One Of Them Days Thursday Rundown

Well, it is three weeks before Christmas, I hope you are managing any stress you might be feeling. It is my hope that this latest Thursday Rundown can be a welcome distraction for the next 10 minutes…

Tree Lighting – For the second year in a row, my family attended the Riverfront Park tree lighting. The event combined ice skating, caroling, hot chocolate-sipping, and Santa Claus greeting with the illumination of an impressive tree on the edge of the park. The occasion also allowed us to visit the Lego Store and ride the carousel. The holiday magic was definitely in the air.

Our family had a really nice time at the Riverfront Park tree lighting.

Domino’s Visit – My family eats Domino’s a lot…probably much more than we should. Normally, I pick it up by myself. Every now and then, we have it delivered. But rarely do my kids actually see inside the store where their pepperoni pizzas are made. I changed that on Thanksgiving Eve when I brought Sloan and Beau to our local Domino’s location. They had the chance to watch the pizza artists in action on a very busy night. I think when we ate that evening, the pizza might have tasted just a little better considering they got to see behind the scenes.

Beau and Sloan watch how pizza is made at our local Domino’s.

Netflix Recommendation – If I didn’t see the recommendation in the newspaper, I don’t think I ever would have watched “One of Them Days.” But since the column said the film was a great post-Thanksgiving meal option, Sid and I decided to give it a chance. Let me be honest with you, we laughed the whole way through. The movie stars Keke Palmer and SZA as they try to raise enough money in one hectic day to satisfy their rent payment. If you are looking for an option that doesn’t require all your brainpower and will put you in a better mood, give “One of Them Days” a chance.

Sid and I got a pretty good laugh out of “One Of Them Days.”

Simon Cowell – Much publicity was generated this week as Simon Cowell apologized for the insults he hurled at “American Idol” contestants during his time on the show from 2002-10. Cowell has definitely softened over the years and I think his consciousness got the best of him…which I consider a good thing. However, I don’t think all the blame falls on Simon’s shoulders. I watched portions of several “American Idol” seasons and I must admit that I found Cowell’s rants and put-downs to be extremely entertaining. It was the viewership and approval from people like me that aided Cowell and show producers to keep it coming. I need to apologize for being complicit, too.

I laughed right along with most of America at the insults delivered by Simon Cowell.

From The Archives – Just a few items to reminisce about. On this date four years ago, my family tried the viral Pepsi sensation Pilk for the first time. I would later write about the experience. After two ornament-related blog posts in a row, you are probably sick and tired of the topic but nine years ago I wrote about my five most-treasured ornaments on our Christmas tree. The following year I would write about an additional special five ornaments. Then, going back 11 years, I wrote about an extremely creative and unique tradition that my did carried on for my siblings and me. Fast forward to the present, and my dad is doing the same tradition for his grand kids.

Sloan trying Pilk. She claimed to like it.

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That will put a fork in the first Thursday Rundown of December. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for a rare Friday blog post coming your way tomorrow. Don’t Blink.

Making Our Ornament Tradition Official

Last holiday season, I stumbled upon a magical warehouse tucked away in a non-descript industrial area of Spokane. The space belonged to Old World Christmas, a national ornament company that produces and ships their products to locations all over the world.

There is a lot of Christmas goodness inside this warehouse.

On the same property as the warehouse is a gift shop that sells the company’s overstocked, outdated, and chipped ornaments for a fraction of the retail price. Entering the shop is like strolling into Santa’s Workshop. The kids and I made a couple trips to Old World Christmas last year and at the time I declared that a new tradition was born: Each holiday season we would visit the shop so Sloan and Beau could choose an ornament to hang on our own tree.

Sloan browses inside Old World Christmas in Spokane in 2024.

And since I made the tradition pledge via this blog, I knew I would have to update my readers each year we honored it. I can report that we made good on our Old World Christmas tradition in 2025.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the kids and I made our pilgrimage to East Central Spokane. The shop hadn’t changed a bit nor had my children’s indecisiveness. However, after a considerable amount of time, Sloan and Beau selected their ornaments…

We kept our Old World Christmas tradition going in 2025. Beau went with a Siberian husky and Sloan chose chicken tenders and fries.

Sloan chose an ornament that fits her dining preferences perfectly: chicken strips and fries. The only thing that would have made the ornament better, she said, would be if the dipping sauce was ranch instead of ketchup.

Sloan decided upon a chicken tenders and fries ornament at Old World Christmas.

Beau was more of a wild card. Instead of choosing something that aligned with his personality, he decided to reach for randomness. My son’s decision? A Siberian husky. Hmmm…okay.

Beau selected a Siberian husky ornament.

Both of these ornaments now proudly hang on our tree. They join the Taylor Swift ornament (Sloan) and mushroom ornament (Beau) from last year. More importantly, they add to a tradition that is now fully established within my family—because like Sidney says, it is officially a tradition once it happens twice. Don’t Blink.

My Recommended Gift for the 2025 Holiday Season

Black Friday was last week. Hopefully you finished all your shopping but if not, no sweat—your favorite blogger is here to help. I am just about to solve all your gift-giving conundrums but before I reveal my recommended present for 2025, let me provide some context…

For “Brent’s Gift of the Year” I choose a practical and inexpensive gift suggestion that retails in the $10-$15 range. The goal is for it to be versatile in a way that makes it a perfect choice for a white elephant gift exchange, stocking stuffer, or thoughtful present.

For example, in 2018 I suggested an LED cinema lightbox marquee, in 2019 I championed a blanket, in 2020 I pushed a framed photo, in 2021 I recommended a book of stamps, in 2022 I invited my readers to pick out a tasty six-pack of beer, in 2023 I pitched cookie mix, and in 2024 I endorsed premium air freshener.

My goal each year is to suggest a gift that goes beyond something that is solely material. Although I always pick something that is tangible/physical, I try to ensure that it elicits emotion, too. I think this year’s gift once again hits that benchmark.

Each year, our Christmas tree becomes more special. It obviously has nothing to do with the tree itself—we put up the same artificial pine every December. However, what increases its value is the collection of ornaments we hang from it. And no, I am not eluding to monetary value because we surely aren’t hanging diamonds or gold nuggets. Instead, I am talking about the sentimental value that is priceless.

Most of the ornaments that hang on our tree are special. This ornament follows the “date it and name it” formula I will mention below.

Take a look at our tree and most every ornament will tell a story. Either it marks a milestone, vacation, experience, preference, belief, or gift. Did you catch that last item? I said gift. Some of our favorite ornaments were gifts that now hang on our tree year after year.

My recommended gift of the year is an ornament.

There are so many options when gifting someone an ornament. The easiest route might be to simply find something that matches the person’s tastes. Give them an ornament of their favorite team, food, beer, or board game. This gesture conveys that you know the person and that you took time to celebrate their preferences in a meaningful way.

Sloan looks at a Snickers ornament found inside Old World Christmas. Gifting someone an ornament of their favorite candy bar shows thought and uniqueness.

You can also go the extra mile and customize an ornament. Head to the mall or go online where you can easily use a vendor to produce a picture ornament. Capture a special moment for the recipient (and even yourself) by choosing a photo that includes both of you. The picture ornament will be etched in time as it hangs on the person’s tree through the decades. Although the person will get older as each Christmas passes, their youthfulness will remain intact on whatever branch the ornament hangs.

Sloan will always be a baby in this picture ornament we gleefully hang from our tree each year.

But you don’t even have to go the lengths of finding a photo to achieve customization. You can convey thought and uniqueness by marking or engraving your ornament with something special. Honor someone’s milestone or life event by “naming it and dating it.” For example, the white elephant gift I am bringing to my work’s holiday party simply commemorates the party itself. Honestly, it’s not that hard…but it is thoughtful.

This is the EWU ornament I had customized for our office holiday party later this month.

And again, let me re-iterate in a bold way the best part of gifting an ornament: it has lasting power.

If the ornament you give is thoughtful and unique, it will stay on the recipient’s tree every year. Whenever they take it out at the beginning of the Christmas season or return it to storage post-December, you (or your family) will most likely be on that person’s mind. If the combination of the event/preference the ornament celebrates and the thought of yourself brings a smile to the recipient’s face, you have succeeded at giving a truly remarkable Christmas gift.

This ornament celebrated our wedding and was a gift from our mentor couple, Tim and Kathy McCormick. Sid and I remember them each time we look at this ornament.

Go on, give a thoughtful ornament to someone this Christmas season. I recommend visiting Old World Christmas for an impressive collection of branded ornaments or reaching out to JJ’s Designs for a beautiful but inexpensive customized ornament. Don’t Blink.

The Annual Home Stretch for Don’t Blink

We are now in the home stretch!

It is December and that means we are in the final month of 2025. My best advice to my readers is to end the year on a good note and make the most out of the next 31 days.

Over here at Don’t Blink, I am going to try to do the same. December is always the most significant month for my blog. However, it’s not the quantity of content that will make December shine. In fact, my overall blogging output for this month will be the lowest of the year.

It is a huge month for “Don’t Blink.”

But the quality of the content (at least I hope) is what will distinguish this month’s output from all the others. I have several annual blog posts that will hit over the next 4+ weeks.

Tomorrow I will publish my annual recommended gift for the holiday season. This will be the seventh year in a row that I provide you with some shopping inspiration so make sure you don’t miss it.

The following week I will embrace my totally undeserved role of music critic and reveal my top five songs of the year. When you view my choices for 2025, it will mark the 12th time I have evaluated the world of music for Don’t Blink.

Then later in the month I will present my most beloved annual blog posts. My BIG blog post—a look back at my top 10 blog posts of the year—will drop the last week of December. Finally, my blogging for 2025 will conclude with my annual wrap up/reflection post of the past year.

Thanks for your readership this year. I am excited to end 2025 on a bang and I hope you will come along for the ride. Don’t Blink.