With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas right around the corner; its my favorite time of the season. I’m decorating our home, making cookies, wrapping presents and spending time with family. Ah, the joys of the holidays! Sound like a dream right? While most of us think this is what is going to happen it more than likely will turn into stress and anxiety if you don’t keep the right outlook and big picture. Think big people!
I am (admittingly) one of these people above. I tend to give myself high expectations of what I should be doing rather than what is a realistic outcome. As I’m sure you can all relate. Now that I am a wife and officially a part of 3 families (my family, chads side and of course chad and I are a little family now 🙂 ). I feel and even bigger sense of responsibility to be the (so to speak) picture perfect host and wife. – Insert picture of 50’s housewife here-
This is why I am sharing with you a few ways that I am going to try to remind myself of what is really important this holiday season. Even when I am pulling my hair out asking myself why is this holiday exist!
“Decorating our home”
I am so blessed to have such a beautiful thing that Chad and I built together. If you ever built a home (or even purchased an existing home) they are a wallet drainer – even after you move in and is a supposed “turn key”- the job is NEVER DONE! We are still always adding things and trying to figure out where stuff should go ect. And, now that the holidays are here, there is even more decorating to do and decisions to make. I try to be as budget friendly as possible but, lets be honest, stuff adds up. Quick. Whenever I go to buy something I’m in the store for hours worried that I am going to buy the wrong pillow or wreath and it wont match this perfect image in my head. STOP! You don’t have to buy everything all at once. Let your Christmas decor grow with you and add things throughout the years. Best time to buy? Day after Christmas. I wanted to do this last year but it was hard to plan with the house at that point only having the rooms framed.
“Making Cookies”
I always picture making holiday cookies in a cute little apron with the fireplace roaring in the next room with a cup of hot cocoa that never gets cold. I have never experienced this if you have I’m coming to your place to bake cookies. Baking is a ton of work! Usually the “helpers” bow out before the dough even gets to the oven. Last year when I made cookies for my works cookie exchange (great way to gets LOTS of different types of cookies for waaaay less work) I did them by myself. I got them done but it wasn’t a pretty process. Lets call it a “slight oversight” when I realized I didn’t have a rolling pin for my sugar cookies. Don’t stretch yourself thin with promises of cookies or even cooking. Let other people help and pitch in. It always doesn’t have to be you. I’m planning on making cookies with my sister and law and my two nieces this year! Lots of helpers and backups if one gets distracted 🙂
“Wrapping presents”
Thanks *cough* *cough* Joanna Gaines for making my mismatched wrapping paper and sticker name tags look beneath your perfectly wrapped kraftpaper gifts with beautiful bows and chalkbaord name tags. Ok, I love Joanna Gaines and wish I could be her, but, my point is that who ultimately cares what the presents look like? Isn’t it what is underneath what really matters? Even more importantly, isn’t it the thought and energy that you put into your gift to give that person is what counts? One way I was able to cut down the stress level of presents this year is that both sides of the family drew names instead of everyone buying a gift for everyone! It cut out 6 presents total! SIX! We are all adults now and it seemed silly for everyone to get like 30 presents. I also felt like I was able to put more thought and personality into his or her gift. Try it, just for one year. Its worth a shot! You’re budget will thank you as well.
“Spending time with family”
This is always a tricky one. Let me first make it very clear that Chad and I love both of our families more than anything. We are beyond blessed to have both sides of our families be close, both of our parents still married AND we are both all close to our siblings. Which seems like a rarity these days. So, with that being said, here is the “catch”, they both always want us to be with them on all of the holidays. We always have a break the hearts of one side in order to make the other happy. I am a people pleaser and would do anything for them to make it easier or to make them happy. But, that is sometimes just not a realistic approach. You simply just can’t be two places at once. We do our best to split holidays down the middle or swap families each year to spend that holiday with. It seems to work for now and everyone is happy, but, what happens with the family that Chad and I created when we got married? When are we able to spend time and create our own traditions as a family just the two of us? I am going to try to take time with just Chad and I, even if its a small window, to sit back and try to enjoy the holiday as husband and wife. Open our presents. And then join back into the chaos called family 🙂
The magic of Christmas and the holidays are here to remind you of what you have and who you have is bigger than anything. Even if its small. Even if it may seem insignificant to someone else. It matters.
So, I am not only challenging you but also myself to keep my intentions in check as we quickly go through this month.
What are some of your holiday intentions?
How do you plan to keep those in check?
Let me know if you decide to draw names for Christmas!
Cheers!
Inspired by “December Intentions” by Candidly Keri
