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Post by putabuttononit on Dec 14, 2021 7:39:53 GMT
I’ve decided not to put out my Willow Tree nativity set. I didn’t bake anything for the neighbors (might do cocoa bombs later), I’m not getting all of our Hallmark ornaments out, I’m skipping the time-consuming Christmas train set-up, and I’ve opted for quick Shutterfly photo cards instead of my usual “scrapbooked” photo collage type cards. Anything you’ve given up to simplify this year?
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Post by FrozenPea on Dec 14, 2021 7:44:56 GMT
We put up a slim tree with 3 littler ones in front. All have white lights and nothing else on them.
Dh put up our Christmas houses on the top of the bookcase.
That's it.
I am still recovering from a surgery and have no energy. Same as the past 2 years.
Maybe next year.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,615
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Dec 14, 2021 7:47:00 GMT
I could not get motivated to pull out and assemble my artificial tree this year, and seriously considered no tree at all, but we decided on Sunday to get a real tree. From the two boxes of Christmas decorations I have pulled out maybe 20% of the stuff to put around the house. I'm not disappointed with how much faster it was to decorate, or how much easier it will be to pack up.
I was also pretty happy when I realised there will be no team lunch at work this year (my manager left in Nov, no replacement yet) and I'm not back in the office yet which means I don't have to bake cookies for everyone. I didn't realise how much of a chore it had become.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 14, 2021 10:04:20 GMT
So far I'm late getting the tree up. Hopefully this week we'll grab one.
I'm only going to make enough cookies with the kids to have a plate for Santa, plus whatever they feel like decorating. Oh, and store bought dough.
I know I haven't bought as many gifts this year. Honestly, I probably need to buy at least a few more.
The stockings are just gonna have candy this year. I don't have the energy to find personalized trinkets and such this year.
I didn't attempt a festive holiday photo for a photo card. I bought a few cards at the store and i guess i should mail them out this week.
I haven't even hung the stockings yet.
Haven't planned Christmas dinner. Didn't we just have Thanksgiving?
Usually by now I'm all frothy about December Daily scrapbooking. I haven't given it thought this year. Maybe after the holiday I'll pull together something?
I'm just not feeling it this year, and i really have to for the kids.
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Post by leannec on Dec 14, 2021 11:38:08 GMT
My house is in the middle of renovation hell so that I can downsize in the Spring ... everything is a mess ... it's depressing I usually have so many decorations up and lights outside ... not this year! I got rid of my two big trees and now I have a small 5 foot white tree up that is decorated with my blue, white and silver stuff ... it looks so lonely! Next year in my new place will be different
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,072
Jan 29, 2016 3:02:55 GMT
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Post by used2scrap on Dec 14, 2021 12:43:29 GMT
Normally I assign one wrapping paper per person to “simplify” things...this year I’ve told everyone to just wing it and use whatever. Now my palms are sweaty and the kids are freaking out 😂
I’m behind on everything else; not sure yet what I’ll “let go” when it’s all said and (not) done!
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 14, 2021 13:28:15 GMT
I put out less than I usually do for decor, mostly because I plan to start packing for our move after our DS and grands leave on January 2nd.
I realized I have downsized my decor by a lot. I'll probably buy some new things next year.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Dec 14, 2021 13:40:13 GMT
We bought and put up a 5’ tree on a table in the family room. No big tree this year. I only put 1/2 the decorations on it and still don’t have the beads and garland on. I have no decorations on the fireplace mantle. I love decorating the mantle, but I just don’t have time.
Even more sadly, we are the only house on our cul de sac that is completely dark. I took down the fall lights and decorations and it looks so bare. But everything is in the attic. Although we are technically “retired”, my DH works a part time job that’s pushing 40 hours a week that spans 7 days a week. I need to figure out how all these anti work young people are managing without incomes. But it is what it is. We work in an industry that work from home is not feasible and if everyone in our industry quit, there we be a lot of people having a hissy fit.
Sorry. I’m just having one of those days. Pity party for one, anyone? LOL.
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Post by Merge on Dec 14, 2021 13:45:42 GMT
The only thing we put up this year is the tree. I just can't motivate myself to do the rest of it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 21, 2024 1:17:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2021 14:03:55 GMT
We purged some decorations.
Put up less in home decor.
Will be baking way less.
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,377
Location: New York, NY
Jun 26, 2014 18:02:19 GMT
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Post by christinec68 on Dec 14, 2021 14:10:33 GMT
We didn't decorate. We are not usually much for decorating but we can usually manage pulling out the little ceramic tree to put on a table with a festive tablecloth and this cute box for cards we receive. Maybe this weekend
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,786
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Dec 14, 2021 14:57:03 GMT
We're in the middle of a renovation, and my kitchen is currently gutted. Same with the primary bath. You have to walk through plastic sheets to get to the different parts of the house.
I'm still trying to put up my tree. I've had a heck of a time finding lights to replace the ones that didn't work. Got a bunch yesterday, so hopefully it will be lit by tonight. That and a wreath on the front door are it. That wreath accompanies the pots of dead basil that I still haven't replaced.
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Post by Jamie on Dec 14, 2021 15:15:26 GMT
I usually have a 8 foot tree all decked out. I went and bought a 4.5 foot and am contemplating getting rid of the big one. I'm the one that does all the set up/take down of it all and it was so nice to take the small tree out of the box, minimal fluffing and done. It used to take me hours to do the big tree. Other than the tree this year the only other thing that is decorated is my hutch in the dining room. So not like me at all. Usually everything is decked out. I'm off the week of Christmas and think I'm actually going to start going through all my Christmas decor and donating/getting rid of stuff. We don't have company ever so it's only for me. Hubby could care less if anything is ever decorated. No present buying at all this year and we'll be spending the day at home. It'll probably just be another day like Thanksgiving was.
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,686
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
Jul 22, 2017 4:59:41 GMT
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Post by luckyjune on Dec 14, 2021 15:19:56 GMT
We've just moved and we're leaving to travel for 12 days. For this year, I've given it all up. On travel years we don't do gifts so I haven't had to shop or wrap either (except for neighbors in the old neighborhood and a few friends...and I had those delivered).
I'm not sad about any of this. Even if our situation was different, I think this would be a pretty low key Christmas. I've had years in the past when the tree, with minimal ornaments, was the only decoration. Other years, I go all out. I guess it depends on my energy level.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 14, 2021 15:28:31 GMT
Over the past few years we have really purged our holiday decorations and put up less each year. Got rid of my wreaths and buy a fresh one each year. Nothing to store. I've set out two of my nativity sets, as well as some gnomes I bought at Target and IKEA. The Fall/Thanksgiving tablecloth is still on the table and needs to be changed out.
We put 3 small fake trees on the island each. The trees are up and the lights on, but decorations are still in the boxes. In January two of those trees are being tossed and will get a single prelit tree next year. I'm over putting lights on trees.
Haven't done any baking this year and most likely won't. I did make my annual Christmas Trash (chex mix) but that's it. We aren't entertaining at home this year. It's not that I'm not in the holiday spirit, I'm just tired and don't want all the extra busyness that tends to go along with the season.
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rgibson
Full Member
Posts: 467
Apr 26, 2021 22:49:21 GMT
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Post by rgibson on Dec 14, 2021 15:32:46 GMT
I feel like an outlier on the board this year, after reading so many threads about not being in the holiday spirit, but I am very excited about the holiday.
I spent last holiday in the hospital and was not allowed visitors save for dh for one hour a day until they changed the rules on Boxing day and then I wasn't allowed any visitors for the next two weeks. I haven't had Christmas with all of my kids since 2018 - we are spread out over the country and they alternate between inlaws and me so 2019 was not my year and then of course 2020 was not my year so I'm grabbing this one!
My house is decorated inside and out, I've mailed my cards, I have been baking and most of my Christmas shopping is done - now I just have to wait for the kids to arrive in 10 days!!!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 14, 2021 15:43:26 GMT
We put up our new last year fake tree. I only dragged out about a third of the ornaments because they won’t all fit on one tree, and the bottom foot has almost no ornaments on it due to our dog’s whapping tail that sends things in its wake flying. DD cleared all the excess junk off of the fireplace mantel to decorate it, but then just piled all the stuff she cleared off of it onto a shelf next to it instead of actually putting it away elsewhere. 😳🙄 (And in that, I have failed as a mother, LOL. My own mom would have been horrified if I would have “cleaned” that way at that age!)
I bought a live evergreen wreath at Costco after Thanksgiving to at least get an occasional whiff of real pine coming and going. I sent out store bought Christmas cards last weekend.
My huge plans for holiday baking are all but out the window after injuring a tendon in my left hand on November 30th. After a visit with the hand specialist the next day, now I’m in a splint until the middle of January that prevents me from bending my hand at the knuckles. The splint is supposed to help the tendon heal on its own if it can, but if it doesn’t I’ll need to have hand surgery to correct it next year or the tendon will continue to slip off that knuckle and tear which is excruciating. The doctor said the odds of recovery with the splint are about 70%, but from what I still feel two weeks out, I’m not all that hopeful it’s going to work.
The splint makes life in general more difficult since I have no strength and can’t grip anything tightly with that hand (zippers, buttons, silverware, whatnot; braiding my kid’s hair is mostly a fail). The silver lining is that I’m right hand dominant so at least I can mostly still function one handed, and the splint is removable so I can take it off to shower and wash my hand, etc. A plaster cast would be infinitely worse.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 21, 2024 1:17:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2021 15:50:51 GMT
We're pretty sparse every year, so not too much to give up We have 2 storage boxes of ornaments (not full) and one giant box of decorations. I put all those up. It's mostly just in the living room, but it really helped me feel more 'holiday'. I wasn't going to do cards, but I did order some last minute - they'll probably go out between the holidays, but that's ok. We're still doing our fav movies, seeing the lights, we did the Craft Fair in our community. So all-in-all, sparse - but as usual
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 21, 2024 1:17:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2021 15:57:35 GMT
We have not done the Christmas tree or decorating.
They are stuck in the garage and inaccessible because we have tried to stock up for the predicted food shortages , a combination of upcoming supermarket strikes , and Brexit crap - so the new shelves holding emergency groceries are in the way and the tree and decorating boxes are now out of reach.
We did the Christmas cards using our little Robin from the garden , given presents and have way too much festive food.
We also played about on the computer where my husband’s photos of our other garden birds were put altogether and he put little wooly hats on them . I found the hats from a knitting pattern site. They look so cute ! and surprising real, I spent ages choosing just the right hat for each bird . I also did some virtual decorating of our garden fence by choosing a lovely garland for the birds to perch on.
So with a bit of Christmas music , it felt a little bit more Christmassy but without the tree it still doesn’t feel quite right.
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,649
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:09 GMT
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Post by basketdiva on Dec 14, 2021 16:03:38 GMT
We have not let go of anything this year. Got a new slim tree and new decor for outside. My friends have also done a lot of decorating as have people in the area I live in.
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grammanisi
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,741
Jun 26, 2014 1:37:37 GMT
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Post by grammanisi on Dec 14, 2021 16:11:01 GMT
I'm still recovering from a bad bout of pneumonia. 3rd time this year. It seems recovery takes longer with each one. I was so proud of myself for getting the tree up before Thanksgiving. But that's as far as I've gotten. I'm going to put out a few more things today and that's probably about all I'm doing this year. I'm bummed about it, though. I had these great plans for each room and lots of new decor. Oh, well. There's always next year!
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Post by lisae on Dec 14, 2021 18:22:12 GMT
The heavily decorated garland on the stairs and mantle. I did very simple decorations.
Gifting has been paring down for years but with my mother gone now, the only gift I'm giving is for a $15 gift exchange. I made handmade cards and am adding a book of stamps. Easy and it was fun to do.
I'm not making my favorite cheese ball recipe. This isn't because I want to simplify but for dietary reasons. Just too much fat and cholesterol that goes on for two or three weeks!
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Post by Zee on Dec 14, 2021 18:31:08 GMT
Nothing, I went bigger than ever with the decorations. But I don't really have to "do" anything other than attend a few parties and get stocking items for my coworkers, which I enjoy.
I think I will bake cookies for work. I'm working Christmas Eve and night.
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Post by ~summer~ on Dec 14, 2021 22:13:38 GMT
I’m not doing holiday cards this year and I haven’t for the last 2 years either. Christmas presents are very simple as well.
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
Jun 26, 2014 0:29:24 GMT
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Dec 14, 2021 22:40:49 GMT
I haven't cut anything out this year. I love the Christmas season so it doesn't feel like a lot of work to me. Of course, it sounds like a lot of peas have a lot more to do than I do so that plays into it.
Edit to add, i forgot to mention that i am skipping christmas with my parents. Just not comfortable with it. So there would normally be some shopping involved with that that I have also skipped. When I posted earlier I was thinking more of things around the house that needed to be done.
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Post by refugeepea on Dec 14, 2021 22:53:47 GMT
What haven't I let go? I just want to watch movies, drink hot chocolate, listen to music, and enjoy some lights. I don't wrap presents and don't have a full size tree. I give money, gift cards, or experiences for presents as much as possible.
My family is low key as well so there's no guilt about them being disappointed. Besides, if they want more, they can help put it up and take it down. I may or may not bake. I definitely do NOT do it for others. Way too much time in the kitchen.
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Post by padresfan619 on Dec 14, 2021 23:02:26 GMT
Gifts for adults, the Christmas tree, and the big traditional dinner. We are going very low key this year and I couldn’t be happier. I am a little disappointed we couldn’t get a tree this year, we are having renovations done where we place it and there isn’t really any other good spot. Next year we can bring it back.
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Post by krcrafts on Dec 14, 2021 23:02:51 GMT
No tree or decorations at my house, my dd is shopping and wrapping for me. Son-in-law is cooking Christmas dinner. I’ve been away from home basically since the end of Sept and will hopefully be home for a few days next week. I’ve never been so looking forward to the middle of January in my entire life. I’m clearing out my parents’ house. A house that holds every single thing they’ve ever bought or were given. Plus packing my brother’s stuff to move him.
The only thing I haven’t given up this season is Hallmark Christmas movies and egg nog.
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Post by papersilly on Dec 14, 2021 23:02:59 GMT
I thought I could not the tree decorating go this year. The tree we got is just so beautiful by itself. but, I just couldn't. Instead we decorated with half as much as we usually do. It's nice to see the extra sparkle on the tree.
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Post by refugeepea on Dec 14, 2021 23:04:20 GMT
The stockings are just gonna have candy this year. That's what I do every year.
Usually by now I'm all frothy about December Daily scrapbooking. I haven't given it thought this year. Maybe after the holiday I'll pull together something? I'm doing the December photo challenge and doing one or 2 pages using divided page protectors. Mostly all photos, some extra spaces for journaling and a little bit of embellishment. I'm trying to get all the photos done, but not daily. I may take five or six one day and none another day.
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