Tips for a Less Stressful Holiday Season

Since the calendar turned to December 1st, my goal has been to enjoy this holiday season. If you have children this can be an especially busy time of year with Christmas projects at home and school, end-of-the-year recitals, and just the everyday hustle and bustle of the holidays. Here are a few tips to help you (try) enjoy and relax a little more this year.

1. Send holiday greetings through email

We do live in the age of technology, right? I am guilty of stressing about choosing just the right Christmas card to send out each year. Then, if you opt to do a photo card, you have to worry about ordering early enough so they arrive in a timely manner. Sending your grettings via email is a great way to touchbase with everyone on your list. You can even add a photo upload to some email greetings. Still not so sure about doing an email card? Then how about greeting everyone with a Happy New Year card! Still just as festive and Shutterfly has a great selection to choose from.

2. Plan your meals and baking days ahead of time.

If you have family coming into town for the holidays, set your plan ahead of time. Your crockpot can be your best friend during these hectic days! Also, look for recipes that have just a few ingredients, so they can be prepared easily. If you’re big on baking, mark a day on your calendar to bake while your kids are at school. Then, if you have young children, set another afternoon aside for cookie making and holiday crafting.

3. Set a budget for gifting.

Buying gifts for others is stressful enough, but if you plan ahead of time it can actually be enjoyable. Try setting up a “gift fund” and start putting a little money aside here and there. You’ll be surprised how much will add up by the end of November! If you didn’t plan early, try using a set amount of money to purchase your holiday gifts. If you’re not into budgeting, you can always start shopping early (hey, who says Santa doesn’t work in July?).

4. Don’t skimp on traditions.

Again, planning early will help you do all that you want to during the month of December. Check your local events calendars to see if there are any programs or other events you’d like to attend. Watch all those great movies together as a family, drive around to find Christmas lights, and make that extra effort to have quality time with your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. We always set a day aside for making gingerbread houses, visiting a local park with a light display, and try to read at least one Christmas storybook every day or so. Just remember, you don’t have to attend every cookie exchange and holiday gathering!

5. Set up a gift-giving strategy with your family.

If you have several brothers and sisters or lots of cousins, try drawing names out of a hat so that you are only buying for one person instead of five. If you have children, set up a wishlist online. Almost all major retailers have this feature and it is a great way for grandparents and, anyone else who might be buying for your children, to see the items they like and do not already have. When your family can buy from a list, then you won’t be spending the day after Christmas returning duplicate items.

How do you destress during the holiday craze?

What We Love Right Now March 2, 2011: St. Patrick’s Day Simple

Keep it Irish easy this St. Patrick’s Day with these simple green crafting and cooking ideas.

Super Simple Shepards Pie

Prep Time: 10 min

Ready in: 30 min.

What you need:
1 lb. ground beef
8 med. green onions (about 1 cup)
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 can mexi-corn mix, drained
1 can (4 oz.) green chillies, undrained
1 package of instant mashed potatoes
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup corn chips

Fix it fast:
1. Cook ground beef and onions in a 10 in. skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until beef is brown. Drain well.
2. Stir in barbeque sauce, 3/4 cup of corn and chilies. Heat to a boil, then reduce heat to stay warm.
3. Cook potatoes according to package (you’ll need milk, butter, and water) and stir in remaining onion and corn. Let stand at least 5 min.
4. Spoon potatoes onto center of beef mixture, leaving 2 1/2- to 3-inch rim around edge of skillet; sprinkle cheese over potatoes and beef mixture. Cover and let stand about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle corn chips around edge of skillet.

Easy No Bake Cookies

Get your kids in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with these super fast no-bake treats. Just pick up a package of soft-baked sugar cookies and press out shamrocks with a  cookie cutter. Add a bit of color by pressing green sprinkles onto the cookies, and you’re done! Or grab some premade sugar cookie mix, roll out the dough, bake and ice together!

Cereal Rainbow

For this super easy craft all you need is a box of Fruit Loops, glue and construction. Then, let your child get to work on the colors of the rainbow by making a rainbow with the colored loops!

Throw a Party

Feelin’ lucky? Then throw a super fun party for this holiday. For decorations make some four leaf clovers. All you need a green construction paper, glue, and glitter (or another add ons you’d like). Cut the construction paper into into four small hearts and a stem and arrange into a clover. Then add on your in, glitter, etc.

For decor use different shades of green balloons and maybe some gold or yellow too. Hang some rainbow streamer and use fun green or gold paper products to serve up your treats. As a party craft for the kids, make rainbow mobiles. All you’ll need are wire hangers, multi-colored construction paper, markers or crayons, glue and yarn. Make the rainbow as your “anchor” then hang different charms from your rainbow with the yarn (think Lucky Charms marshmellow shapes).

Serve up the greens: For food think greens and yellows-celery, cucumbers, and green pepper served with dip. For a sweet treat whip up some cupcakes (according to package) and just add a few drops of green food coloring for a fun baked treat. Add green food coloring to white icing to top the cupcakes or use white icing with green or rainbow sprinkles.