Rosemary Augustine

We are less than 60 days from the Christmas holidays… 58 days to be exact.  And the buzz is already starting.  With Halloween lurking in the shadow of sunset, (and as soon as all the candy is collected), moms across the country will be looking for ways to recycle the bags of treats.  What to do with all that sugar?  Meanwhile, it’s time to put up the Christmas lights (even though you may not turn them on until December) and certainly time to create a menu for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and all the other holidays before and after – Chanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Kwanza, Boxing Day… oh my, how many more days can we celebrate – with food and family?  Should I scream now? Or wait until January 2?  Each year I wonder if I’m even going to make it to January 2^nd.

While shopping last weekend at the local grocery store I noticed the amount of people and more importantly the amount of food in their shopping basket.  Hmmmmm! are they preparing for the holidays already?  I asked a lady in front of me while waiting in line and she said, “oh yes!  We have 2 freezers and we’re already baking and cooking to make our lives easier.”  I thought she was cooking for an army and asked how big her family is and she said, oh there is only 6 of us and a few drop ins so maybe when it’s all done… we might have 20-25 people.”  A few drop ins?  Holy turkey stuffing!  maybe 20 drop ins?  So I went home to make a list of the dinners I was preparing, their menus and the food I needed to add to my shopping list for next week.  Oh my, I suddenly thought, who am I cooking for?  It’s just me! And the cats – and they are happy with turkey and giblets out of a can (and really don’t know the difference that it’s a holiday or any other day).  Then I thought, gee, I already made reservations at the restaurant for Thanksgiving – for 2 and Christmas… well, only the cats will know if I’m really home.

What about house cleaning – the key question here is do you clean before or after the parties?  I know some people who thoroughly clean before and then complain about the mess they have to clean up after.  Will guests really notice?  What they will notice is the obvious –  dust on the shelves and mold in the bathtub.  No your guest are not coming to take a shower, but I can tell you many people have told me when they go to someone’s house and they use the bathroom, they look in the shower to see how clean it is.  Maybe you can trick your guests into thinking you are the perfect housekeeper by only letting them use the bathroom with a shower or tub that no one uses.  The best would be letting them use the bathroom with no shower or tub at all. 

And, Oh wait!  Then there are holiday cards or how I like to call them Christmas Cards.  Are you sending cards this year?  Is there a family photo or standard bought card at your favorite dollar store?  Gee, that’s another list to compile, write, stamp, lick and head to the post office for drop off.  Unless you give them to your husband to drop at work in the outgoing mail – only to find them in his briefcase on December 29^th.  Guess I should be considering my Christmas card list, but I’m busy with this blog and making items to sell on Etsy!

Are we driving in the fast lane yet?  Let’s talk about delegation.  It is important this time of year to be more a project manager and delegate as much as you can, oversee what’s being done (letting go of perfection), and make the cookies or candy that bring you joy and delegate the rest.  Kids and spouses, plus friends or neighbors with a side business, ask for help, keep asking and delegate various assignments including the Christmas Card list.  You may have a neighbor or unemployed friend that has decided to make a few bucks and offer this service.  Use them!  I guarantee you are now entering the on ramp to a speed trap of year-end holiday madness.  Ever wonder why they call it “madness?”  Ever notice how that madness all disappears completely by a certain date?  Usually somewhere between December 26^th – December 29^th.   By then what didn’t get done, really doesn’t matter. 

Another thing to think about for the holidays is simplification.  We try to simplify other times of the year, why can’t we simplify now?  So many people want everything to be so perfect – perfect meal, perfect gift, perfect life… Give up perfect!  Perfect and Simple are not compatible partners.  Choose one and decide how your holidays will be enjoyable and memorable.  Remember, what you didn’t get right or perfect this year, you’ll have a chance to try it again in another 365 Days!  Meanwhile, try to simplify.  What does simplify mean to me?  It means: The Christmas lights have been up since the summer; Reservations for Thanksgiving Dinner; A simple meal for Christmas with a best friend; Christmas Cards?  Well, I always say I’m not sending, but I do – and I include my annual update.  I’m sure I’ll make a few pumpkin pies too.  Meanwhile, I’m going to include Rest Stops along the highway since, the speed at which we are all going this time of the year requires a lot more rest than normal.  Enjoy the journey since it’s never about the destination.

In the Spirit of Love and Light…

And Happy Pumpkin Day!  

Rosemary Augustine