journey so far –– spent identifying priorities, setting boundaries, and trying to learn what true self care is.

Eight years ago when I first blogged about comfort, I was struggling to find joy in celebrating my birthday. It was the first time I can recall publicly professing that I “felt old.” Little did I know that I would experience the death of my mother and the unexpected death of my brother (who was also in his 40s), all during a worldwide pandemic four years ago, and “feeling old” would become the least of my emotions.

A friend shared this quote with me back in 2016, which sparked my original blog post.

At the time, I interpreted the quote as encouragement to stop being as complacent as I felt in my thirties. I had even proclaimed, “Although I can’t physically get younger, I can still reverse the uneasiness of growing “old and unhealthy” by pushing myself beyond my normal limits.” Yikes! I feel certain I was hyper-focused on my weight or something. I also recall having a back injury that lasted a really long time, which weirdly led to the diagnosis of my food allergies. What I can assure you is that the past me had no idea that pushing myself [physically] beyond my normal limits was the last thing future me needed.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” really isn’t a great motivational quote. I understand the concept behind the quote. I wholeheartedly agree that it takes effort to reach goals and aspirations. Yet, working hard and pushing the limits can be highly overrated. And if we truly pick apart the quote, life doesn’t begin based on your level of comfort (i.e., confidence, lack of pain, or freedom from stress). If anything, I would argue that life brings you just as much pain and stress as it does peace and happiness.

What the last eight years have taught me is that life happens and we need to control the awareness of it. Perhaps the quote was trying to capture just that –– the beginning of the awareness of life. Maybe it is in the uncomfortable experiences that we become more aware of our lives? I think there is truth in that. Life beginning when comfort ends? I think that’s a load of bull…

I have learned that comfort, or the ending of it, isn’t controlled by how far I push my own limits. Hustle culture just to proclaim busyness is the worst way to trick yourself into avoiding emotions and ignoring boundaries. Self care is not monthly pedicures or reading a certain number of books. Life (identified as magic in the image above) happens regardless of comfort levels. There will be times when we feel comfortable –– and that is okay!

Life isn’t a guaranteed amount of years that begins on the day we choose to willingly find discomfort in an effort to strive for something we want. It is the period of time we’re given to deal with all of the things that come our way. The amazing vacation that you took to a destination of your dreams, the extra weight you gained during a stressful time, the achievement you’ve worked hard to earn, the loss you’re dealing with right now –– being aware that life brings it all, and learning how to process the emotions that come with life, is more valuable than comfort-ability.

My worries have little to do now with “feeling old” anymore. I believe feeling old is a gift (because it means I have learned to process the comfort and discomfort of life) and growing old is a blessing. Neither require me to push my limits. Instead, life gives me permission to sit and rest, reflect deeply, work diligently, be intentional and aware, and celebrate daily. My comfort zone and discomfort zone intersect beautifully in my life that began 48 years ago. I am grateful that the past four years helped me to be intentional and aware of how I live it.

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Just Accept It

by Leave a Comment

Rejection. Uncertainty. Negativity. Failure. Intimidation. — There are so many reasons for a lack of self confidence. I know I have struggled with confidence in the past, and I see so many others who are struggling with it too. Particularly women. So today’s post is dedicated to all of you ladies who are reading this and need this reminder:

“You don’t have to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Accepting yourself and being truly happy can be a long and tedious journey. We often hold onto past mistakes, harbor grudges, and compare ourselves to others until we’ve lost complete focus of who we actually are. We allow life, particularly the unfair parts of life, to shape us into feeling less than and left out.

  • Maybe we haven’t lived up to the expectations of others, or even the expectations we’ve placed on ourselves.
  • Perhaps someone said something horrible to you, and you haven’t been able to shake their voice from within.
  • Many of us struggle with body image comparisons, and society has convinced us that we’re just not beautiful.
  • Or life has just been hard… leaving you tired, unhopeful, and lonely.

Our confidence becomes overshadowed by lies. Then we no longer accept that we belong; we believe we’re unworthy. And nothing holds us back like our own insecurities.

Ladies, it’s time to give ourselves grace… and break the vicious cycle of believing all of these lies. It’s time to hear the real truth. I want this blog to remind you to stop being so hard on yourself; stop comparing yourself to others, don’t judge yourself based on what happens to you in life, forgive yourself and others for past mistakes, let go of negative feelings that you’ve been holding on to, and focus on your strengths.

proverbs 31:25
You have the capability to regain your confidence, and you will. Accept yourself for who you are; uniquely and wonderfully you. Stop believing the lies. You are strong. You are beautiful. You are loved. You are forgiven. You are smart. And you are worthy.

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

It’s Birthday Season

by Leave a Comment

If you’re new here – hi, I’m Jenn. I live a pretty eclectic life.

As a Gemini, I thrive on creativity, knowledge, adaptability, and humor. And I love to celebrate nearly everything! My birthday is no exception. As a matter of fact, if you know me at all, you know that I consider my birthday a pretty big deal. It is the best day ever! That statement has little to do with my actual birth, and more to do with the time of year, the seasonal treats, and the North Carolina weather. On the cusp of summertime, my birthday is still on the side of the equinox where daylight increases. German Johnson tomatoes are starting to ripen, along with ready-to-harvest cucumbers and Silver Queen corn. Blueberries, blackberries, and peaches are in season too, making birthdays extra sweet! Some of my favorite desserts in June are homemade ice cream, cobblers, and pound cakes garnished with seasonal fruit. Daytime temperatures near 90 but evenings still dip down into high 60s / low 70s. Incredible sunrises paint the morning skies, lightning bugs sparkle in the pasture at night, and the busyness of life seems to slow for a bit.

In 2016, I kicked off my birthday celebration with a girls’ trip to Chicago over Memorial Day weekend. That vacation was incredible. From the tourist attractions and local food to the Memorial Day parade and a baseball game at Wrigley between the Cubs and my beloved LA Dodgers, it is easily one of the most memorable ways I’ve acknowledged another 360-ish days on Earth. It was that year – and specifically that trip – that started my birthday season. My birthday date falls perfectly in the middle of Memorial Day and Independence Day, which are two holidays that mean a lot to me. It seems fitting to claim my birthday season as the days between the two.

My goal is to be more intentional about this birthday season. The past few years were altered by the pandemic but I have some fun things planned for the next six weeks. One thing I am going to attempt is a photo-a-day posting on my Instagram account for June. This will be similar to the old photo-a-day challenges that many of us enjoyed when Instagram was a brand new platform. You know, before reels and algorithms were in the Insta vocabulary. I think it could be a fun way to get to know me during my favorite time of the year. It also will give me a birthday-season digital scrapbook for 2024. Win-win, right? I plan to highlight the upcoming days over there but I will share details here on the blog of a few of the big events I have planned too.

Tell me: How do you celebrate your birthday? Is it a sentimental day or do you avoid it? Do you love the time of year when you celebrate your day? What is your idea of the perfect birthday?

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.