I hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday season.
It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. But sure enough the Holidays are over and we are left a bit sorer from all the decorating, shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning and entertaining.
Due to the fact that I am a bit of a perfectionist and love to share the festivities with friends and family, I usually run around like a mad woman trying to make everything perfect.
In the past, every inch of the house is cleansed to a point that one could eat off the floor. Then every surface, nook and cranny is filled with decorations. Of course the perfect tree is purchased, trimmed by the master tree trimmer (guess who) and then is placed in the living room, where it becomes a major source for the need to vacuum. Meanwhile the baking is filling the house with the sweet aroma of at least 30 different kinds of cookies, breads, pies and candies. By the time Christmas day arrives, I am usually half crippled from wrapping all the gifts while sitting on the floor. The whole point of Christmas by now has been lost.
After being unable to move for a week after preparing the quintessential yummy Thanksgiving dinner a month before, I realized that things had to be done a bit differently come Christmas. A reflection on the reason for the season lead me to a different frame of mind and a list of ways to make any Holiday less painful and more enjoyable for anyone.
1. Hire someone to do your cleaning before the big day, or just do a little when you can. If someone is going to do a white glove inspection, I don't want them in my home anyway.
2. Do your Christmas or Hanuka shopping early and on line. That way you won't have to tote heavy gifts to your car or stand painfully in long lines. (a lot of on line sellers will even gift wrap for you, eBay has a lot of wonderful trustworthy merchants)
3. Set a limit on the amount you will spend and how many gifts each person will receive. No one gets hurt feelings, saves money and wrapping!!!
4. Buy a faux Christmas Tree. I know it seems like sacrilege, but no needles to clean up, no water for the animals to drain. Already filled with lights! Easy up, easy down.( FYI, fabreeze evergreen scent does not give the fresh tree smell you are hoping for.)
5. Limit the amount of decorations you place out. A few very elegant decorations and nice linens go a long way. Candles are great and easy too. Less to put away after the Holidays too.
6. Choose 1 or 2 favorite goodies to bake. There is no need to compete with Martha Stewart, and the probability is that somehow you will end up with enough Holiday goodies in your home to choke Miss Piggy anyway.
7. Make your Holiday meals simple. Either delegate dishes for guests to bring or order pre made meals from your favorite grocer. A big pot of homemade chili and good store bought tamales are a quick easy meal.
8. Delegate, delegate, delegate. Makes it more meaningful when Holiday tasks are shared.
The main reason for Christmas is to share Love with friends and family. The people with whom you share your Holidays usually know your limitations and that you live with pain and they are just happy to be with you.
I hope you were able to do some of these things this past Holiday season, and that you enjoyed it with relatively little pain.
May this New Year bring Peace to this earth and less pain to us all!
Feel free to add your suggestions to this list and to send me your comments and recommendations any time.
Lots a love in the New Year,
Mama Cyd
No comments:
Post a Comment