I Had Such Good Intentions This Holiday - Page 2

Mom2Dogs · ‎03-09-2010

@rms1954 Don't beat your self up....once I started baking I seemed to get in the groove. Next year I plan on mixing up my cookie dough and freezing it. Then I will bake when I have time...it will save me from rushing.

There were a couple of things I wanted to bake this year but just did not get it done. I also had a couple of crafty projects I wanted to do...I did not get them done.

I think I will work on those things this summer or even this winter when I am staying closer to home...to cold usually to be out running around.

Holidays are for the kids....in my opinion. We have two young great grand kids that will be at our house on Chritsmas Eve. Christmas day will be left overs and quiet.

Merry Christmas.

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

With all the hype, I think we put unreleastic expectations on ourselves and it often becomes burdensome and just too much to deal with! I started on everything really early this year. As I sat and thought about everything that needed done --- or I thought needed done -- I just got this overwhelmed feeling --- sort of anxiety -- and I thought --- this is ridiculous! This is supposed to be a happy and joyous time of year. And not one where we're all feeling all stressed out and nervous! By starting early, I managed to get nearly everything done that I wanted to, and I did a few tasks nearly every day. I got done with pretty much everything days and days ago, which left me time to relax and enjoy doing a few relaxing and happy things with DH! The only thing I didn't really do was bake! I haven't baked much in years. I made some muffins and have plans to make a few peanut butter blossom cookies (I found a very easy recipe on line -- Jill Bauer's recipe) today. Other than that, I bought what baked goods we wanted. Not as tasty, but good enough! I just think if you're not up to doing things, then just don't do them, as it's not worth the stress and trouble! Relax and enjoy the season and spend time with someone you care about!

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

Eileen in Virginia · ‎08-25-2010

I try to get an early start on Christmas decorating specifically because it becomes overwhelming if I wait until closer to Christmas. This year I was lucky to get them up before we got Covid. DS gets the crates out for us. If he didn't, it would be a whole different story. We don't worry about taking our decorations down right after Christmas. We enjoy them, so we leave all but the ones on our front door and railing up until the end of January.

I also bake Christmas cookies to give to friends as gifts. I almost always have baking supplies left over (I don't want to have to run out to the store in the middle of my baking week). Most of the leftovers store very well in Lock and Locks or in the freezer. Some are ingredients I use throughout the year, others only at Christmas. The only item I've had to toss is shredded coconut as it gets dried out regardless of my storage method.

At the end of the day, I decorate and bake because it makes me happy and because DS helps get the decorations out of, and back into, storage. If that changes, I wouldn't worry about cutting back. After all, it's not as if anyone in our house still believes in 🎅🏼.

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

Since it's just DH and me, no children/grandchildren, do not "entertain" all I put out is my nativity set.

As for baking/cooking, as others have said, I'll go to the store and buy it!!!

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

I actually did more than I usually do---moved to a small apartment so no room for a tree or many decors but do have a nice mantle that I decorated up very festively. got a few decors from AMZ as all my stuff is in storage and I even baked cookies for a cookie exchange---that NEVER happens as I hate baking cookies. got the very few gifts I needed a few months ago so am not worrying about that--all in all, yay me !!!

goldensrbest · ‎03-10-2010

Don't feel bad , i have finally excepted after years of loving the holidays, those years are gone,as people are, i hate change,but it is what it is,i gave up, trying.

When you lose some one you L~O~V~E, that Memory of them, becomes a TREASURE.

Harpa · ‎03-10-2010

@rms1954I think you accomplished the hard part - it all starts with an intention, doesn't it?

Baking these days....! I did 2 batches of cookies, the one didn't turn out as expected. The other were fine; they're all gone. But I have all these chips and extra peanut butter, and man! I don't feel like baking cookies!

To top it off, I got a brand new pizzelle maker (thanks to whomever talked about pizzelles. (@AngelPuppy)? And I just took out the butter. So, I'll see how that goes.

Mom2Dogs · ‎03-09-2010

@Harpa I have a friend that made the most delicious pizzelles at Christmas. Sadly they moved away and I have not had them in years.

I'm sure yours will turn out just fine!

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

Year after year I do less and less decorating, cooking and baking. Simplifying. Less is more.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

It seems with each passing year, I do less and less.

When it gets go be a burden, it's time to cut back.

This year, I decided not to make a favorite cookie my DH likes. It is very time consuming and complicated and I am not in the mood. I told him maybe after holidays.

He has also eaten much of the baked goods I did make and has given away a lot of it to friends and neighbors. When I called him out for this, he said he expected I would just make more. NO. When it's gone it's gone.

Christmas is not about the material stuff and decorations. It comes every year whether we are " ready" or not. Just so what you can and the rest can wait until next year.