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If you're like many, your calendar for the rest of November and December is already getting full. - Office parties. School parties. Sunday school parties. Church cantatas. Open houses. Tours of homes. Baking. Shopping. Decorating. Wrapping gifts.
"Most kids, when I ask them about Christmas memories, they don't always remember the toy; it's the activity," Bragwell said. " 'We went to Spring Park and rode the train,' or 'We went to Spring Valley to see the lights.'
"The activity and the event are what matters, not the gaming system and the computer. It's the togetherness."
posted
I've already got all my weekends in December full, between Candletea, relatives, church services, and Christmas/New Year's parties. It's okay though; I like making candles, eating good food, listening to the Christmas Eve services, and seeing my family.
My only stressers right now is to finish my grad school studies and presentations, and to get my Christmas shopping done this week or the next so I can send half my presents along with my sister when she heads back to college after Thanksgiving for exams.
-------------------- "But about the reindeer...what kind of a nose shines? How did he get it? Maybe it's not a reindeer after all. It could be something else." Posts: 2216 | From: Winston-Salem, NC | Registered: Nov 2003
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My only stress (so far) is trying to make sure we don't get stuck hosting my SIL and her husband AGAIN. Honest to god we are the ones with the chaotic lifestyle and yet every single holiday that we are in Canada we end up playing host to these people.
Hey SIL buy a clue here, sometimes you need to return the hospitality! And as god is my witness this Christmas it is your turn, more than your turn.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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I have just began our Christmas shopping, all the cards are written out. We usually bake an upright freezer full of cookies for cookie trays for gifts, mom and I are not sure that we are going to do the cookies this year as neither of us are in good health. We are figuring on small gifts instead, the family is getting smaller and smaller every year unfortunately we have lost so many.
I do not feel stressed I did however like the article. I would say the only thing I am stressed about is the handmade decorations I do for my dad's and uncle's grave they have to be perfect to me and that is very important. I am cherishing the memories from yesturyears this year and keeping it simple.
posted
I am doing nothing after Finals Week (mid-December). I'll probably go home and visit my family for a week or two; maybe go birdwatching at Merritt Island or the Everglades.
I was considering going to the Virgin Islands, and by coincidence my BF mentioned that he was considering a dive trip to St. Croix. Don't know if we'll end up going though - it seems a bit late to make holiday travel plans.
-------------------- "There is no constitutional right to sleep with endangered reptiles." -- Carl Hiaasen Won't somebody please think of the adults! Posts: 8254 | From: Florida | Registered: Oct 2002
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My holidays aren't going to be as full as usual. My father has a lot of siblings, and we always had big holiday get-together. But almost a year ago, in early December, my grandmother passed away. (That was a rough Christmas, especially for my dad.....) So, since most of my cousins on that side are married and having their own kids, this might be the first year without a big Christmas get-together on that set of relatives. Posts: 131 | From: Newark, OH | Registered: Sep 2005
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I had a touch of stress when I found I couldn't get kumquats for the cranberry dressing I usually make for Thanksgiving-- we're holding it this Thursday so that my parents and in-laws can make the long long drive up without having to fight regular holiday traffic.
But now I've found an alternate cranberry dressing that sounds good and uses tangerines.
Dunno what'll happen for Christmas. One crisis at a time.
Posts: 2787 | From: California | Registered: Feb 2000
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diehard, if you don't want to give up the cookie tradition, but aren't up to all that baking, how about "Sandcastle" cookies, or whatever they're called, where you put the dry ingredients in a mason jar with a tag for instructions on how much butter, egg, etc to add and how long to bake them. It takes literally about ten minutes to prepare several jars: Line them up on the counter, and toss a cup of flour (or whatever) in each, then add the sugar, etc. Screw the lid on, tie a pretty ribbon around them, and you're done. Homemade gifts without half the hassle!
posted
I plan on a virtually stress free holidy season. A friend has alrady invited my roommate and me to her house for Thanksgiving - which, as long as she and her husband aren't fighting, should be a lot of fun and totally stress free for me anyway. She may be a little stressed from cooking but all I will be worried about is helping to clean up.
As far as Christmas goes, I will be completely broke this year because of property taxes. In fact, I am struggling just to have enough money for food and bills so I won't be worrying about Christmas shopping. I'll get by on my own creativity this year. I am good with photography and poetry so coming up with gift ideas should be a lot of fun instead of stressful. And I won't be going into debt either because all of my credit cards are already maxed out. My main thoughts this Christmas will turn toward God and giving the best I have to my family and friands rather than commercialism and shopping. God willing, this should be a wonderful holiday season rather than two months of stress complicated by money problems and worrying what to buy everybody. I don't even have to worry about cards since I make my own from the computer. Without the problem of having to buy gifts and everything, I should be all ready for Christmas by the end of November. *long happy sigh*
-------------------- If you have to ask you'll never know Posts: 31 | From: Highland, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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fading_dawn, another idea to do on the computer that's always been greatly appreciated at my house: Print up calendars with family members' birthdays on them. If you've got color ink to spare, use favorite photos. Or just take a nice photograph, put it on a sheet of tagboard, and then staple the pages below it.
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I'm trying to be stress-free but other factions seem determined to make me stressed out. I do, OTOH, have a plan this year. I've been buying a few gifts per paycheck & I've got a mental list of things I need to buy AFA the kids & such (the kids need Christmas PJs, DD needs a cream turtleneck, etc.). Teacher gifts are planned (I'm going to the Scholastic bookstore outlet) & I've got my day after Christmas stash for all those parties that pop up. So far, there don't seem to be a lot of parties & such but I'm sure it will get worse. One weekend is already going to be packed so I'm just getting prepared & mentally planning out meals & such. I will probably not be the perfect hostess but I will have food available.
-------------------- I cannot live without books-Thomas Jefferson *~* A child educated only at school is an uneducated child - George Santayana I'm going to pummel you with such zeal, Buddha will explode! *~* Never miss a good chance to shut up - Will Rogers Posts: 6585 | From: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | Registered: Feb 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Auntie Witch: diehard, if you don't want to give up the cookie tradition, but aren't up to all that baking, how about "Sandcastle" cookies, or whatever they're called, where you put the dry ingredients in a mason jar with a tag for instructions on how much butter, egg, etc to add and how long to bake them. It takes literally about ten minutes to prepare several jars: Line them up on the counter, and toss a cup of flour (or whatever) in each, then add the sugar, etc. Screw the lid on, tie a pretty ribbon around them, and you're done. Homemade gifts without half the hassle!
You can do the same thing with just about any favorite cookie recipe or a sweet bread recipe. I have seen gift jars done up where the recipe was for chocolate chip cookies and they layered the ingredients -- very pretty! And just plain large mason jars work if you don't have any other kind of pretty ones.
ETA: I'm already planning on getting the Christmas stuff up out of the basement storage room the weekend after Thanksgiving, so that I have everything right there to double-check. I'm working down my gift list now to plan out what shopping is left. Cards are almost all done (I started them this summer -- stenciled). I'll probably finish and have them sent out the first week of December.
-------------------- Like every good third-in-a-series it contains a whole load of ewoks, ‘Clubber’ Lang, whey-faced Sophia Coppola, Sean Connery as the Pirate Captain’s estranged dad, a crappy CGI alien, and Richard Pryor on a donkey. -- Gideon Defoe Posts: 2211 | From: Harford County, MD | Registered: Oct 2005
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Ugh. The only thing i'm stressed about is presents. Cash is pretty tight right now and I have no idea what to get half of the people on my list. Unfortunately, I have a LOT of people on my list. Right now, here it is:
1. SO - I have an idea of what to get him 2. Mom - she's not difficult to shop for 3. Step-dad - very difficult to shop for. No idea what to get him. 4. Dad - Also difficult to shop for; again, no idea. 5. Step-mom - she's relatively easy to shop for 6. Older brother - impossible to shop for. Never happy with anything I get him 7. SIL - I'm planning on getting her some Swan Creek Candles (she's been asking for them) 8. Little brother #1 - extremely difficult to shop for 9. Little sister - not too hard. Anything from Victoria's Secret (bath collection) is good for her. 10. Little brother #2 - he's 5. No problem. 11. SO's parents - I know exactly what I want to get them, but it's going to take time and money 12. SO's brother - no fun. The only thing he wants is $50 Xbox games. 13. SO's sister - she'll never be happy no matter what I get her, so I'll just get whatever. 14. Family Christmas exchange person - we'll pick it at Thanksgiving. As long as it's a female, it won't be difficult or expensive. If it's a male, however.... 15. Niece #1 - she's 4, so it shouldn't be too hard. 16. Niece #2 - She's only 3 weeks old. Pretty much any stuffed animal will make her happy. 17. Nephew - he's 2. Not hard.
Grr for big families. Big close families.
I think for SO's parents I'm going to have to do an IOU. I'm planning on making them a memories quilt, but haven't had the money, photos or time.
For everyone else, It might have to just be one of those generic kinds of gifts. For example: last year, every female got candles and Bath and Body Works products, and all of the males got flannel sleep pants.
Everytime I see a Christmas display I thing "no! I don't have money for Christmas yet!". By now, I should be really excited and decorating everything in sight
-------------------- "I find them to be in contradiction of the basic principles of YOUR MOM!!!" -We've Got Mail Posts: 1361 | From: Muncie, IN | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Auntie Witch: fading_dawn, another idea to do on the computer that's always been greatly appreciated at my house: Print up calendars with family members' birthdays on them. If you've got color ink to spare, use favorite photos. Or just take a nice photograph, put it on a sheet of tagboard, and then staple the pages below it.
The calender with the family members birthdays on it is a good idea. That would probably be perfect for my brother and for my aunt. Especially if I use pictures of family members for the months that their birthdays fall on. Thank-you for suggesting that.
-------------------- If you have to ask you'll never know Posts: 31 | From: Highland, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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-For the brother that just wants $50 xBox games, get him a giftcard to a place that sells them in an amount you're OK with. If he's old enough to want the games, he's old enough to understand that they're expensive & getting $20 towards a new game is a good gift. My 9YO DS understands that!
-------------------- I cannot live without books-Thomas Jefferson *~* A child educated only at school is an uneducated child - George Santayana I'm going to pummel you with such zeal, Buddha will explode! *~* Never miss a good chance to shut up - Will Rogers Posts: 6585 | From: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | Registered: Feb 2002
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I found the perfect solution to the annual problem with my in-laws buying 15 or more toys for each of my kids (I am not exaggerating). Mr S and I have wanted to build a swing set for the kids, but with the hot Texas sun beating down 3/4s of the year metal is not an option. Wood swing sets are pricey. So this year we asked the in-laws to go in for half of the swing set and they are thrilled! Yeah! They may still buy the girls other toys, but at least this time there will be one thing that doesn't break before New Year's Day.
Now if only there was a solution to my in-laws' 10-day visit...
(They are getting a hotel but that doesn't make it better.)
-------------------- This used to be the life, but I don't need another one. MyBandwagon Posts: 3254 | From: small town Texas | Registered: Jan 2004
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As this is the first year with a child I'm anticipating more stress. My mom has already said "I don't care about Thanksgiving, I just want Christmas afternoon."
I feel as though this year I should actually send out cards since I get cards with pictures of everyone else's dear children every year. I don't want to partly because Little-Aud has this rash on her cheeks that we can't seem to get rid of and partly because I hate the idea of assembing all of the addresses. I would just blow it off again but I feel the need to do more to intigrate her into the family.
I've also not put up holiday decorations in years. I feel like I should "for the baby" but I am not enthused about it.
Posts: 1168 | From: Missouri | Registered: Oct 2005
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quote:Originally posted by diehard in the deep: "The activity and the event are what matters, not the gaming system and the computer. It's the togetherness."
That's funny because I identify all my past Christmas experiences (except for the last one with my great grandmother) by which gaming systems I received. It's not that I was spoiled, Christmas and birthdays were the only times of the year my parents could afford to get me expensive toys, which were almost always video game related. And they always managed to find them no matter how hard they were to find. I'm sure they still would too if I didn't do it myself now.
Posts: 835 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Auntie Witch: diehard, if you don't want to give up the cookie tradition, but aren't up to all that baking, how about "Sandcastle" cookies, or whatever they're called, where you put the dry ingredients in a mason jar with a tag for instructions on how much butter, egg, etc to add and how long to bake them. It takes literally about ten minutes to prepare several jars: Line them up on the counter, and toss a cup of flour (or whatever) in each, then add the sugar, etc. Screw the lid on, tie a pretty ribbon around them, and you're done. Homemade gifts without half the hassle!
Thanks! I've been wondering what to get my friend's kids for Christmas, and this will be perfect! You've just made my shopping a lot less stressful
-------------------- Daria: "I almost killed a dog today" Jane: "Gonna work your way up to humans slowly?" Posts: 385 | From: UK | Registered: Jul 2005
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I don't allow my holidays to get stressful. We do only what we want to do as a family and forget about the rest. I rather enjoy sending out Christmas cards from the Smithsonian collection each year, and we always include a family picture.
We've been going to the same mom/pop blue spruce farm since my kids were in elementary school and enjoy the heck out of that experience. The people that own it grow the trees on acreage behind their house. Each year they think about giving it up, but they have promised to always have tree available for my family regardless of whether they open for the season or not.
Baking is also a fun activity in my house. I find that if I plan well it can all get done in a day if not a weekend. That usually includes pasteries, several kinds of cookies and several types of bread.
I dont' put up Christmas light outside because it's just a pain in the butt. I also don't attend many parties. We have a huge Thanksgiving celebration with all our friends, and that's good enough for all of us.
Ironically, my divorce liberated Christmas for me. I know longer was strapped into 'engagements' that everyone dreaded. Since my Ex took all the Christmas stuff, we were able to buy everything knew and start traditions fresh. These include a 'candy table' which we've created every year since.
Beach...looks forward to Christmas every year now...Life!
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I'm with Beach. I just don't find the holidays stressful. If you expect me to break the bank on buying you an expensive present, you don't know me very well. You also will be disappointed if you think you can make me feel guilty about it. I won't. I give a gift because I want you to have something from me as a token of friendship. Nor do I expect something huge and pricey.
This year it's peppermint hot chocolate mix which works out to about $2 per pint of mix. There's also fizzy milk bath made with citric acid, powdered milk, and I think this year, honeysuckle & rose scent. Maybe grapefruit. And I ususally stitch up a whole bunch of catnip toys and tack them to bulletin board next to the mail boxes for all the cat owners in the complex. My parents and brother and I fill out the Amazon wish lists and get stuff from that all year for each other. And then when I see my parents in May they give the books we bought them to us to read.
I've got until Dec 8 to pick out some items to donate to Orange Santa, probably little makeup kits for the girls.
Kev? Lilybet? 37th St sometime after Thanksgiving?
Posts: 4811 | From: Austin, TX | Registered: Feb 2000
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Rhiandmoi
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
posted
My holidays are stressful, starting with Thanksgiving and going through New Years. They aren't stressful in a bad way, but it is still a lot to get through in a short amount of time, and I am responsible for a lot of planning and driving.
-------------------- I think that hyperbole is the single greatest factor contributing to the decline of society. - My friend Pat.
quote:Originally posted by Aud fish 2 fish red fish blue fish: As this is the first year with a child I'm anticipating more stress. My mom has already said "I don't care about Thanksgiving, I just want Christmas afternoon."
I feel as though this year I should actually send out cards since I get cards with pictures of everyone else's dear children every year. I don't want to partly because Little-Aud has this rash on her cheeks that we can't seem to get rid of and partly because I hate the idea of assembing all of the addresses. I would just blow it off again but I feel the need to do more to intigrate her into the family.
I've also not put up holiday decorations in years. I feel like I should "for the baby" but I am not enthused about it.
Don't decorate if you don't feel like it. She won't remember, anyway.
As far as pictures, there are some people who really want to see pictures, and some who are like, "Yay, a picture of some kid I have to fawn over now" Just send pictures to those who will care (Read: family). They won't care about the rash. Hand them out in person at family gatherings, and forget about mailing. Personally, I feel that if we don't care enough about each other to make a point of meeting during the Season, you're probably not someone who cares if you get a card from me or not.
Auntie "Didn't buy my kids a first Christmas present, because I figured diapers were enough" Witch
(Yes, I'm wearing my flame proof cloak after that one)
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I know it sounds bad, but every year when I start hearing about how stressful the holidays are for most people it actually makes me glad that I'm the only living member of my family and that I'm single. To me the holidays (be it Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years) are just ordinary days and nothing more than that. On Thanksgiving last year I went to Jack in the Box on the way home from work after working a swing shift (till 10 at night) and that didn't bother me one bit, and my ex-girlfriends are the only people I've ever bought Christmas gifts for.
Posts: 918 | From: Southern CA | Registered: Jan 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Auntie Witch: diehard, if you don't want to give up the cookie tradition, but aren't up to all that baking, how about "Sandcastle" cookies, or whatever they're called, where you put the dry ingredients in a mason jar with a tag for instructions on how much butter, egg, etc to add and how long to bake them. It takes literally about ten minutes to prepare several jars: Line them up on the counter, and toss a cup of flour (or whatever) in each, then add the sugar, etc. Screw the lid on, tie a pretty ribbon around them, and you're done. Homemade gifts without half the hassle!
You know I never gave that a thought that is a great suggestion, we usually bake for 2-3 months before Christmas and it is just getting to be way too much. I will talk to mom tonight and see what she thinks but I think that it is an awsome idea. Thanks
I believe that the idea from Auntie Witch is going to free up some time to get some other important things done like quality time and reminicing of memories of my dad which I deeply miss even though it has been 8 years, he was our Santa Clause. We are only shopping for the 3 young children this year our TV blew up and we had to buy a new one and decided paying off the new TV was our Christmas gift to each other here.
I don't know when we will start decorating mom is Mrs Clause for that it just takes days we have 15 rooms and she tries to decorate as many as possible, we do a great job. I just want more family time I am tired of all the other stuff and loosing dad has showed me how important that is even though we always spent time together I don't feel like I can ever get enough.
Anyone who isn't likely to be happy whatever you get them isn't worth stressing over. Just get them a standard generic gift, like a pair of gloves or a trivet, and save the search for the Perfect Thing for those who'll be happy with whatever you come up with.
Nonny
-------------------- When there isn't anything else worth analyzing, we examine our collective navel. I found thirty-six cents in change in mine the other day. Let no one say that there is no profit in philosophy. -- Silas Sparkhammer Posts: 10141 | From: Toronto, Ontario | Registered: Apr 2000
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Nonny, I've more or less given up on them. I think that for SO's little brother, I'll just tell SO to buy him something cheap and stick my name on it. Maybe we could go in together to get him an Xbox game (he's 17, by the way).
As for SO's sister, I think I'll just get her some Victoria's Secret Bath and Body type stuff. She generally seems okay with anything sparkly or good-smelling (she's 25).
As for my older and younger brothers? I've gotten them every generic thing I can think of. I'm simply out of ideas. Anyone?
-------------------- "I find them to be in contradiction of the basic principles of YOUR MOM!!!" -We've Got Mail Posts: 1361 | From: Muncie, IN | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Morgaine La Raq Star: ....I need to buy AFA the kids & such (the kids need Christmas PJs, DD needs a cream turtleneck, etc.)....
I hate to quote myself but I realized today that I had 2 pairs of PJs I had bought the kids several months ago dirt cheap. I had them try them on & they fit!! No dragging them to the mall or even Target to buy new PJs!! Now if I could just get all my Christmas shopping done!
-------------------- I cannot live without books-Thomas Jefferson *~* A child educated only at school is an uneducated child - George Santayana I'm going to pummel you with such zeal, Buddha will explode! *~* Never miss a good chance to shut up - Will Rogers Posts: 6585 | From: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | Registered: Feb 2002
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I have nothing in my calendar between now and Christmas. All my days are my own. This makes me incredibly happy
-------------------- Silence should never under any circumstances be construed as agreement. A lot of the time, it's simply a reflection that someone just said something so stupid that no response could possibly do it justice. - Ramblin' Dave Posts: 8528 | From: Nottingham, England | Registered: Feb 2000
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I don't have parties to go to (can't remember when I was last invited to a party - my friends and I don't seem to do them), but sadly I have too many evenings and Saturdays taken up with work related stuff. Urgh.
quote:Originally posted by Auntie Witch: fading_dawn, another idea to do on the computer that's always been greatly appreciated at my house: Print up calendars with family members' birthdays on them. If you've got color ink to spare, use favorite photos. Or just take a nice photograph, put it on a sheet of tagboard, and then staple the pages below it.
Oo, I love this idea! I might have to steal it for my grandparents' presents this year - they are nigh on impossible to find things for. Shame I don't think I have time to cross stitch an image for it, but I'm sure I can find suitable photos.
posted
My most stressful week over Christmas will be the week between Christmas and new years because I am going back to my home town, and even though i've only been gone 5 months by then i'm sure everyone will want to catch up and do stuff and i'm going to try and fit in a belated engagement party because i was too busy in the 4 days i was in town after my engagement and moving to have one. And do some post Christmas shopping because we have a severe lack of stores out here.
I am driving in on Christmas eve and not telling my grandparents i am coming home for Christmas, i'm just going to rock up Christmas day and surprise them. I'll even go so far as to bend the truth and tell them i can't make it home because it's too expensive. I'll ask my mum to pay my aunt for my fiance and I for Christmas dinner, but they have to keep quiet. I know that surprise will mean more to my grandparents than any gift i could buy them. ETA- although i will still madly rush to the shops on Christmas eve when i get there to get grandad a toofa and nanna a bottle of wine.
-------------------- Love is a sudden revelation: a kiss is always a discovery Posts: 902 | From: Australia | Registered: Dec 2005
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I'm trying to keep it simple this holiday season--but with an 8-month-old I'm sure that will change: photos with Santa, daycare celebrations, grandparent visits, shopping for him and DH, and the inevitable cold that keeps us home.
For Thanksgiving, we're ordering a dinner from Wegmans so all we have to create is a green vegetable and sweet potatoes. Our parents are coming and they will bring things.
-------------------- Nothing makes sense, so let's have no more nothing and stop making sense. Posts: 1353 | From: Pennsylvania | Registered: Apr 2004
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Just send pictures to those who will care (Read: family). They won't care about the rash. Hand them out in person at family gatherings, and forget about mailing. Personally, I feel that if we don't care enough about each other to make a point of meeting during the Season, you're probably not someone who cares if you get a card from me or not.
