Sending Christmas Cards

How is it that the simple act of sending Christmas cards can be so stressful? I remember my first Christmas as a wife. My husband and I got married in November. By the time we got back from the honeymoon, opened presents and I finished writing Thank-yous I had decided that I would forgo Christmas cards that year. I was just too tired. When I told my new husband he told me how he really wanted to send out Christmas cards. He mentioned that he would help but he felt we should send them out since it was our first Christmas as a married couple. I quickly relented and bought cards. Of course since I have a bad habit of trying to be Super Carrie, I didn't take my husband up on the offer of help. I got all the cards done and out shortly before Christmas.

After getting so stressed about sending cards out the previous year I was determined to get the cards done early. Now, if you can believe it, I start working on Christmas cards in October. It sounds crazy but it has made life so much less stressful for me. I simply put any unused Christmas cards along with a box purchased after Christmas in with my fall decorations. Then I put them by my bed and work on a few at night right before bed. If all goes well I get them all done by early November. I then put them in the mail the day before Thanksgiving so everyone gets them the day after Thanksgiving.

I must admit I ran into a snag this year. I am a new mom so I wanted to put a picture in the Christmas cards this year. Who knew it would take so long for the pictures to come in. Note to self, get Christmas picture taken in October.

OK, it is late November or early December and you need to work on your cards. I would still suggest putting them by your bed to work on them before you sleep. Figure out how many you need to get done and how many days you have to get them done. Then you will figure out how many need to get done each night. Don't forget that asking and/or accepting help is a good thing.
Is it getting very late and you are super stressed about getting the cards out? How about sending out a Christmas email to everyone you have an email address? I know, it isn't very traditional, but you can make it extra special by including a link to some family pictures, or a note about the past year. Then you can send traditional cards to those you don't have email addresses for.

Here is another suggestion, don't send cards. Yes, everyone loves getting all the cards, I know I do, but is the stress and expense worth it? If this year you are especially stressed, behind or the cost of stamps is difficult, allow yourself to not send them.

Update:
I was just informed of another way to reduce the stress of sending cards that I really like. Only send cards to those you get cards from. When the cards come in, open with family after eating dinner. You can take a moment to talk through fond memories of the past year of the person or family that sent the card. Then divide the cards up between family members and write a card back. It can be made more personal by adding a note about the memories discussed. This way you don't have to worry about making a list of people to send cards. Since the card will likely have a return address on it, you don't need to look up everyone's addresses to get the cards out.

Soft Ginger Cookies

I love ginger snaps and gingerbread men, the taste that is. I like soft cookies that don't need to be rolled out and cut out. Drop cookies that you can easily bite into is my cup of tea. You do have to roll the dough into balls but that beats the time and energy you need to get out the rolling pin and cookie cutters.

Soft Ginger Cookies

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer beat butter for 30 seconds.
4. Add 1 cup sugar.
5. Beat until fluffy.
6. Add egg and molasses; beat well.
7. Add half the flour mixture; beat until combined.
8. Stir in remaining flour with a wooden spoon.
9. Shape into 1-inch balls.
10. Roll in 2 tablespoons sugar.
11. Place on ungreased cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
12. Bake in the preheated oven 10 minutes or until light brown and puffed.
13. Let cool on cookie sheets 2 minutes.
14. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Makes about 36 cookies.

You Can Say No

Are you one of those people that have a hard time saying no? I understand all the reasons you say 'yes', even though you are thinking in your head, how am I going to make it all happen. I understand, because I am one of those people too.

Can you bring in a batch of cookies?
Can you make your famous lasagna?
Will you host the party?
Do you mind making another scarf? I love mine and want to give one to a friend.

It is all to easy to say yes, but when it comes time to making it all happen, it is another story. Even the things that we enjoy and are truly happy to do become more of a burned than a joy. It is even more depressing when it happens during the holidays.

If you really want to make the holidays a more enjoyable, less stressful, time of year, you need to be honest with yourself and others about how much you can actually do and still have time to have fun.

OK, so you don't think you can say 'no' outright. Try this instead. Tell the person asking for something that you will let them know tomorrow. This will mean you will have time to go home and evaluate if it is something that you can or should take on. Be sure to get back with the person the next day so they can make other plans.

I hope this holiday is much less stressful!

What Does Your Family What To Do

Let me guess, you never have enough time to do everything that it seems needs to be done this time of year. I agree! There are so many parties, children activities, city events, and family traditions that it seems you don't have time to breath let alone really enjoy the season.

Pick a night and sit down with your family and discuss what they really enjoy doing this time of year. Maybe you loved just driving around at night looking at the lights around town when you were a kid. Maybe you haven't had the opportunity to do that with your own kids because you felt obligated to do something that no one in your family even really enjoys. Everyone should at least have the opportunity to do their favorite. Then rethink the rest of your traditions or obligations.

There are likely some obligations that you can't get out of, but this revaluation will likely reduce stress and bring more joy to your holiday season.

Christmas Wish Book

I love this idea and plan to add it to my family's traditions this year.

Begin a Christmas wish book. In it record your best memories of the year gone by and wishes for the year to come. The fun part will come when you read what you wrote in past years. You will see if your wish did come true.

Any blank book can be transformed into a Christmas wish book. A larger book would likely weather the years better than smaller book.

Pass the book during a quiet time in the festivities, when your guest can take a moment to reflect.

Winter Wind Bath Salts

Easy homemade gift for one special person or for a party favor.

What woman doesn't love a relaxing bath? With this gift, you will be giving an opportunity for an extra special bath experience.

What you need
2 cups Epsom Salts
Pine essential oil
Cedar essential oil
Eucalyptus essential oil
Pine Sprigs
Tightly closing jar or bag

Directions

• Place Epsom salts in a medium bowl.
• Add 1 to 2 drops of each essential oils. (Or choose a single sent)
• Add a few small pine sprigs.
• Mix well.
• Transfer the salts to one or more tightly closed container and let stand for at least 2 weeks to allow time for the oils to sent the salts.
• Include a tag instructing the recipient to place a few tablespoons of the bath salts under the faucet when the bath is drawn.

Homemade Gift Bags

Tired of spending so much on gift bags, try this simple trick.

I had been in the habit of saving the Christmas cards that I would receive from friends and family each year. It seemed to me a waste to just throw them away. I had plans to use them for some craft but I didn't know what. That is when I thought, why not use them to make my own gift bags.

What you need
Christmas Cards (I use the ones that I received the previous year)
Plain gift bags (go to a craft store and buy the ones that come in 10 or 12 in a pack, check to see if the store has a 40% or 50% in the newspaper or web)
Glue or tape
Ribbon

Directions

• Cut off the front of the Christmas Card
• Glue or tape it to the front of the gift bag
• Use ribbon as a tie on the bag to close it.

You can get much more creative if you like. You can put a boarder around the card or cut out pictures from several cards to make a collage of pictures.

Not only will you save money, you are reusing and the person that gets the gift will appreciate the extra personal touch.