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Holiday Hustle and Bustle
Today marks the start of the holiday season. Yes, the stores have been stocking Christmas supplies since September, but today is the official start. Whether you lined up for the bargains at 12:01 a.m. or enjoyed the start from the coziness of your own bed, Black Friday is here. There are 27 shopping days until Christmas.
I am sure that a few of you out there finished up your holiday preparation before the turkey went in the oven. I applaud you. For the rest of us, it is a mad race to Dec. 25. There are lists to make and stores to visit, gifts to wrap and cards to send, trees to trim and cookies to make. That is all on top of the regular routine of house, work and kids. It would seem that staying so busy should at least keep us slim and trim, but I forgot to mention all the delicious holiday parties to attend. I, personally, have yet to meet a dessert table I didn’t like.
It is definitely a fun time of year. People seem a little friendly. Hearing Christmas music on the radio makes me smile. And the naughty-nice list keeps my kids’ behavior in line. For all the fun of the season, it is too easy to get overextended. Like every other mom, I am busy year round. When I throw in the holiday hustle and bustle it can leave me more humbug than happy.
This year, I am making an effort to put the fun before the fuss. I am trading in baking from scratch for slice and bake. I am swapping hosting a party at my house for meeting my girlfriends at a restaurant. I am skipping the time finding a parking space and shopping online instead. If my plan holds and luck runs my way, I may just make it through the holiday season without turning into the Grinch. If not, at least I know that even the Grinch turns kind on Christmas morning. Now I am off to go shop. Happy Holidays.
Gigi appears Fridays on TriangleMom2Mom. To read more about Gigi, go to her blog Stroller Lane.
Gigi Harrell
Gigi is a TriangleMom2Mom featured blogger, appearing every Friday.
She's a mom of two daughters, ages 4 and 1½. Gigi’s path to a career in writing took the scenic route. She graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Engineering and a husband-to-be. After a few years of work and lots of play in California, they returned to their roots in the South. They landed in North Carolina where she graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with an MBA. She worked in marketing for a large multinational company, but career priorities changed with the arrival of her girls. She stepped off the corporate track to start her own business. She now works full-time as a mom and part-time running her business and writing freelance. Gigi lives in Cary with her husband and two daughters balancing the havoc and harmony of everyday life.
Comments
I am definitely with you. I have found over the years that the supposed "joyful" holiday season was becoming more and more of a chore and less and less of a joy.
The economy is forcing us to cut back, but I think that it might just teach us all a lesson that, even when it comes to the holidays, less is really more.
Count me among those who will not be darkening the doors of the department stores and will be shopping in the comfort of my pajamas on my laptop!