How did December become so crazy? I love Christmas. My mom is Christmas Jane. At least I refer to her as that. She is the best entertainer of Christmas I know. I attempt to take on Christmas with her pizzazz but usually feel overwhelmed by it. Even post vacation with a fairly clean house, thanks to my mom coming to visit, I’m overloaded just thinking of Miss E’s birthday, two small business open houses with one at our house and then the Christmas holiday.
Throw in a couple basketball games a week for our son and little things that pop up like this one last night, “Oh Mom, there is a band fundraiser on Friday night. It’s a bake sale” and I realize sleep will be less in the coming weeks. But I’m making a few changes to survive December with happiness and grace.
1. I’m a buying pizzas for Miss E’s birthday. No fancy birthday party or dinner. She’ll be 4 years old and just returned from Disney World. She won’t be getting a plethora of gifts but we’ll still celebrate her birthday with family fun.
2. I’m buying less Christmas presents. Our life is full of materials things. I want our kids to have Christmas memories full of joy and tradition but they really don’t need more toys and gadgets. I was reminded by my friend and fellow rural mom blogger, Debbie Lyons-Blythe this year that the three wise men only brought three gifts to Jesus. Her five kids never get more than three gifts each from she and her husband.
3. I’m simplifying menus. Yesterday I reached out Facebook and Twitter for easy holiday party recipes. I was greeted with the fabulous feedback of numerous fantastic recipes. I now have a handful of tested and well received recipes from social media friends. They are easy and popular treats that will be new for us and yet save me a lot of time from some of the past…”high maintenance” recipes I have made in past years.
In the coming weeks, I’ll share some gift ideas and the simplified holiday party recipes I am making. Here is The Best Christmas Party Punch Recipe I made last year and will use again this year. Today my mom shares decorating her Santa face cookies on her GriggsDakota blog.
I could use more ways to survive the holiday season with style, happiness and grace.
What are ways you simplify during the busyness of December? Or do you have an easy holiday party pleasing recipe I need to try?
Pin It
I asked my husband what he’d like for Christmas dinner, fully expecting him to request something homemade, when he suggested we get a Subway platter the day before so I won’t have to be in the kitchen all day. So sweet of him! I agree, Simplify, simplify…Christmas gets too crazy!
I have a 10-year-old daughter. I was thinking of having a childhood ring of mine resized down to fit her. This would cost very little to do and it might be something she would find meaningful. Just an idea since funds are tight this year. What do you think?
amen! i agree about less presents. we have two birthday close to Christmas and are playing those down too!
i try to stay focused on what matters…family, faith, quality time…not so much a perfect house, lots of presents etc. it’s hard but i’m getting better at it!! 😀
That’s a great post with great tips. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed this time of year. I’m just trying to focus on a few things that hopefully will become traditions for our family.
I’ve done pretty well at downsizing my expectations of myself and of others. This year I am refusing to let the things that disappoint me(I have 3 brothers and they never come home to Nebraska for Christmas. ) and feel poopy about Christmas time get me down. I’m enjoying the season and excited about what I am giving to my family. I’m going to kick back and enjoy the reason for the season. Simplify simplify simplify. Like your post. (I have those napkins and that entire set of dishes.) 🙂
Here is an even more simpler recipe for Christmas punch. One bottle of apple juice, one bottle of cranberry juice and 1 bottle of ginger ale. AND….for the adults I added one bottle of white zin wine. My husband loves it.