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It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that December has to be an entire month full of sparkles, shindigs and sleigh bells. We wait all year for the holiday season, and want things to be just perfect.
Taking time to relax and enjoy the season’s quieter moments will make the holidays much less stressful.
But perfection has its price. Preoccupation with Pinterest-worthy place settings and Martha Stewart-level treats often results in more seasonal stress than Christmas cheer. For military families where one parent often must do the work of two, this stress may often be magnified.
Here are eight easy ways to eliminate holiday stress and make this the most wonderful most wonderful time of the year.
The holidays can be a particularly stressful time for some military families, when having only one paycheck and only one parent at home becomes increasingly noticeable.
One of the (seemingly) easiest ways to help during the holidays is by donating money or needed items directly to a charity. These organizations do most of the legwork for you, facilitating feel-good transactions that don’t add too much to your already-heaping holiday plate.
How do you choose your military charity and avoid charity scams?
At the end of each year, many people find themselves involved in holiday gift exchanges they don’t really want to be a part of. Casual acquaintances and relatives you haven’t seen in years somehow end up on the shopping list, spending spirals out of control and the stress of overcrowded shopping malls makes you reluctant to leave home.
If something that once was enjoyable suddenly feels like a chore, it’s time to make a change in your gift swap.
Christmas can be a difficult time. With nosy relatives, a seemingly endless swath of dishes to clean and the inevitable red wine spill, it’s easy to forget the reason for all that hard work: seeing a smile on everyone’s face.
If there’s a military spouse in your life you’d like to spoil (or if you’d like to spoil yourself), here’s a few gift suggestions hand-picked by other military spouses. They’re guaranteed to put a smile on your loved one’s face. For other suggestions, check out our other gift guides.
They say all hearts come home for Christmas. But unfortunately, for many military families, that’s not the case. Long deployments and PCSes far from other relatives mean military families are often separated from loved ones during favorite holidays.
There are lots of ways to send the holidays to those stuck in remote locations this time of year. But how can you bring a bit of those loved ones home?
Last year, we suggested a few ways you can use technology to make distances feel smaller. Skype and recordings of holiday traditions are great ways to share some of the season’s special moments. Here are four more ways to feel a little closer to loved ones who are far from home during the holiday season.
Because Christmastime is nearly passed for the year, you might think your decorating days are behind you. But once you take down the tree, the lights and the slew of Santa stuff your home might start to feel a little bare. Winter wreaths are a wonderful way to dress up the front of your house in the months to come.
It’s easy enough to buy a wreath this time of year. But if you’re already holed up at home, why not use the time to get a little crafty? Here are a few of our favorite DIY ideas to keep your foyer festive throughout the winter months.
During a deployment, the sudden absence of one parent or spouse can become noticeable to those who might wish to take advantage of a vulnerable situation. Military spouses are often young women living on their own, sometimes in a place far from their families and friends. While they may be perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, one can never be too safe.
Avoid living in fear and take control of your situation with these six simple safety tips.
There’s countless holiday traditions that families enjoy together, but perhaps none as creative (or adorable) as Elf on a Shelf. Recently, Elf on the Shelf has been gaining popularity as a new tradition in many more homes.
According to tradition, this mischievous elf comes out every year before Christmas and checks in on little children on behalf of Santa Claus. While this elf visits your home, he comes alive at night and tends to get into a little bit of trouble.
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Each family has their own way of doing holidays. A “typical” Thanksgiving for most Americans includes indulging themselves with far too much turkey followed by a lazy afternoon on the couch watching football and catching up with family members.
On the other hand, some families take a step outside the box for some really interesting Thanksgiving traditions.
If your Facebook friends are anything like mine, you have probably noticed a trending status topic this November: 30 Days of Thankfulness. Although I have not participated in this exercise, I have gained much insight into the hearts of my friends that have been faithful to pen their thankfulness. As I read the lists that include things like friends, a warm home and freedom, I can’t help but think beyond these lists.
When I consider the true meaning behind Thanksgiving, I feel challenged to think about things that I not only take for granted, but am also upset by.
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