'Tis the Season

Yes, it is "the season" and such a fun time of year. That is unless you are caught up in the "hussel and bussel" of everything and stressed to get it all done. It has always been my goal to not let that happen. Of course, sometimes we simply cannot help it, but with advance planning and learning to say "no" we can help matters. There's presents to buy and wrap, the house to decorate, gatherings to attend, cards to send, baking to do and on and on the list goes.

In recent years I have really scaled down on my decorating. For years almost every inch of our home was decorated in some "shape, form or fashion." I suppose the "empty nest" is where it started. The kids were gone and although they were home at Christmas, it definitely was not the same. AND, it was getting to be more and more work and I had no one available to help me haul the "bazillion" boxes of decorations down the stairs. Hubby is not good help when it comes to that. ~smile~ So, one year I just decided that the time had come for "less to be more."


I got a smaller tree, one of the slim-line trees that took up less space and took less time to decorate. Instead of the mantle being totally "decked out" we now only have our stockings hung.

I use my mirrored runner on the dining table with the fantastic clear cylinders that I found at TJ Maxx for less than $5 each. It takes less than 10 minutes to put this out and it looks "plum" good. Whenever we use the dining table during the holidays, I will add some small vases of red roses to the mix and that really "tops" it off.

I finish off my decorating by added a touch of "something festive" to the kitchen island. I was real proud of my "touch" this year. I used red and green M & M's with a candle sitting in the middle of them in my clear cylinder on a wrought iron base. I've decided that clear cylinders are just "dandy" to own. You can use them all year long and all you need to do is change what inside them. I used candy corn at Halloween, dried corn at Thanksgiving and will use red heart candy for Valentines and jelly beans at Easter. And, you can always just use potpourri.

Perhaps something I've shared in word and photos has given you an idea of a way to make your decorating easier and less time consuming. Just think, that will give you time for something else that is perhaps far more important.

We look forward to this Christmas with Clancy. He is 14 months old now and will definitely be into the celebration. Our 2 mo. old little Granddaughter will not quite know what is really going on, but next year we'll have both of them to enjoy the celebration. And, next year we will begin having Jesus' Birthday celebration with a cake and candle and my Dad made me a small manager and we will use that too. I'll definitely post a blog about this next year. We always read the Christmas story and reflect on what Christmas is all about, but there's just nothing like the "birthday celebration" to make it even more special for we adults as well.

I hope the season has gotten off to a good start for each of you. And, remember, don't take on anything extra, it's okay to say "no" to some things, and always take the time to just "be still and know."

"The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Luke 2:11