🎄✨ Hello!
We have two precious weeks until Christmas Eve. I don’t know about you, but I feel like I just got the Halloween decorations put away!
All week long I’ve talked to people who feel the same way I do: trying to figure out how to fit a month’s worth of holiday tasks into the tiny pocket of time between now and Christmas.
I want to do All the Holiday Things, while still holding space for peace and joy.
So I thought I'd say hello and share a few practical ideas, in case you're feeling the same way.
Simple Gift Ideas
These are some gifts I'm giving (that I'd also love to receive):
Avocado oil - has very nice mild flavor. Its smoking point is higher than olive oil, so it can be used widely in cooking.
Narcissus bulbs - It's so nice to have these fragrant blooms in January. White amaryllis bulbs are another lovely option, and you might even find them on sale.
Luminara candle - These flameless candles are very realistic, safe with no fire danger, and smoke-free so they don’t create indoor pollution. Some have timers so you don't even have to remember to turn them off!
Wrapping Gifts
With two weeks left before Christmas, I'm all about gift bags.
They're reusable, so you can feel virtuous about keeping wrapping paper out of landfill.
They're pretty, and take 7 seconds to fill. What's not to love?
Feeding People
I find it astonishing that on top of all the holiday tasks this month, my family members still expect to be fed! A few ideas:
Order take out or delivery from your favorite Asian restaurant. Get extra chopsticks and make memories! (This has become our Christmas Eve tradition, and I LOVE IT.)
Make an easy crockpot meal. My friend Nikki at Soulfully Made has a bunch of great slow cooker recipes.
Serve soup – It's easy to make, easy to freeze, and easy to ladle into bowls for whoever happens to wander through the kitchen. My friend Anne made this divine Marry Me Soup last Christmas Eve.
Stockings
Go BIG on the stocking stuffers, and by that I mean get fewer bigger items that take up more space.
A few ideas: a box of nice tea, hand warmers, candles, cookies, nuts, cozy socks, a pretty notebook, a deck of cards, a small cookbook (like 101 Things To Do With a Pickle!), gourmet popcorn, a compact game like Uno, cocoa mix, or a jar of local jam or honey.
Here are 15 inexpensive, last-minute stocking stuffer ideas.
Holiday Cards
🍾 How about a New Year’s card? This gives you an opportunity to take a nice family photo on Christmas Day.
⭐️ A holiday e-card or even a group email is a simple way to connect and catch up with loved ones. No licking of envelopes required!
❤️ For the last few years, I’ve been sending Valentine cards instead of Christmas cards. It's a ritual I love in the quiet month of February. (Although at the rate I'm going, we may be sending 4th of July cards this year and I've made peace with that!)
Cleaning the House
With extra mail, packages, and decorations this m onth, our house can easily become a cluttered mess. These tactics help:
Tidy and Wipe - When I walk through a room, I try to take 30 seconds to tidy one surface and then give it a quick wipe. These tiny resets add up fast, and soon the house feels more clean and organized.
15 Minute Makeover - I love to set the timer for 15 minutes and clean like a banshee. Sometimes I pretend that Princess Kate is on her way over for tea. With a little focus, it's amazing how much I can get done.
Hire a Little Help - If you have the means, hiring a housecleaning service for a couple of hours can be a true sanity saver (especially at this time of year).
Holiday Events
Monday night, my Mom and Pop invited me to their retirement community for a performance of winter music by a Colorado Symphony Orchestra quintet.
As I sat between my dear parents soaking in the beautiful music and watching the talented musicians, I felt completely present and forgot all about my To Do list.
It was a gentle reminder of what I truly treasure during Advent, and how grateful I am to spend time with family and friends.
The Big Picture
I love to turn on the Christmas tree lights in the morning as I sip my coffee.
A snoring dog at my feet, I send up a simple prayer: for time, for space, for grace -- for us all.
I'm reminded of that old saying from Julian of Norwich: "All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."
In peace,
~ Eliza
