Handling Holiday Ups And Downs
Wednesday - November 28, 2007
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Del.icio.usKeeping things simple.
Do you have someone in your life who just always seems to make things more complicated than they need to be? Maybe it’s a friend, a family member or a co-worker.
You know the type of person I’m talking about, right? Every situation, every conversation has to be a big ordeal. Every little detail is scrutinized and dissected beyond comprehension. Each little problem becomes an insurmountable catastrophe.
Well, especially these days, I’m all for keeping things simple. Why would you want more stress in your life anyway?
So if you can’t cut these kinds of people out of your life completely, my best advice is have a plan of “crisis control” for keeping this person from emotional overload or avoid as much contact with them as possible.
You deserve to enjoy the holiday season!
Speaking of the holidays ...
This year, with all the wedding hoopla, I did not manage to get any Christmas shopping done before the big day-after-Thanksgiving rush. This is atypical for me, a person who has a strong aversion to big crowds and who likes to be extremely organized, often starting my Christmas gift planning in July.
Here are some tips for surviving the holiday shopping frenzy and for making your holidays a little more bearable:
Take a day off from work during the week and skip the weekend mobs. Stores are least crowded at dinner time, between 5 and 7 p.m. You can get a lot done if you shop during those hours.
Catalog or online shopping can save a lot of time at the mall.
Do a “secret Santa” with a big group of friends so you don’t have to buy individual presents for everyone.
Lists are great! Keep a list of which store has the items you want to purchase and make a list of what you think you’d like to buy for your family and friends.
For young children, give a savings bond. Children can enjoy only so many toys, and parents will need the help when it comes to that college tuition!
Set a price limit for each gift and stick with it.
Eat a hearty, high-carbohydrate breakfast the days you plan to shop.
Wear a fanny pack instead of a purse. It frees both hands and won’t weigh you down. Not as fashionable maybe, but my shoulder really starts to hurt after a couple hours of shopping.
Take five- to 10-minute breaks to rest your feet and allow yourself time to review your list.
Gift baskets with assorted items are always welcome.
Treat yourself to a massage or pedicure at the end of the day. You deserve it.
Happy shopping!
Talk about pure devotion.A lot of people thought that it was a sign of ultimate love when my then-boyfriend (now husband) agreed to sit and take a Christmas card photo with myself and Mr. Pono, the wiener dog, last year.
I made him iron a shirt and sit down on a festive red blanket as my friend snapped 80 photos of our “family.” Mr. P was wearing a fancy argyle sweater that his Auntie Lezlie had given him, which I thought was adorable, but apparently the entire situation wasn’t very “manly.”
There are things that women think are cute and fun that can definitely test a man’s patience. I’ve learned that the Christmas card photo (for some men) is one of them. Anyway, my husband got a lot of ribbing about our holiday greeting card that appeared on refrigerators all over Hilo, Oahu and the Mainland - making me realize that what I thought was an easy task was really a sign of his pure devotion to me.
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