Get Ready for 2016 with A Gift to Yourself

Today’s post is sponsored by eBay.

The past month has been a never-ending marathon of work projects, family events, end-of-the-year chores, and holiday shopping. I’m blessed to live a life filled with adventure and excitement, but I have to admit that I am tired after a non-stop year. It’s always been a goal of mine to give more than I take and put others’ needs above mine; however, I learned a very important lesson this year that’s changed my perspective on life. Sometimes you have to take care of yourself, so that you can take care of others. I can’t be the best wife, sister, friend, or businessperson when I’m tired and rundown. I’ve made a personal goal to slow down, rest, and reflect throughout my holiday vacation.

One of the first steps in my plan for the remainder of the year and 2016 is to take time to celebrate little victories instead of automatically thinking about the next goal. I’ve worked really hard this year, but I rarely take time to appreciate my personal and professional accomplishments. After I successfully surrounded our Christmas tree with presents for our loved ones, I thought it would be a good time to buy a celebratory present for myself. I headed to eBay and picked up an end-of-the-year present for myself to celebrate 2015 and get ready for 2016.

One of my goals for 2016 is to read at least one book a week. I’ve been an avid reader my entire life, but I’ve fallen out of the habit this year due to my crazy schedule. I’m making a commitment to get back into reading in the new year because it isn’t just good for my mind; it’s good for my spirit. For my first Christmas present to myself, I picked up six books that had been on my reading list for months. I had originally planned on buying two books, but I found some incredible book auctions on eBay that allowed me to buy six books with the budget I’d allocated for two books!

Cheryl Strayed’s Brave Enough and Shonda Rhimes’ Year of Yes will hopefully get me inspired for the possibilities of the new year. They’re two of my favorite women in the entire world, so I’m looking forward to reading their wise words! I also picked up a book on calligraphy along with two novels from John Green and one of my all-time favorite books, Love in The Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I somehow managed to lose my original copy in one of our recent moves, so I knew I had to purchase a new copy and re-read it in January.

As I mentioned earlier, I have a tendency to speed through life at top speed and look ahead to the future instead of living in the moment. In 2016, I’m focusing on staying in the here and now. I wanted to buy a gift that would symbolize this goal AND be a fun celebratory gift. After a little thought, I remembered that I’d always wanted a bottle of Jo Malone cologne. Jo Malone scents are very expensive, but the scents are absolutely divine. I always spritz myself with the Orange Blossom scent whenever I pass a Jo Malone fragrance display in the mall, but I’ve never purchased a bottle because I couldn’t justify the price.

After searching through eBay, I found several auctions featuring my favorite scent for far below retail price, and I pulled the trigger. Now that this beautiful bottle is sitting on my vanity, I’ve realized that it’s the perfect reminder to appreciate little moments. Each morning, I spray this orange blossom-scented cologne on my wrists, and it forces me to take a huge breath. This little reminder to slow down and breathe is such a meaningful way to start my day, and the sweet orange blossom scent reminds me of Florida summers with my mother and grandmother. It’s become one of my favorite parts of the day, and I think it will help me stay focused and grounded in the new year!

While you’re shopping for your loved ones this holiday season, don’t forget to pick up something for yourself too. Life is beautiful, and we should celebrate it! Whether you’re picking up a new lipstick or a fun pair of shoes, try to find an item that will keep you feeling confident and inspired in the new year! No matter what you’re looking for, eBay is a great place to start. They have an incredible selection of unique and hard-to-find items, and their gift guide may even help you wish bigger throughout the holiday season and into 2016.

What do you want for Christmas this year? What’s your #1 goal for 2016?

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