Does it ever seem like life is so busy that you forget the why behind all the things you do each day? We do. The holidays highlight this irony. This time of year is supposed to be about being grateful and enjoying family and friends. But we spend most of our time stressing over gifts and events and perfect photos.
In the last few years, we have started to ask ourselves, “what are the things that are truly the most important?”
Once we began observing what our families love the most about holidays, a theme of Special Simplicity began to emerge. We highly recommend finding your family’s own version of special simplicity this holiday season. Here are some ideas for how we found our simple and special holiday traditions.
Define What is Special for YOU!
This is different for all of us. Some people love planning and preparing the family photo for the holiday card, others wear matching holiday pjs (Rello crew) some focus on large meals and gatherings or baking, and some can seemingly do it all!
My family is defined by being silly and unpolished. So not surprising that we have never been able to pull off the perfect family photo! But when we do a holiday card, we do love choosing a photo of us doing things that are a part of our real life which ends up revolving around youth sports, a vacation we took, or just a photo at home.
I am convinced that some people do refined and elegant with ease, but that just isn’t us. Embracing who we are makes our memories perfect for us. I love the laughs that imperfection brings! I hope for my kids to see that things can be fun and special even when they are different from everyone else and from what we expected or planned.
We believe being true to your family culture makes the best memories.
Stick to your Gnarly Roots
We think one of the best ways to define what is “you” for your holiday season, is to think about what you loved about your own childhood. Carrying on those cherished traditions can create magic with roots!
Special Meals
Beth’s family carries on a special Christmas tradition from her French husband’s culture. During the cold winter months, it is common for extended family or friends to gather for a special meal of raclette. Beth’s family has adopted this delicious meal into their Christmas Day meal.
This is a meal centered around a delicious French cheese, called Raclette (although sometimes other cheeses are introduced). The meal involves very little planning or prepping, but is always a delicious and special event.
Simple Fun
Christmas Eve bingo has been a tradition in my husband’s family for many years. It has become an absolute favorite holiday tradition for my kids. And it is so simple!
We wrap up inexpensive gifts which appeal to the audience (such as funny socks, big candy bars, simple toys/ fidgets, gag gifts etc.) and play bingo for the spoils. Things get heated if you allow steals, and making sure there are a few personal gag gifts among the pile always brings a lot of laughs. If this sounds like your family’s style, check out these Amazon bingo cards.
Simple and Special Social Events
As commitments and fun ideas begin to pile up in my mind or social calendar, I remind myself each year of how it feels to be overbooked and letting everyone down. So, why do this anymore? What are ways to celebrate with our cherished friends that does not overwhelm everyone with obligation?
One way that we have found to feel festive but not overwhelmed is to create gatherings with family and dear friends that are simple but still special.
Potluck Style Holiday Meals
With big family gatherings, we divide and conquer. Our family LOVES to cook but preparing a meal for a big group is too much for one to shoulder. We may all be cooking in the same kitchen, causing simultaneous chaos, but everyone has their own charge. And it gets done one way or the other with the help of laughter and wine. We love the huge mess and enlisting the kids for help as they get older.
Open House Holiday Happy Hour
No matter how great the intentions, hosting a large dinner with friends can be stressful and a joy-sucker if you are the host. Hosting an open house happy hour to celebrate with friends could be a solution!
Here are some of our favorite holiday happy hour go to recipes:
Consider offering one signature holiday cocktail, in addition to wine:
Easy Holiday Playdates
Dear Santa…… I’ve been a very good girl. This year I want a set of new pots and pans & a vacation to France. XO
Instead of big social events for the kids, we prefer to focus on playdates with a holiday theme. Best friend gingerbread house building or crafting is festive and most enjoyed by my kids. We also love any type of pretend game, like pushing laundry basket around the house like Santa and his sleigh, delivering gifts (aka stuffed animals) to all of the bedrooms. My favorite idea this season, is how Beth’s family along with with good friends, spent an afternoon decorating a common space in their neighborhood and installed a Santa’s mailbox. Now the all of the neighborhood kids can send their letters to the North Pole.
Keeping Holiday Baking Simple
We see some pretty incredible and impeccable Christmas cookies and foods through social media during this time of year. It is all around us: how to make things look perfectly festive and just plain perfect. I learned long ago, I am not anywhere close to perfect. Trying to make things look perfect always takes away from what feels good for my kids and for me. The process is what is fun for us!
Letting my kids make and cut out the holiday cookies to look awkward and too full of sprinkles or not enough frosting or however they end up- feels good because they are enjoying making them! (In our house, it just happens to be moose gingerbread cookies that are tradition….)
Kudos to you moms out there that can get it all done in a way that feels good and looks good, but if you can’t, know that you are far from alone! We get you!
Pick Two or a Few
In addition to deciding to let process trump the final product, we try to pick just a few baking priorities for the holidays.
Number one, baking something from our roots to carry on is important. Not sure how she did it, but our mom baked several special recipes each holiday season.
If I get to one of them each year, I am proud of myself! We pick and choose to make one or two of these favorites:
I cannot aspire to multiple Christmas morning baked goods like our amazing mom but choosing two or just a few seasonal special recipes to define our season feels good all around.
Simple Acts of Kindness and Giving
There are so many ways I would give big if I could, especially during the holidays. We strive to emphasize to our kids that giving to others is a lifestyle we aspire to always. Finding the simple ways to act in service of others is important. Whether it is taking the kids to pick out toys for the local toy drive or making sure to write a special note of thanks to those who have touched our lives, showing gratitude is a top priority. If life is too busy at the holidays to do that, we know it is time to re-evaluate.
Do Holidays YOUR Way!
Every family has their own holiday “mission statement” or values. We think deciding what that is for your family helps you to prioritize holiday events. It makes it easier to pick a few things to let go of, allowing you to enjoy the season more. We strive for the holidays to be special for our kids and for them to learn how good it feels to give to others. We try to let go of things that are not in service of these two goals. Since adopting a simple and special holiday tradition mindset, we have found so much more room for joy!
XO,
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