And if they do, how to you relax?

My number one way to relax and take a step back from it all ... my morning and mid-afternoon tea time!

I'm a list maker so that keeps me organized and feeling in control. Plus I buy presents throughout the year so I don't worry about shopping. I have enough on my plate planning my girls's birthdays in Nov and Dec.

I don't know why, but it really does not stress me anymore. I think I am past the stress point. If things get done, they get done. If they don't, no big deal. We will live. Maybe I am just old and don't care anymore?

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~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

I like cooking and seeing family and friends, so I don't stress too much about that part, unless there are some family issues going on. The main thing that gets to me is how expensive it can get; I am someone who tends to stress about money, and there is a LOT of pressure to spend at Christmas. I also pretty strongly believe that we consume excessively in our society and should all cut way down on that and just give each other more quality time, bake cookies, make ornaments, decorate trees and play in the snow, that kind of thing.

I have solved parts of that--on my side, our very large family has started a holiday homemade treat exchange instead of presents, for example, and we're all really enjoying the idea and having a lot of fun with it, just like an old-fashioned ideal of Christmas.

But I haven't solved DH or his side of the family. I feel an ulcer just thinking about their expectations! And I posted about the friend pressure-to-spend elsewhere.

I am stressed because my house is so out-of-control. We're still weeding through bathing suits and summer clothes.

I am not working outside of the home right now, by choice, so I do feel it is all doable.

I also have fewer gifts to buy so that is comforting.

To relax, I try and see the holidays through my childrens' eyes and remember how I enjoyed it growing up. I also try and focus on the real reason for Christmas - that calms me immensely.

I also mentioned I try and read a Christmas novel as reading is relaxing in itself.

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Buy local. Save the jobs in your community.

When I was younger and thought things had to be perfect and both set of our parents were alive I was always so stressed I'd end up crying Christmas Eve because I felt so disorganized and stressed. We had Christmas Eve with DH's family and it was such a rush making sure everything was done early Christmas Eve for 3 Christmas celebrations in under 24 hours. I thought I had to beautifully wrap each gift and make elegant cloth bows, etc. Now I slap on some paper and a name tag and guess what....everyone's just as happy!!

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No...not anymore. I used to stay up super late into the night, decorating everything 'just so' etc I used to wrap presents, in such a way, that although I ENJOYED doing it, it took me a really long time. Decorating each gift with a pincone and ornament, making handmade tags etc

I used to take on dinner parties, cocktail parties where I made all the food, did all the decorating etc - and although I look back fondly at the parties, it was a TON of work. So now when folks ask if they can bring something, I let them....kwim?

I used to make homemade gingerbread houses and buy all the candy to decorate...etc They were beautiful, but again, a lot of work. Now I buy the kit from Costco and the kids have just as much fun decorating them as they did the homemade ones.

I love the holidays and I just go with the flow...I don't go to great lengths with gift wrapping anymore, heck, the kids never noticed! I focus on the things my family loves and we enjoy.

We're so much alike it's funny!! That sounds just like how I "used" to be!!

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I am not feeling stressed. I have lots of lists - present lists, sub for santa lists, stocking stuffer lists, ingredients for T-day dinner lists, christmas card lists. I'm all set.

It helps that I am more on top of things this year. I have most of our gifts made, and we're not buying very much. And I ordered our cards today.

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It's not what you make; it's what you spend.