Has the “most wonderful time of year” ever left you exhausted and just thankful that it is over? It should be a time to reflect, and be thankful for what we have and enjoy the company of those we love. Do you Let’s chat about six simple ways to slow down and enjoy Christmas shall we?
Focus on the True Meaning of Christmas
For those with a strong Christian faith base, Christmas is a time to celebrate the “birth of jesus the savior”. For those from different faiths and beliefs it is also a time to celebrate love, and giving to loved ones and those who are less fortunate. The article Creating a Peaceful Meaningful Christmas explains the christmas story best. “There are the affirming gifts for children in the many stories of Christmas. Regardless of whether you are a committed Christian or not, you can still tell the story of the birth of the special child in Bethlehem”. “The Christmas nativity story is actually a therapeutic story about love for every child who ever wanted to be welcomed with love into this world”.
Spend time with those that are important in your life
December is that time of the year when we are bombarded with over commercialism by the social media. Our calendars are filled with festivities, celebrations, and activities, galore. Instead of rushing to every party, and trying to connect with every friend connect with a family member or friend that might find this time of year lonely. Spend a little time with those that are most important to you. Sorry for the blurry photo, it is hard to get a picture of the “Griswold clan”. With two fast moving targets, Summer and Deuce, it is nearly impossible!
Donate to Organizations in Need
Volunteering your time and giving back to your community is not only an impactful way to help others, but will leave you feeling the real meaning of christmas as well. Linked-In also has a list of Worthwhile Christmas Assistance Programs here.
Support Small and Local Companies
Shopping online is a wonderful convenience for those of us that work a lot of hours. Don’t forget to support the small businesses that support you in your own community. If there is something you can buy locally do it. We are blessed with many small businesses in our community that carry unique items you can’t find everywhere. Support them and companies within your state. Support the California companies who have stayed here, instead of outsourcing to other countries. CP Shades comes to mind as well as a recent re-discovery that I found in a local boutique, Margaret O’leary, Margaret O’Leary is an independent, employee-owned business. When they reached out and offered to send me a few things I couldn’t say yes fast enough. You can read about her history and mission here. Her clothes are an investment, but ones you will wear for years. Be sure to use my code Cindy15 for 15%off.
This cotton checkerboard tunic is a new favorite of mine. Many of you have asked for cotton options. I wear it with everything from jeans to skirts. It launders beautifully. I have already washed it three times.
Shop the Looks
The elbow t-neck caught my eye. I love texture. I appreciatee the coverage a 3/4 sleeve length offers (much more flattering at our age). She also has it in the long sleeved version as well that is calling my name. This shirt launders and holds it’s shape beautifully.
Shop the Looks
Her St. Claire sweater is 20% off (still pricey). It comes in multiple colors, and is quite possibly the nicest most versatile sweater I own. You can use my code Cindy15 for 15% off. It is the prettiest shade of blue gray and extremely soft. I wore this outfit to a party the other night, and everyone asked about the sweater. It is so unique.
Shop the Looks
Keep Your Own Family Traditions Alive
Our Christmas tree is decorated the same every year with ornaments that have meaning. The awful decorations my kids made as youngsters still flank the tree. I try to find an ornament each year that is either unique or holds special meaning for each of my children and Summer. My daughter and I used to begin decorating the day after Thanksgiving and Steve and I now do the same. Sometimes, it is a challenge to get “Scrooge” in the spirit, but once he gets started, he enjoys it. I usually buy some new ribbon and maybe use inexpensive brown craft paper. You can read my post 12 Creative Gift Wrap Ideas Using Simple Brown Paper here. Each year I craft my own gift tags and place cards for Christmas. It doesn’t take a lot of time, but it is something I enjoy. This year I decorated with a lot of magnolia and feathers so my gift tags have a feather theme. You can find ideas from my Christmas’ past in this post Easy Creative Gift Wrap Ideas You Can Copy.
Every year, I say I am going to grab all of our Christmas photos from years past, frame them and hang them on the tree. This year I am actually going to follow through. We may not get them done until after Christmas, but next year we will enjoy them. I ordered these frames from Amazon.
SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS
Enjoy the holiday season on your own terms. I know this is easier said than done. Often at Christmas time we become overwhelmed and over-burdened. The pressure to buy everyone the perfect gift, attend every event, and to get everything just perfect can be daunting. I have been guilty of this one for years. Let go of run-realistic expectations, and enjoy your time together as a family. Listen to Christmas carols, bake some holiday treats together. I am learning to do this, slowly. Almost every year we have a Christmas open house. Every year I make too much food. This year I am simplifying the menu. People tend to drink more than they eat if they are having fun. If you are planning a get together you might find my post 10 No Fail Appetizers that will Impress your Guests helpful here.
My friend Michele from Hello Lovely penned a post you might enjoy, Permission to Chill here. I think you will enjoy it.
Thank you for reading six simple ways to slow down and enjoy Christmas. I am working on enjoying a simpler, more manageable and meaningful Christmas season at our house. Are you hoping to do the same? What are your christmas traditions? I would love to hear your thoughts. I will be back on Thursday to share some of my favorite spots to shop small for meaningful gifts that your friends and family will treasure.
Now that the children and grandchildren are all grown and live in different states, we have a quiet Christmas at home, just the two of us. Oh add our 9 year old Havanese dog and our 17 year old cat to the family group. Lovely family picture Cindy. Happy Holidays!
Hi Sydney
We are getting a puppy in February. I am really excited but not looking forward to the puppy stage. I am not sure how our 16 year old cat is going to like it either!!
Cindy, you’ve touched on so many important aspects of a simple Christmas. Thanks for including me. I think it’s important that we all expand our notion of what ‘traditional Christmas’ looks and feels like. The more I can live my life in a way that feels good to me (rather than appears good to others), the more free I become. Wishing you and yours wonder and awe this holiday season – it’s the beginning of gratitude and wisdom, and what a gift! xox
A good friend, who has grown children, and grandchildren about the same ages as mine offered what her family does. Last year my family did the same, and were keeping it going this year!
There is an app called “Elfster”. It helps set up a gift exchange. The group decides on a budget. Everyone creates a list, with either ideas, or links to exact item. You can tweak the profiles so that spouses cannot draw each other. On a certain date that you pick, it sends an email to each person and shares who their pick is. Makes it easy for us, and our children and their spouses.
We buy Hanna Andersson Jammie’s for the little ones, and give them after Thanksgiving. We also give them a fun Christmas outfit every year. Other than that, one special toy for Christmas Day.
I no longer do Christmas. I gave myself the gift of letting go. I have found sanity in not being in that manic world of holiday perfection. The truest celebration is found in the return of the light. We celebrate the solstice. We have white lights on the topiaries by our front door. We turn them on at dusk each night until the first day of spring. We’re in our mid 70’s. We give generous holiday cash to those people who help us do things we no longer want/can do. It gives us joy. It is enough for us.
Thanks for the reminder Cindy – I love all those ideas. I hope you and your beautiful family have a wonderful and relaxing holiday!
Cindy, thank you for suggesting that we give to charity at this time of year.
A local San Luis Obispo County charity that I highly suggest is Womenade. They are in North County, Morro Bay/Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, and South County. Help is given by locals to locals who need immediate help with no time to go through red tape. Example: need gas money to drive to cancer treatments. They are given a gas card. Or food to get a family through until the next paycheck.
Oh – wish I could slow down this year! Over Thanksgiving, both hubby and I got sick – and his developed into pneumonia. He is recovering – but I don’t have any outdoor decorations or a tree yet. And, since I was sick, I still have some shopping to do. Know these are first world problems, but still frustrating. Hoping to pare down a little and get a lot accomplished this week so I can relax a little as we get closer to Christmas!
It was great to slow down and enjoy this blog entry. Thank you. I love the family photo.
I loved this post Cindy. I am trying to do just this! I am determined to get everything decorated and wrapped by the 15th, Then I have an assortment of books and mags that I’ve not yet read, a Christmas puzzle and a Christmas coloring book. I will relax and enjoy, I will relax and enjoy….I will I will I will..
Simple? That’s how it should be and focus on real meaning of Christmas! The holidays are Simple now but for years it was SO stressful!! Husband and I are from large family and we were strung between so many places to go and so many gifts that you didn’t know what to buy…it couldn’t be agreed to simplicity! Love the family photo.
Your link for the picture frames is going to LinkedIn instead of where we can purchase them.