Christmas should be a happy and peaceful time for all of us. But sometimes some of us get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and it just gets a little overwhelming.
My heart grows tender as I recall all the past Christmas's we had when my Mother was still with us. A smile brightens my face as I ponder each childhood memory. It was our family tradition to always have Christmas at Mom's house. Those were some really happy times.
Mom would do all the planning and preparing. That is how she wanted it. However, she did agree to have each of us kids pitch in and bring a couple of prepared dishes as she was getting older.
Well...eventually, we took it a step further and we started taking turns hosting both Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was just getting too much for Mom, especially when her health started to fail.
Sadly, Christmas is becoming more and more commercialized everyday and it's so easy to get so busy and submerged with the holidays that we tend to actually forget the true reason for the season. With all the decorating, all the trips to the shopping centers, and baking all those favorite culinary delights...organization seems to get lost in our vocabulary.
As I look back, now that I'm older and wiser...I realize how stressful all the planning and preparing must have been for Mom at times. Not to mention the expense. I know all too well from doing it myself now. And there were plenty of times where I made every possible effort to have the perfect holiday and ended up going a little overboard both financially and physically. I remember the times when I completely exhausted myself to the point where I just didn't enjoy myself or my family. Have you experienced this? I'm sure most of you have.
What if I told you that there could be a better way...some realistic solutions to making your life a little easier and enjoyable throughout the holidays?
I've managed to come up with some ideas on saving both time and money, as well as energy using the tips below:
* Gifts
1. Draw Names
Instead of purchasing gifts for everyone in your family, draw names. Set an amount to spend on that one person and stick with it.
2. Homemade Gifts
Replace a store-bought gift with something homemade. If you sew, make some kitchen pot holders or oven mitts. If you crochet, make a small afghan or throw. If you are good at crafts such as jewelry making, scrapbooking, pottery, or ceramics...these are good ideas as well. If you like to bake, make that one person their favorite baked bread, pie, or cookies.
The family member you have chosen will appreciate a homemade gift much more because you have taken personal thought into making a gift just for them. Plus it will save you money, and time as well because you didn't have to fight the crowd in the stores.
3. Make Christmas Stockings
This gift option is really fun for the holidays. It lets you be creative. Either make a stocking or purchase one and fill it with goodies. You can fill it with homemade items or whatever you wish. Set an amount to spend on the stocking. Have each member of your family bring a filled stocking and put it under the tree. Then everyone gets to have fun choosing one. Again, be creative with this...as it can be a lot of fun.
4. Shopping Online
This option may not save you money, but it will save you a lot of time. People are shopping online for gift ideas more and more everyday. It's an easy solution if you can find what you're looking for online.
5. Do Your Shopping Early
I know this is easier said than done because I myself, am a big procrastinator. I hear of people all the time who start their gift shopping in the summer months...even earlier than that. The sooner the better, if you know what the person wants and the gift item is practical for purchasing it early. With shopping early, you are more organized rather than waiting until the last minute and be in a rush.
Also remember, Christmas doesn't have to involve gifts in order to have a good, memorable, family holiday together. Discuss what everyone would like to "do" rather than exchanging gifts. Think about this...you could drive around and look at lights. You could spend the day visiting the elderly. Wait until Christmas day to decorate and put up your tree. Have the whole family pitch in and help. Go ice skating. Take a walk in the snow. Use your imagination and come up with fun things that the whole family would like to do and have fun doing. Perhaps some fun family games.
* The Family Meal
1. Have each person bring something.
Tell each member of your family to bring something, such as a specific cake or pie or maybe a couple of side dishes. Try and make it so that you will only have to prepare the main course, such as the turkey or ham. This would work especially well if you have a big family.
2. Recipe Exchange
Have fun exchanging recipes that day as well as bringing something for the meal. Ask everyone to bring one or as many as they wish. Have them ready and typed, or written out on a plain index card.
3. Prepare Foods Ahead Of Time
There are many foods you can prepare and refrigerate a couple of days ahead of time. You can prepare the stuffing, cranberry sauce, and many vegetable dishes and put them in the refrigerator.
Please Note: Your stuffing should not be too cold when you put it into the turkey. So take the stuffing out the night before.
There are also some cakes and pies you can freeze up to a whole month ahead of time. Freezing foods can certainly save you some time.
4. Send Leftovers Home With Guests
If you don't think your leftovers will get eaten, send some home with your guests. It's easy to just bag or box them up and put them in their hands as they are leaving. Then you don't have to bother looking at them for the next couple of weeks. It's best to put leftovers in throw away containers (if you have them). That way you won't have to worry about receiving them back.
Make it a goal to take your time and make your holidays about loving and appreciating every member of your family, as well as taking pleasure in spending special time with your friends.
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