Oh what fun it is to admit the holidays are insane. I have compiled a list of tips from my house to yours on coping with the holidays effectively and in a fun way. I hope you will enjoy this read and share it for fun. XO sweeties!
1. Thank you for being a friend...
There is nothing in
this world like having a best
girlfriend. It is especially true at
this time of the year. I can recall a time not so long ago (the past
weekend) when all I wanted was some adult interaction. My husband's work
schedule leaves us a tiny window of time to effectively communicate the "meat
and taters" of life let alone just gab and laugh. This is where my
best girlfriend comes in. Over the weekend we were to have a phone date. To say I needed this
phone date is/was/will be a complete understatement. I was going
on day six of being a married single mom.
The morning had been tedious, the afternoon was a blur, and the evening
was fun but man oh man did I crave an adult conversation! The time came
for our phone date, after the kids were nestled all snug in their beds (or after the sugar high and worn them down
and they were drooling on themselves asleep with eyes open, it happens.)
I rang her up and got...voicemail.
Shot to the heart and you’re to
blame. The poor thing had had a busy day with her two boys and her
husband just let her snore (she may kill me for sharing that) where she was.
Two days later we
got that phone date. In the midst of her getting off work and getting
kids in the house, a dog walked, and referring a candy incident - we had a
fabulous conversation! One of those only us girls can have - serious,
gross and left in giggles.
The key to survival
in any season is a good BFF girlfriend who you can dial up and vent to and then
be left laughing until your mom bladder has you peeing yourself. It helps
if she is in the same mommy boat or single boat as yourself as you will connect
in just the right way. If you do not have one of these precious gems then
we need to talk and get that fixed immediately.
2. Bourbon...
This is not the part
of the post where I post of the joys of alcoholism. Negative on this
being where I tell you to put it on the binky when you have hit your breaking
point either. Indeed, this is where I share with you that at some point
you will be so high strung and tight that you will need a tiny release. Since I do not condone the use of illegal
narcotics or your grandma’s stash of loopy controllers I will share that the
one thing that will loosen me up is bourbon and some Coca-Cola. I don't
do this first thing in the morning but in the evening when you've had your fill
of screaming kids, braggy-beotches, and the mountain of work that hasn't been
accomplished - pour yourself about two fingers and some soda and unwind.
(But just one....this isn't Christmas Eve.) If you have an aversion to spirits then crack
open um…well…grape juice or something.
3. Delilah....
You think you have
problems? Figure out what your local dentist chair music station is and
turn it on after 7 PM and listen to the Delilah show.) You're totally
good, I promise.
4. Water...
I loosened you up
with bourbon and now I turn the tables on you. Truth be told we should
all be in a state of pancreas strike during this time of year. If you
want to feel better then drink a lot of water. With all the holiday foods
(salty ones, sweet ones, high protein, higher fat) we need to ingest a whole
lot of water. And no, you don't have to put lemon in it, good Lord.
5. Messy Activities...
Admitting I am a
pretty A type person but I have B type tendencies in this DNA structure (seriously, how many letters can I use?)
This is that time of year when you need to let your B tendencies run
freely. My kids have the best time with paint (acrylic). I buy some
canvases (on sale extra cheap right now)
and pull out my paint, cover the island with towels or paper and let them set
their inner Van Gogh free. You know what happens right? I join in.
I fail to stress about the paint on my son's face, I don't go crazy over
my daughter's lack of attention to detail, we just sit around and make
masterpieces and have fun. Here's the deal: These are the moments I
remember from being a kid - making a mess that did not get a standing yelling
session because we were all having fun.
It should be known
that these days I survive on coffee and play doh. I don’t get why parents freak
out over Play Doh? Keep it off the freaking
carpet and on the table and supervise a little and you’re golden. Buy a
few cans of the stuff and put the kids into a realm of sculpting. They
will have oodles of fun and their brains will grow and you'll get a break to do
something like...laundry. (Refer to number two for a better idea.)
6. Gift yourself...
This isn't putting a
bow on your person and being awkward. You are an important individual who
has a lot to do but that doesn't mean every second of every day has to be doing
work. If you work outside of the home then for the love of God take the
toilet cleaning gloves off. If you work inside the home then, well, do
the same. You like to read? Then
do it. I promise I have talked to the good fairy and she said she
will not cause your walls to break away from your home and crumble if you sit
your butt down and read, paint, knit, watch Lifetime, do a Sudoku puzzle, paint
your nails, shave your legs, catch a cat nap, eat Oreos, color in that “adult”
coloring book (which I have issues with) or whatever. So do it and make a
point to carve out a good thirty minutes every evening or day time to do it. It is a gift to you, take it!
7. Evade debt....
Can I get an amen
that we live in a society that is so materialistic we have made ourselves
shopping stupid? I hate to think we will see the day when oxygen gets
branded. Coach bags, Ugg boots, Under Armor thongs...give me a break.
If you have scads of cash to blow or no fear of the magic swipe then go
ahead do your thing (and email me for a list of things I'd like to have but
really don't need.) But if you're sitting there at 1 AM looking at your
bank statement and your shopping list then listen up...channel yourself. Do you know how many people on your list do
not want another blah blah to sit on
a shelf and gather dust or hang in a closet never to be placed on yourself?
I'm calling for a socks and
underwear revolution...just kidding. I am calling for a self-check -
a reality check too. So many people are insanely talented with crafting,
arts, baking, cooking and yet they think they need to go blow a load (bad choice of words, maybe it is the bourbon, oops). Get
crafty with your niche and make something awesome. If you still think
you're not doing enough throw in a slight gift card. Gifts are fun and
all that but remember....it is the thought that counts and sometimes just being
in the presence of your loved ones and friends is enough. OK, sometimes.
8. Dress pretty...
Some people get to
get all dolled up for multiple events for the season and some of us don't.
This can be a fancy time of the year and I read studies where the
majority of women like to get dressed up because it makes them feel more
confident. If you're stressed then maybe you need to take an extra fifteen
minutes and put on more than concealer. That "dressy" sweater
you bought needs to worn. Those diamond earrings need to be in your ears.
It doesn't matter if you're going to the post office, Walmart,
McDonald's, or to get gas. Take some time, dress pretty, make people
wonder where that hottie is going. (Don't take that as meaning you dress
like a skank hoe.)
9. Re-eval your calendar...
If you're one of
those people who have a full calendar of crap then maybe you need to have an intervention re-evaluation of all those pen and
pencil marks. Believe it or not you're not mandated to attend every
single event you are invited to. You also do not have to decide to try
out for volunteer of the year in the 12th month of said year. Running
yourself ragged when it is unnecessary can be a huge road block to happy
holidays. Take time (after you read this post preferably) to look at what
all you have going on and decide what you really want to attend and what you
really want to skip. Then do like your great aunt Nike said - just do it.
As in RSVP: I'm so
sorry. This time of year is busy and it is short cut the crap; create
more time for things you really want to do.
10. It is short...
I just
said that twice. In college if a
professor said something twice that meant it was important and you better
remember it for 16 weeks. This time of year is a mere blippit on the radar
of a calendar year. Yet it is the most memorable time of the year every
year. This is when we remember big things that happened in the 11 months
prior and embrace some sort of change. Maybe you got married this year
and this is the first Christmas as a spouse. Maybe you had a kid, well
Merry Christmas Parent! Maybe you lost a loved one; that sucks and hurts.
Maybe you moved away, won the lottery, got some bad news, or some great
news. This season is impacted by the changes we faced over the year.
Changes are reflected in every photo, video, get together, decoration, party,
gathering, etc. This is the time of year when our senses are heightened
along with our emotions. Your kids will grind your nerves, break your
heart, and then leave you standing in a puddle of tears of happiness.
Your loved ones will drive you to the brink of four fingers of bourbon
with no coke. The get-togethers will be funnier and sometimes a little
difficult. Love will be sweeter. The downside:
we will all be a year farther into this game of life and even farther removed
from the ages of our youth. Enjoy every single second of every single
moment. You will never get this 2015 holiday season again. Savor,
enjoy, and relax.
