Holidays 2018: How To Stay Stress Free
In two short days, Thanksgiving and all of the full plates and beautifully decorated tables that we all know and love will be here. In the blink of an eye, just as we’re finally no longer feeling stuffed, Hanukkah arrives followed swiftly by Christmas and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and before we know it, it’ll be the middle of January. Anyone else feeling their heart rate start to rise?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with the HHC Living Guide on how to stay Stress Free for the 2018 holiday season. Click through to find your inner zen.
Step 1: Plan Ahead
It may be too late for Thanksgiving, but you can greet the remaining holidays with grace and ease due to proper planning. When we approach any of our design projects, planning is of the upmost importance to ensure we stay on time and on budget, so we can’t emphasize this enough. Need to make a spreadsheet for who’s bringing what? Go for it. Need an oven schedule and delegation of dishes? Hop to it. Plan your menus, outfits, schedules, decorations, projects and more, either digitally or by rocking the old school pen and paper.
Step 2: Gift Early
No matter what you celebrate, gifts are a major player in the holiday season game. From gifts for your favorite little ones all the way to teacher and hostess gifts, there’s no avoiding presents. Instead of rushing around like mad days before the big event, start your shopping as early as possible. Write out everyone on your Nice List, ideas for each, and a firm budget per person or in full. Schedule (see Step 1) your shopping day and then don’t doubt your selections and wind up doing the ever popular Dance of the Returns. Ready to knock out several gifts for loved ones? Check out our new HHC Living Shop, where you can pick out gorgeous gifts.
Step 3: Rest Well
The best way to completely miss your 2018 holiday celebrations is by being completely frazzled and exhausted by the time they actually roll around. Don’t be the family member snapping at loved ones or the friend too tired to make it for Friendsgiving. Take the time you need to rest, relax, and release all of the holiday stress that is par for the course. Light a delicious smelling candle, take a soothing bubble bath, turn your phone off for a few hours, and snuggle up with your favorite throw blanket for a Christmas movie marathon. Take deep breaths, enjoy decorating, and remember to make time for some good old fashioned fun (snow angels, anyone?). Life is too short to miss out on making memories with those you love the most due to a meltdown over the sweet potatoes catching on fire.
Step 4: Create Space
Holidays mean guests and guests need space. Plot out where and when guests will be staying over and be sure to outfit your guest rooms accordingly. Only hosting for an evening? Bust out the chairs and extra tables you’d hidden away in storage, add in extra ottomans or decorative poofs, and place breakables up and away from tiny hands. Put the extra leaf in your dining table, should you need it, and clear out an easy path from the front door to your main hosting area. Last but not least, designate a place to plop coats (or hang them, if you’re fancy). Winter means lots of gear, snowy boots, and piles of scarves and hats that will need a home while visitors stop in.
Step 5: Stay Present
Take it in, look around, the best times are happening right now. It’s our joy to be able to do what we love by creating award-winning homes in Texas and New Mexico. Getting to curate and create spaces for families for the past seven years keeps smiles on our faces all year long. The best part, however, is knowing we’re a tiny part of all of the love shared and memories made in those homes. Put down your phone and capture the moment with your mind, put on some festive holiday jams and have a dance party with your kiddos, or insist on matching PJ’s with the whole clan. The 2018 holiday season won’t be perfect but it will be yours and that makes it wonderful.
We’d love to be a part of crafting the story of your home and are available to connect with during regular work hours. Have a question about ordering from our shop or need a little gift guidance? We’re happy to help take something off your plate this season (so long as it’s not the cranberry sauce).
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