Ever since my husband and I started putting our Christmas and birthday (and other!) wishes on the Amazon Wishlists, shopping for each other has been so much easier.

It's not that we buy all of the stuff that is on our wishlists *at* Amazon, but the list is kept up to date and easy to get to and so we always know what the other wants. The adults in our extended families draw names for Christmas and so we also share with them.

I know how hard it is to shop for each other and so I thought I'd share this little idea with all of you in case you hadn't already thought of it!



Do you have any other tips that you could add to make the holidays less stressful... (ie card giving, heh)?

Learn, understand and use the word NO!!! It's hard, but it makes life easier!!

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Don't forget why you have Christmas. Remember the season, not the gifts.
It took me a long time to get this through my head. It is not the gifts that are important or how much money I spent.

Another thing I have to remember is If I buy my kids everything they want, what do they have to look forward to.
Kids need to want things and not always get them. As adults this happens to us all the time.

Merry Christmas everyone.

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cmemaloy@yahoo.com


I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.

Life! is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.

Don't forget to take yourself and your needs into consideration during the holiday.

If you are stressed don't hold it in talk to someone that you can 100% trust and rely on and to listen. If you can't find anyone like that then write down what you would like to say about your stress and when you are alone go in the bathroom, look at yourself in the mirror and say your peace and say it with expression! You will laugh at yourself and then feel better, make faces at your reflection.

#1 My MIL shared a Christmas Eve trick her mom used when they were little. She was # 9 in 13. Her mom used to make a "special Christmas Punch" every year with Koolaid and Champaine. The kids would drink up and go to bed. Sleep through the night and have a great Christmas. I just use Childrens Nyquil (Benadryl works good too).

#2 Paper Plates!!! You can get fancy and use the cool looking plastic ones too.

#3 Soak the pans while you eat in super hot soapy water. The dinner mess will clean up easier.

#4 Only clean where people are going to be. Candles are great in the bathroom.

#5 Remember they are family. They really don't want to be there either.

#6 Pack a few board games. This is always a blast.

#7 Like happy2behere said. Talk about your stress to someone. If you can't find anyone to listen you can always come here and tell us. Chances are... someone here is going through the same thing.

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TLJ ~ Where opinions are encouraged, not deleted

You laugh at me because I am different,
I laugh at you because you are all the same.

Your mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open.

Start shopping very early like Jan 3rd. I did this 2 years ago and Christmas was so much better with only 2 or 3 things to buy. And it was cheaper to.

Buying online getting in on all the DEALS saves me a ton of money so saves me a ton of stress!!!! Going elsewhere for holidays we usually go to my moms if we dont go thier we might go out to eat takes the stress out of cooking & dishes & all that fun stuff!!! We donate to the angel tree things I have gotten very cheap & things I make this makes us realize how lucky we are. And we dont buy too much for our kids like toys we give them more clothes & things they need blankets & stuff & then a few toys!!!

As for my family I wish we could quit exchanging but they wont they continue to buy for me & my kids so I get all thier presents free doing deals online so less money I have to spent & this year they are all getting really nice things

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mom of 3 greats girls

I try to have everything wrapped as soon as possible (mine are 95% wrapped as of right now), and I only have 3-4 more things to buy. A few years ago, I waited until the last minute, and it was AWFUL!

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AKA: Airbornearmywife

Lots of GREAT ideas on here!!! Now to put them to work!

I want to add to take time for yourself and get outside and get some fresh air and exercise. Even a walk down to the end of the street, clears the cobwebs and helps me focus more clearly on what I am doing.

DH and I spoiled each other rotten at Christmas but it was stressful trying to get the perfect surprises for him. He's hard to shop for and makes no secret if he doesnt like something.
Soooo... I just ask him. LOL AND we cut way back on what we get each other. Just a couple small things and then maybe one big thing each or, such as this year, one big thing for both of us. We can breathe a lot easier.
I always thought I'd be miserable if i didnt have a ton of gifts to open but actually.... it's nice. Last year, DH told me to go buy some new clothes. I had so much fun trying everything on Xmas day. And so much fun knowing we didnt go overboard with spending.

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Not all those that wander are lost.

Do what you can, and that's all you can do. I have found over the years. its better to enjoy getting ready for Christmas, than the day it self. My children, who are grown now don't talk about the presents they got over the years, they talk about making cookies in the kitchen, or Mom running around the yard with them making a crazy looking snowman. Or all of us laying in our bed eating cookies and watching christmas shows. When i was young, how i worried that they weren't getting enough gifts, when it was my time with them they remember. Simple, but true. Enjoy the holidays TODAY!

I try to limit my kids extracurricular activities during the month of December. Whatever it is, if it doesn't end at the end of November or take December off, we don't join it. I do make some exceptions -- this year my youngest is in the church choir and will be singing throughout the Christmas season.

I fill in the free time with play dates and special Christmas activities that we choose as a family -- as many or few as we want. It makes the month of December MUCH less stressful and busy and my family is doing what we really want to do, rather than going to endless sports practices and games. We resume our sports and activities in January.

Sarah.......mom to Jason & Devin

take a hot bath, put on warm jammies, and have a nice glass of (insert your choice of beverage here) in front of the tree on Christmas eve when everyone else is asleep..and for gosh sakes..ENJOY the quiet time and the beauty of the tree!

And enjoy whats in the glass, too.

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TLJ ~ Where opinions are encouraged, not deleted

You laugh at me because I am different,
I laugh at you because you are all the same.

Your mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open.