At this point I’ve conducted seven Christmases as a full-fledged adult, or at least as a parent. Christmas can be a hard thing to get a hang of, so each year has been a learning experience in itself.
Last year I learned that spray painting my Christmas tree was not such a good idea.
I also learned to skip the cookie decorating project with my kids, because they’re boys, and more interested in staging battles with cookie cutter snowmen than savoring holiday memories.
I learned that a small poinsettia makes the perfect holiday adornment for my kitchen table.
And that forgoing the holiday card is a reasonable compromise for not doing (or spending) too much.
I learned that jar gifts are rad.
And that taking my kids toy shopping the day after Christmas is bad.
I learned that December 24th is the perfect day for a family visit to my favorite desert retreat, and going forward I’ll make every effort to take that day off from work.
I also learned there comes a point when the activities of the holidays and those of blogging collide, making it difficult to do both with any sort of proficiency.
This year I learned that point is right about…..now.
So I’ll be taking a wee blog break from Minting Nickels for the next few weeks. I’ll be around, but a little more sporadic than usual. I look forward to being back in full action after the first of the year and rolling out my plans for 2012 (hint: they involve making money).
If I don’t see you until then, you have a happy happy one, okay? I hope it’s everything you want in a holiday. I’ll be expecting a full report, so take notes. I will too.
December 13, 2011 at 6:45 AM
Have a very merry Christmas Lindy! My advice on the boys thing is to make popcorn balls with them. Unless they’re rambunctious enough to use them as baseballs to hit each other with. Still christmas-y but less time consuming / less detailed.
December 15, 2011 at 6:22 PM
That’s a good idea, although I wouldn’t put it past them to use popcorn balls as baseballs.
December 13, 2011 at 7:41 AM
Have a wonderful Christmas! Enjoy your break!!!
December 13, 2011 at 7:44 AM
Merry Christmas; enjoy the break & time with your family!
December 13, 2011 at 8:55 AM
Hey, I like that gold tree!!!
Hope you have a lovely and relaxing Christmas, Lindy!
December 15, 2011 at 6:21 PM
The gold tree has found a good home in our front yard covered in Christmas lights. :)
December 13, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Merry Christmas Lindy! Enjoy the break with your family :)
December 13, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Good for you! Have a great Christmas!!!
December 13, 2011 at 12:46 PM
I just grabbed a little rosemary tree for my apartment since it’s too small for a full-sized one. Love the poinsettia, too!
Happy holidays!
December 13, 2011 at 2:30 PM
Enjoy your break and your holidays!
December 13, 2011 at 3:13 PM
Have a wonderful Christmas!! See you in the New Year! :)
December 13, 2011 at 6:52 PM
I completely understand where you are coming from.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and see you next year!
December 13, 2011 at 11:41 PM
You are so crafty! Love your ideas- very inspirational. Hope the homemade baileys work well for you (it only takes 5 minutes- I am hooked on it)
Hope you have a great Christmas!
December 14, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Have a great time off and a merry Christmas!
December 15, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Haha I also spray painted a mini-tree hot pink one year and discovered that plastic trees do not take to spray paint so well. Instead of turning out a sassy fuschia it looked like kind of a light pink puke color – not so fabulous!
December 15, 2011 at 6:19 PM
Haha. Yeah, the gold tree definitely looked better in my head than in real life.
December 15, 2011 at 9:21 PM
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! I hear you about the cookies and boys. They would rather have sword fights with wrapping paper tubes. I always make notes the day or two after Christmas & it helps so much. Enjoy your time with the family!
December 16, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Have a great Holidays! We are not buying too many things before Christmas. I’ll take Mrs. RB40 shopping after Christmas instead. :)
December 17, 2011 at 5:39 AM
Hey, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
December 18, 2011 at 10:14 AM
love it! have a great break, Lindy…Merry, Merry, Happy, HAPPY!!
December 20, 2011 at 3:10 PM
Have a great Christmas and New Year!
December 21, 2011 at 6:40 AM
I remember your spray paint tree because I was going to try and remedy my pee-pee tree with spray paint!!!
We are feeling the clash too. I’ve been tied to my sewing machine for a week trying to finish up presents that need to get mailed out.
December 26, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Hope you had a good Christmas this year!
December 26, 2011 at 7:18 PM
I hoe you had a great christmas, I hate thats it over for another year!
December 27, 2011 at 9:49 AM
A blog break is much deserved! I do that pretty much every single December. There’s too much to do and too little time. Plus, the things (or people) that matter the most to you are offline anyway. Best to spend time with them. Merry Christmas!
December 31, 2011 at 7:45 AM
enjoy your break. and a VERY Happy New Year to you and yours, Lindy! thanks for sharing!