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Simple Ways to Create A More Meaningful Christmas

2006-12-06 Posted at 02:50:12 PM

As I was working on my Christmas project, I came across a couple of related articles that I wanted to share. This is one. Please make sure to scroll to the very bottom to get a copy of my special Christmas gift for you and your family.

15 Simple Ways to Create a More Meaningful Christmas

Christmas should be a joyous, magical time full of loving moments spent with friends and family. Sadly, many people find the holidays a source of additional stress in an already hectic life. As the “chief elves” responsible for most of the family's Christmas, women often end up frazzled and exhausted.

If you find yourself dreading December, put your energy into creating a more meaningful Christmas that focuses on people rather than on gifts. Hug people and write letters telling friends and family what you love about them. Watch some of those wonderful classic Christmas movies together. Laugh often. Spend your time with family and friends and set aside some time to help a cause or a friend who really needs your support. Give yourself permission to do less and enjoy it more. Give the best gift of all, your time and attention. All we ultimately own are our memories. Time together and simple traditions are the “Gifts from the Heart” that are truly treasured forever.

Here are some tips to help you create a more meaningful holiday.

Ask each family member to pick ONE activity that is really important for them for December and fit those in first. Let some of the other “have to dos” go.
When out shopping, stop and watch the kids on Santa's knee for a few minutes. Go on, BELIEVE!
Keep a copy of your kids' letters to Santa. Put them in an album to present as a gift when they're older. Every year, take out the album and re-read them.
Why not get the kids to write your Christmas letter this year? People will love it. Keep a copy of each year's letter to reread in the years ahead.
Give the gift of simple traditions. Leave a small scrap of torn red velvet somewhere in the living room near the chimney (or the front door if you don't have a chimney). Tell your children this is the patch that was torn from Santa's pants when he went back up the chimney or out the door.
Sprinkle some glitter around the fireplace or doorknob after your children have gone to bed on Christmas Eve. This is the magic dust Santa has to use to make himself fit in small places.
Plan some activities like skating, tobogganing, or outdoor walks to collect evergreens for homemade wreaths.
Spend lots of time outdoors. Make angels in the snow while you look at the stars together.
Choose a family charity or service project each December. Your kids will realize there is more Christmas than presents for themselves.
Set an extra place at the dinner table. There must be an elderly relative, neighbor, or single co-worker who needs to be included in your celebration.
Turn off the TV. Rent some of the wonderful Christmas videos that focus on creating a more caring holiday instead. Better yet, play board games all through December.
Give some coupons in your children's stockings that promise a chance to bake cookies with Mom or Dad, an opportunity to choose the menu for dinner or breakfast, an hour of Lego with Mom or Dad, sledding and hot chocolate, or a trip to the library.
Make shopping more fun. Go with a special friend or family member who brightens your spirits. Visit your favorite bookstore, church bazaar or craft fair together.
Rather than giving more "stuff" to people who have more than they need, give friends and family a card and a certificate indicating you've made a donation to a worthwhile charity on their behalf.
Make sure you schedule some things that you enjoy—you deserve to have fun too!

©2006 Virginia Brucker Virginia Brucker is the author of “Gifts from the Heart: Simple Ways to Make Your Family's Christmas More Meaningful”,
which is published by Insomniac Press. Book sales benefit cancer research.

Here is the other one

17 Simple Ways to Celebrate Christmas Without Blowing Your Budget

Does the expense and stress of Christmas make you feel like an unreformed Scrooge? Are you tired of fighting crowds in December only to keep paying for gifts until Easter? Whether you are frugal by choice or by necessity, these simple suggestions will save you time and money.

If your family is used to lots of presents, you may want to begin reducing the number of gifts gradually. Cut back a little each year.
Give coupons for babysitting, an outing together or a home cooked meal instead of a gift.
Gifts need not be expensive, but they should be chosen with care. Choose a tiny treasure or tree ornament that represents something special about your relationship with the recipient.
Save on gas. Plan your shopping so that you make as few trips as possible. Use the bus if you have good urban transit. Carpool with a friend-you'll enjoy spending time together while you shop.
Watch the sales flyers carefully, then call ahead to see which stores have the item you are looking for.
Is your gift it truly something the recipient needs or wants. Many people are trying to declutter. Perhaps a gift certificate for a favorite bookstore, a cheery poinsettia, or a basket of homemade muffins or cookies would be appreciated.
Consider pooling your resources with other family members in order to give one really special gift. Most people have too much stuff and would be thrilled to get a gift they really want.
Visit local craft fairs; you'll discover all sorts of wonderful gifts that are often very reasonably priced.
Shop at antique shops, thrift stores and second-hand bookstores.
Make a couple of denim shopping bags for an environmentally conscious friend.
Visit your local paint store and pick up an inexpensive roll of brown paper that can be used all year long. Add some raffia and a piece of cedar or fir bough for an elegant package.
It's not hard to make a gorgeous wreath. Pick up a loosely woven grapevine wreath at a craft shop. Tuck lots of cedar or fir boughs between the twigs and wire on some pinecones and a big bow. Ask recipients to save the base to return it so that you can make them a new wreath. People will look forward to this special gift each year.
Use natural materials like cedar boughs and pinecones to decorate with. They can be used for mulch or compost after the holidays are over.
Give a savings bond. There's no wrapping and no waste.
Recycle last year's cookie tins and baskets by filling them with newly baked or purchased cookies, bars, or muffins. If you don't have time to bake, fill mason jars from your local thrift store or recycling depot with a cookie mix-in-a-jar or brownie mix-in-a-jar recipe.
Rather than shopping for each person on your list, give family gifts. A basket full of craft supplies, video rental coupons and popcorn, a board game, or a snowman making kit and some hot chocolate are just a few possibilities.
Rather than giving a gift, give a beautiful card with a heartfelt letter thanking someone for the difference they've made in your life.

Get your special Christmas Gift from me here: http://www.franwatson.ca/Memories.html

All the best to you and yours

Fran Watson

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Simple Ways to Create A More Meaningful Christmas

2006-12-06 Posted at 02:50:12 PM

15 Simple Ways to Create a More Meaningful Christmas

17 Simple Ways to Celebrate Christmas Without Blowing Your Budget