How have you cut back and made Christmas more “simple”? This year I made bath salts for all the ladies, they loved them, and it was an easy and fairly inexpensive project. The biggest expense was the essential oils, but once you have them, they last quite a while. I recycled glass jars and decorated them with doilies from the dollar store (3 in a package for 99cents). I also cut back on the amount of baking I did. No complaints from anyone. I just made sure I made the favorites! A Blessed Christmas to you all!
Sifting Through the Aftermath
Posted by Danielle Bean in Homemaking on Saturday, December 26, 2009 6:59 AM
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Our Christmas was simpler this year in that I didn’t do nearly as much decorating—we are expecting #4 any day now, and the tree, outside wreaths and lights and a few decorations inside was what was ‘doable’ for our family. Joan, when you said, ‘no complaints from anyone,’ same here—I think sometimes (or often!) our expectations of how things ‘should be’ are mostly self-imposed.
Katie and Joan, I agree completely with your reflections that no one complained about having less. Dh and I were talking this afternoon and agreed that although our Christmas was very scaled back this year, the kids didn’t even seem to notice! We purchased several board games for family gifts and we had so much fun playing them together all day yesterday and most of the day today.
I promise I don’t work for the company
—I just wanted to ‘put in a good word’ for a household appliance I received this Christmas. A friend had recommended the cordless motorized swivel sweeper, so I took a chance and asked for one for Cmas. I’ve only had it 24 hours, but seems to work well picking up crumbs, fuzz and small bits of paper. My kids have also had alot of fun using it. It certainly won’t replace my vacuum, or do heavy cleanups, but is perfect for a quick touchup on my tile, laminate, and even our carpet.
I 2nd that! We got one a month ago. It really does work great and the kids still fight over who GETS TO sweep.
My big Christmas decorating triumph this year was to put all photos and photo cards we received on a small, about 3 ft tall, pre lit tree in a corner of our living room. I have these cute little clothespins, some are gingerbread kids and some are little trees which I used to attach the photos to the branches. Everyone loved it and it was a nice way to display them.
Does anyone get annoyed with receiving photo cards, particularly ones with “Seasons Greetings” on them and not religious Christmas cards each year? Just my opinion, but I think Christmas cards are a great way to remind everyone of the true meaning of the season. The photo cards are often unpersonalized and leave me wondering who people are celebrating, the birth of Christ or their families?
I love the photo cards so I can see how everyone has changed and show our friends how our family is growing. I do notice when the greeting ignores the reason for Christmas but don’t think simply being a photocard ignores Christ. One can choose a background that focuses on the meaning of Christmas and the greeting you have printed can speak to it as well. As a Mom to 3, 3 and under, it’s nearly all I can do to address cards, never mind add extra inside.
Re: Photo Cards
Anonymous: I think we all need to remember that not all people think as we do, and have to respect however they wish to send out their greeting cards. I think the intention of sending cards is good, but not all people focus as Jesus as the Reason for the Season and we have to respect them. We can give them a good example by the greeting cards we send.
Maureen: God Bless You, I remember when I had 3 under 3!!
I can’t get enough of this cranberry salsa recipe that my friend shared with me. And now with cranberries at .99 a bag! hello! It’s so festive looking and fresh and delicious. Recipe on my blog http://www.craftyscafe.blogspot.com
Also, I tried Annie’s Eats (blog) recipe for cranberry lemon scones and they, too, are out of this world. Incredibly light and flaky.
yeah for Christmas celebrations lasting until the 10th of january!
Since my husband had surgery on the first of the month, this Christmas was definately simpler. I cut back on the number of gifts the children recieved. We also limited decorations out, anticipating that the clean up will be after DH’s recovery period. Everyone seems to have taken to the changes, and I will continuing these things in the future. Our focus definately has definately switched for the better.
I am loving the Bissell floor steamer that Danielle brought up some weeks ago on the blog. After reading customer reviews I ordered one on Amazon for my husband to give me for Christmas. This is the first time the white tile on the bathroom floor has really looked good since we moved here. Worked great on vinyl and hardwood floors too. Not much else in the house is clean right now but the floors look great.
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