You might remember from last year that the holidays are a very stress-inducing time of year for us. I think that we all feel this way, don't you? At least from friends and blogs that I frequent it seems that the theme lately has been to de-stress and de-clutter the holiday season. We have tried our best in years past to simplify this time of year by only doing the things that we really want to do rather than ALL of the things that we feel are expected of us.
This year is obviously different because we are 2700 miles away from Ohio. We simply don't have the obligations that we have had before and honestly, it feels pretty freeing. This year? We get to do whatever we want to do. We can sit in our pajamas on Christmas day drinking hot cocoa and eating ourselves silly if we want to. The possibilities are endless! Needless to say we're pretty excited about the holidays this year.
Another area that we have reclaimed over the last few years is gift-giving. Last year we did an entirely handmade holiday. We really enjoyed it and felt like our time and money were better spent than if we had scoured the malls for gifts. We're doing it again this year and couldn't be more excited!
If you're feeling convicted about the amount of time and money spent on gift-giving, why not consider participating in Handmade Holidays?
"Participating" in HH means that you vow to give handmade gifts instead of store-bought this holiday season. Handmade could mean many things, though. It could mean supporting local artisans by purchasing their handmade wares, supporting artists and creators on Etsy, baking delicious food gifts for friends and neighbors, or crafting your own handmade gifts.
As for us, we did this last year and loved it. We're obviously participating again this year! I've been brewing up some great ideas for gifts and can't wait to get started crafting.
Not only does it reduce waste from the manufacturing and packaging of store bought gifts, but if you shop for supplies mindfully it also means supporting your local economy which further lowers the environmental impact. It also means putting more thought into gift-giving rather than the mindless giving of stuff that isn't needed or sometimes even wanted. It's also cheaper, though that really depends on what you're making.
I love the added bonus of keeping me out of the crazy, over-commercialized hustle and bustle of the holidays. I don't step foot in a mall. I'm not out running around shopping for gifts instead of spending time with my family (this doesn't just go for those last-second Christmas Eve shoppers- though especially for you!) I don't sale shop or price compare or hop from store to store to find "the best deal". The best deal is not spending money on worthless stuff, after all. We don't spend hours on end walking around stores trying to find something to buy someone who already has everything. Admit it- hardly ever do we have THE perfect, necessary gift in mind for someone; usually we walk around looking for "inspiration", i.e. trying to find something that will make do just for the sake of buying something. Silliness!
Simply put, I don't spend time doing the things that we so often complain about and instead I do the things that are worthy and life-giving to me. I do the things that I enjoy rather giving in to obligations. I prioritize my time and money and spend them buying/doing things that increase my joy rather than increasing my frustration.
So do something different this year.
Save some money and give it to the people who really need it: the ones who don't get to celebrate with wrapping paper and mistletoe. The people who don't have clean water to drink or food to eat.
And that extra time spent at home instead of in shopping malls and holiday traffic?
Play with your kids. Spend time with your neighbors. Feed the homeless. Visit a nursing home. Bake, cook, craft, carol, sled. Do the things you always say you want to do but never have the time for. It might just be your best Christmas yet.
Advent Conspiracy video:
Happy Holidays!
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