Christmas Eve is here. I know you have a million things to finish but do you want to have a Merry Christmas or a stressed one? If you allow it, you can give up the stress and do the following:
1. Resolve to do what you can and forget the rest. I have made cookies, cheese cake, chocolate covered pretzels. I made and froze mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. I need to make the roast and the ham. I'll prepare gravy and saute a few veggies, that's it. What I wanted to do? All that plus, paint the bathroom, wash the dog, buy fresh flowers, get new candles, bake Swedish cookies and make my famous toffee! Too Much! All this extra stuff is not going to happen. I'm resigning myself to this fact.
TIP: If you just found out guests are coming over tonight:
Dinner is simple, a roast just sits for hours in the oven. Simply salt and pepper it, make slits in it and stuff sliced garlic into the slits.
A spiral ham is all ready cooked, just heat and serve.
While the ham or roast bakes, take a damp cloth and run over main things people will see. Your husband and or kids can do this. The refrigerator, tables, cabinets and microwave.
Sauteing is fast and easy. Just chop and prepare everything now and throw in a pan with minced garlic and butter. Cover and put in frig. The veggies can be done when guests are here. Sauteing in butter makes everything taste good.
Gravy: Use juice from meat and beef broth, heat on medium and add butter. Take 2 Tablespoons of flour in small bowl, add a bit of water and make a paste. Slowly whisk in the flour paste whisking over med high heat. If you are not a good cook, buy a jar or package and add juices from the roast after it's cooked!
Get some olives, fancy crackers, goat cheese, and grapes. Put it on a platter and there are your hour-deserves. Pair this with a bottle of White Sauvignon Blanc
2. Stop trying to impress. My family is coming over and I wanted my place to sparkle. It looks okay but I never got to decorating more than the tree an stockings. I didn't scrub the oven, microwave, wash walls (Yeah right!) and wash the windows, there is still laundry to do. Forget it! Hide the laundry, put on fresh couch covers or a pretty throw blanket to cover it. Do a quick vacuum, spray the dog with cologne, let the kids clean the windows. Straighten and forget it. If all this is even too much spray some Lysol and light a candle! Your family loves you (supposedly), if they talk about your housekeeping skills, SHAME ON THEM!
3. Send others to the stores for whatever you need. Do not attempt to shop today unless you are not preparing Christmas yourself. If you are a guest and need a gift, get gift cards. People like money. Buy bakery cookies, wine and bring that. Kids gifts - 711 sells Xbox cards, my kids love them. They also sell stuffed animals for a little girl or boy. Kids also like gift cards and money.
4. If you forgot to buy an adult a gift. Flowers are nice, a box of cookies or candy. Re-gift something you just bought new, men are big kids and like like games and technology. A Starbucks thermal mug and a bag of coffee are good for commuters. An ornament wrapped pretty makes a great hostess gift.
5. If you feel depressed. Remember those who have been through so much struggle in their lives and are still joyful. Think of all the starving, homeless and lonely. Vow to make someone else happy today. Smile at people. Think about a kid who has nothing and is still happy. Think: What is my problem if I can't be happy and a little kid can be happy no matter what.
6. Don't watch television. It promotes shopping, overspending and gluttony. It makes you feel bad if your'e not giving a car with a bow on it to your husband for Christmas!
7. Make sure you spend time on yourself. Take a long hot shower, or make your hair simple but pretty. Use a touch of make-up if you never do. Now, this one is big; close yourself off in your bedroom, lock the door, tell everyone even the dog not to disturb you! Get a glass of wine and just chill out. If you don't drink then just sit and be quiet. Meditate. Reflect. Tell yourself that you've done a bang up job and it's all good no matter if it's not perfect.
In this mini restoration time, remind yourself that Christmas is about joy, love, friends and family. Think of all the things that you have and what you are grateful for. Commit to yourself that you will not be offended, rushed or made to feel bad by anyone. Commit to enjoy yourself no matter what happens. Commit to laughing off all negative comments and disasters that may happen (ie: the roast tastes like the bottom of a shoe)
Are you alone this Christmas? Vow to do something that you love. Use this time to give yourself the things you never dare to.
Get outside and walk in nature be grateful that we have such beauty around us.
Find someone who is homeless and laying on the street. Leave a sandwich, put a coat or blanket on them. Then go and take yourself to a movie and enjoy that you have the whole night off and do nice things for yourself.
Merry Christmas to all of you my readers and those who just may stop by for a peek! Keep Joy in your heart, be brave, smile. Love the biggest gift of all, YOUR LIFE!
1. Resolve to do what you can and forget the rest. I have made cookies, cheese cake, chocolate covered pretzels. I made and froze mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. I need to make the roast and the ham. I'll prepare gravy and saute a few veggies, that's it. What I wanted to do? All that plus, paint the bathroom, wash the dog, buy fresh flowers, get new candles, bake Swedish cookies and make my famous toffee! Too Much! All this extra stuff is not going to happen. I'm resigning myself to this fact.
TIP: If you just found out guests are coming over tonight:
Dinner is simple, a roast just sits for hours in the oven. Simply salt and pepper it, make slits in it and stuff sliced garlic into the slits.
A spiral ham is all ready cooked, just heat and serve.
While the ham or roast bakes, take a damp cloth and run over main things people will see. Your husband and or kids can do this. The refrigerator, tables, cabinets and microwave.
Sauteing is fast and easy. Just chop and prepare everything now and throw in a pan with minced garlic and butter. Cover and put in frig. The veggies can be done when guests are here. Sauteing in butter makes everything taste good.
Gravy: Use juice from meat and beef broth, heat on medium and add butter. Take 2 Tablespoons of flour in small bowl, add a bit of water and make a paste. Slowly whisk in the flour paste whisking over med high heat. If you are not a good cook, buy a jar or package and add juices from the roast after it's cooked!
Get some olives, fancy crackers, goat cheese, and grapes. Put it on a platter and there are your hour-deserves. Pair this with a bottle of White Sauvignon Blanc
2. Stop trying to impress. My family is coming over and I wanted my place to sparkle. It looks okay but I never got to decorating more than the tree an stockings. I didn't scrub the oven, microwave, wash walls (Yeah right!) and wash the windows, there is still laundry to do. Forget it! Hide the laundry, put on fresh couch covers or a pretty throw blanket to cover it. Do a quick vacuum, spray the dog with cologne, let the kids clean the windows. Straighten and forget it. If all this is even too much spray some Lysol and light a candle! Your family loves you (supposedly), if they talk about your housekeeping skills, SHAME ON THEM!
3. Send others to the stores for whatever you need. Do not attempt to shop today unless you are not preparing Christmas yourself. If you are a guest and need a gift, get gift cards. People like money. Buy bakery cookies, wine and bring that. Kids gifts - 711 sells Xbox cards, my kids love them. They also sell stuffed animals for a little girl or boy. Kids also like gift cards and money.
4. If you forgot to buy an adult a gift. Flowers are nice, a box of cookies or candy. Re-gift something you just bought new, men are big kids and like like games and technology. A Starbucks thermal mug and a bag of coffee are good for commuters. An ornament wrapped pretty makes a great hostess gift.
5. If you feel depressed. Remember those who have been through so much struggle in their lives and are still joyful. Think of all the starving, homeless and lonely. Vow to make someone else happy today. Smile at people. Think about a kid who has nothing and is still happy. Think: What is my problem if I can't be happy and a little kid can be happy no matter what.
6. Don't watch television. It promotes shopping, overspending and gluttony. It makes you feel bad if your'e not giving a car with a bow on it to your husband for Christmas!
7. Make sure you spend time on yourself. Take a long hot shower, or make your hair simple but pretty. Use a touch of make-up if you never do. Now, this one is big; close yourself off in your bedroom, lock the door, tell everyone even the dog not to disturb you! Get a glass of wine and just chill out. If you don't drink then just sit and be quiet. Meditate. Reflect. Tell yourself that you've done a bang up job and it's all good no matter if it's not perfect.
In this mini restoration time, remind yourself that Christmas is about joy, love, friends and family. Think of all the things that you have and what you are grateful for. Commit to yourself that you will not be offended, rushed or made to feel bad by anyone. Commit to enjoy yourself no matter what happens. Commit to laughing off all negative comments and disasters that may happen (ie: the roast tastes like the bottom of a shoe)
Are you alone this Christmas? Vow to do something that you love. Use this time to give yourself the things you never dare to.
Get outside and walk in nature be grateful that we have such beauty around us.
Find someone who is homeless and laying on the street. Leave a sandwich, put a coat or blanket on them. Then go and take yourself to a movie and enjoy that you have the whole night off and do nice things for yourself.
Merry Christmas to all of you my readers and those who just may stop by for a peek! Keep Joy in your heart, be brave, smile. Love the biggest gift of all, YOUR LIFE!
1 comment:
Merry Christmas to you and yours, hope your days are less hectic and you're making time for art, that takes precedence in my world too. ha.
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