7 Advent Distractions (Including the Pinterest Complex!)

Each year I say I'm going to focus on Advent more and each year it doesn't seem to happen. Amidst the craziness though, I have found moments to be hopeful and desire Christ's coming. Last year, being pregnant for the first time, really helped me understand the meaning of 'expectation.' However, just to get them off my chest, here are 7 distractions:

1. The LIST: you know what I mean. The list of all the people you need to get presents for, all the people you want to get presents for and the few that you would get if you had it all together. There that list is, lurking, waiting for me whenever I have a spare moment. 
2. The PINTEREST Complex: Admit it, you know what I'm talking about. Pinterest has convinced me that I can (and should) show my affection for friends and family by making them original Christmas gifts. For heaven's sake, I even have a board entitled "DIY gifts" I will admit one year, I successfully made raspberry infused vodka (not sure if the recipient was into it or not), but this year: nada. The only thing it has done is distract me from actually getting presents, which has distracted me from Advent.
3. FACEBOOK: most particularly when other people are talking about all the creative, prayerful things they are doing for Advent!
4. My baby: Okay, he is a pretty great distraction. He is only five months and -- lets be honest -- he could care less about celebrating St. Nick's day or anything like that. We do however (a few days late) have an Advent wreath, so maybe he'll get a kick out of the fire (from a safe distance)
5. My work: Okay, this is a pretty necessary distraction. Plus, I work for the Church so I'm getting to write on topics like Advent and Christmas. Plus, we get a day of work for a retreat. What am I complaining about again?
6. My other job: I'm now writing an article a week for a great evangelization site called Aleteia.org. If you're interested you can read this week's article on Advent here.
7. LIFE: Okay, I'm out excuses! 

I'll be back next week with 7 things I actually am doing during Advent...I hope! Check out all the rest of the 7 Quick Takes.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Give me strength just for tomorrow!

Sunday Dress

I was going to participate in this Sunday Dress link-up this week, I really was. This is a new post where women take a picture of what they wore to Mass on Sunday as a way to focus more on wearing beautiful, reverent clothes to Mass. I think its a great idea and I definitely dressed with that in mind.

However.

However, by the time I got to Mass in my well thought out of outfit, got my hair mussed by my son, had brunch at our place with friends and then got the overly social son to sleep, I didn't feel much like taking a photo. Finally I dragged the boots back on and took a photo in the mirror. I felt like I looked slightly pregnant and decided not to post.

The upside of all of this is I now have a motivation to continue to lose the pregnancy weight so I can actually take photo!