A tiny hike to tidepools during December low tides
Plus free holiday play and reminder that you don't have to do it all!
I think there is a feeling that you need a lot of money to be able to afford the holidays and going to all the events. First of all, you don’t NEED to do any events. I am here to tell you to REJECT that pressure and those feelings of not having enough or doing enough this time of year.
You can design a season that works for your family and your schedule. You can slow down and realize your kids don’t need anything fancy. Simplicity is now the exception to the rule. Getting your schedule un-busy and your home uncluttered is a true gift.
Especially this time of year, much of what you see on social media is influencers attending hosted events. “Hosted” means that the host/brand invited the Instagram account holder to their media event or a media preview — or just paid their way for the experience in exchange for coverage. So, often, the person you see sharing that information didn’t have to pay full price (or at all) to gain entrance or get the experience.
I’m just giving you a glimpse of the business of social media, so that you can understand that even when you see someone promoting or loving an experience they may not have had to pay for it themselves. Hopefully, they are very transparent and disclose this. And I’m not saying they shouldn’t get this perk for their coverage! They absolutely should. However, I tend to turn down invitations for experiences I wouldn’t pay for myself.
Last year, my family didn’t attend ANY paid holiday events and we had a lovely season and saw lots of lights. It felt very special and fulfilling.
This year, we budgeted all year for one choice (saved up $15/month for 5 of us to go to Sherman Library & Gardens Night of 1000 Lights). I like that we can support their nonprofit with our ticket purchase this time of year.
You can do it any way you like! There is so much for FREE that you should not feel like you need to pay.
These are a few holiday posts that have become have become family traditions and I’m still discovering new ones. These two are outdoors and the first one is not on a schedule so you can be more playful and just show up when it works for you. NEXT WEEK: I’ll have all my holiday posts and a list of freebies together (as requested) in ONE post so you don’t have to jump around!
Click the photos to link to the blog posts.
If this isn’t a holiday you celebrate, please let me know if there is anything I could add to the list I’m making — or my social media — for this time of year. Hit REPLY and I will make sure I respond to your email.
Tiny Hike Teaser: This one is complicated to explain if you’ve never been, so it’s perfect for a trail guide. What’s good is that it’s easy every time after! It really only takes 1 visit to “get it.” So I wish you the spirit of discovery so you can enjoy this tiny hike over and over.
Do you think these Trail Guides are NOT for you?
You might think your kids are too young. Or you might have decided they are too old? Age seems to be a main thing when you are trying to decide whether to subscribe or not. If you bring your child to the playground, these tiny hikes are perfect for them. They are like a playground alternative. You want to get outdoors as a family, but want to do something other than the playground. You want to explore more of Orange County and make some memories. These trail guides are a step-by-step walk-thru of how to get to these outside places to enjoy nature together.
These hikes should fit anyone who wants to get outdoors! The only group I think it doesn’t fit are families who are already avid and athletic hikers.
To get Trail Guide #9 just beyond the paywall below, you must become a paying subscriber. It’s $5/month or $39/year — basically a 35% discount when you invest in the annual subscription. You will immediately gain access to the archive which already has Trail Guides #1-#8.
And, as I always say, I’m just happy you are here as a free subscriber for the blog updates! So don’t feel any pressure to become a paying subscriber, I just wanted to be able to provide OC Tiny Hikes trail guides as an “extra” if you are homeschooling, or looking for outings beyond the playground, or especially if you are new to OC and want the highlights of places to explore outdoors guided by my family-friendly trail guides. You can always try for a month at $5 and cancel if it’s not for you.