Enjoying a Cozy, Calm and Elegant Holiday at Home
The holidays will be much different for many of us this year, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable and even memorable in a positive way.
I personally don’t travel at this time of year; our family enjoys being home for the ultimate hygge experience, and there’s no other place I’d rather be.
We even adventured to go on a day trip on Christmas day a few years ago, and that proved to be a massive mistake! All restaurants were closed, as well as businesses, so there was nothing to do but walking around. This would have been ok most of the time but sightseeing hungry is a no go for me!
If it is unusual for you to stay home during the holidays, here are some ideas to make the most of it; and maybe even start a new tradition for you!
1. Finish To-Do’s Early
If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that never put off a task that can be completed now. It never fails that something comes up, and all the time you thought you had soon disappears.
Instead, set yourself up for success by having your shopping done (grocery and gifts), menu planned, gifts wrapped, house cleaned, and any other tasks that are important for you to be able to relax, completed at least 2 days prior to the holiday.
You will feel so relieved, I promise!
2. Prep Food Ahead
The more food prep you can do before the holiday, the better! In order to feel calm and enjoy the day, it’s ideal to have simple tasks to do, such as just put a dish in the oven, arrange snacks on a platter, and set the dishes buffet style.
3. Make Room for the New
If you have children, the holidays can bring a lot of new things into your home (aka toys) whether you want to or not!
Ideally, go through your child’s toys and remove everything your child no longer plays with. Depending on the age of your child, you will probably want to include them in this decision-making to avoid having them get upset about a toy that was really important to them and is no longer around. You can donate these items and even sell them to consignment depending on their condition.
This is also a good time of year to take inventory of your pantry and remove any unwanted items. Consider donating non-expired items to a food bank or perhaps a family in need in your community that you might be aware of. It’s the season of giving after all!
4. Start a New Tradition
Traditions are wonderful ways to anchor us and create memories, and they have us looking forward to the season year after year. How about starting something this year that you’ve always wanted to do?
Some ideas:
1. Exchange books on Christmas Even and read them by the tree
2. Choose a specialty food: this could be an elegant dessert, a seasonal cocktail, a fun experience such as fondue or a charcuterie board
3. On New Year’s Eve, write a letter to yourself about all the ways you want to feel the following year, as if it already happened and set your intention. Then save it to read it on New Year’s Eve the following year.
4. Grab hot chocolates and head over to a beautifully decorated neighborhood in your area, taking in the beauty of the season
Whatever you decide to do this holiday season, I hope you take time to do the things YOU love. It’s so easy to fall in the trap of keeping everyone happy, but you need to make yourself happy first.
And if you are looking for inspiration, check out my holiday boards on Pinterest for delicious vegan food, holiday cocktails and so much more!
Much love,
Angélica Renée
