We definitely followed most of your ideas here as we moved into the holiday this year. I simply refused to let Christmas become a time of “must.” Must shop. Must bake. Must produce. We tried to shift our focus to doing the things we enjoyed with the family. It was helpful that I bought the presents for the kids throughout the year at second-hand stores or church bazaars, so we came to the holiday feeling prepared and not overwhelemed.

We baked because we enjoy baking. We only shopped when absolutely necessary, but when we did so, we looked for gifts for the grandparents that inspired us…not gifts for the mere purpose of giving “something.” We did lots of crafts together because we enjoy crafting together.

Thank you so much for this post!
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We were snowed in today, and it was perfect. Pajamas all day. Movie. Popcorn. Fire. It was the perfect prelude to Christmas.
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I live abroad and am the charity person for a small women’s association. Between raising $80,000 at our annual Christmas bazaar, organizing a January food drive, planning one Christmas party for families in need and one for a gerontology/rehabilitation center, and looking for a beneficiary for our breast cancer event in March, I have had no time to get caught up in any kind of consumerist hullaballoo. I guess I haven’t for years now. A tree goes up on the 24th, one or two gifts are purchsed for my two girls around that last week, a simple dinner is prepared, cards go out if I thought of it, my mom gets the same journal every year, my dad insists he doesn’t need/want anything. I never have any wishes for myself except to be more at peace. I have to say I am ever so glad not to own a television and, probably, to live abroad where life is slower by itself without having to hang on catchwords like simplicity, ya know? Have a beautiful holiday season!

i had lost track of when christmas is (despite two advent calendars!). i thought there was an extra weekend between now and christmas and earlier this week when i realized there was not, i went into quite a tailspin.

what helped to get me out of it was getting outside. my kids and i spent yesterday afternoon hiking in the woods talking to the gnomes and fairies, photographing moss, listening to birds.

it was just what i needed to refocus on what is important to me during this special season…simple beauty, magical moments, and being fully present with my loved ones.

today we’ll spend some time making ornaments for friends and then getting back outside for another nature walk!

~erin
.-= exhale. return to center.´s last blog ..mamaste mothers’ circles begin in january =-.