Wow...where on earth did November go? I know...it has gone with the wind...caught up in the tail wind of my downsizing and blogging all about The {31} Purge ;} Followed by a week of traveling and spending time with family for Thanksgiving. So now it is December 1st...and I'm suddenly realizing that...I have little to none...motivation for Christmas...but I'm trying Denyse ;}
Now that it's all over...I'm just spent in the energy department :[ Let alone the fact that my Christmas decorations are stuffed way in the back of my new, downsized storage unit. There is no way that I'm going to kill myself digging anything out this holiday season. SEE all those blue plastic bins stacked way in the back...kapeesh!
So this year I've decided that I'm just NOT going to get all caught up in the commercial chaos and expectations that seem to pile up for the holidays. Instead I'm going to keep it simple sweetie by following these few steps:
1.) Do you Pinterest? Oh you must...especially if you are needing some holiday inspiration! In fact to keep my sanity during the purge...I started an inspiration board for the holidays so that I'd have something to look forward to afterwards.
2.) Decorate a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree like this one that I recently saw when I visited the Restoration Hardware store in Charlotte.
After all...it worked for me in the past when we had our house up for sale in Mint Hill and I did a counter-top version.
What I really like about this display in Restoration Hardware, is that they are using a garden urn to hold the tree branches and THEN they set up a plant pot rack/display around the base to hold the Christmas presents. NOW that's a great idea for double-duty furnishing...which is just fantastic for someone like me living in a small space ;}
In another area of the store, they had some branches that had battery-operated lights on them...now that's another great idea since I don't want to have to worry about extension cords or outlets AND I already use rechargeable batteries...works for me!
Before I move on...I have some explaining to do ;} The reason why I went into Restoration Hardware to begin with was because I had recently received their catalog in the mail and I was in dire need of some more pharmacy bottles for my vitamins and supplements...
Just a quick rant...while I was in the store I also wanted to check out their fantastic new collection of furniture...specifically their Aviator Wing Desk since my son works for the airlines and is an aerospace engineer ;} When I first arrived, I asked the sales rep if it was okay if I pulled out my camera and took some photos...to which he responded..."sure thing". After about ten minutes he came back to me and made a very snippy comment..."I hope that those aren't going to wind up on some blog". To which I replied, "Fine, I'll stop taking photos then" and I put my camera away. Originally I wasn't going to take any photos...but I was so inspired by their Christmas displays that I wanted to take them just so that I'd remember...I love visual aides ;} THEN after his comment I was so pissed off that I didn't even want to post ANY of the photos! I do not understand why a blog post would be BAD publicity for them? Needless to say...I won't stop shopping there because they have an arrogant sales staff who apparently have no idea about the positive effects blogging can have. So please leave a comment and tell me what you think about this. Enough said...I'm moving on ;}
3.) Bring back the Boose Tree this year. Even more tempting than the Charlie Brown Tree...what can I say ;}
4.) Send Regular Christmas Cards. Which means that I'm not going to stress over ordering personalize, photo cards. Nope...not moi...instead I am going to use all of the free cards that I get in the mail from all of the charities that I donate to. Usually I just place them inside of all the Bags of Hope that I pass out to the homeless over the holidays. But this year...I'm going to use them for all of my Christmas cards and add a quick, hand-written note for each recipient.
5.) Make personalized and home-made gifts. Instead of spending loads of money on gifts that eventually get purged {remember the back massager and the lap desk ;} I'm making gifts that create lasting memories. Last year I created a photo calendar for my Mom and I really think (from her reaction when she opened it) that it was her favorite gift. So this year I've created a new photo book for her entitled: Over the river and through the woods...to Nana and Bumpa's house we go. The cover has this photo of their driveway in Northfield, New Hampshire...
AND inside there are over 45 photos of my parents and their grand-kids hanging out at Nana and Bumpa's house doing all sorts of fun things. I can't wait to Skype with her on Christmas Day and watch as she opens up this years gift ;}
Well that's my plan so far for enjoying the holidays this year and I hope that you can find these simple tips helpful and inspiring. However...the best advise ever...is to start early and to write it all down!
Times are tough for a lot of people right now and I feel very blessed for all that we have...especially for my family! Our children are all grown up and they live all over the country...so just being able to be together for a few days is what I want to focus on. NOT the decorations, the Black Friday mahem or the Cyber Monday bull. Getting together...making special treats for my family, enjoying good food, playing games all night and taking down the Boose Tree...are what lasting memories are made of.
What are your plans this holiday season? Be sure to hop on over and share them this week with Denyse and Maggie...and tell them that Roberta sentcha.
Fondly, Roberta
I haven't' even thought putting my tree up and I'm suppose to have people over this weekend...boy do I feel like a scrooge!! I love the alcohol tree and you would have one of them...LOL!! Thanks for linky up to my "25 Days of Christmas Party"...You are the best!!!
Posted by: Denyse@Crazy Beautiful Life | 12/04/2011 at 08:31 PM