try to keep that in mind while others are running around in a panic.
Lists make a huge difference for me when planning for Christmas gift giving and shopping.
I try to shop local in small stores near where we live.
For many of our friends I opt for consumable gifts...at our stage of life we have most things that we need and many of us are thinking about de-cluttering and downsizing to smaller homes and condos.
I also make a list of things that I need to do...
my current lists looks like this:
~ order turkey
~ write out Christmas cards
~ wrap gifts
~ pick a date for the tree decorating/pizza night
~ buy stamps
~ make a swag for our door
~ make rum balls
~ make chocolate bark
~ go shopping for grandchildren with lovely DIL
Things are looking festive and bright...
The Laurel Point Inn on the Harbour is all dressed up for the holidays.
Sun set and all is calm on the water.
My sister and I took Mom to see the annual decorated gingerbread house display at The Laurel point Inn last week.
It was well worth seeing as many amateur and professional bakers rolled up their sleeves and got very creative...
it was most impressive.
The only time that I ever tried my hand at making a gingerbread house it was a total disaster!
The house tilted sideways and the walls collapsed.
It tasted good...
Look at the attention to detail.
Many many hours went into these houses...
The Baggins residence was my favourite of all the entries...
There was a Dental themed entry with a toothbrush, floss and toothpaste.
a good reminder with all the sweets that are around at this time of year
There was a mouse house...
aren't these adorable?
There's even a Santa Mouse visiting the house!
Looking out at this beautiful scenery reminds me that we need to keep calm when so many people around us are showing signs of stress and becoming impatient and cranky.
I have been mindful of others and have made every effort to allow others to go first in line ups and have politely yielded to merging traffic.
I usually do these things but I feel that it is even more important to be patient and kind when there are crowds.
Take time out to refocus and relax.
Keep things simple.
Stay hydrated get a good nights sleep.
Walk in the fresh air and breathe deeply.
Stay focused on the positive...
don't be tempted to go into debt buying presents
live within your means
make some or all of your gifts
give a gift of your time
offer to babysit for a busy mom
visit an elderly relative or shut in
be kind to others
give to those less fortunate.
"Tis the season of giving after all.
Give yourself the gift of a stress free holiday.
Choose peace and sanity and savour the little things.
