Christmas Ordering
Copyright (c) 2007 Karen Talavera
It is said that less is more. This holiday season in the spirit of the general simplifying my life thought I would see if that's true. So what better way to declutter what for most Americans is the full top of all days? Christmas.
Christmas in particular can use a lot of cleaning up the mess. Two thousand years after the blessed event we celebrate, we've managed to turn the season in the Olympics presents, sending baking, decorating and travel. We did a sprint than a month of parties, shopping and shipping deadlines. We can even kill trees for this. For my part, I can live without fruitcake, eggnog, and evergreen fresh my living room once a year.
Ordering the vacation of your life by half by ordering the removal of holiday activities that have excessive or unnecessary been conditioned to do so, and take longer, instead of celebrating the holidays as the desires of your heart.
But I have to admit, ordering Christmas came for me this year out of necessity rather than reflection. Due to a wealth of business December – for both my husband and I – further complicated by a cruise weekend in mid-December we are taking (just won and is a "do it now or lose it" agreement), crowned by the fact that we would spend the entire week of Christmas and New Year with my husband's family in a foreign country, which met in November, simply not be time to carry out all the rituals of Christmas and holiday usually perform. In total, thirty-one December day, I would be home for fourteen. And did I mention that We have a ten-daughter (who still believes in Santa) and a dog?
Therefore, when contemplating how he would "do everything", I quickly realize the options are limited:
1) Do not sleep and I go crazy from sleep deprivation 2) Reduce sleep, resulting in irritability significantly increased and decreased enjoyment of the holiday 3) Try to do anything but no. They feel frustrated and guilty. 4) Do only the things I enjoy holidays and are important to me, skip or shortcut the others, and condemn the consequences.
Not liking a choice of one to three, I selected healthy number four. As soon as I made my choice for happiness on the requirement that the universe conspired to help me at all times. In fact, plotted as well in my favor This has been one of the most fun holiday seasons I can remember. Even with the limited time we had enough space to do what I like and enjoy, and something else. And, rather than altruistic intentions or principles, is the main reason I stay with this approach in the coming years and I am inspired to share with you.
This is what took to the sidewalk, what is not, and some tips on how you can do the same:
Shopping 1.Gift. I love playing Santa with my own son and giving gifts to children in my life. Since I'm not very clever, it is necessary to go shopping.
Order online from Amazon and other established retailers Internet shopping made easy this season, if not effortlessly. Better yet, this year due to aggressive economic recession retailers and discount merchandise coupon before the party, so while I made a trip of four hours at a local mall (and paid the price with a migraine murderer by the end of it) 50% of food stamp benefits, free $ 10 gift cards, and several others that are worth the trip. The takeaway: plan ahead and do it all in as few visits as possible.
Here's another idea: A few years ago me and my brothers – all older, married – decided to end our annual "Secret Santa "gift exchange. After all, how many electronics, designer handbags and home d? R elements did we need? Instead, Every Christmas we contribute a minimum of $ 100 per couple to a charity of your choice. We take turns selecting the noble cause of the year.
2.Decorating. Since we knew we would be celebrating Christmas in other places, this year we agreed (with the blessing of our daughter) not making our tree artificial. As a result, I have half the usual decoration is usually done at home. Without the usual complement of d? R and the tree, our house feels much more airy and my husband, himself a minimalist, daily comments about how he likes having fewer Christmas decorations throughout.
And best of all, instead of take a weekend, the Christmas decorations (including making the outdoor lights for a two-story house) took four hours in total. The focal point of decoration a few who put out is the scene of the Nativity. Good thing Jesus really the center of Christmas instead of a decorated tree. Decorations least somewhat remind us of more subtle and valuable vacation.
Order Christmas at home actually ordering their holiday home d usual? r. However, if you have a little things, to rotate the screen from one year to another. Then every year it seems like something new.
3.Baking. I usually like to bake at this time the year. I like going to the bags of cookies and make my favorite recipes, many of whom were my mother. However, this year due to schedule conflicts that could not attend the events he was invited and probably would not be having visitors. So why cook? Accurately.
However, one still Christmas cookies longs, so what do you do? Here is a great shortcut that will give you the best of both worlds. The supermarkets are full of pre-made cookies Christmas would not normally have at any other time of year. Buy some of their favorite varieties. Add your choice of one or two Nestle and Pillsbury "break and bake "packages of cookies and pop in the oven for 15 minutes. There you go, plenty of choice, freshly baked goodness time and the minimum spent in the kitchen. That is a gift if you ask me.
4. Christmas Cards and Holiday Bulletin inevitable. I love sending Christmas cards, but I hate the process of making. Luckily I have above average computer and administrative skills have been fine for automating this task somewhat feared. I have reduced this in a system essentially labeling and stuffing envelopes through the computerization process of the Christmas card mailing list, then printing equipment of all change and address labels. I personally sign the cards, but of course you could ask for pre-printed to speed things up further.
However, in fidelity to do just what I like, I did not jump the cards this year. They are an opportunity to reach out and touch the many friends and family who rarely have the opportunity to see. It is important let them know you are in my thoughts, though not in my zip code.
In the era of Internet and digital photography, automated greetings Christmas has never been so easy. If you want a completely hands-free, the computerization of its list, then load your favorite photos to the Kodak family, PhotoWorks or Web sites Snapfish and they'll do the shipping for you. Or save some trees and send a greeting free email Hallmark.com.
5. Visitors and visits. This is easy. Visitors? Have none. If necessary, ask them which hotel they will be less while in town. Or instead, go them. Better yet, if the budget allows it to meet in the middle, but keep it fun. The most fun to do than the destination, the easier for everyone else Christmas rituals will be. As an alternative to the busy town or traveling in winter to sleep in twin beds in the guest room, plan a family vacation to surf Ski or favorite place. This approach minimizes gift so crazy, because it is difficult to carry everything around. Think, nobody has to cook well, and could get a tan or a massage and stress and dirty dishes.
Ordering Christmas has not only been an incredible gift to me, has also taught me less is absolutely more vacation time. When I do not believe in all the "must do" dictated by modern society and reinforced by the consumerism of Christmas, I can enjoy the party at a deeper level. Correction: I am able to enjoy the party, period.
This year we will be with the family of my husband in Mexico, and although I will miss seeing my family in America, I will spend the holiday with people I love the simple relaxation, no hassle. We will be in a family house in the middle of nowhere, away from phones, TV and Internet. Best of all, we will be away from the hyper-marketing Christmas in the U.S.. If that is not a gift I do not know what it is.
About the Author
Karen Talavera is a keen observer, critical thinker and aspiring book author with a passion for writing, learning and teaching. She lives in South Florida and sounds off frequently on her blog of the same name, Sound Off. Read more of Karen’s writing at http://worldwidesoundoff.blogspot.com .
Atajada de Talavera + Aficionado en la cancha – México vs Honduras – 22/06/11 – TV Azteca
