tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078784691189487344.post8511530134045275907..comments2024-03-12T14:45:56.357-04:00Comments on Dairy Godmother: What would you do/not do this Christmas?Shanny Banannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05725643119081307991noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078784691189487344.post-33595405662043529712009-11-22T20:35:26.452-05:002009-11-22T20:35:26.452-05:00Aurora, I absolutely love slice and bake cookies! ...Aurora, I absolutely love slice and bake cookies! I think putting the focus on something specific, like the tree, or some other special decoration is less overwhelming and allows you to enjoy it more. Nothing like laying on the floor, eating cookies while everything is lit up by the lights from the tree. If I do get around to organizing a nursing home day, I hope you all can come! I do know that if I do, it won't be during the holiday season! Maybe at Valentine's time or something, when things are slower and it's a time when people are feeling cooped up and need a little cheering.<br /> Lori, I love the idea of giving each other the gift of treating yourself! That's something I don't do as often as I should. Great idea! An open house sounds fun! Your home is so lovely, I can't imagine how nice all that hard work you put in this summer looks!Shanny Banannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05725643119081307991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078784691189487344.post-91425567567955842542009-11-22T10:16:50.703-05:002009-11-22T10:16:50.703-05:00Great post, Shannon! Nothing but a tree - except f...Great post, Shannon! Nothing but a tree - except for stuff that the kids (well, now just Daniel) have made at school & love to see up for all to admire. Cookies! Even though it's the slice-n-bake way, the kids & I will make the house smell fabulous for one fun afternoon around Christmas, and go crazy with sprinkles. Love your suggestion of the yearly visit to the nursing home. Having done a lot of work with seniors at two different libraries, I know everything you say in your post is absolutely true: those visits - however brief - are so valuable. When we delivered books to homebound seniors, we grew to realize that our monthly visit was really a special occasion for some of them. The gift of time is the most appreciated. And yes, small but thoughtful gifts that make a world of difference to someone: I know my kids would have fun picking out and giving small items (radios, puzzles, small throw/blanket, packets of cocoa or tea, etc.) and maybe even reading some books aloud with them. We're in!tibuvellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16960140564379994809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078784691189487344.post-64275698248010881742009-11-22T08:39:42.891-05:002009-11-22T08:39:42.891-05:00Shannon,
Interesting to think about how to actual...Shannon,<br /><br />Interesting to think about how to actually make your holidays more fun and less stressful by obligating yourself to doing less. This economy is a good excuse for us to 'get real' about our actual incomes and right-size our spending. I've actually been feeling the economic pinch for about a decade now. Things are worse now than ever...but I have been slowly and surely reducing over the past several years.<br /><br />My solution has been to only do gifts for children. My parents are retired and on a budget. My sister is always working hard to make ends meet as a single woman with school loans to pay off. We had a frank discussion a few years ago and came to the realization that we would ALL be happier without the stress related to finding gifts for one another. Instead, we are all under strict orders to go out AFTER the holidays (when they have the 80% discount sales) and find a treat for ourselves that we actually want.<br /><br />This is nice because everyone gets what they really want. And everyone gets a day out to look. A solo trip to the mall happens maybe twice a year for me. The outing is more exciting to me than anything I buy. I'd have a blast just window shopping. George also enjoys a leisurely trip (alone) to Best Buy or whatever so he can take the time to really look around.<br /><br />Instead of focusing of gift giving, I focus on food! We do eat very well. I also make a big deal out of rituals like having an annual cookie exchange...decorating (on a sane and limited way)...getting a tree, playing the holiday tunes and the like. Kylie thinks our way is 'normal' because she does not know better! She is not a kid who is very into 'stuff'. She thinks getting 5 or 6 modest things is a huge deal.<br /><br />I am thinking about having a holiday get together this year on top of the cookie exchange. I'd like to add a holiday open house to our annual traditions. Seeing friends and enjoying some goodies makes this my favorite time of year after summer. (I also love it when my out-of-town friends visit as it is a rare treat to see them in person.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com