Sloooow it down

Simplify, simplify. I have to keep reminding myself that "simplify" is my goal for the holiday season this year. I'm trying to bring the holidays back "down to Earth" this year. Spend less, panic less, hurry less, relax more, socialize more, enjoy family more and spend more time contemplating what is good.

So, far, I've been pretty successful.

Here are some of my strategies:

Price Hunting - I have put more effort than ever into price hunting for the items on my family's lists. You know, those items that aren't really "creative" gifts, but can be purchased in several places: electronics, tools, etc. But, I haven't been out in my car driving from mall to box store to mall. Prior to Thanksgiving, I read all the newspaper sale fliers and email advertisements and checked them to my lists. I made a quick shopping map and on Black Friday I visited only the stores where I wanted to buy something specific. I got all those gifts out of the way in one fell swoop. It felt good to have them done. I knew that I could spend the rest of the season coming up with meaningful gifts, making gifts, baking, etc - not driving all around creation from crowd to crowd. And, because I planned ahead a little, I saved a lot of money on those gifts by buying them on sale the day after Thanksgiving.

Family Gifts - I've bought more family gifts this year too - things we can all enjoy together, rather than separate gifts for everyone. This has not only saved some money, but I feel better about these gifts. No more, "This is MINE!" and fewer of those 'one-month' toys that get pushed to the back of the closet in mid January never to be seen again.

Stay on Task - I've made reasonable lists and stuck to them. I've been careful not to add to the lists all season long or buy lots of gifts that I just "came across." Though I do love to poke around the stores at this time of year and find little treasures for people that are unexpected, in years past I've found that I've purchased LOTS of these spontaneous gifts in addition to the gifts on my lists, and that adds up to too many presents and too much money. This year, I've limited this kind of shopping mostly to small items and only one or two for each person on my list. Keeping the spontaneous gifts to a minimum has helped to bring the holiday "back down to Earth" and to curb the excess that's become overwhelming in recent years.

Decorate Early - I couldn't wait to get the house decorated this year. Right after Thanksgiving, I pulled all the decorations out and started to place them a little at a time. Every few days I'd put out a few more things, so that about two weeks into December the house was in the spirit, and so were we. We put the tree up about two weeks earlier than usual, and have been enjoying it immensely. I've had Christmas music playing every evening at home and have made a point to do something holiday related every day.

Bake it up - Nothing says holidays to me more than the smell of baking in the kitchen. I baked all my neighbor and office gifts this year. The neighbors all received homemade orange sticky buns while my co-workers are munching on their candy cane cookies and their lemon shortbreads. We've baked all these things together as a family. Doing just one recipe at a time, over several days has allowed us to relax and not rush, and that's made the baking a great family activity, as opposed to a chore. And of course, there's cocoa and eggnog and maybe a glass of wine involved in every evening of baking - and Christmas music - can't forget that. Baked goods are much better gifts than the $5 trinkets so often handed out at this time of year.

On-line Shopping - I've found many of the gifts on my family's lists on-line, and had all the packages delivered either to home or work (so I can hide them!). This has saved mounds of time, given me much more time at home and alleviated the need for a sitter while I shop. I'm a true believer in shopping in local stores, owned by local people. I try to do that whenever I can. If an item on my list is available in a local store, I'll go there first. But, if it isn't, or it's only available in one of the big box stores, why bother go out. Just head to the computer, order it up and call it done. No crowds, no parking, no wet feet, and no running around when stores are out of stock. Saves so much time to be better spent reading The Polar Express, or sledding in the winter white.

Overnight holiday cards - Most years AJ and I spend lots of time designing and creating our holiday cards. While this is an activity that AJ and I really enjoy, we just don't always have time. This year, as time was running out, instead of panicking and staying up way too late too many nights trying to be creative, we decided to simplify the holiday card. We took a picture of one of our favorite holiday decorations - the Holiday Chicken - and went on-line to create a simple postcard at Overnight Prints. It took about 40 minutes to create the card, and we had them in hand in two days. And, we got 100 cards for about $20. How can you beat that? Simple, quick, inexpensive, creative and fun. I like it.

Holiday Auctions - Several of the gifts I've purchased this year have come from Holiday auctions or fairs. These are great places to find those spontaneous gifts, treasures and stocking stuffers. And, if you can help a cause by purchasing from an auction or fair, all the better. I also made a point to donate a few items to my son's school's holiday fair this year. I made a lovely holiday skirt and my mother made a beautiful apron - both of which went into the silent auction at the fair. It feels good to give something you've created and you know someone will appreciate.

We're having a big snowstorm today, but the kids have school. Too bad really, I was looking forward to taking them sledding, addressing some cards, making some gifts. But, I'll get to those things. My shopping is done, my baking is done, and now I can just enjoy.

I hope you all can too.