....And all we can think of is being a-sleep!
While I’m sure that we’re all fantasizing of waking up as Martha Stewart this holiday season, the reality is that very few (if any!) of us are going to be knitting individual scarves for our loved ones using wool the exact shades of their eyes and picking our own holly to lovingly nestle in our handcrafted centerpieces! (If anyone is actually contemplating this, let me know so that I can post your activities and so others can throw cranberries and figs at you!)
Remember to keep it real, and decide what you really want to spend your energy on for the holidays. Think about the best holidays of your childhood....Do you recall what anyone wore? Or how long your Aunt Bea spent on the gravy? Of course not! It’s the special times and laughter that we remember, not how many courses were served at dinner or who got the most expensive Chanukah gifts.
In keeping with this downshift, here are some tips, recipes and hints for making your holiday season one to remember while taking it as easy as possible:
- If you simply can’t get out of hosting duties, why not try a holiday movie party? Tell everyone to dress casually (slippers and PJs, anyone?) pour a couple of quarts of eggnog into a punch bowl (rum on the side) and pop in “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “White Christmas." If you’re really feeling laid-back, schedule your party on the same night that the networks are airing those great holiday specials! (Frosty and Rudolph are always a hit!) Simmering a pot of cider with cinnamon and nutmeg on the stove for mug-dipping adds a festive holiday smell to the house, as well!
- As an alternative gift, this year offer yourself! Give coupons to your family offering your services for various special treats, chores, etc. (This is especially appreciated by kids!) You might offer a special one-on-one bedtime story, a skipped turn at taking out the trash, or pizza-night on demand. Make sure they turn in the coupons, or you’ll end up doing double duty! :-)
- Invest in matching holiday-decorated paper plates, bowls and napkins. This will let you celebrate the season without having an extra set of dishes to wash. If you’re doing the New Year thing, plastic champagne glasses work just as well as glass or crystal! (And the bubbles are just as tickly!)
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