| The first Christmas I spent away from my family, I felt | | | | own. You can not force others to be happy, satisfied |
| absolutely lost. I was living in Los Angeles. Everyone I | | | | or grateful. |
| knew was going somewhere else and I was staying | | | | Do not exhaust yourself striving for something that |
| home...alone. I had not bothered with decorations and I | | | | may not exist even at Martha Stewart's house. Smile. |
| certainly did not intend to cook a holiday dinner for one. | | | | Enjoy the chaos. Laugh out loud when something goes |
| I considered spending Christmas day at the movies like | | | | wrong. Savor every moment you have with those you |
| many Los Angelinos, but opted for a long walk to | | | | love, no matter how flawed they may be. Take a |
| indulge in a little self-pity. It was a beautiful, sunny warm | | | | picture of Aunt Millie scowling at your turkey and use it |
| day. Along my walk, I found a man trimming a hedge in | | | | for next years Christmas card. And for heaven's sake, |
| his yard. The cuttings sort of looked like pine boughs | | | | you do not have to sneak the cookie, just eat it with |
| and when I asked for a few of them, he looked at me | | | | gusto. It's Christmas. |
| like I had escaped without taking my meds. He let me | | | | More Tips for a Better Holiday Experience |
| have all I wanted. | | | | You cannot force people to be happy, satisfied or |
| On the way home, I spotted a neighbor's poinsettia. | | | | even grateful. So do not try to make them happy. If |
| They grow to the size of trees in Los Angeles and | | | | they insist on being miserable, let them. |
| hers needed a trim in my opinion. I stole a few of the | | | | For kids, the whole package counts. Bring them in on |
| red clusters. At home, I arranged these items on the | | | | everything. Even fairly young kids can help wrap gifts, |
| table, added a few candles and sang carols while the | | | | clean and decorate the house and their rooms, bake |
| microwave hummed along, heating my frozen dinner. I | | | | cookies, write and mail cards. Who cares if they ruin a |
| spent the rest of the day watching TV. | | | | surprise for someone because they couldn't wait to |
| No matter what holiday we celebrate, we know what | | | | tell? |
| those days of celebration are supposed to be like. Our | | | | Make a budget. Figure out how much you have to |
| homes are to be warm, cozy and decorated. The | | | | spend and do not go over budget. Track your |
| meals should be both generous and delicious and the | | | | expenses along the way and if you have to cut |
| conversation around the table is to be pleasant and | | | | corners, cut them. |
| filled with best wishes and good intentions. The gifts | | | | Shop with a list. The holiday season is fueled by |
| are perfectly chosen, beautifully wrapped and always | | | | impulse buying. Making a list will help you stay financially |
| wonderfully appreciated. | | | | on track and will help you avoid running out at the last |
| Many of us work very hard to live up to that | | | | minute because you forgot someone or something. |
| media-driven, Martha Stewart image of the holidays. I | | | | Your Gift list should include the people you wish to buy |
| doubt that any of us has ever experienced one, at | | | | gifts for and how much you wish to spend on each of |
| least not since we were children and did not have to | | | | them. |
| do any of the work. All of that shopping, decorating, | | | | Avoid using your credit cards. It is well documented |
| card writing, food preparation and gift wrapping can be | | | | that consumers spend more when they pay with |
| a real drain. By the time the actual day arrives, many | | | | plastic than they do with cash. Many people are still |
| of us feel like an inflatable front-yard Santa during a | | | | trying to pay off last year's holiday credit card bills. |
| power outage. | | | | Don't be a dope. Your holiday festivities should not be |
| What we really want when we think of a Martha | | | | overshadowed by a cloud of looming debt. |
| Stewart Christmas is the feeling we associate with | | | | Obligatory gifts should be token gifts. Do not spend a |
| those images and most of the people I know never | | | | lot of time or money on gifts for your children's |
| really come close, no matter how hard they try. Every | | | | teachers, the mail carrier or your office mates. It is |
| year they work harder and harder, more decorations, | | | | perfectly acceptable to buy them all the same thing or |
| more gifts, bigger lists, more cards, fancier tables and | | | | nothing at all. If your budget is tight, get creative. Bake |
| more abundant meals. Still something is always missing | | | | cookies. Fill-dollar store mugs with candy or samples of |
| and invariably, something does not go according to | | | | gourmet coffee or tea. Your gift should not make |
| plan. | | | | them feel the need to reciprocate. |
| Someone doesn't show up. A plate breaks. The | | | | Shop for food once. Think about the meals you plan to |
| biscuits burn. One of the kids gets a nose bleed all | | | | prepare, make a list and check it twice. Think of how |
| over the tablecloth. Someone gets too drunk. Half the | | | | you might creatively use leftovers for subsequent |
| table cranes their necks to watch television during | | | | events or meals. |
| dinner. The kids fight over toys. Somebody spills the | | | | Avoid gift cards, especially if you are on a budget. Gift |
| gravy. Aunt Millie lets you know the turkey is a little dry | | | | cards may be an easy choice but they often lead |
| and proceeds to tell you how she prepares it. And | | | | people to spend more because the amount spent on |
| while comforting yourself with a sugar fix by sneaking | | | | the gift is obvious. |
| a cookie, you sprinkle powdered sugar down the front | | | | Before buying decorations, get creative with last years |
| of your red sweater. | | | | stuff. Wait for the after holiday sales to buy new stuff |
| This is reality. Peace on earth is a nice sentiment but, | | | | for next year. If you are buying new stuff this year, |
| during the holidays, I settle for piece of pie. Ever since | | | | make sure you set strict spending limits. Consider |
| that lonely day many years ago in LA, I have known | | | | getting creative. Get the kids to make some |
| that the feelings that we associate with a Martha | | | | decorations. They can string popcorn. Make |
| Stewart Christmas cannot be found in the perfect | | | | construction paper chains. |
| tree, a flawless table setting or a delicious meal. If the | | | | Do a toy clean out. Think of all of the toys your |
| love, peace and joy are not already inside us, all of our | | | | children no longer play with. Clean them off, pack them |
| time, effort and money will not magically produce them | | | | up and take them to a thrift store. Ask the kids to |
| on Christmas Day. | | | | choose several toys they would like to give to other |
| So, while you are doing all of the things you need to do | | | | children. Their choices cannot include broken toys or |
| in preparation for the holidays, please remember to | | | | toys with missing pieces. (Throw those away!) You'll |
| stop every now and again to think of the people for | | | | have a lot less clutter to deal with in the next few |
| whom you are doing them. Think of why they are in | | | | months and your children will learn the value of giving. |
| your life and why you hope that they have a | | | | Go ahead and eat! Get real! You are going to gain a |
| wonderful holiday. If love, peace and joy are not your | | | | little weight. Why spend the holidays feeling guilty for |
| hope for them, you would be better off spending your | | | | eating the cookies, candy and treats? Dieting makes |
| holiday at the movies. | | | | you hungry. You may well eat less by telling yourself |
| With the exception of little children, the only person's | | | | that you can have it if you want it. |
| holiday for which you are entirely responsible is your | | | | |