Procrastinate? - K.I.S.S.

 Are you a procrastinator this holiday season?  My advice is K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple silly!!!!!

YES - keep it simple.  It doesn't have to be complicated.  We all tend to make things complicated that don't need to be.  Just breathe and move.

Life is busy, no mojo, getty-up has gone, bad mood, illness, just blah - anything can be a reason. Just simplify.  It is OK!!!!!!!  

You don't have to be Mrs. Claus - you can just be you.

Keep decorations simple.  We are 2 1/2 weeks out to Christmas.  Many keep things up till N.Y. day so a good three weeks or so.  But it doesn't have to be all out over the top.  A few pretty lights, a tree, whatever you want.  Do what makes YOU happy.

Gifts not bought yet?  I imagine most of you are done or have a good start to gifts - but for those who don't - gifts of self or experiences are wonderful.

Invite someone for a meal at your home.  Or perhaps promise a shut-in or neighbor or family or friend a homemade meal a month delivered to their home.

Make cookies or candy or breads for gifts.  Make up a few jar mixes to hand out.  You can get very inexpensive storage containers at the dollar stores to place goodies in.  You can get tins at thrift stores for pennies.  Buy or use a plate that can be given and kept.

              I 'think' I got these at Dollar Tree - 5/$1 - can't beat that price.  Cheap most places.

Write out some of your favorite or best recipes and share with family.  Pretty little recipe cards or just plain old index cards work fine.  Get yourself a few little cheap photo albums and place recipes in them.  Recipes are now protected from spillage and contained in one spot.  I have several of these books that I use for all my recipe cards. ($1 each)

These are small and cheap.  I have them for every category of recipes - baking, canning, main meals, etc.

Do you have a handwritten copy of Mom's or Grandma's favorite recipe for something?  Make a copy and frame it - maybe with a picture of them included.  Memories.

A child's drawing or artwork - framed for Granma or Auntie.

A pretty doily that belonged to Mom or Grandma or Auntie?  Again - frame it.

Pass on a family heirloom to someone who will love and cherish it.  None of us will be here forever, so why not pass on things now - while we can watch others enjoy it.

Experiences!

Give a gift of a museum or gallery visit.  A zoo trip.  Any event - movie, skating, park, picnic, sledding, fishing, camping - something that you can enjoy with another. 

My bro/sil give their daughter a pass to all state parks for the year.  No, it isn't that super cheap - but it is a great gift that gives to her all year.  She is a fitness instructor and takes people on many hikes and camping sessions all year. 

Gift Cards

Gift cards can be purchased for anything today.  Hardware stores, groceries, gas, spas, coffee, restaurants, general shopping - anything.  You can get many cards at the grocery stores - they have a huge variety.  It is basically like giving someone free money to shop with.

Strangers

Give of your time at a soup kitchen or holiday meal event to feed the hungry.

Donate goods to a food pantry to help others

Deliver pretty cards with a sweet message handwritten in them to nursing homes

Do something nice for a stranger

These things are not just gifts for others - but a gift for yourself as well.  I well imagine you may get more from giving to strangers, than they will receive.

Serve and love others and you are serving God and doing His work.  

So, if you have been procrastinating, now is the time to come up with some different options for others. It doesn't have to cost much if anything - but it may mean the world to someone else.

Give experiences, give of yourself, and give to those who you don't even know.

We can all make the month, the week, the day special for another.

Go forward and Keep It Simple Silly!!!!

Blessings