So, are you ready for Christmas? I know it’s only November 1st, what gives?
While it may only be the start of November, stores and marketers have been strategizing for months on how to get us into the holiday spirit. My own Lowe’s and Walmart both “decked the halls” about two weeks ago. I was stunned to see the sparkling trees before I’d heard the first “trick or treat.”
Although I understand the importance of planning ahead, this seems a bit much. The battle for our hearts and pocket books is on. What will we spend time and money on this season?
The stores are starting their holiday celebrations now in the hopes that they can extend the spending season as well. The temptation is there for us to overspend and overdo. That means it’s in our best interests to make some plans of our own before we step into the fray.
Consider these strategies for a simpler Christmas season:
Reflect.
What are the most important things for you and your family at the holidays? Once you determine your priorities, you can assign time, money, and effort to those things instead of spending them scattershot.
Resist.
If you have priorities in place, then you’ll be better able to resist unnecessary purchases and commitments. Do the things that suit your family for this year. Don’t feel snookered into something that works for others if it doesn’t work for you.
Rejoice!
This is a time to celebrate God’s goodness, to give thanks for our abundance, to rejoice in the coming of the Savior, and to celebrate new beginnings. Remember that it is a time for great rejoicing. Don’t get bogged down by the unimportant.
Read A Simpler Season
A Simpler Season is a ginormous compendium of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s planning ideas and printable pages. With the busy family in mind, it provides recipes, to-do lists, children’s activity sheets, planning pages, gift ideas, and step-by-step tutorials for creating homemade gifts. There’s even an extensive children’s book list with accompanying activities to do with your kids as well.
It’s not designed to give you more to do, but to provide the tools to make the most of the time you choose.
You can buy A Simpler Season in pdf or on Kindle.
The halls have been decked, but you don’t need to be decked by the holidays. Spend a few moments envisioning the holiday season you want this year. Say yes to the important things and celebrate a simpler season.
What’s a priority for YOU this holiday season?
— Jessica Fisher is a busy mom to six children, making her home in San Diego. She writes about life, laughter and the pursuit of a clean house at Life as Mom and shares delicious ways to act your wage at Good Cheap Eats. She is the author of several books, including A Simpler Season and Not Your Mother’s Make-Ahead and Freeze Cookbook.
A Simpler Season Giveaway & Coupon:
Jessica has graciously offered to give away three copies of A Simpler Season to MomsToolbox readers. Would you like to win one?
If so, enter to win by leaving a comment on this post sharing what your priority will be this season and what battles against it.
You can also earn bonus entries by:
- Sharing a link to this giveaway on Facebook or on Twitter (Leave a comment sharing which you did or leave a comment for each.)
- Subscribing to MomsToolbox via email (and leave a comment letting me know you have done so.)
This contest will remain open through Sunday, November 3, at Noon Central time. I will select three winners randomly Sunday afternoon and alert the winners via email.
Need to start de-stressing already and cannot wait to see if you win a copy?
Click over to buy A Simpler Season for $3 off by using the coupon code SIMPLER3. That coupon code will save you $3 on any purchase of $8 or more in the Life as Mom estore.
Comment away to win and let your Simpler Season begin…
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