Sunday, December 10, 2017

Swapping Christmas pressure for Christmas joy!















As always, the first of advent catches me by surprise. Although I know it is coming and I eagerly wait for it, I never manage to be prepared for its arrival. Never. Not this year either. However, this past week I have been super productive when it comes to Christmas preparations. I am about 90% done with all gifts and the only thing missing now is the Christmas tree. After the rather non inspiring start of missing out on first of advent I set a new goal - to prepare as much as possible as early as possible to make time for me to relax and enjoy the Christmas countdown instead of running around like a headless chicken every day up until Christmas day. I feel so good about this achievement. Especially the gift part. I'm so proud of myself. It was not easy, but I did it and this new way of taking on Christmas changes everything.

I have had time to start on a new table runner with my favorite of all times fabric My Folklore Dala Horse by Lecien... Oh how I wish I had bought at least a few yards of it... Santa, dear Santa - I wish for Christmas, pleeeaaase. (You think he will hear me...???)

I have been baking both ginger cookies and saffron buns and they are all eaten and gone. A reason to make some more.

I have taken snowy Winter Wonderland walks and watched the cats play in the snow, indulged in hot chocolates with Chantilly cream and tons of calories because it is soooo good.

I have wrapped all gifts, watched a few Christmas movies and discovered a new Christmas record favorite: Elvis Christmas with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra!!! This Christmas album is so good. I mean, I am a big fan of Bublé - of course (who isn't???) but Elvis makes me dance from room to room and wiggle those hips like never before. Elvis just makes me happy.

As much as I love and adore everything about Christmas, I'm not much different than many others who experience this time of the year to be rather stressful. We always, ALWAYS (!!!) wish for it to be a relaxing time when we can enjoy baking, cooking, crafting, gifting, decorating, socializing, music listening and so much more. We want it to be perfect, but honestly... Does it really have to be perfect? And what is perfect anyway? So with that in mind I swapped "musts" to "wants" and "pressure" to "joy" and instead of having it all, me and the kids have chosen the things and traditions that really makes Christmas special in our house. And now we have P E R F E C T Christmas spirit in our home. Perfect for us.

I can't believe it took me so long to realize this... All the years that I have felt like I'm never going to make it all in time, be enough or able to meet everyone's needs and expectations...  it shows that everyone's needs and expectations are actually only my own... Yep, there you have it. It took some time to figure that out but life is a continuous journey of self discovery, growth and collecting wisdom. I kind of like getting older. :) Letting go... Just be. What a relief. And with that I sign off and wish you all a Happy Second Advent. No pressure. Stay Calm and Enjoy!

PS Forgot to tell you, but I did start on our Family Photo Wall over the sofa... I'm almost half way through, I add one picture at the time and who knows, maybe it will be complete just in time for Christmas. I'm loving the project and I feel so blessed when I see my family members all together up on the wall... So much love. I'm so lucky. (She says, and it might sound like an empty phrase but it is so true and she needs to remind herself how lucky she actually is...)




Kärlek
Annette


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10 comments :

  1. Back in 2014 (when we thought we were going to move house), I began decluttering EVERYTHING (even the Christmas deccies). I've always shopped all year long (waiting for sales and using coupons, etc) so now my Christmas season is fairly stress free!

    I just love how cozy your home looks Annette! (and I too need to print out and frame more family pictures!)

    ~Dana

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    1. Hi Dana. It sounds so liberating to declutter EVERYTHING. I'm on a mission and slowly moving forward and for every corner accomplished I feel I can breath more lightly. The family picture wall is really making me so so happy. I've wanted one for years but never got around to it... So silly as it is quite easy to do...
      Happy holidays my lovely.
      Xx

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  2. Beautiful pictures. And about Christmas, I don’t like all ‘things to do’ or ‘must’. So we relax those days, do what we like, eat what we want and don’t buy much food ;) But I like Christmas decorations a lot ;)

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    Replies
    1. Sounds just perfect to me. Enjoy the holidays my lovely!
      Xx

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  3. Love the picture wall, it's looking great. I'm going for a relaxed Christmas here as well. The gifts are in hand, just the food and decorations to think about really. I'm not going to go mad. Low stress is the key! CJ xx

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  4. Dear Annette, everything looks perfect. Just perfect. I have to check some Czech e-shops. These fabrics are really beautiful!
    I love autumn, but the Advent time is my second favourite part of the year. But I don´t do extra cleaning (I clean every day - we have a little dog at home...), I don´t do extra baking. Hm, maybe I will do just small exception :) And... yes, the presents for kids are at home :) So, we really try to enjoy this time and stay calm. Maybe we need some snow :) Your pictures are beautiful!!!
    Enjoy this time! :) Jolana

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  5. Good advice we can all use my friend. I am feeling a bit less pressure now that things are almost all done. Our tree is up but yet to be decorated, this weekend I think. Little Buddy is just as excited as he can be, that makes it all more magical. Hugs.

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  6. It's crazy how we're all governed by our 'to do' lists, expectations both real or imagined. I admire you for stepping off the roundabout as it were, relaxing and enjoying time with family. Enjoy, Cathy x

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  7. Hi Annette, Sorry haven't been posting lately as I haven't been well. Your home is looking very Christmassy. The garden certainly looks different with all the snow it doesn't seem two minutes ago you were posting lovely photos of colourful flowers and beautiful sunshine. Christmas is certainly a time for reminiscent feelings of time past and people we have lost, it can be quiet sad but also has a cosy comforting feeling at the same time. We have a favourite Christmas album of Johnny Mathis that my mum had in the 1960s when he was very young, as soon as I hear it the memories come flooding back.
    Have a wonderful and happy Christmas.
    Love and hugs
    Julie x

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  8. Ahhhhh, this post is everything I love in a blog read! Happy Christmas Annette. I hope you have a super one and all of lifes blessings for the New Year.

    Much Love

    Vanessa xxxx

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Thank you so much for visiting my world. I love reading your comments and I do my utterly best to respond to questions and sweet messages. Thank you again for popping by.

Kärlek
Annette

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