December brings us the holiday season which many consider to be the happiest time of the year, but the challenges of being a personal shopper, gourmet baker and chef, tree decorator and correspondence queen lead many of us to promise that next year we’ll do things much differently. Over the years I’ve tried to incorporate ways to make the short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas less hectic by buying gifts all year on sale and stashing holiday baking in the freezer weeks ahead. But then I’d forget where I hid the gifts, and somehow the treats would disappear from the freezer. Yesterday, I spent the day making sugar cookies, ginger snaps, banana bread, and a family favorite–my famous peanut clusters. The house smelled wonderful and with the combination of the scent of fresh Christmas tree in the family room, my holiday season had officially begun.
There’s still time this year to simplify and ransom the joy of the season that we wish for everyone else back for ourselves. My suggestion for living a Simple Abundant life this month has to do with wrapping your gifts. When wrapping your holiday treasures, choose one paper pattern for each gift recipient. You will know immediately who gets what and they will appreciate the fact that you took such care in wrapping their gift. It could even be a game to match the paper with a personality or the contents of the package. Have fun with it and be creative. Remember, gift wrap doesn’t have to come from the store. Think Green: use the comics, newspaper, butcher paper, brown craft paper, or grocery bags. Or, “wrap” using a fabric bag.
Wishing you all the Blessings, Beauty and Joy
of this Holiday Season
and a Simple Abundant Life today and every day!