Christmas is right around the corner, and regardless of whether you’re ready or not, it’s going to be here in just a few short days. There’s so much hype that goes along with trying to pull off an inspired holiday for your family that we’re often left feeling not only overwhelmed but even disappointed because we just don’t have the time or energy to get it all done.
Even when I was a stay-at-home mom for many years, I scurried about for the weeks before Christmas attempting to craft the perfect holiday for my family. Baking, shopping, decorating, and entertaining went on for weeks all while chasing eight young kids around. Now that I work full-time outside the home, I realize more than ever how important being time savvy and organized is so I can still try and achieve some of that same holiday magic I did years ago when I had a bit more time on my hands.
Luckily, I recognized my limitations sooner rather than later and now keep my focus on spending time with my family throughout the season rather than trying to deliver a day that’s perfect and is gone in less than 24 hours.
1.) Celebrate the Winter Solstice
There is something peaceful and calming about recognizing the first day of winter. December 21st is Winter Solstice—the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. It’s been celebrated across the globe for thousands of years and signifies the return of light and life. Winter Solstice celebrations are a meaningful way to gather with friends and honor the true spirit of the season.
I love the theme “Lighten Up” for a Winter Solstice. Use candles (flameless ones are great!) to illuminate your home and decorate with nature such as pine cones, branches you find in your yard strung with white lights and evergreens. Solstice celebrations don’t need to be complicated, overly serious affairs; a solstice ritual can be as relaxed and simple as sharing a potluck meal with your neighbors and, for dessert, serve solstice cupcakes which you can place with candles and have your guests make a wish for the upcoming year.
Or go on an energy fast for the day by lighting candles and spending the day without television, cell phones, computers, or other unnecessary appliances and electronics. This is very calming right before Christmas arrives and opens up opportunities to connect in person with your family.
2.) Make Paper Snowflakes
Taking a few minutes to get “hands on” with a craft is a great way to release a little stress and do something fun together. Crafting paper snowflakes are easy and fun and will yield dozens of beautiful pieces to decorate your windows with. Buy a stack of beautiful scrapbook paper in vibrant colors and patterns and start cutting!
3.) Surprise Someone with an Anonymous Gift
How often do we hear that “giving is better than receiving?” Gather your family together and decide who you could all surprise with an anonymous holiday gift. Maybe it’s a neighbor that is always there for you or the janitor at school that stays late after all the plays and fundraisers and never complains but is just happy to help the students. No matter how much or how little you can give, you have the power to touch the life of another person and you can affect them in ways you may never completely be aware of. This is a nice way to do something together with your kids that will make a positive difference in someone else’s life.
4.) Hot Cocoa Buffet
Our family has always enjoyed ice cream sundae bars. Choosing the toppings, is one of the big reasons why my kids love this so much. During the holidays we change it up and have a hot chocolate bar instead. Besides heaps of sweet whipped cream, there are lots of other goodies you can sprinkle on top—chocolate chips, toffee pieces, rainbow sprinkles and even gummy bears. Some day after school, surprise your kids with a buffet of delights that they can top their hot cocoa with and then sit back and enjoy your Christmas tree.
5.) Holiday Reading
There’s nothing cozier than snuggling up together and enjoying holiday classics such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Night Before Christmas or The Polar Express while waiting for the big day to arrive. Check out this list of holiday classics and new reads that you can all enjoy together.
6.) Favorite Moment Jar
When my kids were younger, I was an avid scrapbooker. I would sit for hours and cut, paste and decorate page after page of my 8 little darling’ younger days. I, of course, had great intentions of producing several books for each of them, but as they get older and I got busier with work, my scrapbooking hobby stopped dead in its tracks. That’s when I started doing other things to keep track of the special memories we were making and one of those was something I learned about from a good friend—a “Favorite Moment Jar”. Simply get a jar such as a Mason Jar, which you can decorate any way you like, and as really neat and fun things happen throughout the year, write them down and put them in the jar. We read ours on New Year’s Eve. Take the week before Christmas to create your own “Favorite Moment Jar” and next year you’ll have something cool to look forward to. See Also: Preserving Family Memories
7.) Feed the Birds
If you don’t have a birdfeeder in your yard, the holiday season is a wonderful time to start taking care of all those interesting feathered friends that don’t fly south for the winter. There are lots of easy feeders you can make with your kids that you can hang in your yard or from the porch. Here’s a list of family-friendly feeders your kids will enjoy making before Santa visits.
8.) Candy Cane Heaven
It wouldn’t be the holidays without candy canes in the mix so take advantage of all things candy cane and add them to everything. Grind them up and add to hot cocoa, cookie frosting, brownies, whipped cream and even dip the rims of your cocktail glasses in them for a festive twist on a winter martini. Not all of my kids like mint so we also stock up on the many delicious fruit varieties that are also available. They also add a festive touch to gift wrap, table scape decorations and of course on your Christmas tree.
9.) Take-Out Theme
With all the fuss over holiday hams and turkey, this busy time of the year is the perfect time to start a new meal tradition, which can both ease your preparation burden as well as offer up some delicious new dishes to try. In our family we always have take-out food every Christmas Eve. We decide as a family what we want the theme to be and we order out. Last year we had Mexican food complete with a piñata. In years past we’ve enjoyed Chinese, Indian Food and even good-old burgers and fries.
10.) Re-Deck the Halls
Most of us all have one friend or family member who seem to have been separated at birth from decorating and homemaker extraordinaire, Martha Stewart—for me, that would be my friend Amy. She is one of my most talented friends and can cook, sew, and decorate with the best of the best. She shared one of her brilliant holiday ideas with me years ago, and it was such a big hit with my kids that I always happily pass it along. She chooses one night close to Christmas and re-decks the halls. Basically she either puts up another tree in an unexpected room like the kid’s bathroom or garage, or restrings Christmas lights throughout a part of the house that hasn’t been decorated like the hallway leading to the bedrooms or even the outside patio and creates some extra sparkle and surprise elements that will wow her family. This year I chose to surprise my 11-year old daughter by decorating her bedroom with holiday lights and ornaments and a mini white Christmas tree. When she came home from play rehearsal and saw her room glowing, she squealed and lit up like a Christmas tree herself!
What last-minute ways do you add excitement to your family’s holiday? Share your thoughts in the Comments section at http://ift.tt/1wBcPAN, post your ideas on the Mighty Mommy Facebook page. or email me at mommy@quickanddirtytips.com. Also visit my family-friendly boards at http://ift.tt/1wyJKr5.
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