My sister left me a comment on my Facebook page last week after reading my last post. "You are so together!" she says. Oh no . . . I'm sorry to burst your bubble faithful readers, but it ain't like that. How quickly we forget the"child tearing the house to ruins" post from last year.
I'll admit, I am feeling quite a bit less stress this year than usual, but I wouldn't be able to finish things like this:
and this:
if it weren't for my new cleaning schedule courtesy of www.flylady.net (which I don't take too seriously) and my holiday "not to do" top 10 list:
- do not send Christmas cards this year--a savings of approx $50 after cards and postage.
- do not make that caramel apple pie that takes 3 hours to assemble in addition to the pecan pie, vegetable dish, and appetizer you already promised the Thanksgiving guests.
- do not take a dish of any kind to holiday gathering number 2, because you know it's already being catered, and surely the 75 remaining guests will be able to adequately cover the dessert course.
- do not make anything more extravagant than a simple pan of brownies for holiday gathering number 3 (day after gathering number 2)
- do not cry because you can't afford that $45 fraiser fir in the Christmas tree lot. That fat white pine will look just fine when you cover it with your boxes of shiny brites
- do not attempt to "go homemade" for more than 3 people on your shopping list.
- do not exchange gifts with spouse--except for those you purchased for giving from your children.
- do not attempt to light the house up like a gingerbread palace. One candle in the window will do.
- do not begrudge hubby of his glass motorcycle, Elvis, and Batman ornaments being displayed in a place of honor amidst the finery.
- do not argue with your husband about this
being placed next to your beautiful arrangement of ironstone creamers, candles and greenery on the curio cabinet.
I am happy to say that I was able to follow through, so far, on articles 1 - 7. Unhappily, articles 8 through 10 didn't turn out so well. My last post didn't mention the situation with the lighted garland over the front door (I'll spare you the details here), the dog eating the string of lights around the burning bush, or the fight over the infamous weiner mobile and friends working their way into the Christmas decor.
None of us are the worse for wear, and now you can rest at ease knowing I really don't have it ALL together and consider this your Christmas greeting for the year in loo of a hand-written note: Wishing you and yours a joyous holiday season full of cheer and much less to do in the coming new year!
