The holidays can be magical… or *stressful as hell*. In this episode, Tiffany and Janette get honest about gift giving as adults in the *rebuild season*—whether you’re newly single, co-parenting, or simply redefining what the holidays mean to you.

They unpack childhood traditions, financial pressure, blended families, exes, and how to create gifting rituals that actually feel good (instead of forced).

What We Talk About:

* How childhood traditions shape how we give today
* Letting go of unrealistic holiday expectations
* Navigating gifting after divorce & in blended families
* Making meaningful memories on a budget
* Tween wishlist strategy (and how to make surprises fun)
* DIY gifting ideas that feel personal and thoughtful
* Experience gifts vs. material gifts
* Reframing the entire holiday mindset

Key Takeaways:

* Holiday magic isn’t about how much you spend, but how present you are.
* Gifting shouldn’t be a competition — especially with exes or extended family.
* Thoughtful, small gestures can be more powerful than big purchases.
* Experiences, DIY crafts, and intentional giving create lasting memories.

Mentioned in the Episode:

* Candy train DIY ornaments
* Tween wishlist PowerPoints & scavenger hunts
* Morse code gift tags for a slower unwrapping moment
* Matching PJs traditions
* Baking gifts & coupon book ideas
* Handling co-parenting gifts & setting expectations early

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YOUTUBE CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome to Holistic Dose 🎙️
01:10 – Childhood traditions and holiday pressure
03:40 – How upbringing influences adult gifting habits
06:40 – Financial stress, expectations & love languages
09:20 – Lavish holidays vs. simple celebrations
11:50 – Gift giving after divorce & co-parenting dynamics
13:30 – Navigating gifting with exes
16:30 – Meaningful vs. expensive gifts
18:40 – Thoughtful gift stories (Ugg slippers, Niagara Falls painting)
21:00 – Tween wishlists & making surprises magical
22:50 – Ukulele prank & scavenger hunt moment 🎸
24:50 – Solo parenting & creating new traditions
26:40 – Beach-themed flop story 🏖️
28:45 – Creative, budget-friendly gifting ideas
30:40 – DIY ornaments, baking & coupon books
32:10 – Gifts for exes & involving kids
34:00 – Blended family gifting dynamics
36:00 – Reframing the holiday gift mindset
37:40 – Outro: Permission to do the holidays your way

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Hosted by Tiffany Castillo & Jeanette Soltys
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