Tag Archives: holidays

Gifts for the Other Parent

Christmas time is all about the gift of giving, but when it comes to presents for the ex, things get a little tricky. It has always been important to me for Logan to have the opportunity to give his dad something for Christmas, birthdays, and other such holidays. The first year his dad seemed to feel the same way. Though neither of us had much money, we both made an effort to take Logan to pick something out for the other. It meant a lot to Logan to be able to give us something, since he couldn’t do much on … Continue reading →

Charlie and the Christmas Kitty

  If your children asked for, but didn’t receive the puppy or kitten they placed on their wish list to Santa, this book might work as a consolation present. Maybe. Sure, Charlie and the Christmas Kitty may be a far cry from an adorable tail-wagging, face-licking bundle of fluff that would follow your child around the house and potentially run for help should he fall down a well, but, hey, Santa’s not perfect. Still, you can’t deny the cuteness contained in this festive holiday read, even though the story’s clueless main character doesn’t realize it’s Christmas: “Why is there a … Continue reading →

Christmas Unplugged

Forget about dreaming of a white Christmas this year, most parents I know are hoping for an unplugged version of the holiday; a Christmas void of blaring televisions, raucous radios and vociferous video games. How likely are you to enjoy a genuine silent night this Christmas? If you want to know how to make your dream a reality, take some advice from the Bear family. In The Berenstain Bears’ Old-Fashioned Christmas, Brother, Sister and Baby Honey Bear get a taste of what the holiday was like pre-TV, when they travel to Grizzly Gramps and Gran’s house. After rolling up in … Continue reading →

Last Minute Holiday Preparations

The countdown is on!  Are you feeling stressed, frazzled and worried that you won’t get everything done in the next few days? The holidays are just so much more enjoyable when we aren’t overwhelmed.  But sometimes we bring it on ourselves.  So to help avoid some of this, consider the following tips for last minute holiday preparations. First, plan to have more than enough food and drink if you are hosting.  This way you don’t have to be concerned about running out and you will have plenty of leftovers for the next couple of days. Second, keep things simple.  Don’t … Continue reading →

It’s Christmas!

The countdown to Christmas is on and parents the world over are feeling the heat. With Santa coming to town in just a few days, St. Nick’s mom and dad helpers are scurrying to prepare for his arrival.  Around here that means stocking up on stocking stuffers. One seasonal surprise my 8-year-old will be waking up to on December 25th is a delightful book filled with festive poems. It’s Christmas is a collection of whimsical prose that are silly, sweet and perfect for the season. Author Jack Prelutsky does a phenomenal job of making merry with his hilarious takes on … Continue reading →

Saving Up Winter’s Bounty

We don’t often think of winter and bounty in the same thought, but there is plenty of winter bounty, if you know where to look. Make sure you gather and store your extra blessings now to help you get through the rest of the year. Gift Cards A bounty of gift cards may fall in your lap as presents from friends and family, as well as promotions and thank you gifts from local businesses. It is also true that gift cards are easy to misplace or forget about. Keep all of your gift cards together (I used a small box … Continue reading →

Creative Ways to Tip This Season: Free Gift Cards and More

How many people do you have in your life who are on your tipping list for the holidays? The hair stylist, school bus drivers, teachers, the trash man, the postal clerk or delivery person (there are rules on type and amount), the baby sitter or nanny, the coffee barista and anyone else who provides you a regular service, may all be expecting a holiday tip. At least one service provider of ours actually leaves an envelope just for the purpose. Most of us forget to add tipping expenses into our budgets and may be left with a surprise when we … Continue reading →

Reducing Holiday Stress

A fit lifestyle encompasses more than just eating right and exercise.  It includes getting enough sleep, cutting out bad habits such as smoking and other areas that affect your overall health. In fact, stress can wreak havoc on your body and may even contribute to weight gain.  With the holidays in full swing, its time to think about the impact that stress can have on your body. Medical experts say that this is the time of year in which people are prone to heart problems, such as heart attacks.  Stress can be physical, emotional, financial or a combination. Learning how … Continue reading →

Holiday Sanity-Savers Around the House

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, and the crazy is in the air. If you’re trying to figure out how to manage, here are some ideas that I use to calm down. Prioritize You may like a clean toilet bowl or a clutter-free house. You may want to do all of the Christmas activities, and then some. You will likely need to prioritize. What can you slack off on during the Christmas season? What’s really important? Set out some priorities so that you do what you really want to do instead of running around like that proverbial chicken. … Continue reading →

Suffering from Perfectionism

I am a recovering perfectionist.  I never attended therapy or a group session but I just learned over the years that I and my family would be much happier if I just learned to let things go. I cannot tell you the burden this has lifted from my shoulders, especially during times like this…the holidays.  I know there are many of you out there who are stressing out instead of enjoying this time of year. How do you know if you are suffering from perfectionism?  Well, let me first say that there is nothing wrong with wanting everything to go … Continue reading →