Sunday, December 16, 2012

A Happy Scrooge


Holidays can be madness.  I personally hate how the days and weeks get cluttered with all this “stuff” you have to do, buy, make, etc.  Sadly, almost none of it truly brings us closer to the people and things that matter most.  So last week, when someone asked me what I was planning to do for the holidays, I was pleased as pumpkin pie to say “Not a damn thing!”

Here’s my holiday agenda: 

1) We’re getting a tree and I’m decorating the house, ‘cause I like to (see below)

Meet "Pinky", selected, decorated and named by our son.

2) I'm going to give my son a Spiderman watch for Christmas because I am so proud that he is learning to tell time.
3) I want to go sledding with my family over the winter break.
4) I'm looking forward to catching up on my reading and
5) I’m going to bake and eat a lot of brown sugar cookies while counting my blessings.

That’s pretty much it. It helps that our youngest is less than 2 years old and would be happy if I handed her my house keys for Christmas and all the adults in my family don’t really care about gifts.  We are alive, we are relatively healthy and we are together.  That’s more than enough for Christmas.

So this holiday season, I thought I would share some things that give me peace and joy in the whirlwind.  Check back every so often as I will be posting pics of my favorite ways to unwind throughout the season.  If you need a break, try one of these. That way no matter how far apart we are, we’ll be smiling together. 

How do you unwind in the crazy?  Send me your secrets in the comments section and one lucky commenter will get a free signed copy of Order of the Seers.  Here’s to a safe and happy holiday filled with the things that matter most to you!

Joy to the World (and thanks for reading)!
~ Cerece

37 comments:

  1. First, this was hilarious. Yeah, just try to minimize the time I spend in stressful situations and with stressful people. I have the rest of the year for a buzz kill :)

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  2. I unwind by sticking my nose in a book. With 3 teenagers in my house there is always some sort of craziness and that's the only secret I have lol. But it works!! =)

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    1. Awesome! This is good to know. My kids are much younger, but I look forward to the time when I can use a book to hide from them :-)

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  3. Thanks for a fun post and congrats on the series! To be honest, to de-stress from the holiday crazy I hide with my Kindle down in the basement, pretending to do laundry :)

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    1. Nice, Erin. I've got to remember to use that excuse! So glad you liked the post. Thank YOU for responding.

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  4. I unwind cross-stitching big pictures and swimming every day (since we spend our winters in Hawaii) =)
    Happy Holidays!!!
    Aloha!
    (tatiana_lwg (at) yahoo.com)

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    1. Alright, Tatiana. I have to admit, I'm kinda happy for you and kinda Hulk green with envy, but we'll call it even if you take a dip in those fine Hawaiian waters for me. Aloha and Happy Holidays!

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  5. I unwind by reading, and playing games (on my kindle)
    ajenkins979 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks Alisa for letting me know. There is nothing like losing yourself in a good book!

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  6. I unwind by just spending time with my Grandchildren. I love seeing there smiles and to just listen to them talk about everything..

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    1. Teenaa3940 - you sound like a wonderful grandparent! They are lucky to have you. I wish you many many years together. Happy Holidays!

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  7. I relax by reading and playing with my dogs. I have 4 children and they aren't terribly relaxing, but got to love them, they are always interesting.
    Ann(dot)sheiring(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Ann - You are my hero! 4 kids! I only have 2 and I can barely remember my name half the time. "Not terribly relaxing" has to be the understatement of the year. Wishing you at least 10 minutes of peace and quiet this holiday season (not including sleep)!

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  8. I unwind by taking short naps when I can, and let the phone go to voice mail so family time is uninterrupted.

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    1. Good for you with the "no phone at family time" rule. We do the same at our house. And I love naps...gotta get more of those this New Year. Thanks for sharing Lillian.

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  10. I relax by reading a good book, drinking coffee or hot chocolate, or spending time with my grandchildren, or with my husband.

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  11. I relax by reading and playing video games with my son.

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  12. I relax by writing and watching my favorite television shows. When that doesn't work, it's writing and my iPod. :) Happy Holidays!

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    1. Happy Holidays to you, too! Writing is wonderfully relaxing. Glad that's an outlet for you. What are some of your favorite shows?

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  13. I put on some comfortable pajama's, get a snack and something to drink & put by my bed so I don't have to get up for a good while, then I snuggle down and read a good book.

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    1. Sounds warm and yummy Eva! I don't have enough hot chocolate in my life. I think I'm going to fix that, like right now :-) Wishing you lots of pajama time this holiday. Thanks for sharing!

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  14. "Pinky" is so pretty. I read, sleep, watch movies, and eat cookies to unwind. My hubby makes all kind of yummy cookies for Xmas.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS, CERESE! I enjoyed your newsletter.

    Mel K.
    Meljprincess AT aol DOT com

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    1. Merry Christmas to you, too Mel K! A man that bakes you cookies! You are a blessed woman indeed! So glad you enjoyed the newsletter :-)

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  15. I read late into the night (because that really is the time I get to myself......four grandchildren and none of them seem to think staying at their own home on a week-end is a consideration) and though I work full time at a dental office I carry my Kindle with me all the time!!! (Just in a case a moment sneaks upon me and I can read a chapter or a page or just a line!! haha) But on the week-ends, especially during the holidays my grandchildren and I blow up the king size mattress and take over the family room with ice cream, Christmas cookies and Hallmark Christmas movies (during non-holiday months when stress is also a level above comfortable we do "Elvis" movie night!!!)

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    1. Sheilag - I love it - Hallmark Movies - Ice cream - Cookies - Taking over the family room. No wonder the grand kids spend every weekend with you! Plus, you have "Elvis night". You've got the right stuff Grandma! May you and your family continue to be blessed!

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  16. I usually have a lot of quiet time in the mornings. My kids are grown so the excitement of Christmas morning is gone. So, while I cook Christmas dinner, I write my fan fiction. In fact, it was last year, on Christmas morning, I wrote a poem about Renessme and Jacob. It was my first finfic anything. Writing and reading helps me relax and still keeps me busy.

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    1. Aah, a kindred soul, a fellow fan fiction reader/writer! Congratulations on your first fanfic piece. I will check it out over the holidays. I hope your health is well and you keep writing!

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  17. that's easy. i do all my shopping online. having to deal with traffic, makes me nuts, so i avoid. safer too. thank you for sharing your book! happy holidays! :D

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    1. Hi Kyla - It is a pleasure to share my book. Thank YOU for being interested in it. I hate malls, so online shopping is a must for me, too. Happy Holidays to you as well!

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  18. Thank you to everyone who has responded! It is truly special for me to have the opportunity to get to know a little bit about each of you. :-) I will announce the winner of the giveaway right here in the comments section on December 24th!

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  19. Congratulations Mel. K! You are the winner of a signed copy of Order of the Seers and a custom, Order of the Seers reusable bag. Merry Christmas!

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  20. I get together with friends and play chamber music. None of us has large families in the area, so this is our way of celebrating. Wine and treats afterwards make the evening complete!! When that can't happen for whatever reason (this past week, it was 20 inches of snow keeping it from happening), I read what ever I can find, and if THAT fails me, I watch TV, usually Food Network or HGTV (for vegging out), or PBS.

    Later,

    Lynn

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    1. Sounds fantastic Lynn. And the back up plans aren't bad either. Happy Holidays!

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