Discover 6 simple paths to an easy Christmas season
I have been appreciating the wonderful new year greetings from my favorite bloggers and am preparing to share my thoughts too, yet I felt compelled to wrap up the Christmas period first.
I realize my 12 Days of Handmade Christmas ideas fell short by two days of the intended twelve; so many posts remained only in my imagination because time ran out!
The reality is that I underestimated the demands of my jewelry store work leading up to the holidays. I thoroughly enjoyed assisting customers in selecting thoughtful gifts for their loved ones, but this left minimal time for crafting!
My initial simplified plans gradually became even more pared down, leading me to understand that for the well-being of my family and myself, I needed to embrace simplicity over minor details this year.
Here are 6 methods to make Christmas simpler
{Simple Christmas} The Tree: Procure one and adorn it with existing lights and decorations.
The grand idea of a color-matched black and white tree with buffalo check garland vanished. The priority shifted to having a tree-like display up before our oldest sons returned for the holidays! My husband found a charming little tree in the woods for our living room area.
Similar to trees sourced from self-harvesting in the woods (like Charlie Brown's), this one had several noticeable gaps and branches too delicate for much weight.
I utilized every lightweight item available, filling it with paper garlands, paper feathers, and light balls. I concealed the large central void by wiring some of Grandma’s doilies and pine cones onto the trunk.
While it wasn't a perfectly designed tree (I didn't share a full image;)), it fulfilled its function. It symbolized the season and featured bright lights that the boys enjoyed clapping twice to activate or deactivate! (This 'Clapper' is now a cherished family tradition!)
{Simple Christmas} The Decorations ~ Enhance existing decor with a few festive touches.
I decorated for Christmas faster than ever before. I kept it straightforward, taking out decor from Christmas boxes and placing a few items around the house. I didn't remove the neutral Fall decor, but instead integrated 'kitschy' Christmas elements with it.
This took only 10 minutes, truly.
I also found that this decorating approach is quite simple to store away!
{Simple Christmas} The Food ~ Do not stress about baking a large volume from scratch. After all, bread machines and bakeries exist for this reason??;
My grand plan for a freezer stocked with Christmas treats was abandoned due to a lack of time! However, I managed to freeze some Christmas morning Swedish tea rings using my convenient bread machine. It worked perfectly and caused far less stress than baking everything myself!
I also realized we didn't miss having numerous sweets throughout the holidays; Grandma and Grandpa’s candy bags were sufficient!
{Simple Christmas} The Presents: Shop online instead of visiting malls.
We adopted a new approach to gifting this year as well. Given our limited time for extensive shopping, we procured nearly everything via the internet. We managed by ordering some items less than a week before Christmas, and everything arrived on schedule! This method also helped us adhere to our budget more easily.
{Simple Christmas} The Holiday Meal ~ Keep it uncomplicated. Simply enjoy preparing a meal for your family. (And, use Stove Top stuffing if needed!;))
I found cooking turkey dinner for 5 alongside my husband to be quite enjoyable! Since I had no time for pre-Christmas preparation, we simply worked together slowly, with cheerful Christmas music playing, and the result was excellent.
I avoided elaborate table settings (keeping only the china), but we featured a special addition on our Christmas table. A beautiful flower bouquet, received a few days before Christmas, served as a lovely centerpiece and remained fresh until recently! It was a wonderful enhancement to our Christmas decor.
{Simple Christmas} The Family Christmas Photo: Skip matching outfits and professional photographers. Just take a snapshot to keep as a lasting memory.
Capturing family moments during Christmas is a joy; instead of stressing over matching clothing, we opted for outdoor shots this time, enjoying the reunion of all the children, and even the yard's donkey joined in the fun :)
A remote shutter release, a wonderful gift, made picture-taking easier; my children became accustomed to posing while I requested just 'one more' shot, particularly enjoying our 'picture while praying for dinner' activity, even if some of us were amused.
This Christmas brought us precious memories, and I sincerely wish that you also have lovely recollections to keep close to your heart.
Wishing you a joyous Christmas greeting!
