Tips for relaxed holidays

Are you always the one working up a sweat in the kitchen? Do you try every year to fill that beautifully laid table with family and the most delicious dishes? Stew meat, oven-baked potatoes, cranberry sauce, beautiful side dishes, salads, homemade sauces, maybe even a turkey?! The picture in your head is so beautiful every year, and your expectations are so high every time. But be honest, by the time you finally sit down at the table, the guests have already consumed half their drink supply, you are exhausted and your kids are having yet another argument.

And then we haven't even talked about decorating the house (and cleaning it up), Christmas clothes and... -oh horror- the gifts!! Are you feeling uneasy just reading the above? Let me help you, I have great tips that will guide you through those holidays in a much more relaxed way, preferably so that you can enjoy them yourself!

Tip 1 - Stay at home

So, I immediately decided: stay at home, because yes, that is fine. Not to family, not to friends, not to anyone. But just, together at home. Curtains closed, with lots of candles, house suits on, sweet presents, watching Christmas movies and eating frozen pizza with a bucket of Ben & Jerry's. Because it's possible. Christmas movie tips:

1. The Polar Express (personal fav here)
2. Eleven (note the lame film set and it can't be unseen - sorry)
3. Scrooge (the version you like)
4. Love Actually (with Snape 😭 )
5. Home Alone (and then watch this Film crawl where they look up the filming locations - Juicy fact about this film: Home Alone was made in 1990 - you do the math 😱)

🎅 Do you like Christmas movies? Read this blog post!

Tip 2 - A super easy Christmas dinner

Christmas pizza - A Christmas dinner may be the most stressful, so you're already dreading it: don't organize it or opt for something easy. Suggest pizza. That may sound crazy, but when I suggested it here last year, there was a big cheer! You can order pizza, although I dare not say that it will be delivered on Christmas Eve where you live. A very nice alternative to this is making your own pizza. Get some pre-made pizza bases and tasty, perhaps more luxurious, toppings and you are guaranteed fun in the kitchen and no children complaining about the food. So: move over the ugly Christmas sweater (that's so 2012), we have Christmas pizza!

Does it have to be Christmas themed? Then make this, the source + recipe can be found here .

Tip 3 - Do something really different this year

If the holidays haven't really been planned yet, think about this: do something different. Go away on a mini vacation, find a place where you can rest. Whether you do this alone, with a partner or with an entire family, everyone has the right to discharge. Skipping Christmas for a year - or celebrating it completely differently - is fine. So it's a nice getaway and from experience I can say that this is quite possible in your own country. Sometimes we don't get time for each other, a cozy house without WiFi and a board game sometimes works wonders. We like to book a weekend in the Aquamarijn boiler house well before Christmas, but there are of course also plenty of larger accommodations without it necessarily having to be a holiday park, although that can sometimes be quite nice!

Tip 4 - Get gifts well in advance

Governing means looking ahead, and you limit stress if you plan things a bit. Buying gifts, for example. It is preferable not to do this two days in advance, but at least two weeks in advance, okay? Here are two great gift tips from two of our favorite web shops.

Bastaa retro - Mouse pad Persian carpet 1970s style

If you are a vintage enthusiast, then this mouse pad should definitely not be missing. The mouse pad has the look of a classic smyrna rug, also known as a Persian rug. It is wonderfully soft on the top and features the well-known cotton fringe.

The bottom is made of rubber, so that the mat cannot slip. Do you have a more modern attitude? This nice retro mouse pad is also a real eye-catcher in your interior. Bastaa retro - €8.95

Earrings cut citrine silver

How beautiful! These handmade earrings are inlaid with cut citrine stones. The silver is plentiful and beautifully crafted. Citrine gives energy, zest for life and courage and promotes self-confidence.

The stone has a size of 8mm x 10mm. The earring is 16 mm high and 11 mm wide. Real ear catchers! Somethingmooisvooljou.nl - €42.50

Tip 5 - Let it gooo

Is an activity ultimately something that has to be done because 'they are obligations' and does that still cause you stress? Do like Elsa and LET IT GO: take a break every now and then.

1. Retreat , find a place where you can be undisturbed for a few minutes and lie down or sit comfortably.
2. Breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of 4, hold for a count of 7, and exhale gently through your mouth for a count of 8. This is actually a technique to help you fall asleep quickly, but it also helps very well to calm yourself down. Repeat 3 times or as long as necessary.
3. In the meantime, think about nothing or anything that relaxes you . A nice holiday memory or a moment when you are completely relaxed.
4. Conclude with the thought 'that it will always be 11 o'clock again', in other words: everything is finite . Try to enjoy the positive and pleasant things!

Tip 6 - Oh joy

Ultimately, we only have Christmas once a year and one of the purposes of it is to come together and be grateful for each other. Behold that day and try to respond based on attention and love instead of action and emotion. Enjoy what you have, be happy with what you have and make memories. Whatever you're going to do: "Joy to the world with Dolly!" Ooh, give me that dress and I'm ready. Holidays here we come! 💃