Re: Christmas merriment

KISS - keep it simple stupid - that’s my model. I shop online and don’t go crazy with my son. Try to leverage work time ... yesterday I went to CVS near my job to get stocking stuffers and GC for my fam.

Don’t stress it happens when it does. My tree was put up last week, idc it was up before Christmas. I don’t do cookies, photos or shelf on the elf. My sons only and last Christmas card was at 2 when I got him lol. The only pic I put on social media was my tree because I finally had it up. Better late than never no shame in my game.

The holidays are about family and giving. Focus on that feeling and ignore the outside noise. Drink wine

Re: Christmas merriment

Posted by NervousNell

The only thing I really care about are my cards, so yes I book a mini session for late Sept, early Oct because I'm obsessed with my DD's photos and I love designing the card.
So whoever said you make time for what is important to you is correct.
I am not a fan of Christmas decor and clutter so I go super minimal and very beautiful and classy with the decorating. Everything has to match and I dont' like a lot of excess clutter and anything red or green. My tree is monochromatic silver and sparkly and that's it.
Obviously wrapping is also NOT important to me as that sits until Christmas Eve and then I curse all night while doing it and hurt my back!



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Re: Christmas merriment

I must agree with what everyone has said about starting early and having a set list of who to buy for that you might forget. The past 2 years I have had my shopping done before Thanksgiving and it seriously makes a huge difference. I think of Halloween as the kickoff to shopping and as others have said, do most of it online. Throughout the year, if I think of something someone might like I keep a note of it in my phone. This has been so helpful because by the time I start to shop, I have a decent list of ideas.

Re: Christmas merriment

lists and lists and more lists

I make early. Gifts. Activities. Pictures etc

And we start early.

Christmas merriment

Me neither. I barely have time to shower. I haven't wrapped a single gift, I have to make treats for DD's Christmas party on Friday, I haven't shopped for Christmas Eve dinner. I'd love to be able to relax and enjoy everything but that's just not happening.

I didn't have time in November, either so "planning early" doesn't do it for me.

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I don't do the extra crap I don't need to do unless it's something we really enjoy.
I enjoy the little moments and the few traditions that mean something to us.
I'm not crafty, not a good cook or baker, I don't buy a ton of gifts... whatever. For me Christmas isn't about the superficial stuff anyway. I'm not into appearances or expectations or the materialism. I don't have time or energy for all that.
I do the minimum and focus my energy on enjoying my family. That's it.

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We really don't do any Christmas "activities" either.
I thought about taking DD to the city for a hot second then I realized it would kill my Christmas spirit totally. I can not deal with crowds even a little, nor can DH, and I know my DD, she would be bytching the whole time she was cold, how much longer until we get there, I'm tired from walking.
I'm not really into Christmas plays or movies or any of that.
We don't do Polar Express or any of those things because we really don't have time and to be honest, DD never really asks.
She is happy with her elf on the shelf, party at school, and the anticipation of Santa on Christmas morning.
You have to do what's best for you and your family and if that means doing less to save your sanity, so be it!

Message edited 12/21/2017 9:07:07 AM.

Christmas merriment

Thank everyone, I'm definitely going to try and implement some of these things next year!

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I think part of the problem is that Christmas basically disappears at 12:01 a.m. on December 26; I wish all of the holiday activities would continue up until New Year's!

Even though there aren't really many events to go to, I usually amp up my Christmas spirit after Christmas--when I have more time. In other words, I'll lounge on the couch and watch Christmas movies on December 26. Doing so makes me happy, and I don't care that Christmas is "officially" over.

I figure people start celebrating it in October, so I can celebrate it for a few days after; it alleviates the pressure of doing EVERYTHING before the 25th.

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The commercialization of Christmas is what ruins it. Yes! Retailers will shut everything down and move on to their next big money maker, Valentine's day, on 12/26 but in actuality the twelve days of Christmas really starts AFTER Christmas so the festivity doesn't just stop because the retailers say so. So, don't feel like you need to cram everything before Christmas and just focus on the things that are important to you and your family and make time for those things. It's about quality not quantity kwim?

As for planning everything, I think it does help to just sit down and make your lists once (who to get gifts for and budget, card list, menu, etc.), that you can then refer to every year after. It will just be easier to refer to that list next year and make any changes than to have to start from scratch every year and forget things or people lol.

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Message edited 12/21/2017 12:33:37 PM.

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Christmas merriment

Definitely just do what works for you and what you find to be enjoyable. For the past 4 years we did pro pics and I enjoyed it but i knew this year it would be stressful since my 1 year old most likely would not cooperate with the photographer at all, so I chose to skip it this year and just pics of the kids playing in the park and I'm still happy with how my cards came out.

I enjoy seeing my 5 year old get excited about Santa, so we took her to meet Santa at the mall, but made sure to do it at a time it wouldn't be busy (picked her up from school a few minutes early and went right there) because I hate crowds and long lines. If we went on a weekend when it was busy I would hate it. I generally try to avoid all stores and malls this time of year. I much prefer online shopping, and I got some very good prices by shopping online the week of thanks giving and cyber Monday. And I try to wrap thibgs as they come in, when my dd is at school or asleep. For me, one or two gifts at a time is less stressful than all at once. Once wrapped I hide them in large shipping boxes in the basement and write down what's in each wrapped gift so i don't forget and tape that piece of paper to the shipping box to keep every thing organized and also jeep a separate list so I can remember what we got for each kid.

I don't really take my kids anywhere "Christmasy" unless it's close and not too crowded. We like to just drive around and look at pretty lights on houses.

My dd loves to bakes cookies with me. I get kinda stressed by it since she's still young enough to make it a huge mess, but I do make the time and effort for that since I know she loves it. They come out looking pretty terrible, but at least she has fun

Re: Christmas merriment

Posted by Hofstra26


I also think it's important to take some time during the holidays to just "be". Sit, relax, listen to some Xmas music, have a mug of cocoa and jut breathe. People make themselves so harried and crazed that I think many times they forget to actually enjoy the merriment of the season.

Just my two cents.

Re: Christmas merriment

Posted by Straightarrow

Posted by Hofstra26


I also think it's important to take some time during the holidays to just "be". Sit, relax, listen to some Xmas music, have a mug of cocoa and jut breathe. People make themselves so harried and crazed that I think many times they forget to actually enjoy the merriment of the season.

Just my two cents.

No offense, but this made me literally laugh out loud. To someone (like the OP, and many others including me) we'd LOVE to be able to do this, but where is the time??

We are getting a new car tonight, my SO has an important match tomorrow, we have to finish shopping and get food for Christmas Day. Wrap. Deal with two custody agreements. Work through 5pm today and back in to work on Tuesday at 9am (with my son and my SO's son)

Soooo...yeah...

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Christmas merriment

My DS was chock-full of Christmas cheer this year, and I went with it. We saw both lights shows and the walkthrough at the ecology site. Drove through neighborhoods in our town several times to check out the lights. He was SO EXCITED, and he's only little once. The only thing we didn't do this year was NYC, which we usually do. My son wanted to listen to Christmas carols a lot, so it was on the radio almost constantly, which helped keep up the spirit.

As far as staying organized, Google Sheets was my go-to. We did Christmas pictures at the beginning of November. I wrapped as soon as things showed up at my door from Amazon. I took one Saturday and marathon shopped for any gifts I couldn't get on Amazon.

What killed me this year was keeping inventory of all of the gift cards I needed. I think I'm going to start with those first next year.

Christmas merriment

It’s so hard. I’m going to be honest, I start my shopping in October, before Halloween. I make a list of all the gifts and a budget. I can’t buy everyone’s gift the week before, I would die when the Amex bill comes in, I NEED to space it out for the financial aspect. This was the first year with our kids, I amazon primed those things right to my house in October, they each got 4 things and 2 bigger gifts from us to share. I then move to my DH, get him the. I do our parents and siblings. We don’t buy for extended family. I do my niece last because she’s 2 going on 30 and you never know what she’s going to want until the immediate moment. I ONLY shop online, youcouldnt pay me to Christmas shop in a store. It would literally cause me a complete mental breakdown. I cannot and will not ahop like that. If people want things, I ask early. I send a text out in October asking if there’s anything specific to all our family if I get an I don’t know or no response well then, I hope you like what I pick out. I did holiday cards at jc penny (sorry no fancy shoot in the woods with a cocoa stand in my house) next year I’ll put up the tree thanksgiving weekend and take my own photos, because that wasn’t worth the stress and aggravation. I shop for what I can on my lunch hour and I do take a lot of time off December and January where I work. I don’t bake cookies... at all... unless someone wants a ball of raw dough, forget it. I get the pilsbury cookies in a pack and that’s what we made for Santa. We did see santa, we went on a Sunday before the mall opened (the stores) the mall itself is open but stores aren’t. We waited 45 min (kids napped in the stroller) and we saw santa first online and we went to breakfast after. I plan on doing week days going forward but since it was their first my husband wanted to be there. Sometimes it just is what it is. We barely decorate, just some lights in the window, keep it simple. I don’t put a ton of stuff out. Focusing on my kids and just making it each day is more important.

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I am so glad its over. Its not fun for me. The only joy is in my kids faces but even now they are 12 and 14 gifts are expensive and no more santa

I was driving home cmas eve and couldn't stand the xmas music anymore

I was not raised celebrating xmas but married a catholic and even though we are divorced i feel stuck with all the chores and pressure for my kids sake

I spend too much and its all hurried and rushed and there is no end especially with whom to give gifts to and the ridiculous amounts of food thats bad for you

DD2 bday is right before cmas so that doesn't help

I deal by saying no, setting limits/boundaries, 95%shopping online and only giving gifts to certain people. For example i was invited to a cookie exchange and declined. I dont find enjoyment in it and even though it seems selfish i did whatever is best for me. I also stopped sending holiday cards

I make sure to stay mindful get enough sleep and remind myself it will be over to stay sane

Message edited 12/26/2017 8:26:51 PM.

Re: Christmas merriment

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by AngnShaun

people tend to make time for things that are top on their list. If someone is a baker normally then chances are theyre going to have time to do it. If someone is decoration obsessed, theyre going to make time to decorate every inch of their house. If someone loves holiday mini sessions theyre going to email their photographer in July making sure they are doing minis this year and already put their deposit down.


I dont wonder where people get the time to do it.... i wonder where people get the money to do it lol

This is true. It really all depends on what is important to you.

I admit, I LIVE for Xmas, I love the whole season and cannot wait for it every year. I also LOVE to cook and bake. So for me, the decorating, Xmas cookie making, entertaining, wrapping, etc. is the best and I make time for it because I truly enjoy it all. But I get that not everyone is like me and that's okay too.

I think people spend WAY too much time worrying about what others are doing, or comparing themselves and their holidays to others, or tying their merriment and cheer into what the stores dictate and IMO...............NONE of that matters. It's completely on each individual to make the holiday what they want. You create your own cheer and joy. I do the things I do at the holidays because it brings ME joy and I don't care what everyone else is doing or if people think what I do is over the top. I think if everyone did the things that made them happy around the holidays this season would feel a lot stressed and crazy.

I also think it's important to take some time during the holidays to just "be". Sit, relax, listen to some Xmas music, have a mug of cocoa and jut breathe. People make themselves so harried and crazed that I think many times they forget to actually enjoy the merriment of the season.

Just my two cents.