The same here! For the last few years, I have been giving my significant ones (family members and friends) exclusive consumable gifts. I make them beautifully packed and arrange luxurious versions of treats like quality wines, chocolates, artisan truffles, coffee, tea, cheese, and whatever I know they love but wouldn't purchase for themselves. I create lovely baskets or boxes and deliver them directly under their Christmas trees. They always adore my packing, and I don't add useless stuff to their lives since we all have everything we need/want. I only use recyclable materials and natural decor like tiny branches from the Christmas tree, small pine cons, etc.
I am a minimalist because I'm old enough to remember the chore of emptying out three family members houses. It really woke me up. Every year I purchase less and less gifts. I usually offer to have someone for dinner during the winter months, something to look forward to. But you would be surprised at the amount of negative feedback I get from friends. They are career shoppers and think I'm spoiling the holidays.
Your friends are spoiling the idea of holidays! Principally, holidays should be about the love we show to each other, not about the gifts! Dining together is a beautiful gift!
Recently I watched a video about preparing for rest. The woman was preparing for the birth of a baby. I'm going to use this idea for the month of December and plan/prepare meals to freeze and bake some cookies to freeze so that I can embrace this holiday season with more intentional rest.
I am an Orthodox Christian. Every year, on November 15th, the Church begins a forty-day fast. This fast is similar to a vegan diet, except oil and wine are not permitted for three days each week. The purpose of the fast is to help the faithful simplify their lives during this time, allowing for more prayer and acts of mercy. In recent years, I have spent about a week during Christmas at a monastery in Arizona. The Christmas celebration there is marked by solemnity and a sense of quiet joy, in contrast to the excess often seen in society. During the lead-up to Christmas, I have collected several icons representing the important feasts and saints commemorated during the Advent season. I display these icons at home and reflect on their stories and relevance to the contemporary world. Additionally, I have started a Jesse Tree tradition, which is observed during the more extended forty-day Advent season in the Orthodox Church. Being part of a Church that observes these ancient rituals and traditions, alongside fellow parishioners who support one another on this journey, prepares me to welcome Christmas and the New Year feeling refreshed and energized.
Hello Angela, When I saw your Christmas decorating video the previous year, it was so inspiring that when your video ended, in some 2 hours, I checked, decluttered, and even managed to donate half of my Christmas decor. (I didn't have much, but even that seemed too much after watching your video, lol.) And I found out, my home is perfectly festive and perhaps even more beautiful when it's decorated more modestly.
I live in The Netherlands. In my family we don't do gifts with Christmas. We also don't have Thanksgiving day. We do have 'Sinterklaas' but that's for children and our children are adults now. I only want to buy a small tree and some extra food. That's it. I make most of the food from scratch. I think I don't spend more than 150 dollars on Christmas and New Year's eve. And that is totally fine. For us it's about enjoying each others company.
I don't know what is happening this year but it just seems like there is too much of everything everywhere. I have already decided to stay out of stores this year - it's just too much. "The gathering is the gift" - I love that and it's so true! My intention this year is to just spend more time with people that I care about and to really be present when I do.
Miraculously, I already purchased 90% of the gifts for my loved ones. Even, I already packed and attached the wish tags to them so I don't forget what is what when it's already packed. I have done that for years and I love it in this way! Then, in December, I don't go to the stores at all, and I don't even pack the gifts since they are all already wrapped. I just decorate, prepare some food, and enjoy the holidays. Fla la la🙂!
My grandson at 7 no longer is much into toys per se. He loves sports and some video games. He gets little things throughout the year. Therefore it’s naturally downscaling Christmas gifts. As I e grown older, more and more I’ve taken on the pleasures of the simplicities in life and I’m trying to share and encourage this concept. I want to redirect our focus off of things and onto the important things in life like our relationships, the beauty of nature and peace, et. I love the idea of consumable gifts particularly for adults
We adopted cats - within an hour of me putting up the small trees, they toppled them. Best gift ever, as we decided to forgo decorating for the holidays, and family gifts were limited to what could fit into a plastic container (cat claw and teeth resistant!). Now, we only put out a few, simple items, and we make it a point to go out to see decorations at parks and other places. By default, gifts have to be small and few in number to fit in the container. Added bonus is that cleanup in January is a breeze!
I went to Target November 2nd and I felt soooo overwhelmed and overstimulated. I had to escape from there real quick. They were already putting up Christmas items. It’s so easy to start consuming.
We stopped giving gifts a few years ago, our two children are grown with their own homes and with no grandchildren, it becomes a tradition to just have a nice big dinner and spend the time together. It has gotten so far away from the true reason for the season anyway.
I set a budget for my children /partners grandchildren and this year I am actually lowering it as its too expensive and they all have plenty, same as I do. I offer suggestions if they ask what I'd like as I also have my birthday in December. With friends we stopped gifting a few years ago to ease the pressure and decrease the clutter 😊
Right! I think this year especially the budget might go down for many families. Better to have food on the table and a warm home than extravagant gifts! ❤️
@ArrowHillCottage yes very true, I actually think Christmas is a lot of fuss for 1 day, people go in to debt to make it special, I have myself when my children were young. Too much on social media that puts so much pressure on others eg Facebook mom's. Maybe people think I'm wrong but it's 1 day and people are sometimes in debt till the next Christmas
What we do on our gift free years is wrap up a ‘symbol’ for an activity we will do together. For example: a wrapped cookie cutter to indicate baking or decorating cookies together ❤️
update. I found my little bungalow in a quaint little town (not too small, not too big) about 50 minutes from here. I think my biggest insight might’ve been that the desire for “more amenities” in a larger town or shortening commutes or how close stores are etc. Well….it does seem to backfire really. Maybe not living in the boonies per se, but what is better tho? Sitting in traffic. Waiting at red lights. Struggling for parking. Waiting in lines. OR a scenic drive with low traffic etc for 10 or 15 minutes? Lol. Or if one has to drive a half hour for a once a week or occasional excursion to a bigger town. It really just flew by and I noticed that I would rather be “moving” without so many stop/start annoyances and so poof! My fear of being “too far out” from amenities seemed to just vanish. But as it goes, I find that 10k ish population is a very nice size for me. Big enough but not too big and then close enough to bigger but not too far either. Affordable, lower crime…and so on. I am “hosting” nothing and quickly dropping 10 tons of baggage (from getting out of here lol).
@ Lol. Been crazy busy being my own “buyer agent” …..running all over looking at houses and checking demographics and geography. Keeping up with what’s for sale in the southeast. Checking in with my trusted YT real estate purchase advice…AND trying to keep up with daily life (admittedly that part was suffering a bit for awhile there lol). 😅😅 And I guess what made it so much work was not knowing a specific area per se and checking on other things too like cabin/cottage builders, tiny homes, land. Etc. Glad to finally be landing. I think it was all worth it tho. Lol.
@@ArrowHillCottage For real. I decided to jot down all the trouble and problems that moving would rid me of. I mean instantly. All at once. So far it’s like a 20 point list. Really does bring it home in full force when you gather it all together cumulatively. Why are you moving? Well so far I’ve got 20 good reasons. Lol. Although most I’m close to (who aren’t still drinking the koolaid) already know why. Ha ha. I’m sure I’ll have other “problems” but it’s better to have “worth it” problems to solve than pointless, unfruitful, unnecessary ones. (Which is mostly what I’ve been having to deal with here). ❤️❤️ Like the rap song says. (JayZ). Lol. “99 problems, but a B ain’t one.” 🤣🤣 Oh right. 840 sq ft and 2 porches. Half acre, carport and outbuilding. Another teeny old home to tear down for scrap. 😬 Out of city (barely) in a little nook. 6 minutes to Kroger (my go to place for so much and digital coupons, clearance, gas discounts) and could walk to Dollar General. 😂😂 Plus I got a deal and money left over. 😬😬 Somebody pinch me. Super low property tax and an brand new HE HVAC. In a “nook” of sorts near the end of a dead end street (so my cats can roam without being roadkill). Tongue and groove walls/ceilings on most. Wood and tile floors. Wood cabinets beautifully stained a light teal ish color and in great shape. Gas wall heater if the power goes out and capacity for a wood stove/heater. I would say “almost turn key.” A little to do but not a ton. What’s not to love? Lol. My next “add on” idea is using a greenhouse structure for a “cat room” type indoor/outdoor dwelling.
@@ArrowHillCottage I think you're exactly right! The emphasis on having perfect holidays is sometimes what ruins it, but I do try to find those moments of joy amongst all the stress of it. I have set some boundaries(time spent with others, amount of gifts) and that has helped the last few days. Minimalism has helped so much!
Christmas items already on the shelves. Ignoring it all! I love celebrating Advent and then fully observing Christmas from December 25th through January 6th. No one in this family needs more stuff! I donate to charities such as tree planting and Undies for Everyone. People come over to decorate cookies. Simple and fun!
I have a love hate relationship regarding this season. I think it is way too over commercialized. It is irresponsible to go into debt purchasing stuff for others and it is so unnecessary. Many people do not need more stuff, spend time having fun, games and food. Why the presents?
Yes, it is so conflicting. Gift giving is a love language….bur it certainly isn’t the only one! Why does it seem to be the only one e promoted? Because these companies can’t make money from kind words or a warm hug! Ha! ❤️
What are YOUR best tips for enjoying the holiday season?
Not shopping. My family together is all want 🎁
I give alot of "consumable" gifts - food, soap, etc. Then it does not become 1 more thing for the other person to own! Anne
That’s a great idea! ❤️
The same here!
For the last few years, I have been giving my significant ones (family members and friends) exclusive consumable gifts.
I make them beautifully packed and arrange luxurious versions of treats like quality wines, chocolates, artisan truffles, coffee, tea, cheese, and whatever I know they love but wouldn't purchase for themselves. I create lovely baskets or boxes and deliver them directly under their Christmas trees.
They always adore my packing, and I don't add useless stuff to their lives since we all have everything we need/want.
I only use recyclable materials and natural decor like tiny branches from the Christmas tree, small pine cons, etc.
Love that idea!
I am a minimalist because I'm old enough to remember the chore of emptying out three family members houses. It really woke me up. Every year I purchase less and less gifts. I usually offer to have someone for dinner during the winter months, something to look forward to. But you would be surprised at the amount of negative feedback I get from friends. They are career shoppers and think I'm spoiling the holidays.
Oh wow, that makes me sad. A dinner together would be far superior to a physical gift any day! ❤️
I love this idea! It’s also more personal
I think spending more quality time with loved ones over items should be cherished
Your friends are spoiling the idea of holidays! Principally, holidays should be about the love we show to each other, not about the gifts! Dining together is a beautiful gift!
Recently I watched a video about preparing for rest. The woman was preparing for the birth of a baby. I'm going to use this idea for the month of December and plan/prepare meals to freeze and bake some cookies to freeze so that I can embrace this holiday season with more intentional rest.
That’s a wonderful idea!!! ❤️
This is a fabulous idea. What a gift to oneself!
I am an Orthodox Christian. Every year, on November 15th, the Church begins a forty-day fast. This fast is similar to a vegan diet, except oil and wine are not permitted for three days each week. The purpose of the fast is to help the faithful simplify their lives during this time, allowing for more prayer and acts of mercy.
In recent years, I have spent about a week during Christmas at a monastery in Arizona. The Christmas celebration there is marked by solemnity and a sense of quiet joy, in contrast to the excess often seen in society.
During the lead-up to Christmas, I have collected several icons representing the important feasts and saints commemorated during the Advent season. I display these icons at home and reflect on their stories and relevance to the contemporary world. Additionally, I have started a Jesse Tree tradition, which is observed during the more extended forty-day Advent season in the Orthodox Church.
Being part of a Church that observes these ancient rituals and traditions, alongside fellow parishioners who support one another on this journey, prepares me to welcome Christmas and the New Year feeling refreshed and energized.
Very interesting! Loved hearing about your traditions! ❤️
You're the reason why we had a gift free (and stress free) Christmas last year... I heard it here first!
So awesome! Happy you gave it a try. Since it was stress free, as you said, I hope you enjoyed it thoroughly! ❤️
Hello Angela,
When I saw your Christmas decorating video the previous year, it was so inspiring that when your video ended, in some 2 hours, I checked, decluttered, and even managed to donate half of my Christmas decor. (I didn't have much, but even that seemed too much after watching your video, lol.)
And I found out, my home is perfectly festive and perhaps even more beautiful when it's decorated more modestly.
That’s so great to hear! Wishing you a blessed holiday season! ❤️
I live in The Netherlands. In my family we don't do gifts with Christmas. We also don't have Thanksgiving day. We do have 'Sinterklaas' but that's for children and our children are adults now. I only want to buy a small tree and some extra food. That's it. I make most of the food from scratch. I think I don't spend more than 150 dollars on Christmas and New Year's eve. And that is totally fine. For us it's about enjoying each others company.
Yes, the intentionality is so much more important than affording expensive things or doing anything elaborate! ❤️
I don't know what is happening this year but it just seems like there is too much of everything everywhere. I have already decided to stay out of stores this year - it's just too much. "The gathering is the gift" - I love that and it's so true! My intention this year is to just spend more time with people that I care about and to really be present when I do.
Miraculously, I already purchased 90% of the gifts for my loved ones. Even, I already packed and attached the wish tags to them so I don't forget what is what when it's already packed. I have done that for years and I love it in this way!
Then, in December, I don't go to the stores at all, and I don't even pack the gifts since they are all already wrapped.
I just decorate, prepare some food, and enjoy the holidays. Fla la la🙂!
@@xpsxps1339 Smart!
It’s crazy how much more peaceful life seems when I stay out of stores! I’ll be avoiding them as much as possible as well! ❤️
My grandson at 7 no longer is much into toys per se. He loves sports and some video games. He gets little things throughout the year. Therefore it’s naturally downscaling Christmas gifts. As I e grown older, more and more I’ve taken on the pleasures of the simplicities in life and I’m trying to share and encourage this concept. I want to redirect our focus off of things and onto the important things in life like our relationships, the beauty of nature and peace, et. I love the idea of consumable gifts particularly for adults
@@Teresa1963-xz8mb well said 👏 👍
Yes, that is wise advice! ❤️
Tis indeed the season for overconsumption of everything...material possessions, food, events, etc.
Yep! We all must tread lightly! ❤️
We adopted cats - within an hour of me putting up the small trees, they toppled them. Best gift ever, as we decided to forgo decorating for the holidays, and family gifts were limited to what could fit into a plastic container (cat claw and teeth resistant!).
Now, we only put out a few, simple items, and we make it a point to go out to see decorations at parks and other places. By default, gifts have to be small and few in number to fit in the container.
Added bonus is that cleanup in January is a breeze!
Ha ha! That’s a cute story and sounds like it turned out well! ❤️
I went to Target November 2nd and I felt soooo overwhelmed and overstimulated. I had to escape from there real quick. They were already putting up Christmas items. It’s so easy to start consuming.
Sooo easy! A little here- a little there! ❤️
I focus on the reason for the season. I stopped buying individual gifts for extended family and started buying one gift per household.
Awesome! ❤️
Yes! Let's be intentional. I agree with you 100%.❤
Let’s do it! ❤️
Great video with helpful tips. Thanks.
Thanks for watching! ❤️
We stopped giving gifts a few years ago, our two children are grown with their own homes and with no grandchildren, it becomes a tradition to just have a nice big dinner and spend the time together. It has gotten so far away from the true reason for the season anyway.
That sounds wonderful! ❤️
❤ Thank You! 😇🎄
Thanks for watching! ❤️
Solid wisdom!
Thanks for watching! ❤️
Fantastic tips!
👏👏👏👍💞
Thanks so much! ❤️
Great suggestions. I have started already.
Wonderful! ❤️
Very encouraging video. It relaxed me just thinking about your suggestions 💜. Thank you
Wonderful! Happy to hear that! ❤️
I set a budget for my children /partners grandchildren and this year I am actually lowering it as its too expensive and they all have plenty, same as I do. I offer suggestions if they ask what I'd like as I also have my birthday in December. With friends we stopped gifting a few years ago to ease the pressure and decrease the clutter 😊
Right! I think this year especially the budget might go down for many families. Better to have food on the table and a warm home than extravagant gifts! ❤️
@ArrowHillCottage yes very true, I actually think Christmas is a lot of fuss for 1 day, people go in to debt to make it special, I have myself when my children were young. Too much on social media that puts so much pressure on others eg Facebook mom's. Maybe people think I'm wrong but it's 1 day and people are sometimes in debt till the next Christmas
It still is nice to give one gift to each person. It shouldn't be a big deal. Otherwise it seems that something is missing.
Just saying....
What we do on our gift free years is wrap up a ‘symbol’ for an activity we will do together. For example: a wrapped cookie cutter to indicate baking or decorating cookies together ❤️
AKA Kenneth Bailey
update. I found my little bungalow in a quaint little town (not too small, not too big) about 50 minutes from here.
I think my biggest insight might’ve been that the desire for “more amenities” in a larger town or shortening commutes or how close stores are etc. Well….it does seem to backfire really. Maybe not living in the boonies per se, but what is better tho? Sitting in traffic. Waiting at red lights. Struggling for parking. Waiting in lines. OR a scenic drive with low traffic etc for 10 or 15 minutes? Lol. Or if one has to drive a half hour for a once a week or occasional excursion to a bigger town. It really just flew by and I noticed that I would rather be “moving” without so many stop/start annoyances and so poof! My fear of being “too far out” from amenities seemed to just vanish. But as it goes, I find that 10k ish population is a very nice size for me. Big enough but not too big and then close enough to bigger but not too far either. Affordable, lower crime…and so on. I am “hosting” nothing and quickly dropping 10 tons of baggage (from getting out of here lol).
Woooohoooo! I’ve been wondering about you and how the search was going. Congratulations! ❤️
@ Lol. Been crazy busy being my own “buyer agent” …..running all over looking at houses and checking demographics and geography. Keeping up with what’s for sale in the southeast. Checking in with my trusted YT real estate purchase advice…AND trying to keep up with daily life (admittedly that part was suffering a bit for awhile there lol). 😅😅 And I guess what made it so much work was not knowing a specific area per se and checking on other things too like cabin/cottage builders, tiny homes, land. Etc. Glad to finally be landing. I think it was all worth it tho. Lol.
For sure worth it! Bye bye baggage!!! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage For real. I decided to jot down all the trouble and problems that moving would rid me of. I mean instantly. All at once. So far it’s like a 20 point list. Really does bring it home in full force when you gather it all together cumulatively. Why are you moving? Well so far I’ve got 20 good reasons. Lol. Although most I’m close to (who aren’t still drinking the koolaid) already know why. Ha ha. I’m sure I’ll have other “problems” but it’s better to have “worth it” problems to solve than pointless, unfruitful, unnecessary ones. (Which is mostly what I’ve been having to deal with here). ❤️❤️
Like the rap song says. (JayZ). Lol. “99 problems, but a B ain’t one.” 🤣🤣
Oh right. 840 sq ft and 2 porches. Half acre, carport and outbuilding. Another teeny old home to tear down for scrap. 😬 Out of city (barely) in a little nook. 6 minutes to Kroger (my go to place for so much and digital coupons, clearance, gas discounts) and could walk to Dollar General. 😂😂 Plus I got a deal and money left over. 😬😬 Somebody pinch me. Super low property tax and an brand new HE HVAC. In a “nook” of sorts near the end of a dead end street (so my cats can roam without being roadkill). Tongue and groove walls/ceilings on most. Wood and tile floors. Wood cabinets beautifully stained a light teal ish color and in great shape. Gas wall heater if the power goes out and capacity for a wood stove/heater. I would say “almost turn key.” A little to do but not a ton. What’s not to love? Lol.
My next “add on” idea is using a greenhouse structure for a “cat room” type indoor/outdoor dwelling.
ugh, I dread the holidays. Can't we skip to January?
Sorry that you feel that way! This season CAN be beautiful, if it doesn’t get clouded with all the excess! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage I think you're exactly right! The emphasis on having perfect holidays is sometimes what ruins it, but I do try to find those moments of joy amongst all the stress of it. I have set some boundaries(time spent with others, amount of gifts) and that has helped the last few days. Minimalism has helped so much!
Christmas items already on the shelves. Ignoring it all! I love celebrating Advent and then fully observing Christmas from December 25th through January 6th. No one in this family needs more stuff! I donate to charities such as tree planting and Undies for Everyone. People come over to decorate cookies. Simple and fun!
Debate around a dinner table CAN change people. I was surprised to hear this on this channel. Debate is very healthy, yelling matches are not.
I suppose it depends on how fired up the debate gets. Ha ha! Some people just can’t contain themselves! ❤️
I do not go into debt for holidays , I never did , if I cant afford it ,its not bought
It’s really shocking and sad how much debt is accumulated this time of year. ❤️
I have a love hate relationship regarding this season. I think it is way too over commercialized. It is irresponsible to go into debt purchasing stuff for others and it is so unnecessary. Many people do not need more stuff, spend time having fun, games and food. Why the presents?
Yes, it is so conflicting. Gift giving is a love language….bur it certainly isn’t the only one! Why does it seem to be the only one e promoted? Because these companies can’t make money from kind words or a warm hug! Ha! ❤️
It's not Thanksgiving and the fake happy shopper is being pushed in our faces already.
It’s crazy how soon they start!!! ❤️