Make Your Holiday Brighter

December is in full swing and the big day is less than a week away.  We know...there's lots to do and it’s all causing a ton of stress.  We can relate.

Yet, there’s nothing worse than waking up December 26 with nothing to show for your efforts except bags of trash and a pile of returns.  Now is the time to step back and re-assess what you want Christmas and New Years 2011 to be for you.  There’s still time to re-prioritize, change up plans, and create new intentions (and memories).

Below we offer 31 simple ideas with the power to make the holidays brighter.  All were designed to create a memory, pamper your senses, and cheer yourself (and others).

Don’t let the stress, hustle and bustle get to you!  It’s time to take charge of your own holiday experience!

1. Set your holiday intention right now – what two words do you want to be the theme of this season?
2. Schedule a massage for after Christmas.  You’ll definitely deserve it!
3. Hang a wreath on your door.
4. Buy yourself some holiday reusable shopping bags. Spread holiday cheer and be kind to the planet.
5. Decorate your car windows with window clings.
6. Decorate your key chain with a festive key ring.
7. Put a fancy holiday pin on your coat/jacket.
8. Here’s a simple way to add a holiday touch to any décor...Recycle that ugly Christmas sweater by turning it into a pillow cover! Learn how here.
9. Simplify your Christmas to-do list.  Anything you can dump or delegate?
10. Get a new holiday towel for the kitchen or bathroom.  You’ll smile each time you see it.
11. Decorate your place of work. Perhaps an ornament from your drawer or a bow on your monitor.
12. Burn a mulled cider candle ($5 at Wal-Mart).  If nothing else, your house will smell like Christmas!
13. Take the family on an outdoor adventure.  Just because it’s colder doesn’t mean you need to stay indoors.
14. Write your holiday affirmation: My holiday season with filled with _________ & _________.
15. Start one new tradition. Read a particular story on Christmas Eve, recite a particular prayer before meal, go caroling, ice skate under the moonlight.
16. Make tonight’s dinner conversation about holiday childhood memories.
17. Take a family picture this year…no excuses!
18. Make a batch of your favorite holiday cookie. On a special diet? Then give them away to others!
19. Try out a new mocktail recipe for Christmas!  How about a Cinnamon Holiday Mocktini.
20. Take some time to reflect on your last year; when did you learn, when did you succeed, when were you amazing?
21. Make the game plan for 2012; what’s your intention, what are some goals?
22. Schedule an hour of “me time” today.  Do whatever you feel will rejuvenate you!
23. Get yourself a fun new scarf!  You’ll actually look forward to heading out into the cold.
24. Sport some new holiday undies.
25. Merry Christmas!  Enjoy the day to its fullest!
26. Buy a new journal for next year.
27. Try out a new mocktail recipe for New Year’s Eve!  How about a Pomegranate Spritz!
28. Answer this Soul Searching Question for next year: What goal, if achieved by year-end, would have the greatest positive impact on my life?
29. Answer this Soul Searching Questions for next year: What am I willing to do differently this year that will lead to a life that more closely resembles my vision?
30. Make New Year’s Eve a little easier with these simple recipes.
31. Write your year’s mistakes and regrets on toilet paper and flush them down the toilet to close the year!

Favorites from Holidays Past

Christmas is a time of memories and a lot of inspiration for blog topics!  This week we decided to share some of our most popular blog posts from holidays past. It was fun for us to compile the list and reflect on the state of our lives at the time these articles were written.

For some we were inspired, and for others we were feeling overwhelmed; yet the exercise of writing pulled us from our current state of mind into a place of authenticity and peace.

We hope you enjoy reading this collection as much as we enjoyed writing each entry.

Love and hugs,

The Soul Sisters

Miracle of the Heart
The holidays is a time of open hearts. Could that be the start of a Christmas miracle?

The Gift of Memories
The best part of the season doesn't come gift wrapped. The memories can last a lifetime.

Christmas Compromise
Celebrating the holidays means something different to everyone and sometimes that requires compromise.

Message From My Christmas Angel
There are Christmas angels all around us. What messages are they giving you?

Are You Ready for Christmas?
This is the question that can throw you into a panic...unless you rethink what it means to be ready.

Spreading Christmas Joy Charlie Brown Style

I’ve always been one to come up with silly ideas in the attempt of spreading a smile or two--A trait I acquired from my dad, I’m sure; the man who put an old cowboy boot out on the fence post – just to spark interesting conversation for the passersby.

Several years ago, my older sister lived on about 20 acres of wooded land, which offered the widest array of Christmas trees and pine boughs.  It was a Christmas decorator’s dream, and each year we made a point of heading out for an afternoon to collect as much greenery as we could for our holiday decorating.

One year, shortly after Thanksgiving, she and I spent the afternoon clipping, chopping, and dragging out our wonderful finds.  And then I spotted it – a six foot, spindly, Charlie Brown tree.  I could have counted the total branches on both hands.  And, my next idea hit me almost immediately.  How funny would it be to strap that baby to the roof of my car and drive around for the entire Christmas season with it up there?  It would be quite the opposite from the typical trees you see atop other cars this time of year.

And so that’s what I did; for four weeks I drove around with that spindly little tree on my car roof.  But for such a sad little tree it sure spread a magnitude of Christmas cheer.  Everywhere I turned there were people pointing and smiling.  Perfect!  Mission accomplished.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

The Most Wonderful Time of Year?

We’ve made it! It’s the day after Christmas and I hope you were able to spend at least some of your day relaxing in your PJ’s. It is a great time of year; full of memories, family, and friends…but it sure takes a lot out of a person!

So how’d you do? They say this is the most wonderful time of year after all…you know, “with the kids jingle-belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer”. So was it the most wonderful time of year for you?

I have to admit, I absolutely love Christmas; even more so these last couple years while I’ve been enjoying my time as a stay-at-home mom. But I’ve heard the signs loud and clear from a few women I know. While Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, we find ourselves being over-stressed and over-stretched. Where did all this hype come from? I’m sure we can all look back at our Christmases growing up and think, “They were all such quaint little gatherings back then.”

So we hear the advice time and time again, “streamline your schedules, do only what’s important, delegate, etc., etc.” but we obviously aren’t listening. Every year the bar is placed higher and higher. We definitely aren’t enjoying the holidays as much as we once did.

So here’s another approach we could take. Wouldn’t we enjoy the holidays more if we weren’t trying to jam so much into one month? Instead of Christmas being the social climax of the year, why don’t we celebrate year-round? If you think I just fell off my rocker, stick with me here…

Whoever said that holiday greetings and gay happy meetings could only happen during the Christmas holidays? I’m pretty sure 4th of July cookies would taste just as good, and I’m sure extra kindness to strangers would always be welcome.

I’m not saying forfeit the Christmas season and its traditions altogether. I’m just proposing we all take a step back, and spread it out a little more; carry it beyond the end of the year. Instead of trying to run the marathon that is Christmas, why not visit some family at Christmas, some at Thanksgiving, and some in…June? Perhaps send your donation to the Salvation Army in August instead of trying to remember your change jar in December? And couldn’t we send greeting cards in the spring?

So here it is, December 26. Are you going to plummet off the Christmas high, or are you going to carry the magic of the season into 2011? Now that I think about it, February would be the perfect time for hearts to be glowing!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.” ~Francis C. Farley

Message from my Christmas Angel

We’ve come upon it; that time of the year. Its official “The Holidays” are here. We’ve got Thanksgiving under our belt…literally, and as we round the bend toward December the big push begins. The lists of to-do’s start to grow and you now remember why you opted for the calendar with such big boxes a mere 12 months ago. Let’s face it; Christmastime is a busy time.

I was pondering that very issue last weekend. Exhausted from a day of cleaning in preparation for Thanksgiving, I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to put my feet up for the evening. I had a few dishes to wash and then I was home free. And that’s when it happened….in walked my angel. Of course I didn’t think that at the time, I certainly wasn’t expecting her. She floated in and spoke just a few words. It wasn’t exactly what she said that was so touching, but the sweet twinkle in her eye that tugged at my heart; there was something familiar about it. She opened her precious mouth to ask me one simple question, “Mom, can we put the Christmas tree up now?”

I will be the first to admit that I didn’t handle it well. Without even thinking I quickly responded, “Are you kidding? No!” And that’s when I saw the spark begin to fade. I took a deep breath and soon realized from where I had known that bright twinkle of excitement. Once upon a time I held the same elation for Christmas time. (Where did that girl go? I want her back!  I thought to myself.)  Now, she is not one to give up easily. She didn’t miss a beat and commenced the negotiations. She was quite surprised when my next answer was, “OK” and quickly skipped off happily, ready to begin the assembly process.

Sending my own angel to rescue me from the “busyness” of the Season…what He wouldn’t do.

I’m happy to report we had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Our family gathered with food galore not commenting on the bare, yet to be finished Christmas tree in the corner. It might look bare to the untrained eye but I see it adorned in angel kisses, bright twinkling lights, and trimmed in the magic of the Season. Thank you, Christmas Angel!

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ~Peg Bracken

The Gift of Memories

As I get more seasoned as a mother I realize more and more how great my own parents are. They provided for all our needs as we grew up but always put more attention on the non-material things in life. They were constantly putting time into making memories with us over buying an over-abundance of gifts. Our Christmases from the past included caroling, tobogganing, homemade eggnog, and surprise visits from Santa. Each year was complete with a flurry of gift opening as well, but these are the memories I remember. Yes, we all want the best for our children but I think there is something to be said for a child to be raised with wanting some things that they never quite get. And for those gifts that they do get…isn’t the excitement that much more intense when a gift has been on their wish list for years prior?

As my children get older I try to parent them as my parents did my siblings and me. Instead of putting the focus on the gifts at Christmas, I try to put the focus on making memories. Memories are a funny thing though; there is no way for me to know what things my kids will remember and what they will forget. All I can do is to take the time to create memorable experiences for them and hope that they remember.

We got home at about 10:30pm on Christmas Eve, after a busy evening of church and then a family gathering. The drive home was a little treacherous, but once we made it we could appreciate the beautiful evening; calm winds, warm temps in the upper 20’s, and the hugest snowflakes coming down over our neighborhood. Now my normal routine is to hurry from the car into house while my husband unloads the kids. But this night was different as I instantly saw an opportunity to make a memory for my daughter. As we stood at the edge of the garage watching the snowfall I reached down and packed together a snowball and threw it at my husband. I’m still not sure who was more surprised, my husband or my daughter. It took a few moments for her to realize what mommy had just done. Then she let out a laugh like you’ve never heard. Before we knew it all three of us were out in the driveway throwing snowballs at each other. And there we stood, still in our dress clothes from the Christmas evening, having a snowball fight, and making a memory for my daughter.

There was so much to enjoy about this past holiday season but that was easily my highlight and I hope it’s a memory that sticks with my daughter. If not, oh well, I plan to give plenty more throughout the years!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” ~From the television show The Wonder Years

Christmas Compromise

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love everything about it…the Christ Child, the decorations, the get-togethers, the food, the giving.

Too bad it always seems that other aspects of life get busier at the same time. Each year I say I’m going to get a jump-start on the holiday prep so that there is more time to enjoy the season. Each year I drive my husband to the brink of holiday insanity as I’m scrambling to put up just one more decoration, send one more card, wrap one more gift, create one more memory (yes, that’s why this blog post is one day late!). Meanwhile I wonder why he doesn’t share my same level of excitement for the perfect tree topper.

I guess I used to think that the Christmas Holiday held the same kind magic for everyone. I remember way back to the Christmas when I was three. We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Schwab’s farm in those days. I remember watching out the window for Santa, and then…The bells! The excitement! The flurry of activity! Suddenly, as if from nowhere, there were presents under the tree. I got a Betsy Wetsy that year. We ran out of cloth diapers in short order and had to resort to disposable Kleenex ones. They were a little big as I recall but a few pieces of Scotch tape solved that!

Those early Christmas memories are so vivid to me and that’s why I still find it hard to believe that my husband can hardly remember any of his. Early in our relationship I felt compelled to make Christmas an extra special time, partially for his sake, partially for my own. Yet each year led to disappointment as my efforts failed to get him any more inspired.

This was once a point of contention between us, but we’ve since been able to compromise. After 22 years of marriage it’s become a give and take; he humors me as I belt out my favorite Christmas carols and I cut him some slack when he’s not. As we’ve come to see it, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a Cindy-Lou Who and the Grinch.

Kim

Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” ~Dr. Seuss

A Special Holiday Offer for You

What a delightful time of the year…truly one of my favorites. If I had to put my finger on the one thing that I like most about the Christmas Season I would have to say that it’s the feeling in the air. It’s that magical feeling that anything is possible. It’s the season of miracles both big and small.

I have to be honest; I have not started my shopping. Every year I strive to be one of those people who announces the week before Thanksgiving that they just finished the wrapping of their Christmas presents. And every year, this year being no different, I’m now starting to frantically shuffle through the store flyers and surf the internet to find the best prices, the whole time hoping that on-line purchases can be shipped in time for Christmas.

This year however, all this talk about the economy is causing many people to cut back. The retailers accommodate; it’s amazing the specials, sales, and offers that the stores are advertising. Get 20% off your entire purchase today only, buy one get one free, free shipping, my personal favorite the unadvertised sale, and the list goes on. To track every deal, and determine which really is the best value, would take an expert shopper, which I am not.

Cutting back financially will certainly benefit our pocket books, but more needs to be done. Anyone have a hot deal on Christmas Spirit?

We have an idea…maybe we take a lesson from our friendly stores and offer our own personal unadvertised sale? Try the “20% off unnecessary commitments” and spend more time with family and friends. Or how about the “buy one, get one free” and hand down a family tradition or two to a child in your life. Some people like coupons, why not redeem this…“1/2 off stress and live in the moment”.

For a truly special Christmas Season, focus on the simple things that the holidays have to offer. Start now, well before Christmas, and see the magic waiting to happen.

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

P.S. Become a Soulspring Empowerment Group fan on Facebook and download our Soulspring Holiday Coupons (just click on our Facebook pdf tab). Not your usual discounts, but a creative reminder of the special opportunities available to you this holiday season. Print them off and redeem them today! Finally, some coupons you can really use!

Soulspiration of the Week:
“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” ~Burton Hillis