I don't have any one big tip to share, so I thought I'd just offer up a few things I've done that worked pretty well for me.- Cheap decoration: holly! My mother-in-law has a huge holly bush in her yard. When we were first married, I found that holly clippings on the mantle were the best Christmas decoration, and free!
- Christ in Christmas: I often don't have gifts wrapped until pretty close before Christmas (I buy them earlier, but don't get around to wrapping). I bought a small nativity scene (one where all the pieces are connected) and put it under the tree. It is a good reminder that Jesus is the REAL gift... and it doesn't look so sad to have a gift-less tree.
- Family time: The first year hubs and I were married, we had been asked to do a Christmas morning breakfast with hubs' family, and we had Christmas evening plans with my family (they live an hour apart). We aren't morning people anyday of the year, let alone Christmas morning! It was horrible to have to open our stockings quickly and hurry though our first Christmas morning. No more. We decided it was important to have time for OUR family (no matter how small our family is at the moment). I have also realized that "Christmas to me" is NOT driving around to lots of places. When I was little, we often lived far away from our extended family. Therefore, we stayed home. Christmas was a very quiet, private time. Sometimes we had a family member visit us, but they just stayed with us the whole time. I hate driving around a lot and being super busy on Christmas day. We decided that hubs' family gets Christmas eve, OUR time is Christmas morning, and my family gets Christmas night.
Merry Christmas to all!
2 comments:
LOVE the "nativity under the tree" idea! I'm going to do that this year, because I usually don't get my gifts under there very quickly, but we put our tree up early (as in... this weekend! We'll be out of town all next week/weekend and I want it UP when we get home.)
Thanks!
My mom always had a nativity under the tree and while I was growing up I had no idea why she put it under the tree and not on a table where it was easier to see. I'm continuing this 'tradition' with MY tree. Thanks for your other tips too, I agree..travelling on Christmas + me don't mix! =)
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