Weekender #165

🎁 8 US Charities that need your help this holiday season.

👗 Holiday dresses that are guaranteed to turn heads.

😴 The 7 types of rest you didn’t know you needed.

🛑 How to say no at work without feeling guilty.

Ah, the holidays. A magical time when we celebrate joy, love, and the annihilation of our bank accounts. But not this year.

This year, I’ve cracked the code for festive cheer without financial tears, and I’m sharing my plan to save money and sprinkle in some neighborly goodwill: The Holiday Neighbor Gift Swap.

Here’s the gist: You and your neighbors gather all those “uh, thanks?” items—candles you’ll never burn, books you’ll never read, and that one wine glass that looks sad and lonely. Toss in gently used stuff you’ve outgrown or no longer want but someone else might adore.

The goal? A jolly barter session where you swap items to refresh your holiday vibe without spending a dime.

🔥 Why It’s Brilliant:

1. Declutter Without the Guilt: You’re not just tossing out Aunt Linda’s third snowman mug set; you’re giving it a new home.
2. Score New Treasures: One neighbor’s “meh” can be your “OMG, perfect!” Who knew Alexis down the street had a spare crockpot?
3. Support Charity: Anything left over gets donated to a local shelter or nonprofit for some holiday karma points.

💪 How to Pull It Off:

• Pick a date and location (the clubhouse, your garage, wherever you won’t freeze).
• Set a few ground rules: gently used or new, no “trash to treasure” DIYs that look like actual trash.
• Add a potluck element—because everything’s better with cookies and mulled wine.

💵 More Budget-Friendly Holiday Hacks:

• Wrap Creatively: Use brown paper bags, pages from an old book, or newspaper. Add some twine or a sprig of pine, and you’ll look like a Pinterest pro for pennies.
• DIY Holiday Cards: Grab some cardstock, markers, and your kids (or your inner child). Handcrafted cards are charming, personal, and way cheaper than store-bought ones.
• Shop Your Pantry for Gifts: Fill jars with layered cookie ingredients or hot cocoa mix. Add a cute tag, and voilà—a thoughtful gift under $5.
• Thrift Store Treasure Hunts: Need ornaments or party outfits? Check your local thrift shop for hidden gems at bargain prices.
• Holiday Light Walking Tours: Instead of spending on pricey attractions, grab a thermos of cocoa, and take a stroll through the most festive neighborhoods. It’s free, magical, and calorie-neutral (unless you add marshmallows).
• Movie Marathons: Pop some popcorn, put on your coziest pajamas, and stream holiday classics. Invite friends for a low-cost, high-fun night.
• Homemade Gift Baskets: Collect inexpensive items with a theme—like tea bags, a mug, and cookies for a “cozy night in” basket. Personal, affordable, and always appreciated.

The holidays aren’t about your budget—they’re about creativity, connection, and community. Whether you’re swapping for treasures or making homemade magic, this season can be joyful and affordable.

Cheers to that! 🎄✨

Kristel (TA Writer)

Managing work, life, and maybe even a small empire? We’ve rounded up go-to tools that’ll help you crush goals, stay organized, and keep that “how does she do it” energy flowing.

1. Notion

The digital notebook: Perfect for organizing everything from projects to personal notes. Create a workspace that adapts to your needs with customizable templates.

Tip: Use color-coded tags to instantly see what’s urgent and what can wait—perfect for staying on top of team priorities.

2. Smartsheet

The go-to: When Excel isn’t enough and you need serious collaboration. Smartsheet’s project tracking and Gantt charts turn data into actionable insights.

Tip: Use Smartsheet’s reporting feature to pull data from multiple sheets for a bird’s-eye view, making it easier to spot trends and make quick decisions.

3. Slack

Where it’s at: The ultimate for real-time team chats, gifs, and keeping emails to a minimum.

Tip: Create channels for specific projects or departments to keep conversations focused, plus a #random channel for fun, morale-boosting moments.

4. monday.com

The vibe: Project management for people who have way too much going on. With custom boards, automation, and visual task tracking, monday.com takes to-do lists to the next level.

Tip: Try the toggle list feature to organize info-heavy pages without the clutter—perfect for quick navigation and avoiding scroll fatigue.

5. Square

Side-hustle secret weapon: Payments, inventory, and insights for small business success.

Tip: Use Square’s analytics to track peak sales times—great for planning events or restocks around when your customers are most active.

6. ChatGPT

Your AI assistant: A lifesaver for brainstorming, drafting content, and solving tricky problems fast.

Tip: Use it to create outlines, write drafts, or even automate FAQs for customer support—ChatGPT can save you hours on routine tasks.

7. Canva

Creative genius: Easy design for non-designers—perfect for social posts, slides, and everything in between.

Tip: Upload your brand colors and logos to keep designs consistent across the team, and explore templates for quick, polished visuals.

8. Calendly

The “I don’t have time for this” fix: Sends a link to schedule meetings without the back-and-forth.

Tip: Add buffer times before and after each meeting for breaks, so you’re not rushing from call to call.

📚 Read: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is a poignant tale set in 1980s Ireland, following a coal merchant who stumbles upon a shocking secret during the Christmas season. It’s a beautifully crafted story about compassion, courage, and the small choices that define us.

📺 Watch: Juror #2

A gripping Clint Eastwood thriller where courtroom drama meets moral dilemmas—stream it on Max starting Dec. 20.

🎧 Listen: GNX by Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar’s GNX is a lyrical deep dive paired with boundary-pushing beats. It’s the kind of album that hits different every time you listen.

Got “use-it-or-lose-it” professional development funds? Let’s make them count!

NextArrow’s Just-In-Time Coaching offers quick, high-impact 1-1 sessions tailored to your exact needs.

Whether you’re prepping for a big presentation, tackling a tricky project, or stepping into a leadership role, these personalized coaching sessions help you show up confident, capable, and courageous—right when it matters most.

Explore Just-In-Time Coaching.

This is Coco, half cuddly kitty, half parkour professional, half home hostess (was that too many halves? Coco was bad at math in shelter school).

She’s never met a string toy she didn’t love to chase, or a shelf she didn’t want to leap to/from in increasingly acrobatic fashion.

She loves meeting new people, and making sure they are covered in a generous helping of her scent to protect them before they leave to go to the unknown world known as “outside”.

🐾 Got a cute fur baby? Submit them to be our pet of the week in an upcoming issue.

🚨 Open Jobs: Visit our job board here.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).

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