I am so behind.
Behind on blogging (I cannot believe it has been almost 13 days since my last confession). Behind on reading my favorite blogs (Hi Nilsa, Sizzle, Mandy, Meg, GH, Lesley, Jeff, Janice, Brett, Chantel, Christine, Autumn, Susie, and anyone else who has posted in the last 3 weeks or so). Behind on my coaching homework and all the big planning and scheming I need to do to start moving the direction I want to go next year.
Even with Mr. W working on a film in Vancouver, I cannot seem to find enough time to get caught up.
Between work projects, house projects, edits to the work projects, fixes to the house projects, holiday shopping and a handful of social obligations, my free time supply is registering a big fat zero.
And that is why I decided to downsize Christmas this year.
I asked Mr. W weeks ago if we could skip exchanging gifts. He poo-pooed the idea. So instead, I took the easy way out with my siblings and siblings-in-law and decided to give them each a weekend at the Santa Ynez house, rather than buy tangible presents. And then I did a large portion of my other shopping from the comfort of my couch.
Also, for the first time in my adult life, I don't have a full-sized Christmas tree. The thought of getting the tree and decorating it felt overwhelming to me. So Mr. W and I went Charlie Brown-style, and picked up a potted, pint-sized fir instead. I kind of like it. And we can plant it in our new back yard after the holidays are over. But it's still a teeny bit sad to look in the corner and not see a 5 - 6 footer twinkling against the Hollywood skyline. In addition to the many balls and baubles that didn't make their way onto the tree, I also left a lot of other seasonal decor in the box this year. I'll call it the bah humbox.
Sadly, I don't want to be a Scrooge. I really want to enjoy the holiday. This is my favorite time of year and it bums me out that so many other things are demanding my attention right now.
Here's to hoping life calms down in 2013. That is, if we all make it past the end of the Mayan calendar next week...
Ah love, I think we're all feeling the crunch these days. There is this ideal that really can only be found on a two dimensional screen, snapshots of an unreality....of which the editing was immense.
ReplyDeleteSimplifying is a spectacular way to rediscover your joy. Cheers darling!
It's comforting to know I'm not alone. :) And you're right - simplifying makes room for more joy.
DeletePull a side table into that corner and place the tree on the table. That's what we do with our Charlie Brown tree (well, actually it's a wine rack, but an empty one lest our G-monster ravage any good drinks we might be saving for later!). Anyway, give it a little height if it doesn't have some of its own.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I say you should pull out all your holiday decorations next July when things aren't quite insane. That way, you won't miss out AND you can be one of THOSE neighbors ... hahaha.
Hahaha I love your Christmas in July idea. I'm sure we could leave a lasting impression on the new Santa Ynez neighbors! :P
DeleteI'm reading other people's blogs so I can avoid writing on my own. ;-) We are downsizing Christmas out of necessity thanks to the wet basement problem. We also threw a bunch of money at our chimneys but the upswing is we can have fires now so that will be festive and sweet. The holiday season flies by faster and faster with each passing year. I think we have to drop stuff lest we lose our minds!
ReplyDeleteUgh, the joys of home ownership, right?
DeleteI hear ya...I am feeling the crunch too. I think everyone is. Danny and I never buy gifts for eachother, not even stocking stuffers, because we always give ourselves a nice vacation...its way better than gifts. I have my house decorated, stockings hung (plus a new stocking just ordered today for our newest addition!!), BUT...we take it all down Christmas Eve/Christmas morning before we head to the airport. I don't want to come home in January to Christmas!! blech!!
ReplyDeleteI always start out loving the holiday season, but after weeks of zero free time, I am ready for it to be over! It seems I enjoy it less and less each year....so I keep telling myself, and everyone else who will listen....when we start to get stressed about family andsocial "obligations", gift giving, decorating, etc., we need to remember how fortunate we are to have such great lives, great families and friends that we want to be with, and want to be with us...there are so many people in this world that are way less fortunate than us, and should be remembered this time of year.
Merry Christmas to all of you...hopefully we will get to see you all after the first of the year!!
You guys are awesome - so smart to take a trip. We try to do that for our birthdays in April.
DeleteAnd you're so right - we're so lucky to have everything and everyone we have. I need to remind myself that. Daily.
It takes me forever to get caught up on other people's blogs. I think not every Christmas needs to be a big to-do, and you've had a very big year! Enjoy your manageable holiday and have an excellent new year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, girl! :) You too!
DeleteI missed an entire pumpkin season once just because I was editing my edits at work. Some years it's magical. Other years, it's just barely doable. I say reframe that fir... you've taken care of a future gardening task. You might be behind on Christmas but you're ahead on spring.
ReplyDeleteI like your thinking. You're a skilled finder of the positive spin!
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