My Guide to an UnStressy Christmas

You may have noticed an absence of Christmas crafting posts here on my blog, a dearth of Christmas  recipes, a lack of Christmas how to's. Well noted, those who did. For the rest of you, where have you been? (No seriously, where have you been? It's been awfully quiet around here. Is it like the end of the year or something???)

So I am figuring since it's been so quiet that you are madly rushing around buying presents/baking gingerbread/mulling wine/decking the halls/recreating endless stuff you've found on Pinterest/getting into the holiday spirit...? Yeah me too. Although I have to admit that this year I have taken a very laid back approach to Christmas Fever which is quite unlike me. In years gone by I would have been Advent Calendar-ing and Elf-on-the-Shelfing with the best of them. 

My teeth would be nearly ground to nubs from the sheer effort of trying to drag my family kicking and screaming into the Spirit of Christmas. Whether they liked it or not. Whether they complained or not. Whether it killed me or not.

And of course I would be madly blogging about it all. Photographing every step of creating my glue-gun bunting, recording in painful detail how to wrap the teachers gifts so nicely with cellophane and ribbon.

Now... well I seem to be just playing my Christmas music and looking forward to Glow on Sunday. I haven't even made a Christmas list yet (but 80% of my Christmas shopping is done (though that's a wild guess not an actual fact)).

And as I occasionally browse through Pinterest aimlessly pinning things I know I will never create, I wonder: How's everyone doing out there? Are you surviving the rush or wishing it was over already? Drowning in things to do... or actually enjoying the season? So for what it's worth I thought I'd share with you a random list of things that are helping me enjoy Christmas. And not Stress. And not be tempted to create everything I see on Pinterest.

Here goes...

Simoney's Guide to Surviving (and Enjoying) Christmas

[Peace is the Most important thing; Candles help too]

1. Figure out What's Most Important to You About Christmas (and then use that to reprioritise everything)
Sounds obvious, but sometimes we can get so caught up in the activity of the season that we forget to stop and think: What is this really all for?
Who are the people we most want to spend time with this season? (make time for them)
What are the things we most enjoy doing as a family at this time of the year? (make time for those)

Take stock, take a breath and ditch everything that doesn't add to the enjoyment of Christmas. By which I mean Peace, Joy and a Mother who isn't coming off like a stressed-out Shrew as she tries to accomplish all her seasonal plans for delightful family traditions. (Speaking from experience here, people).

[A Pine Tree and Twinkle lights plus years of collected decorations = the best kind of Tree for us]

2. Find a Way to Connect with the Reason for the Season

For me, I stopped stressing about to-do lists and began actually enjoying the season when I found a way to reconnect with the meaning of Christmas for me, i.e. the Christmas Story. 

I initially did it by writing a Christmas book for my Children, but I keep that Christmas meaning close to me now in a number of other ways...

• Christmas Music: This year I have downloaded songs from the Hillsong Christmas albums via iTunes as my old Christmas music was boring me. On iTunes I can pick just the songs I want and make my own mixes. Bonus.
• Christmas shows: We look forward to Glow - always a magical event - and our church Nativity Play; this along with a few other local events where we can meet friends and relax without too many crowds helps make it feel like Christmas. We'll avoid the crowds and the rush at the major city wide events and stay local.
• Christmas Books: One year I wrote An Unexpected Christmas; last year made a photobook of all our Christmas memories on Snapfish, as a family gift we open on Christmas Eve. Keep an eye out for specials - I got mine 50% off. I love to add a new Christmas book to our collection each year.
• Christmas Movies: Watch old favourites and rediscover new ones. This time of year there are lots of Christmas films showing on TV, so plan to record a bunch, or check out Fatso and the classics they have which are hard to find in video stores (I have a free month's trial offer for my readers with code FAMILY45; this is a great time of year to use it)
• Christmas Giving: we always try to find a way to bless others at Christmas, whether its gifts for kids through City Mission or dropping a hamper off to bless another family or doing chores to earn money for something from the Tear Fund Gift for Life catalogue for some kids in Africa... Blessing others at this time of the year helps offset greed and commercialism (and always leads to great warm fuzzies).

[Spotted at a Cafe: Rudolf cookies = Gingerbread men upside down]

3. Limit Obligations

Sometimes the stress comes from being pulled in too many directions by various obligations. Some of these we can't avoid, but others we can free ourselves from.

For instance, Christmas Cards.

I am just not a Christmas Card person. Never have been.

We send Christmas cards only to my hubby's English family (because they are Very Big in England) but our friends and acquaintances know that if they don't get a card from us, it's not because we don't like them. It's cos we don't do Christmas Cards.

Same with gift giving. We get Christmas Gifts for our immediate family. The children give thankyou gifts to their teachers. Sometimes (if we get around to it) we take cookies to the neighbours.

But there are no obligations. We won't stress ourselves out doing it, we'll just do what we can.

4. Don't Reinvent the Wheel - Take Shortcuts
You can have the fun without all the stress. Don't tear your hair out over a handmade gingerbread house that won't stick together: get a kit from the store (twenty bucks from Kmart). Use store-bought custard and sponge cake for the trifle, a Cowells pavlova, an Aunt Betty's Christmas Pudd.

Sure, do some baking with the kids, mull the wine yourself, but don't feel like you have to do everything from scratch. Take a deep breath... and find a shortcut.

(Oh and here's one that'll save your Christmas Eve: Wrap the presents as you buy them. Don't wait until Christmas Eve and do them all at once. A Thankless back-breaking exercise which is sure to keep you up late wondering why you bought so much stuff. Wrap-as-you-go lets you just chill and enjoy Christmas Eve, mulled wine, (store-bought) Christmas mince tarts and candlelight...)

5. Don't Compare to Others, but Fill the House with Christmas in your own way

The danger of sites like Pinterest is that we can start to compare our efforts to the awesomeness we see there. Down this road of comparison lies discontent and disatisfaction. Don't go there.

Sure, look for inspiration on the net, on Pinterest, on crafty blogs... but don't let it make you feel like your Christmas efforts are not "enough".

Instead fill your house with a sense of the season, your special memories and things that mean Christmas to you. Whether it's your childrens' old kindy decorations, burning scented candles, stringing up some twinkle lights, decorating a real pine tree (for that Christmas scent) with the decorations you've collected through the years (or some humble glue-gun Christmas bunting). 

But most of all... think PEACE. Think JOY. Think LOVE. If anything on your list hinders these things, it's maybe time to edit your to-do list....? 

So what if we've ticked off doing all the Christmas activities and traditions from our list but we've exhausted ourselves in the process and can't wait til the whole jolly rigmarole is over. Sometimes less is more.

Now go and have a beautiful blessed unstressy Christmas. xx

(This year I have added the joy of spray glue to my Glue-Gun Queen repertoire with my new nifty no-sew Christmas Bunting. I sprayed glue onto felt and then pressed gingham and and a bit of old lavalava onto the felt, to stiffen it and make it double-sided. Then I cut out triangle flags and glue gunned them onto white bias binding, on two sides. You'd never know it wasn't stitched. No fraying or curling. The whole thing took me 30 minutes, while I watched The Grinch with Scrag. I just felt like trying out my idea for spray glue so I dug around in my leftovers box and voila! Cost = ZIP)

Favourite Stories from past Christmases about finding the meaning...

• I Found My Christmas Spirit
• What's the Big Deal with the Baby in the Manger?
• Trying Too Hard
• My Christmas Ideas Page

"Surviving"

We watched Survivor tonight, Me, Dash and Fab.
It's one of our "things". Watch Survivor. Discuss strategy and the meaning of life.

This episode was the one where the Survivors were visited by a family member to "help" them on a challenge. Lots of tears and hugging, of course. Then fierce competition (where the ones with the most athletic family members won, while the rest could only wish their gene pool was a little more athletic.)

[Source]

Then afterwards, this...

DASH: So mum if you were on Survivor who would you pick to be the family member that visits you?

ME: Well, probably Dad, cos you can't pick kids, but maybe if you were a grownup by then  I'd pick you, son.

DASH: Yeah, you'd want to pick somebody who would be good in challenges and help you win. But probably by the time I was old enough for you to pick me, you'd be like,, um, 65 or something so they probably wouldn't pick you for Survivor *laughs cheekily*

ME: Hahaha, yeah, so maybe it'd be YOU who would be on Survivor and I'd get to come and visit YOU *confident in my place as beloved mother*

DASH: Um sorry mum but I'd probably pick Dad cos he'd be, um, better in the challenges. If I picked you, sorry but I think we'd lose...

ME: *not offended at all cos I know he's right* Yeah, ha, you're right. I'd be pretty useless in challenges...

DASH: Or maybe Dad would be a bit too old too, maybe I should pick Scrag... or even Fab...

MISS FAB: Awwwwww! *hugs him*  THAT's for saying you'd pick me *dead-arms him* and THAT's for saying you wouldn't pick mum... Don't worry mum, I'D pick you!

Bless.
(It's good to know where you stand, right?)

Cool-as Clips to Make You Smile

Some days you just need a giggle. Or a warm fuzzy infusion.
Today might be One of Those Days.
In which case, here are a few video clips that at are making me smile lately...

First up is the creative genius of the guys (and girls) from SPANK (St Pauls Arts and Kids)... these are the people who are making the film version of my book. If you haven't seen these clips before, you're in for a treat.

("The Christmas Story" went viral on YouTube last year...I've posted the playlist of all their other movies as well...)



Now on a totally different topic, here's a clip about Instagram... it had me laughing all the way through. As an Instagram newbie, this really tickles my funny bone. If you're not on Instagram you won't get it. But yay for me cos I AM. Wahoo. Thanks Meg for Sharing it with me....

(Apologies for the F-word in the song near the end. I guess they needed something to rhyme with "Duck".)

 

Now for one last clip. This one is for all the mums who are feeling the pressure of the season. It's the Morrisons Ad from the UK, and my dear friend Linda told me about it. I think you'll like it...




Have  Great Weekend ♥

                                          Source: failblog.org via Kristen on Pinterest

; 

Random Fabness and Crazy

[Miss Fab's new DIY hairdo; the new blog-spot and Enforcing Boundaries:
"Out of my room, Scrag!" says Miss Fab]

Get ready for some unrelated off-topic, seasonal randomness from me. Like you, I have a gazillion Things-To-Christmas-Do riccocheting around my brain, but rather than attend to any of them I am taking a Pause, sipping coffee and sharing my muddle with you, my lovely readers, from my new blogging-spot in the hallway. 

See the desk there? The computer has been moved. It was lovely in my sunroom; I could gaze out at the lavendar and lilac beneath my window, let the breeze in, feel the warm sunshine... but there was just one problem. ONE COMPUTER, MANY KIDS. My bedroom was constantly being invaded by small people wanting to play Club Penguin, or Moshi Monsters or Strike Force Heroes. 

[where it used to be]

Sometimes I would open my door and find a kid with all his neighbourhood pals gathered around. Kids perching on the windowsill. Dumping my piles of clothes that were "artistically arranged" on the chairs onto the ground, to make room for their little butts.

Gah. 

I needed to establish some boundaries. Some Privacy. Some Respect.

So as soon as Mr G left for Brazil, I unplugged the computer and dragged the beasty desk into the hallway. Instant Privacy. Boundaries re-established. respect for my space returned.

It's not pretty, but it works.

[Look mum I tidied my room! And look, I can do flips on my wardrobe rail!
And some candles. We all need candles sometimes.]

Did you catch that about Mr G being in Brazil? Yeah we are great travellers around here. there's always somebody jetting off. So I have been sole-parenting for the past week. He returns on Sunday. We have missed him but coped amazingly well, especially considering the busyness of the season.
Filming for Glow, putting up the Christmas Tree. The Literacy Festival at school. Wrangling three kids day in day out. Getting them off to school on time. To bed on time. To eat their dinner and do their chores.
It's exhausting on your own. Hats off to all the sole-parents out there; you are Legends.

Then the ten year old starts asking for deoderant because the Teacher has asked all the boys to start wearing it to reduce the pong-factor in class, now that some of them are approaching Puberty.
Do you know what Puberty is? I ask.
Um, is it a kind of sickness? he replies.

Daddy we miss you.

[Paper Bag Princess at PJ and Jellybean Night; "Thea Stilton" - Geronimo's sister - for the Character Parade
... and an eye test]

Just to keep life interesting the school planned a two-week literacy festival right at the busiest time of the year. PJ and Jellybean Night. Book Fair. Character Parade. Cake Competition.

And then Miss Fab started complaining about not being able to see the board properly. Her teacher was requesting an eye test.

Oh boy, another pair of glasses in the family?? Off we went to the optometrist. Who was somewhat  perplexed confused amused by the conflicting results of the tests. Seems Miss Fab was fudging the answers because she desperately wanted to get glasses. Go figure.

(There were actual tears when the optometrist told her that in fact, she didn't need glasses. Sobbing, in fact.)

[Egg 'n' soldiers, my book goes to Kindy and a Christmas Angel]

I am getting through it all by not making any lists.

There is no Advent Calendar, no Elf on the Shelf round here.

If the boy wants boiled egg and "soldiers" for afternoon tea, we go with it.

If the house remains unvacuumed for a few extra days, so be it.

I am very very relaxed about this Christmas.

I learnt last year that the best way for us to have a fab Christmas is to take the pressure off.

These days I have a potential Grab-bag of possible Christmassy activities, which we can partake in as the mood strikes us. 

But the most important thing for me is to find a way to connect to the meaning behind Christmas. And I've found it again already through my Book, the Glow movie and sharing my story with others. This week I took my little book to Scrag's kindergarten and gave a copy  to the teachers for the kindy to keep (signed by the *ahem* author).

They loved it. One of them even had tears in her eyes. They read the story to the children at mat-time (and they loved the story.)

I have realised that even if actual book sales are slow (and they are); even if Blurb has lost my records and my (very small) profit payment has not come through and I make no money on my book... the reason I wrote it and want to share it is because the story is wonderful. It really is. 

It's the wonder of the Nativity. The inconceivable craziness of the plan to send Humankind's Hope in the form of a Helpless newborn, not even born to people of influence, but to simple folk with questionable parentage (remember the Virgin bit? How many people in Mary's village do you think believed her story about an Angel?) But even this wasn't humble enough. This baby would be born in a barn, surrounded by animals, welcomed by shepherds.

I want to share that story.

So if you have an iPad, email me at greatfun4kids@live.com  and I will send you the eBook for FREE. Just because I want to bless you this Christmas and share my story with you.

(But if you want to buy the book, hey there's nothing like an actual book... and it IS really gorgeous if I do say so myself. And if you order it now it will be landing on your doorstep by about the 18th, well in time for Christmas.)

P.S. The Softcover Books are the less costly option and turn out really great, maybe even nicer than hardcover. The 7x7inch book is not too small at all and is even cheaper better value. I love how the small book turned out.

Ice Age 4 Landed in Our Mailbox

I know my kids love me. They even like me most of the time. But sometimes they get annoyed that I am blogger. They get irritated when I interrupt their Club Penguin-ing to check my comments. They get sick of the camera always in their face. They groan and say, "Uhhhh! I spose you're gonna put this on your blog?"

So when a brand new DVD of their favourite new movie arrives in our mailbox because I blog, I get the chance to make it up to them. In those moments, having a mum who blogs is OK by them.

Ice Age 4 landed in our letterbox this week, hot off the press. The kids did a little happy dance, shouted hip hooray and begged to watch it there and then.

[Pizza Face Boy: We had a Pizza Picnic in the lounge before the movie]

We saw Ice Age 4 at the movies when it came out. Personally I was rather reluctant at the time, because really? Ice Age FOUR??? My expectations were low. But it was actually not bad ( I might have even laughed out loud a few times). As a long-suffering movie-going parent this was actually Pretty Good for Movie Number Four in a set. 

The kids however LOVED IT unequivocally.

"Isn't this the coolest Ice Age movie yet, mum?" (Miss Fab)

"Is this one your favourite, mum? It's my favourite. Is it yours? Mum?" (Scrag)

"Ice Age Four ROCKED! Did you like it, mum? Is it your best one?" (Dash)

"Can we get it mum, when it comes out on DVD? Can we get it to keep?" (all of them) (at once)

So you can see why they were so thrilled that blogging mama managed to get them this cinematic gem. 

To watch. But best of all To Keep.

[Don't be fooled by the serious faces. This is called "engrossed"]

The DVD was watched at least four times in the first twenty-four hours. They all love it equally, from the ten year old down to the four year old. (We have always been fans of the Ice Age movies, and this one really is a keeper).

The house was ringing for days with the kids belting out the (rather catchy) theme song. Scrag was particularly taken with Sid's Granny, and walked around quoting: "No GRANNY. Not ham and cheese... it's FAM-I-LY!!!"

So Phew. I can keep on blogging, taking endless photos, and interrupting my kids to check my comments... because my kids know that every now and then it will pay off for them. With a cool-as movie in the mail.


Free Water Bottle Printable: "Melted Icebergs"
I have created this fun Free Printable for you. Isn't it cute? Perfect for an Ice Age 4 Movie Night or Party... Right click to save to your computer, then print and stick onto water bottles...

(Pssst! here's that rather catchy theme song, along with the movie trailer.... really just can't get the song out of my head...)

The world’s favourite herd, Manny, Sid & Diego, along with Scrat, bring their beloved brand of humour back in their most epic story yet – Ice Age 4: Continental Drift. 

When Scrat triggers a cataclysmic event that thrusts our heroes onto a high seas adventure, the stakes are raised when they meet a band of rag-tag pirates who are out to foil them from returning home. 

(This would be a very popular choice for Christmas...)

Available now on Blu-ray and DVD

A Heavenly Weekend (literally)

I could tell you that my weekend was heavenly because it began with me buying a Smartphone. With the help of gift vouchers and a fab 2Degrees prepay deal, I got myself a Samsung Galaxy Pocket and started downloading Apps galore. 

As you can probably tell, one of the first things I installed was Instagram, which I have been drooling over for years. I know I am probably a coupla years behind the times, but it is so much fun to play with...

(I'm "greatfun4kids" if you want to follow my snap-happy Instagram-ness)

I could also mention that we got ourselves a genuine pine Christmas tree, which is filling the house with the heavenly piney scent of Christmas...

But as great as all that is, it's not what I mean by heavenly...

What I mean is that I actually spent my weekend in Heaven. Literal actual Heaven... 

on a film set.

Not just any film set, not just any Heaven... this is the Heaven of my Christmas Story come to life in a studio. Created by the geniuses who gave us The Christmas Story (which went viral on YouTube).

This year they're making my story. Out of all their script options, they picked mine. MINE! Just thinking about it gives me a warm choked-up feeling of pure JOY.

Not only are they making my story into a Christmas film (to show to 10,000 people at Glow and potentially millions on YouTube) but my kids got to take part too. Two full days of filming. Seeing what was once a story scribbled on a page come to life, complete with feathered wings, candy floss clouds and an Angel warrior Dojo. It's AMAZING. It's gonna make you smile, and laugh, and maybe even get misty eyed. one thing's for sure, you'll have goosebumps.

I spent almost the entire weekend in a glorious rush of goosebumps. Not just seeing the delicious creativity and whimsical cuteness of everything, but the way the people on set were responding to the story. Kids and adults alike. 

"I never stopped to think about how crazy the whole Christmas story is, I just took it for granted how it happened..." one person said to me. 

Exactly! This is what I love about Christmas, the illogical genius of God's ways, how he catches us unawares and takes us by surprise, not coming in power and glory but in humility and weakness.

So in every possible way this weekend was Heavenly. And I can't wait to share the movie with you on December 16th.

• Get my Book here. Order it now and get it in time for Christmas... (plus $10 off your book by entering code GIVE10 at checkout)
• Get GLOW tickets here (December 16th at Vector Arena, 6pm. Tickets $5; all proceeds go to KidsCan. It always sells out so get you tickets early!)

Christmas Movie Classics: Polar Express

This Christmas season we are sharing our favourite feel-good Christmas Movie Classics to help get us all in the festive spirit. We'll also share ideas for seasonal snacks and decorating.

Here is one of our all-time Christmas Faves...

The Polar Express ***** (G)

One of our all-time favourite Christmas movies. This has the feel-good factor, a sprinkle of magic and Tom Hanks. We watch this every Christmas - it's in our collection. It's brilliantly animated, and perfect for turning into a theme-night. We wear our PJ's and dressing gowns, make hot chocolate and Daddy dresses as the Conductor. There is lots of silliness and cuddles.

BASIC STORYLINE: On Christmas Eve a boy is doubting the existence of Santa Claus. He goes to sleep and is woken by the sound of the Polar Express pulling up outside his home to take him... "Why to the North Pole of course!" He goes on a fantastic beautifully animated journey... does he end up believing? I won't spoil it for you! 

FEEL-GOOD FACTOR: 5/5

CHRISTMAS RELEVANCE: 5/5

A Polar Express Night is a regular feature in our Christmas Calendar, and essential to a Polar Express night is Hot Hot Hot Chocolate...

Hot Hot Hot Chocolate (to Make Your Polar Express Movie Night even more Super-Cool-Fab)

This hot chocolate is rich and creamy, and you don't have to use all the milk you have in the house. You can even make this hot chocolate in the Crockpot.

Ingredients:
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
6-1/2 cups water

• Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat
• Whisk in water, about a cup at a time. Heat until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Note: Do not allow the hot chocolate to boil. It should just simmer until warmed through.

Crockpot Hot Chocolate: A great idea for your Polar Express night so you don't have to interrupt your movie-watching to make the hot chocolate. This will be ready ahead of time, so all you have to do is serve it up with marshmallows and whipped cream.

All you have to do is whisk together all the ingredients. Pour into slow cooker. Heat on low 1-3 hours.

[Hot Chocolate Popcorn on Pinterest]

Here are a couple of other Polar Express ideas from Pinterest, fun to make and yum to eat...

• Peppermint and Marshmallow Hot Chocolate Stirrers
• Meringue-topped Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
• Chocolate Cups 
• "Believe" Christmas Bells
• Nutella Hot Chocolate
• Christmas Macaroons
• Hot Chocolate Popcorn

What are your best Christmas Movie Night Ideas? Send me an email with your ideas
(include a picture or link to a blog post if you can) so I can feature it here.