Blog

Well, looking outside the window, I have come to realize that yes; Christmas is just about on us. The snow is blowing, the wind is howling and it is cold out. Heading off to do my holiday shopping, I could not help but to notice the number of people wearing Christmas themed outfits. I’m not talking about the little sweater with Christmas bulbs subtly stitched in it; I’m talking about the sweaters with real bells sewn on them and real lights blinking.

Now, I Scrooge you not, I am not against Christmas. I love the holiday. I love giving and getting presents. I love hanging out with people I love and eating chestnuts by the fire. However, I draw the line at Christmas bells in my clothing. Save that for the tree, please! The same goes for the Christmas lights, let them highlight the tree, not the chest.

What I like to see and wear during the holidays are the nice, warm, fuzzy sweaters with presents and bears stitched into them, a subtle little pattern. Another fun Christmas outfit is over-sized sweater. Now, this is not the extra large sweater on the small frame. This is the small sweater that is designed to hit mid thigh on a woman and keep her butt warm during the cold days.

Jeans are another staple during these holidays. Sweats should still remain as night wear or gym wear. Please, sweats are not acceptable at the dinner table. Jeans on the other hand, never go out of style, they are warm and comfortable, and they dry pretty quickly. Jingle bell pants, while novel, are simply not ever appropriate.

The most important thing about dressing these holidays is to keep warm. Most of us do not live where it is still flip flop season. For us, it is all about the winter coat and the boots, the sweats and gloves. Keep warm and be safe this festive time of year.

Christmas parties are fun. Everyone gets together and they celebrate the holiday. There may be gift giving, there is almost always food, and usually some music. The holiday decorations are done and the home is warm and comforting. However, many people this year are considering foregoing the traditional party due to the high costs associated with these parties. There are some ways to limit the costs of a Christmas party though.

• Have your guests bring a dish to share. The food is often the most expensive part of a party; by having the guests each bring a food of their choosing you can have a wide variety of foods at the party without spending a fortune. This also makes everyone feel more at ease knowing that they contributed to the party, rather than they are simply attending the party.
• Borrow things you do not have. Not everyone has a punch bowl. Not everyone has large plate sets. Considerworking with your neighbors and close friends to find those extra pieces that you may not have. After all, is it really worth buying a whole new set of dining ware simply for a single party?

  

• The decorations do not need to be intense or overwhelming. Think simplicity. A few pieces of holly on the table or a candle really are all that is needed in setting up a beautiful table and setting. Most of these decorations can be picked up at thrift stores or dollar stores and have the same beauty of the more expensive versions.
• Clean up in sections before the party and during the party to avoid spending money on a professional cleaner. While it can be nice to have a maid come in and clean the house, it is really costly. However, by doing the leaning in parts and during the event, you can avoid needing a maid and avoid the stress of trying to clean up for the party.

These ideas can really be beneficial when looking to plan a Christmas party this year. The recession is still in effect and many people have been affected, but that does not mean that Christmas does not have to happen. It simply means enjoying the real reasons for Christmas, rather than showing off or spending a fortune for a singular moment.