Sometimes, doing the simplest things in advance can help us reduce the stress of the holidays by more than half! Here are 10 tips to help you remain stress-free this holiday season.
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Do in Advance
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Photo Credit: marytsao
Do things like table setting, and even some food prep days in advance. Cover your set table with a sheet to keep dust away, and all you have to do is take it off the day of the meal!
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Do Some Weeding
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Photo Credit: kitkatherine
Ask around the family what traditions are really loved and which ones they can live without. Choose to focus on the important ones and weed out some that are not as needed.
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Designate a Drink Stand
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Photo Credit: Ronaldo F Cabuhat
Keep all your drinks for the meal at a beverage station away from the traffic area in the kitchen. This will not only keep guest out from under your feet, but also make it more convenient on everyone.
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Don't Sweat the Cleaning
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Photo Credit: gillis95
Set a timer and clean 15 minutes in each room every day. Things don’t have to be perfect as long as your house is clean and presentable. Most of the time, detailed cleaning is the last thing on your guests mind.
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Easy Crafts for Kids
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Photo Credit: Viv J M
Have a ready-to-make craft for the kids to work on and stay busy while you are cleaning up. One nice idea is to have some pre-cut trees and ornaments and folded cards and let them make cards for different family members.
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Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.
Make an Easy Centerpiece
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Photo Credit: melanietroendle
"Twig tree" centerpieces consist of branches in a vase with decorations hung from them. Can't get any easier than that, can you? And they are so cute and totally in style right now!
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Peel before
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Photo Credit: LEFTY598
If you have men like we do in our family, they like real potatoes, not "fake" instant. So, to save time the day of your meal, peel your potatoes the day before and store them in the fridge in water. You can also do the same with carrots, and slice onions before too.
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Buy Nuts on Sale
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Photo Credit: steffenz
Get nuts when they are on sale and freeze them until holiday baking season starts. Save yourself some hard-earned money!
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Don't Refuse Help in the Kitchen
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Photo Credit: Hannhell
Just because you are hostess doesn't mean you have to do all the work. If someone asks if they can help, don't hesitate to take them up on their offer. You will not regret it when the meal is served on time, and you are happily enjoying it with them!
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Keep Things Simple
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Photo Credit: Orikane
Flair doesn't always mean first-class. Simplicity in decor and in food can be just the ticket for the best Christmas ever!
Take a load off this holiday season and relax with family and friends. Time spent with each other is greater than how perfect the meal is, or how fancy we have decorated. Do you have any holiday stress relievers that you would like to share? Feel free to leave comments!
Top Photo Credit: xtheowl
