Archive for category: Friday Afternoon

Now that we’ve turned the corner on 2026, you’re likely thinking about starting the year off right with better exercise and diet. Did you know next Wednesday is National Take the Stairs Day? It’s a quirky, uplifting celebration that encourages everyone – office workers, students, and public officials alike – to skip the elevator and climb the stairs for a healthier lifestyle.​ For me, I’m lucky that my office is on the second floor here at KHT World headquarters (that’s fun to write!). So often during the day, I scoot down the back stairs, onto the shop floor to check on your PIA (pain in the @%$) Jobs! It’s not a long descent or climb, but it does get me out of my chair and moving. In the town I live in, I’m blessed to have stair access to Lake Erie. Jackie and I love to head over to the lakefront and make our way down to the sand and surf. I’ll admit, the walk back up does test my lungs every time I do it!  I can feel it in my calves too!  At first, I thought the celebration day was a bit silly, but thinking a bit more about it, it made sense to share. Here’s some fun info on the day, and more about “steps” I hope you enjoy – I sure learned a lot doing my research. Enjoy!

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There’s something special about the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Sure, it triggers all of those “I gotta get this done before the new year” thoughts, but it also has a bit of a relaxing exhale to it – kind of a quiet rhythm all its own. Around here, winter begins to settle in, the fireplace gets used a lot more, and we just sort of look forward to chill. I thought about it to see what I’d plan, and suggest, rather than rushing into resolutions (I have just a few this year!) I’d take some time to reflect and enjoy. Searching the web to see if others do the same, I stumbled on some cool traditions from other countries and made up a list of my own. I hope you, too, can think of this week as your reset window – a quiet space to wrap up loose ends, enjoy small pleasures, connect with those we missed the past few weeks, and get our mind and heart ready for a fresh start. Enjoy the tips!

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I just love the holidays and holiday traditions. For me, they never get tired – all the fun, music, nostalgia, and decorations just add to the holidays. So, after taking down the Halloween decorations and putting away the Thanksgiving decorations, it’s now time to be sure we decorate for Christmas in my house. Jackie does a wonderful job, mixing in things we’ve inherited from the family with things of our own, to one day pass along to the kids and grandkids. And one of my favorites is to hang some mistletoe in the doorway, with hopes of stealing a kiss here or there again and again from Jackie! I wanted to learn more about where mistletoe comes from, and the history behind it, and of course, I turned to the internet. I hope you enjoy the info and make mistletoe a tradition in your home, too. ENJOY!

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Now that we’re past Thanksgiving (I’m still feeling thankful AND stuffed!), it’s easy to sense the excitement and the pressure building over the next few weeks. Talking with Jackie, and looking at my work calendar through the end of the year, I’m thinking “there’s so much to do, so many people to see, and so many little details to manage”. It’s that holiday crunch time we all slide into – trying to get everything done and wanting to make everything special for the people (and customers) we love. Experts say this can be a tough time of year, which can leave us feeling more exhausted than joyful. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The good news is, with a few intentional choices, we can get our work done and chores completed while bringing more peace and joy back into the season (and actually enjoy it, too). Here’s a bit about stress, and some really great tips on how to find time to relax a bit and reduce the pressure. Remember, stress can sometimes be a state of mind (I’ve started some of these already and feel better!) RELAX and Enjoy! 

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As we get closer to the holidays, and the fun gift giving, (I love giving gifts, and don’t mind receiving as well!!), I’m always on the prowl for new family games. (If you have any suggestions, please email me @ skowalski@khtheat.com). Hitting the “game” aisle, it’s not uncommon to see so many of the classics – Stratego, Clue, Chutes and Ladders, Uno, Trouble, and of course, Monopoly. For me, Monopoly never gets old – it’s easy to play, fun to strategize a plan, and usually winds up with one person winning most of the money. The grandkids are coming of age to play, and I can’t wait to take their $$-  (HA!) After a 10-year hiatus, McDonald’s just brought back their fast-food Monopoly game – of course, with new twists, online registration, instant wins, posts, scans, Facebook chatter, and more. I’ve always associated Monopoly with The Parker Brothers, who went on to really dominate games – they actually offer over 1800 different games. Doing research, I found out the real originator of the Monopoly game was Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie, who designed her original board game as a critique, not a tribute, to capitalism. Quite a character, she held some contemporary views in her time, but her gaming story is lost a bit to history.  I went digging a bit and found the story behind the game. Enjoy!

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