Hush Layout: One Little Word for 2014

Unfortunately for me, I am one of those people who are BAD at Christmas.

It's not that it's not a great holiday, although I do opt for variations on the whole green and red theme as often as possible. I just get so tired of those colors all month.

It's just that I stink at it.

No matter what, starting Christmas Cards in July, planning ahead with ideas, there is that one melt down moment that usually comes in December when I am ready to take down all the decorations and hide in my closest with a good book and cookies. LOTS of cookies.

It was not always the case. I once got engaged the day before Christmas. That was a pretty awesome one. THE MAN'S Mum usually had a pretty spectacular event which was always over the top. One year THE MAN even got a huge stuffed Monkey. It was not a real one, but somehow she recalled him having a stuffed monkey as a boy. I had that creepy thing in my bedroom for years. Finally found out a year or so ago it was safe to donate as THE MAN did not recall having a stuffed monkey ever. Thank you baby Jesus.

His Mum having passed a very long time ago we have been left to our own devices for many years to fail miserably at the holiday. By fail, I mean try very hard with all the trimmings of a good time and yet have that feeling that somehow it could be better.

I caved this year when a small person in my house asked to not have a tree so they wouldn't have to vacuum needles. Buying a fake one is always an option but having lived on a tree farm for years that still give me heebie jeebies. It also involves going to the store which is also another thing I like to avoid like the plague all year round. Does Amazon have mail order pre-lit fake trees with free shipping? Oh look at that they do!

Well, maybe next year I'll be inspired.

See that is the thing. I always expect it to be different although I pretend not to care. Wrap up that whole two week experience by throwing my birthday at the end right before New Years and I'm grumpy.

I like my holidays in small doses and spread apart.

With all that being said, I do START December with deep breathing, keagles, and lots of glitter. The projects and filling the stockings keep me happy for quite some time. Then that morphs into shopping for Christmas dinner. This year I sat in my living room with a shopping list and asked each person to list a food and dessert they wanted.

Here is what they came up with:

Shrimp
Strawberries & Chocolate
Root Beer Floats

Notice that the number of people in my family do not match the amount of foods listed. Some people claimed to not care. Also, the number of main courses was a bit limited.

Shopping for dinner was interesting. I managed to fill the cart with things I thought they wanted. In fact, I put so much thought into the whole thing I was kinda done mid store and ready to curl up somewhere with a coffee.

So sorry to the one person I knew who asked me how I was mid shopping trip. I don't think the word miserable is something one should say around the holidays. Next year I will be cheerful and chipper! To my defense though, shopping always makes me miserable regardless of Christmas music playing.

See, I'm already planning that next year will be better and that is a whole year away!

It's always a stretch to come up with resolutions not based around having a better holiday.

I am however giving myself permission to slow down and take a breather. Hush if you will, like you would tell a baby. It's all good, breath, relax, smile, and have a glass of wine.

Last year the world was Engage and it's perfectly funny to me that I am telling myself the exact opposite this time 'round.

Did I engage too much? Probably not. I did take (GASP) Facebook out of my phone apps. I found that at any given moment I was using that crutch to escape. Someone in the middle of supper pointed out my rudeness and I immediately deleted it off my phone. My theory being that if I wanted to go to Facebook, typing out the address in Safari took a brain cell or two and I could consider the timing.

It did work. I felt like I listened to my three Pratt peeps more. I didn't have a Christmas tree, so obviously I took requests and listened to someone!

I think Hush will work well for me. It will be a busy 2014 and keeping sanity very important. Guess I will let you know how it goes!

And on the whole being bad at Christmas? Nice part is the new year is here so we can start all over again!

Playing along in spirit with the Another Freaking Scappy Challenge...