Homemade Holiday

If anyone knows me well enough, they know I despise the upcoming holiday season. I'm not a religious person, so that part of Christmas is just lost on me. I'm also not a fan of the constant bombardment of "Buy this! Buy that!" from the numerous advertisements.

I want to stay away from the consumerism of the holiday season, so unless I've bought the gift already, everything will be homemade or upcycled. J and I try to live very minimally and simply and I think this is a good way to continue to live by this principle.

I enjoy making gifts for others rather than just buying an already made gift from the store. I'd also rather get homemade or upcycled gifts because it shows the person took the time to think of me and put their own love into a gift.

You can't get that with a store bought perfume set.

What's in a (last) name?

When I first got engaged back in October,
I would encounter one of two questions:

When are you getting married? (less than two months from now!)
and
What will your new last name be?

Just the thought about all of the paperwork I'd have to complete to change my surname gives me a headache. Speaking professionally, it's easier for me to keep my given surname.

I also am going to keep my surname because it's a part of who I am. I understand that my future husband's surname will become a part of me, especially when we have kids, but to me it's not the same. I know the history of the surname and the meaning behind it. I've done extensive research on my family history and I don't want to lose that connection. As a genealogy nerd, I know the struggles of trying to trace back a family ancestor. So much of a female ancestor's history is lost by something as simple as changing their last name.

I have nothing against women (and men!) taking the last name of the spouse, but it's just not me. I've been told a few times by women that they cried when they took their husband's last name. I think I would too.

I will and forever be a Mazur.

Which means 'rustic' in Polish, by the way.