little tree matted fine art print
Hi everyone, it’s me, Suzanne, from S.HOPtalk. It’s such a thrill for me to join you all today. I hope all of you readers in the U.S. enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday and that everyone is looking forward to a magical holiday season ahead.
With two December birthdays in our household, and multiple Christmas gatherings to attend, I’ve had to develop a bit of a strategy over the years to keep my holiday stress in check-otherwise, I find myself grumbling about, rather than savoring, this time of year. With today being the unofficial kick-off of the holidays, I thought I’d share with you my personal guide to creating a blissful holiday season {I think Mrs. French would approve}.
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Plan occasional escapes
Avoid the stress of doorbuster sales and crowds and instead pack a picnic and hit the park. Leftover turkey sandwiches, your favorite fixings, and hot apple cider…yum!
image: country living
Take a trip down memory lane
Schedule an afternoon to look through all of your photos taken throughout the year and relive the fun again. Then, pick out your faves and create a photo book using one of several online services. I’ve made two Blurb books and was beyond thrilled with the coffee table book quality. Psst….these also make great gifts-your friends and family will be in awe and thanking you for years to come.
Stock up on hot cocoa
I love my grande, decaf, non fat, light whip mochas, but there’s something magicial about a hot cup of cocoa this time of the year. Top it off with some some freshly made marshmallows from Whimsy and Spice and you’ll swear you’re in heaven.
Shop in your PJs
Besides offering oodles of amazing artists and designers, sites like etsy and dawanda provide tons of shopping flexibility. Think: 24/7 access, no lines, no crowds, and the opportunity to support your favorite artisans-brilliant! A few of my faves include:
custom round initial
bubbo:
ledger craft notebook
Caramelos:
Set of 6 paper cups
Fray:
blooming vine scarf
***Tip: If you’d like to keep some of your holiday $$$ local, check out Etsy’s Shop Local feature, which allows you to narrow your search by specified regions. I’ve discovered some wonderful local artists with this tool.
And finally…schedule a weekly movie night
Cuddle up with your favorite people and indulge in some holiday classics {both new and old}. A few of my favorites include, Miracle on 34th Street, Love Actually, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Elf.
Do you have any sanity saving tips of your own for the holidays….do tell!
Thank you Mrs. French for inviting moi to guest blog in your oh-so-inspiring corner of the world. Warm holiday wishes to you all!!!
