Holiday Ideas

If I close my eyes, I can still see those wonderful illustrations in my favorite childhood storybook. And I still feel the very same childhood excitement I felt then, as I recall every little detail in those captivating drawings of "The Four Seasons": a rolling country landscape dressed for Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, each season bedecked in its own natural costume. (Perhaps you had the same book and can see just what I see.) Remember Winter? Bare trees, lots of glittery snow? I think there were children sledding down the hill, too. And, of course, we all wanted to be right there with them, moving fast and keeping warm even on the coldest afternoons.
     Well, it's our chance now to bring the excitement of the season to our children and families by drawing our own special winter landscapes-right at home. Preparing the house, choosing and giving gifts, sending invitations. there are so many ways to please others, to celebrate life and to make every holiday one that will be remembered forever.
     Here is my holiday dozen for you. If you have any for me, please share on the Joan Asks You page.

1. Set the Tone with a Poem.

In a tiny gold frame on my desk I have a quote that I tore from the newspaper. It's from a poem by William Wordsworth:

"Give all thou canst;
         high Heaven rejects the lore
Of nicely calculated less or more."

Reading those words will inspire the giving-spirit even when holiday crowds get you down. A framed fragment of poetry (this one or one of your favorites) might make a good gift for someone you care about. I think it would make a lovely holiday card, don't you?

2. Decorate Every Room.

All it takes is one tiny touch to dress up a room for the season. A few candles, a glass bowl filled with glass ornaments or seasonal berries, a wreath, a miniature menorah, ribbons and bows in your favorite holiday colors topping pictures and mirrors.

3. Personalize Your Gift Paper.

For those of you who have even a drop of artsy-craftsy in your bloodstream, this is your chance! Creative gift paper is fun and easy. It makes every gift more memorable. Plus, making it is fabulously therapeutic. I like to start with a huge pad of white drawing paper. (A roll of art paper is best for large gifts, but harder to handle unless you have the perfect place for gigantic art projects.) You can get as elaborate as you like, but all you really need is markers or good old crayons. Scribble rows of circles, holding two or three colors together, then alternate with a row of stars or a repetitive messages like: "ho, ho, ho, holiday!" Make a candle stamp from a kitchen sponge and go wild! Or, wrap your packages in plain paper and then draw your friend's face to decorate the box. Even if you aren't a great artist, they will know it's them by the hair (yarn is good, too) or by some clever detail, like their dimples, earrings or bow tie.

4. Have a Telephone Reunion.

Make one call that you've been putting off all year. The holidays are the perfect time to say, "I miss you."

5. "Exercise" your Rights to a Healthy Friendship.

This is a holiday treat that will actually burn calories. Instead of meeting for lunch or dinner, take a friend to your favorite gym or exercise class. Or treat yourself and your friend by trying yoga or swing dancing.

6. Make a Salt and Pepper Chess Set.

Vintage salt and pepper shakers made of glass are fairly easy to find at yard sales and antique stores. They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes that can easily be adapted to the pieces of a chess set. Then just fill half with salt and half with pepper, and find a board that fits! It's a practical gift that is wonderfully decorative. It will make a charming conversation piece all year long.

7. Bundle Up the House.

Whatever the climate where you live, it's refreshing to make interior design adjustments for the holidays. I bring out the soft wool throws to toss over couches and our rocking chair. Some people have winter slipcovers as well as winter bedding in colors that are richer and warmer.

8. Turn Your Tabletop into an Invitation.

To add a sense of anticipation to the season, keep the dining table set for company. Then, you're always ready when friends stop by. This lovely idea was suggested by a very friendly woman whom I met on a bus in Atlanta a few years ago at the National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. She suggests setting lots of places at the table so there is always room for more! (I only wish I had asked her name, so I could thank her here.)

9. Do Something Patriotic For Yourself.

In addition to your standard holiday colors, remember the red, white and blue this season, too.

10. Team Up for Charity.

Instead of exchanging gifts with your friends or family, spend one holiday afternoon or evening with them, giving to others. Volunteer to read holiday stories at your local library. Or prepare and serve a meal at a shelter for the less lucky.

11. Make Big Plans.

Maybe it's a new kitchen design you wish for. Maybe you're planning on learning new skills or getting a college degree. Perhaps you have hopes for seeing new places and meeting new people. Whatever your dreams, dream big! And let those fantastical fantasies inspire you to actions big and small that will take you exactly where you want to be.

12. Count Your Blessings.

In a small notebook next to your bed, or on a long piece of paper you attach to the refrigerator with magnets, remember your blessings. Jot down one or two every day during the holiday season and beyond. Then, a few months from now, count them up. Now, that's a gift you can look forward to.

My sincerest best wishes to you and yours for a happy and healthy Holiday Season and New Year!

Joan