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10 WAYS TO GET INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

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10 WAYS TO GET INT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT- turn Ho Ho Hum into Merry and Bright!

Sometimes we get so busy with all the preparation and bustle of Christmas we forget our Ho Ho Ho! It’s more like Ho Ho Hum! Or even worse… Bah Humbug!  Christmas can be a stressful time and that’s such a shame! Today is Practically Speaking and I’m sharing 10 ways to put a little jingle back into your step and Christmas joy in your heart! Even if you are the happiest of Christmas elves these ideas will help you celebrate this special season!

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LISTEN TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC

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Listen to your favorite Christmas music! When I ‘m cleaning or decorating a room or a tree I like to listen to peppy, fun Christmas music. When I cook I listen to Michael Buble or Christmas standards and when I’m working and need to concentrate without a whole lot of foot tapping I listen to my Pandora station: Peaceful Christmas Music!

Christmas music is such a special treat and most of us only listen to it this time of year! Get in as much Christmas music listening as you can! It’s a real mood lifter!

FILL YOUR HOME WITH THE SCENTS OF CHRISTMAS

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Oh, joy!!!! Aromas create and trigger strong memories. Fill your home with scents of peppermint, cinnamon and cloves, evergreen, vanilla and other delicious Christmas scents.

My favorite way to do this is diffusing essential oils. If you are an “oily” girl or guy you might like my favorite Christmas combination from Young Living. Mix 6 drops of Thieves, 3 cinnamon, 2 cloves, and 2 orange or tangerine.  Shameless pitch: I am a young living consultant. Use my member number to order 3098375.  

You can also see my original recipe for CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR SIMMERING POTPOURRI. I’ve been simmering this during Christmas for decades.  My son says, “Mom this smells like Christmas”!

There are also so many beautifully scented candles that can create a luscious Christmas scent in your home!

CUT DOWN YOUR TO-DO LIST

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Okay, just do it!!!! If you are like me, you tend to keep piling those chores, parties, responsibilities, etc on! Don’t do it! The object of getting to Christmas day is to have a prepared heart not a prepared everything else in the universe! That leaves our spiritual and emotional tanks empty and our bodies exhausted with hot glued fingertips, glitter in our hair and bags under our eyes!

I took a serious look at all I did a few years back and cut it down!!!! Did I really need to make 15 different kinds of Christmas cookies? NO! So if I make them I only make a few of our very favorites. This is so so freeing! 

Do I really need three Christmas trees decking the halls at StoneGable? It’s much better to have one that is carefully and joyfully decorated! Please hear me… Do what is important to you and your family. That’s it! You will be so much happier and your family will love you for it too! 

Christmas can be Christmas without all the extras. Charlie Brown was right!

ASK FOR HELP

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This is huge! My grandmother lived with her mother-in-law, my great aunt lived down the street and Nani’s next door neighbors felt like family. They worked together! “Many hands make light work”.  The old adage is true! 

If you love cookie baking barter to do it for a Christmas chore you don’t like as much! If you are a decorating elf but cleaning/organizing is just not your gift let it be known that you are ready to trade jobs!

Because of my busy job I have help. My friend also works for me and will help me put away my Christmas decorations this year. I can’t even begin to tell you the giant Christmas tree size weight that will be lifted off of me! I have to move right into January’s blogging schedule and won’t have time to dedecorate… except for 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM the week right after New Year. And that is already scheduled for much needed sleep!

Delegate. You should not do all the Christmas work. If another person lives in your home share the work and enjoy the fun… together!

Do things that make your life and the Christmas season easier and more enjoyable! Ask for help… do it!

DECORATE SOMETHING FOR 10 MINUTES

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Decorating our homes at Christmastime can be daunting! How fun would it be to pour yourself into a Christmas decoration that only took 10 minutes to do? Most of us can find 10 minutes in our day to make something beautiful. And making an effort to only concentrate on that one thing for 10 minutes will give our minds a much needed time-out. I have lots of 10 minute Christmas decorating ideas for you

I have lots of 10 minute Christmas decorating ideas for you HERE and HERE. Rember to crank up the Christmas music!

READ THE TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY

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If you are not feeling very Christmassy, give yourself a break! It’s okay. To tell you the truth, how we celebrate Christmas is a far cry from the real-deal first Christmas! If you want to really get the true meaning of Christmas read about it in the Bible… Luke 2:1-20. Or read about it HERE.

Even if you are the jolliest of Christmas lover or the grumpiest Grinch you should make time to read the true Christmas story!

You can also read a about the real Christmas story with pictures from my studies in Israel HERE.

READ A CHRISTMAS BOOK… PREFERABLY A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS BOOK

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Take time to read a few Christmas books! I love THE POLAR EXPRESS, HOW THE GRICH STOLE CHRISTMAS, THE CHRISTMAS WISH,  THE LITTLEST ANGEL ( I cry buckets every time I read it) and THE SNOWMAN.  Look at Christmas through the eyes of a child!

WATCH A CHRISTMAS MOVIE

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We love the old classics, here at StoneGable. When our kids were tiny we would go to the video store (yes, there was a place that actually sold and rented movies) and we would get “the classics”. Exposing our children to a bevy of great old Christmas movies gave them such an appreciation for wonderful cinema!

Most of these movies were way before my time. I love the old classics!

Some of our favorites were: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, HOLIDAY INN, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT,  THE BISHOP’S WIFE, WHITE CHRISTMAS. AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER… and more current movies like ELF, SCROOGED, HOME ALONE, THE SANTA CLAUSE, LOVE ACTUALLY, THE POLAR EXPRESS, THE GRINCH WHO STONE CHRISTMAS, THE HOLIDAY, ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS, THE CHRISTMAS STORY, THE NATIVITY, and PRANCER. If I left out your favorite Christmas movie make sure to remind all of us in the comments!

TAKE A CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DRIVE

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This is a big favorite of mine! Last night on the way home from a family birthday dinner Bobby and I were making a mental note of what homes we want to vsit on our “Christmas lights” tour. The good, the bad and the oh,-what-were-you-thinking! I must admit I LOVE a train wreck of a display as much as I love a one-of-a-kind Christmas beauty!

There is something magical about Christmas lights! Make sure to turn on the Christmas tunes and take a thermos or traveler of hot chocolate and maybe a cookie or two!

Make it a family event! 

PAINT YOUR NAIL RED

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Get a manicure and paint your nails Christmas red! Enough said!

GO FOR A WALK

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Don’t forget to exercise during the holidays. We tend to drop our exercise routines when we get busy. But exercise will help your mental outlook and we will feel better too! I swim and it’s such good medicine!

Opps! I think that was 11 ways to get into the Christmas spirit!  Here are a few other things that might put a little jingle bell in your step!

  • stay away from the mall (Only go to see Santa. The rest can be life-sucking at Christmas!)
  • order online
  • visit local shops
  • buy a small real evergreen tree (If you have a big artificial tree get a small tree or at least a bunch of real greens right before Christmas)
  • send Christmas cards
  • drink hot chocolate ( Here’s an easy slow cooker peppermint hot chocolate I love)
  • give to your favorite charity
  • go to church
  • volunteer
  • find out what local events are happening in your area and go
  • wrap gifts as you get them
  • eat lots of cookies (and make sure you follow the last tip- get those walking shoes on!)
  • go to lunch/breakfast/dinner with friends and exchange gifts
  • hang a wreath on your front door

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Here’s hoping you have the merriest Christmas ever!

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Here are my favorite Christmas movies, books, and music!

For Your’s Video Library!

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 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS || ELF  ||  IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE  ||  A CHRISTMAS CAROL  ||  MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET  ||  WHITE CHRISTMAS  ||  HOME ALONE  || CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT  ||

Great Christmas Reads

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A WISH TO BE A CHRISTMAS TREE  ||  THE POLAR EXPRESS  ||  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS  ||  THE CHRISTMAS STORY  || 

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS  ||  MAX LUCADO’S BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS  ||

  THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGENT EVER  (reading this now for the umpteenth time)  ||  THE LITTLEST ANGEL  ||

 

Christmas Tunes

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MICHAEL BUBLE´ CHRISTMAS  || CELTIC WOMEN HOME FOR CHRISTMAS  || MICHAEL W SMITH PRESENTS THE STRINGS OF CHRISTMAS  ||  CHRISTMAS AT THE BROOKLYN TABERNACLE  || ANDRE BOCELLI MY CHRISTMAS  ||  THE PIANO GUYS A FAMILY   CHRISTMAS  ||  IL DIVO THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION  ||  JACKIE EVANCHO SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS  ||

 

How do you get in the Christmas spirit! Please share!

Did you know that I have over 1,300 pins on my Christmas board? You might like to follow me on Pinterest and see all the holiday inspiration HERE.

 

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This post contains affiliate links.

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. I love all of your favorites. Thank you also for you breakfast casserole. I have a similar one. I’m going to try it with the crossiants. Thank YOU for your blog. Merry Christmas. Thank YOU for keeping Christ in Christmas.

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  2. Yvonne,
    Thanks for keeping us aware of what Christmas should be about. We make ourselves sick trying to bake everything , home being perfect, loosing sleep and by the time Christmas comes, we’re out of it!!! I learned long time ago not to do as much decorating as I used to, just enjoy what the true meaning of Christmas is and slack off from all the rest. As always, I enjoy your blog so much and looking forward to the week ahead. I hope you get some rest and relaxation wjeanith your family this Christmas season and I’m so glad I found you and your blog site!!!!
    jean

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  4. I wish you were my neighbor. We have loads in common and I’m sure we’d have a great time trading talents. I’d bake your cookies and you could make my centerpieces. Love your decorating style. Thank YOU for sharing! I also love that you share about the Lord and what is truly important.

    Reply

  5. Yvonne, this is a wonderful list of things to do to get in the Christmas spirit. I like to do a lot of these things. I also love to go to church each Sunday to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. Worshiping is the best thing I can do to get into the Christmas spirit.

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  6. Love your suggestions for a wonderful Christmas. No one has an excuse for being bored after reading your suggestions. Thanks as I always enjoy your blog.

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  7. Hello Yvonne,
    I want to share a heart warming Christmas read with you. It’s THE CHRISTMAS TREE by Julie Salamon. I know you will enjoy it. It’s short and sweet, just right for a busy lady like you!

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  10. First reading of the morning while enjoying my coffee. Yes Christmas is my favorite time of the year. So much so, that We were married on the 22nd of December 44 yrs ago this year.

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  11. So enjoyed your blog about decorating for fall and got some good ideas from you. I just completed my 7th chinoiserie decorated pumpkins. It was heart stopping for the first one, got a tad bit easier but still are not perfect. I couldn’t see any wrinkles in your lovelies however mine do have wrinkles. I posted photos of them on my FB page and received lots of sweet comments. Thank you again!

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  13. Great ideas! Christmas music really gets me in the spirit of the season. I normally don’t wear red nail polish, but this year I’m going to take your advice and go red for Christmas.

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  14. I appreciate and adore your design sense!! You have made my Christmas decorating something I can have fun with!! Thank you kindly!!!

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  15. Thank you Yvonne. Just what is needed….as I prepare my home for Thanksgiving. My mother is scheduled for surgery next week (out of town), so I need to have as much as possible in order at home before we leave. I did some deep cleaning last weekend, that gave me a big start to purging as well! Because my mother is 90, I have to be prepared for whatever may happen, hoping for the best.

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  16. Hi Yvonne,
    I’m new to your site and started to follow your site because my grandmother’s name was Yvonne. I miss female companionship, no sisters, no daughter, still missing my mom after 17 years. I always had a houseful at the holidays and spent hours decorating even putting a full size Christmas tree in our master bedroom. Looking at your posts soothes my inner longing for those times as my husband and I look forward to Christmas just the two of us. Enjoy these times and the busyness of the season; they go by so quickly. And thank you for keeping the real reason of Christmas in your posts!

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  19. Thanks for the refocus… I just finished directing 3 performances of our children’s drama/musical in our church. that plus 2 jobs and it’s easy to forget to prepare my heart for Christmas. One week to go and I have all my wrapping and baking to do before my family arrives. Thank you for your words.

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  20. I hope to finish wrapping tonight. Shopping is finished! Money is gone! Cards go out tomorrow ( late this year :(,but done!).

    All I have left is cleaning and cooking. Will possibly help son get finished once he gets paid this week. Poor guy– new job, paid once a month– so last minute for him with exception of his son’s gifts. Put him first and hoping to get paid on Friday to get the rest.

    I drive my group crazy with Christmas music playing in the house and watching Hallmark movies for two months! Lol!!

    This week hopefully I can focus on the grandchildren since we won’t be having our days chopped up with transporting duties. Purchased some gingerbread houses today to work on, plan to read Christmas books, and watch movies all week with them, and maybe a few Christmas crafts. Tough with 5,2,3 year olds!!

    Church service Friday night, and I will do a quick clean on Saturday after annual family breakfast and then set up for Christmas Day.

    We have gone to look at lights a couple of times, and if we are out in the evening will typically have a random drive home to see more.

    It will be here, and over, before we know it!!

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  21. I’m definitely into giving to others, whether it’s a service or something material. This makes me feel more like I am living the life that God wants me to lead; a way to honor his legacy. It is more beautiful to give….at least to my spirit. I still do not have my tree up, but there is a wreath on the door, as of today. I’m trying to make it look more like Christmas in my home, but it’s been Christmas in my heart all year. Merry Christmas to you and thank you for all the lovely inspiration!

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  23. Thank you for the ideas! I truly love all of the black & white, & buffalo checks in your decor!
    This Christmas is rather sad for me, with some personal issues going on. But I am trying not to let the enemy steal my joy! For I know that the joy of the Lord is my strength, and He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world!
    Merry Christmas!

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  26. Great post you touched it all with great info! Was making a list of items for our Christmas gift box donation to our local women’s safe house when my hubby walked by and and said don’t forget “Red” polish…I didn’t!

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  27. Love these ideas…one of my favorite things at Christmas time is to host a dinner party for a group of old friends. We all met at church 20 something years ago…we have seen one another through joyful and painful times and have cherished friendships. We don’t all see each other as much as we used to, so this annual get together is even more special. We gathered last night and had such a wonderful time. Yvonne, I took some of your advice and delegated the appetizers and desserts to others focusing on the main meal and the atmosphere of my home….so much more enjoyable as the hostess to not do all of the work….Thanks for a wonderful blog!

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  29. Thanks Yvonne. I love the idea to put on some Christmas music to get in the spirit of Christmas. Lots of great tips. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  32. Thank you Yvonne. I have had trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year and need this reminder. I don’t use Pandora a lot, but just turned on the Peaceful Christmas music channel and am now listening to some lovely Christmas music. Time to get decorating!

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  33. This hits the spot once again Yvonne! Here I am back home from taking care of my Mom for two weeks . Not A Thing is done here. There are still pumpkins everywhere! Family coming for Christmas dinner in two weekends. Yikes. Tr to find the Christmas music and the spirit!

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  35. Thank You so much for the Christmas inspirational ideas and tips. You truly have a great talent in decorating and most importantly knowing the real meaning of Christmas. I look forward each day to seeing your awesome posts. Here’s wishing you and your family a merry and bright Christmas!

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  36. I appreciate your tips so much this year. We are in the midst of construction at our home and don’t have decorations up yet. This has made me a bit down, but am so thankful for Christ and the true meaning of Christmas to keep me and my family grounded. ❤️

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  37. Yvonne, my favorite Christmas movie is “Meet Me in St. Louis”. It doesn’t sound like it would be a Christmas movie, but it has lots of Christmas scenes in it. Best of all, Judy Garland sings “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”…I highly recommend this movie! Merry Christmas to you!
    ~Ann

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  39. Thank you, Yvonne, for a post I really needed to see today. We just buried a wonderful friend of nearly 70 years, and I haven’t been able to make myself decorate for Chritmas yet. Your post has given me the jolt I needed to get started. Merry Christmas!

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  40. As a retired Children’s librarian, there are so many Christmas and holiday inspired books! I love them! My favorite is Robert Sabuda’s pop up book “The Night Before Christmas”. The story literally pops off the page. The kids love it! I readily agree with your tips for the spirit motivating.

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  41. Love this post, as I am struggling so much to get into the Christmas spirit this year. I lost my Mom, and my husband lost his oldest brother within less than two weeks of each other, right before and after Christmas a few years ago. And this year, I seem to be missing her so much more. I am going to follow your recipe and hope to capture some of the magic that comes only once a year. Thanks and God bless.

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  42. I think your best advice is to choose the few things that mean the most to you and leave the others behind. There is no reason to stress over Christmas. It really should be a time of reflection and joy. Merry Christmas!!

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  45. I am going to take the potpourri idea and send that to some of my family as a little Christmas surprise. I can almost smell it now!

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  51. Thanks so much for the good reminders. I really appreciate. In your list of movie, you happened to name my 3 favorite Christmas movies that I watch each year during the holidays.

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    • After Church on Christmas Eve Bobby and I watch It’s a Wonderful Life and crack open a bottle of Champagne. Now that are kids are grown it’s become a family tradition!

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  52. Good suggestions. I would add, review your menus.
    Every meal doesn’t have to be a STAND OUT.
    Nutrition is what counts. Give the meals your attention now and relax leading up to Christmas.
    Thank you, Yvonne.

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  53. These are all great ideas! What I like to do, in addition to those you mentioned, is to read a daily Advent book in the month of November. This helps to prepare my heart for Christmas, before all of the busyness. I have found that it is a proactive way to combat the potential stress of the season.

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  54. Thank you so much for all you do and share! You have been such an inspiration this holiday season !

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  56. “SERIOUSLY CLARK” No mention of NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION! An all-time favorite of my families!
    Along with all the others you mentioned, just pop a big bowl of popcorn to string or eat and these movies will fill any family evening.

    Love all your tips. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Sue

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  58. All sounds good to me. I think I love the Christmas music the most. We just had a string quartet play at our women’s club luncheon and it was beautiful.

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  62. I would add that getting plenty of rest is an important way to stave off stress and maintain the special joys of the Christmas season.

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  63. Christmas music plays in our home everyday this time of year. I too like different genres for different activities. I try to do everything on your list. The hardest was not stressing myself with too munch entertaining. We love to have people over. I was supposed to have all my girlfriends over this week but our dog is ill and I had to cancel. I hope to reschedule but its so hard to fit something in to everyone’s busy life. I miss the holidays with my little people. Being a retired preschool teacher kind of leaves a “wonder hole” in my life. With no grandchildren in sight, my nieces are a welcome help with cookie baking. My son says I overdo Christmas but I love to decorate. Red and green are my favorite colors!!!

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  64. Oh my goodness, one of our favorite old movies to watch around the holidays is “The Apartment” with Jack Lemmon. It is SO good and really sweet! However, it is more for adults. There is no bad language or nudity or anything, but it is more of an adult theme.

    Another really great, and really funny, one is “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” with John Candy, even though this one is set more around the Thanksgiving holiday. A touching, but hilarious, good movie with a great ending!

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all and thanks to this site for all the awesome ideas!

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  66. Thank you so much for the post on capturing our Christmas spirit. You have broken chores into increments that are achievable with an equal balance of rewards to encourage us along. Blessings to you.

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  69. I turn on Christmas music to get me up and moving to clean the house or bake. Music really lifts your mood even when you are tackling the most mundane chore.

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  70. I am having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year, not sure why. I don’t feel quite as overwhelmed as I usually do at this time of year. I guess I should start playing my Christmas CD’s at home. Time Life Treasury of Christmas are my favorites for the classics. I also can’t let the season go by without watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, as well as White Christmas. Taking a drive to look at Christmas lights has always been one of our traditions as well.

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  71. going to make your Christmas Simmering Potpourri!! Can’t wait to smell that delicious aroma!

    Each year I watch It’s a Wonderful Life – I never get tired of it!

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  73. My absolute favorite Christmas nail polish is Gelish “Good Gossip”. It’s a beautiful shimmery red…reminds me of red Christmas ribbon. My favorite Christmas movies are Christmas Vacation, Love Actually and Christmas with the Kranks. My husbands favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard but then again he is a Marine. Lol. Thanks for the great tips.

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  74. Love this list! I’m baking right now with Christmas music playing. Grateful for this time of the year-God With Us!

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  75. This was GREAT to read! Thank you! Another WONDERFUL Advent series is the “Jotham’s Journey” books! My kids LOVED them! Wonderful historical fiction about the birth of Jesus told from 3 (I think there may even be 4 now) children’s perspectives (that are involved in the process!). SO FUN!

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  76. Oh boy. I love this post. We sure need to nourish ourselves, especially when the days are full and often heavy .Recently, I made a mistake at work and damaged my new car. It is so easy to allow despair to creep in. But no! Jesus is Lord and ever present. Our Emmanuel. I will follow everyone of your lovely ideas. Thanks Yvonne!

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  77. Thank you! Sometimes the secret to happy is giving yourself primision to do less. I would like to add to your list a children’s holiday concert as a sure fire way to feel the joy of the season bloom in your heart. I had forgotten how wonderful they made you feel until the Grands started school. The youngest just started kindergarten so I still habe years of joy ahead.

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  78. Great suggestions! Christmas in Connecticut is going on my list. It’s such a fun, ridiculous movie that I’d forgotten about.

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  80. Thank you for these reminders ….. I’ve lost a little joy this season with all the “extras”. We own a business, so there’s the company party that I’m in charge of, and my husband’s birthday is 12/18 and he’s 60 this year!! It makes Christmas seem almost like an afterthought. I want my heart to be prepared to celebrate the coming of my Savior!! It makes it even more special that Christmas is on Sunday this year! The main thing I’m trying to remember in all the hustle is to GET OUTSIDE. Even with snow on the ground, I try to get outside to just breathe in the fresh air. Merry Christmas!!

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  83. My favourite music for Christmas morning is Bing. The kids groaned in their teenage years but now play it in their homes, as well. First the tree lights, then the Bing, then the coffee. Lol

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  84. Great tips, sometimes we get so caught up in trying to make everything perfect and before we know it this magical season is over and we did not take time to enjoy it. Thanks for the reminders.

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  86. On the long drive home from shopping yesterday I was pondering the question, who put Thanksgiving so close to Christmas!!
    Yes, my mind was wandering a bit but really why is it so close? Also, I heard this yesterday, you may have glitter and glitz all around your home but if your not truly loving your family, it’s all for nothing.
    Treat this new day as a Gift and what we do with it is our gift back.
    Safe travels everyone!!

    Reply

    • Yes, Carol, while I wish we Canadians had the same great (decor and other!!!) deals your stores always seem to have, I am SO glad our Thanksgiving is early October! It must be extremely busy for you ladies planning two holiday turkey dinners back to back!!

      It would be interesting to know who originally decided on these dates!! Merry Christmas from Ontario, Canada! ?

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  87. I have edited down the Christmas prep over the years too.
    We like to watch the classic Christmas movies with a little
    Christmas Vacation thrown in for a good laugh.

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  88. We also watch Going my way and the Bells of St Marys with Bing Crosby. I too am addicted to the spirit of Christmas and the belief that everyone is a little bit nicer this time of year.
    Have a great weekend.

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  89. Those are also my favorite ones. My favorite movie is An Affair To Remember–ooh Cary Grant. I am in our church choir and sing in our special Christmas program. I love our candlelit Christmas Eve service. What a blessing.

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  90. Nice reminders. Love your blog! I wish we could meet for coffee. 🙂
    Merry Christmas to a Sister-in-Christ!

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  91. Great ideas…perfect timing. My tree sits in the middle of my family room with the lights on and nothing else.
    Trying to wrap myself around changes in our home…difficult.
    My two sons will be home for a few days before Christmas but will return out of state to where both attend
    grad school. Oldest is married now and won’t leave his bride who is a doctor and has to work Christmas
    Day. Youngest won’t leave his brother.

    So mom and dad start a new tradition. My sister said it perfectly and told me to re-create what the first few years
    were like in our marriage before kids on Christmas.

    I already do most of what is on your list…but it’s time for the magical elves to push me to get my decorations out.

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  92. Thank you for sharing, I look so forward to your visits, may you have a Merry Christmas with your loved ones.

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  93. I always enjoy your posts. These are great ideas for helping keep Christmas focused on the true meaning. Thanks for reminding us of what is truly important.

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  95. So love the ideas and I noticed alot we already do, watch, listen too but it’s always good to have a reminder and pick up a few new ideas! Thanks sooo much!

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  96. Thank you for all of your great suggestions. I especially like your movies and music selections. I usually get in the spirit by looking at the bloggers I subscribe to, and all of the sensational ideas they share. This starts my creative juices flowing and I’m off and running! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  100. this post is just perfect! so true. i find when i get stressed if i listen to christmas music in my kitchen it really helps. i am going to try to reread this a few times this season

    thanks!!!!!

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  101. This is a great post. Over the years I’ve learned to say “no”. It’s hard but I was always over-committed and began to dread the holidays. Just saying no to a couple of things was so freeing. And I now also enlist my grown children to help with the baking. In fact, Cookie Day is next weekend and we’re all looking forward to it. Makes my life so much easier and I’m able to really enjoy the holidays.

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  102. I can’t wait to have a little Christmas luncheon with just two of my girlfriends! I’ll play some music and they have no idea I plan to have them decorate cookies to take home with them. Lovely ideas as usual Yvonne. I really like the way you use black and white. The stockings on your mantel are so unusual. I especially like the “nordic” look one. Ten minute decorating works for me.

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  103. I love how you’ve put it Yvonne – Have a prepared heart……it’s so true. I read thru your tips and while i do some already (I esp. like to listen to christmas music as i decorate) there are a few others you mention that also make sense to me. This year instead of baking 8 different types of cookies it will be only 5 of our most favourite. My 2 children will each still get their preference and i will get a little more “me” time. Merry Christmas to all !

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  104. Spot on! Since I have just retired earlier this year, I am really enjoying this Christmas season. Making all kinds of goodies and wrapping presents at leisure instead of ALL on Christmas Eve! Thanks for your experience wisdom….may you and your family have a blessed Christmas…..especially with the little one this year!

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  105. Your post is Christmas spirit inspiring! Watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music usually does it for me! I’ll try out some of the other great tips you suggested!

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  106. Having a “little bit” of snow on the ground helps. Also, as a 57 yr.old piano student I’ve been polishing up some Christmas Carols & learning a couple new ones. I forget everything thing else & concentrate on the music.

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  108. I am hosting a Christmas lunch for my friends and I think the simmering potpourri is a perfect idea for a party favor.

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  109. I truly needed this today! I have been telling my sister that while I love this time of year, it can also be stressful with working full-time and trying to keep your house clean and laundry done, along with the decorating, shopping, wrapping, and doing your cards. I am at my office now, and just turned on the Pandora peaceful Christmas music station, thank you for that tip! I love to listen to instrumental music while working at my office all year, and now I can enjoy Christmas music! I am also a Young Living consultant, and enjoy diffusing oils. I also love cleaning my floors with Thieves, it makes the house smell fantastic! Using the oils also helps to relieve stress. I use Joy like perfume, and receive compliments when I have it on. Thank you for reminding us to take a deep breath, take a minute, and enjoy what this season is all about – the birth of our savior Jesus. Merry Christmas!

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  112. Yvonne, I am happy to say that I pretty much live your Christmas Spirit List! I LOVE this time of year. Thanksgiving week is when I start to enjoy listening to my Christmas music, it makes me feel so good. I love the scents of the season, shopping on line and locally. We have been hosting friends for special cocktails and appetizers and then to make life easier we go to a local restaurant and let someone else do the cooking that night. Beside the wonderful list of movies (all of which I have seen) you mentioned we have a tradition of watching Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation. Wouldn’t be the holidays without an evening with the Griswold’s! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and healthy and happy New Year!

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  113. I just love reading your post each day. It is like you have visited my home & just sat down for a chat. I just decided this morning to give myself a pedicure & then I see your suggestions. Boots, or no boots all winter, I see my feet every day & this makes me happy. I have the family bible out on a table turned to the Christmas story in Luke. I learned that from my late mother in law. Lastly, I also use young living oils. Try the Chtistmas Spirit, Orange & Peppermint mixed. I think I will now bake up a batch of your Sugar Cookie recipe. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you & your family!

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  114. You do have the best ideas! I love those little bottle brush trees…thanks for ‘going the extra mile’ in your decorating advice/hints. Merry Christmas!!

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  115. I so needed this and your tips are great! We just moved and I spend most days feeling overwhelmed trying to make things perfect.

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  117. I love all your ideas, particularly the suggestion to read a children’s book. I recommend Llama, Llama, Holiday Drama as a guaranteed stress reducer.

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  118. In our area a local church has an outdoor live nativity scene surrounding their church building. You simply stay in your car as you slowly drive around the church while enjoying the view.

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  119. You are so right! I want to make a special effort to remove the stress and remember the real reason we celebrate! Our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus’ birthday!

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  120. You have covered all the bases! What a great post….all your experience over the years has allowed you to sort out what really matters. Thanks for a very timely post!

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  121. Your post so timely to me. 1/listening to songs reminds me of childhood when we received as gift-with-purchase LP Firestone Christmas albums from the gas station. 2/you said it sister -read the real story and “The object of getting to Christmas day is to have a prepared heart not a prepared everything else in the universe!”

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  123. Yvonne, I just wrote out this sentence on several sticky notes “The object of getting to Christmas day is to have a prepared heart not a prepared everything else in the universe!”. I’m going to place the strategically around my house as a reminder for myself. I needed that reminder! I have a habit of overloading myself, especially at Christmas. And your right come Christmas Day, while I do enjoy, I am exhausted & ready to collapse into bed that night! So, today I will just stop & remember the important things of this season & try to remember that sentence above.

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  126. I am going to schedule a manicure right away, love that idea, since I all ready do most the others. Have a fabulous Friday!! Merry Christmas!

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  127. Our must see Christmas movie is The Muppets’ Christmas Carol. We watch it every year! Thanks for the listening suggestions- both the Pandora and the CDs. We’ll be adding to our favorites.

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  128. Feels like I wrote this post as I’m often suggesting these same things to my adult children to keep them in the festive spirit!

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  129. I love this. So many things we already do but I love the to just enjoy the spirit of Christmas. People’s hearts seem more open and friendlier during this time of year.

    I have to say I am going f to find Th Bishops Wife I have never seen that.

    Thanks again and I hope your family have a beautiful and Merry Christmas!!

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  130. All great ideas Yvonne! I must admit I love our extended choir rehearsals! We are dog-tired after a busy work day, but stay at church until almost 10 PM most Tuesday nights in December-and an extra hour after Sunday services in Dec. But I know I always leave feeling better! Singing brings me the joy of the season! Blessings to you and your new little bundle of joy this Christmas!

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