Thank you so much to Glade® for sponsoring this post.

One of the things we really try to get across to our kids this time of year is how the holidays are more than just about getting presents. Our kids are lucky — they have lots of family and friends who love them — and, during the holidays, we want to make sure they appreciate how good they have it.  Of course, focusing on the truly important things this time of year is hard for adults, too. The holidays are so hectic — finalizing shopping, traveling, attending holiday events — that we don’t always focus on the things we should.

That’s why I’m excited to partner with Glade® this holiday season. They found that Los Angelenos are 16 percent more likely than the average American to stress about the holidays because they end up spending too much money, so together we are encouraging people to spread moments of joy that are often overlooked during this special time of year. This is more than just a sponsorship though — Glade® has given me the opportunity to be a part of doing something really awesome to spread some joy in the L.A. community.

Typically, the day after Thanksgiving is thought of as a day to get up at the crack of dawn and hit the stores. But this year Glade® wants to turn #BlackFriday into “Bright Friday.” The idea is to create a holiday light display in select community locations in five cities across the nation, to deliver holiday cheer and provide a   bright and joyous destination in a community from Black Friday through the holiday season.  Here in Los Angeles, Glade® is going to light up and decorate the Lincoln Heights Recreation Center in East L.A. It offers a variety of activities for adults and youths including basketball, an indoor gym, after school clubs and a play area for children. It’s also one of the LAPD’s stop-in centers to establish not only a police presence but also to help keep the neighborhood safe.  
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I love that Glade® is bringing a light display to this location. Community centers are such an important part of our lives — it’s where Annabel went to preschool and where we often attend family events — so the idea of making another community center a little bit brighter and joyous this holiday season is incredibly meaningful. I’m especially excited to show my child what Glade® is doing, because she loves her community center, too, and this is a really tangible way for her to understand the idea that even a small moments of joy can be exceptionally meaningful. We can also continue the conversation about what other little things we can do as a family to help spread some moments of joy during the holidays.  It’s going to be a great reminder for me, too, to keep the focus on what’s really important this holiday season.     

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The Lincoln Heights Rec Center is located at 2303 Workman St., Los Angeles, and the holiday lights will be up from Friday, November 27 (Black Friday) through the holiday season.  I’ll be posting pictures from the Rec Center once the lights have gone up – I can’t wait to share them with you!!

Lincoln Heights Recreation Center
2303 Workman St,
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Be sure to check out FeelingsofJoy.com to learn more about how Glade® is encouraging everyone to feel joy in the moment as we approach the busiest time of the year. Also, don’t forget to share your joyful moments using the hashtag #FeelJoy.