Creating a Simpler Holiday should be marked by early preparation
and gift planning. Prioritize people over projects and budgets over deal makers. Dare we
avoid Black Friday shopping? Maybe it is time to rethink your gatherings and gift-giving...
The Big Gathering:
Whether for Thanksgiving or Christmas, prepare as much as
possible ahead of time so you have more time to sit down and visit with
company!
Signature Signs of a Welcoming Home:
Your presence. How you welcome your guests is most
important! Guests can feel uncomfortable if the host/hostess looks stressed and
is scurrying around. A calm, welcoming
demeanor goes a long way!
Get to that state of peace through early green-cleaning preparation
as well as early food preparation. When
possible cook or bake the day before to ease your load.
Inviting Entryway. Kept neat and tidy it welcomes your guests
with a sense of peace and order. Spray Harmony All-Natural Air Freshener of your choice in the area as an added welcoming
aroma!
Freshened bathroom
and guest bedroom. Green-cleaned spaces with fresh towels and linens add to
your guests' comfort. Consider adding a
few drops of Harmony Essential Oil to the toilet brush bowl as a residual air
freshener!
Good eats! If you were able to cook or bake ahead of
time, enjoy the ease of warming food in the oven. Last minute preparations can include your
guests if you are comfortable. Many people
like to help out where needed. Help your
guests feel at home and at ease even in the kitchen.
Honored seating. Name cards at place settings are that added little
touch that says, "You're welcome here and there is a place at the table
for you!"
Name Card Game: Write the name vertically on a name card and
use each letter as an acronym to say what you see as quality characteristics in
that person. For added interaction,
leave a couple of the letters blank and allow guests around the table to fill
in words that fit the letters left un-described.
Rethink gift giving
and Black Friday: Do we dare??
After spending the day with cherished friends and family,
sharing in moments of Thankfulness, doesn’t it seem ironic to race to the
stores to spend money on more stuff? Didn't we just say how thankful we are for what we have?
Americans are on possession overload—the storage business is at
record growth in sales—are we really happier?
What message are we sending our children about consumerism and
contentment?
Perhaps it is time we weigh the short-term benefit and or use
of particular gifts against the long-term benefit or use of the gifts? Maybe we would make better choices and
improve our overall health as credit card bills would not be racked up. –Food for thought!
More on gift-giving coming ahead on Creating a Simpler
Holiday!
Please Leave a comment and a link to your Blog and or website!
Our family did the Name Card game for our Thanksgiving get-together and it was a hit! There were some unique expressions from the younger ones around the table that brought many laughs. Thanks for the suggestion!
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