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Jenn Savedge

Holidays without the hoopla

Make the holidays merry and meaningful without getting caught up in the madness.

Mon, Dec 06 2010 at 6:39 AM EST
 4

Lighted holiday present Photo: bjearwicke/sxc
Today, in my alter-ego role over on The Green Parent, I'm hosting the third annual holiday post for the Green Moms Carnival. I've been fortunate enough to be part of this carnival for about three years now, and each month I learn something new from this awesome collaboration of women as we talk and share posts on topics ranging from global warming, to setting green standards, to greening the dead.  
 
 As a group, we have covered almost every aspect of greening the holidays over the years, so we decided to do something different with this year's holiday carnival. Our theme, Holidays Without the Hoopla, is an effort to help folks have more merry and less madness as they celebrate the holidays. Over at the carnival, you'll find posts on everything from keeping the holidays simple to handmade gift and decoration ideas to holiday traditions that mean the most to the Green Moms Carnival members. It's definitely worth a look.
 
As for me, here's what I'm doing to minimize the hoopla for my holidays:
 
Reevaluate everything. Every year, I go into the holidays with some sort of plan. It's not set in stone; it's just a general idea of gift ideas, holiday traditions to enjoy, recipes to try, and so on. But this year is a little different. While I still have a general plan in my head, I'm making a concentrated effort to reevaluate everything from attending the annual cookie exchange to decorating my home, to see if it still fits with my desire to avoid the madness of the season. Just this past weekend, my girls and I decided to skip the pictures and visit with Santa in lieu of making (and eating) cookies at home. We had fun, felt festive, and shared special time together without the anguish of waiting in line at the mall or shelling out tons of cash for a cheesy 5-by-7 photo.
 
Skip the holiday cards. In the past I have sent out e-cards to my wired friends and a handful of pony-express cards to friends and family who are still offline. But in this age of Facebook, YouTube and blogs, I just don't think my annual holiday card is necessary. Friends and family around the world already know about my family's major moments for 2010, and they've already seen the most recent pictures of my kids that I posted just a few weeks ago. So I will officially take a pass on holiday cards this year and spend those hours doing other holiday things, or maybe just kicking back and relaxing with my family.
 
Give back. I know it sounds cliché to say that I'm making sure to give back this holiday season, but I am — and I'm really enjoying it. Just ask my Girl Scout troop. Every year we do a number of service projects together as a group, particularly around the holidays. This year we have been cramming in service projects every which way we can — from holiday food drives over the weekend to making blankets for the local women's shelter and writing holiday cards to soldiers on school nights. And I've never seen the girls so happy. Now more than ever it seems that there are many people in need, and many of those people are right in my own community. It's a no-brainer for me to use my time and effort to help, and I'm glad the girls in my troop seem to agree.
 
So far, I have to say that this holiday season has been more relaxed, more festive, more fun, and less harried than ever before. I hope to keep up this momentum as the holidays draw closer so that my family and I can enjoy every moment without getting caught up in the madness.
 
How do you keep the hoopla out of your holidays?
 
Also on MNN: 8 more ways to stay sane for the holidays
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Related Topics: Christmas, Family, Green Gift Ideas, Holiday, Social Responsibility

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anonymous
Green Bean 12/07/2010 11:41 AM

This was one of the first things to go for me! First, I tried doing the preprinted ones with a picture of my kids on it but even that seemed wasteful and unnecessary in the time of Facebook and the Internet. We occasionally send out a family photo via email to friends wishing them a happy holidays. It is, after all, the thought that counts.

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anonymous
Lori aka Groovy Green Livin 12/06/2010 21:15 PM

I was planning to send out e-cards again this year-but after reading your post I am now rethinking that. With most of my friends on Facebook they are all probably pretty tired of seeing photos of our family. But what about all those relatives that aren't on FB or Twitter-guess I'll have to do the e-card again!

They key is to keep it relaxed and festive-giving back is such a nice way to keep it real.

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anonymous
Condo Blues 12/06/2010 13:55 PM

I have to say that giving back is my favorite part of the holidays. Some years I volunteer, last year we bought toys for needy kids, this year we bought a few extra items when grocery shopping to donate to the food pantry.

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mnnmoderator
mnnmoderator 12/07/2010 11:17 AM

You're right. Giving back is what makes the holidays such a special time indeed.

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