| Decking the halls and spreading good
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| | Internet and page through catalogs.
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| cheer takes a lot of energy. Here are
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| | That's how I find just the right
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| some tips to make sure you enjoy every
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| | something for everyone on my list. When
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| last fa-la-la.1. Stay Centered. An
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| | it ceases to be fun, I stop. I so enjoy
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| energized and peaceful holiday season is
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| | shopping this way that, throughout the
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| possible only when you can keep your
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| | year, I bookmark sites that offer just
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| priorities straight. Take a pen and paper
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| | the right items.If you find the
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| and ask yourself: What do you value,
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| | materialism of the season draining your
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| above all else? What comes second? Third?
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| | energy, commit to making an attitude
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| How important is your spirituality, your
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| | shift. If you want things to be different
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| family, your profession, your time for
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| | this year, only you can make it so. Take
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| yourself? After some thought and
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| | the lead for your family, and live in
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| reflection, rank your top priorities on a
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| | such a way that you prove less stuff
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| Post-it-Note where you will see it
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| | really does equal more fun.Maybe you'll
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| throughout the day. (Mine is on my
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| | take the money you usually spend on
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| computer monitor). Refer to your list
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| | one-too-many toys and enjoy, instead, a
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| when asked to make commitments and
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| | weekend family getaway. Maybe you'll make
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| compromises. If the request does not jibe
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| | homemade goodies, such as picture frames,
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| with your list, you do not only have
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| | home movies, or goodie baskets, which the
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| permission, you have an obligation, to
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| | whole family helps to create.Maybe you'll
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| say no.This list of priorities may set
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| | bag the traditional gift-giving and start
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| the course for new holiday traditions, as
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| | a new tradition. In our family, it goes
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| well. Maybe you will donate toys, books,
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| | like this: Each guest brings a wrapped
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| and food to charities. Maybe you will
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| | gift of roughly the same dollar value. We
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| help serve dinner at a homeless shelter
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| | sit in a circle and each person, in turn,
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| in lieu of a holiday meal.2. Indulge the
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| | has the option of taking a gift that's
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| ghost of Christmas Past. What memories
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| | already been opened or opening a new one.
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| immediately come forth that evoke a fond
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| | It's fun. It's festive. It gets everyone
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| nostalgia? For me, it isn't the gifts or
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| | moving and talking, and it switches the
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| the shopping or even the parties. It's
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| | focus to the relationships and the
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| rocking my infant, alone, by candlelight,
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| | event...not the gifts.4. Start early,
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| to "Silent Night." It's letting my
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| | plan well, and take care of yourself.
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| 2-year-old crack the eggs for the
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| | Here are some tips:Simplify as much as
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| cookies, and seeing the pride on her
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| | possible. Use paper plates. Eat out. If a
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| floury face.Decide what the holidays
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| | holiday tradition is old and tired,
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| really mean to you. What is really
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| | reinvigorate it or start a new tradition
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| important? Then make a plan to weave
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| | of staying at home.Plan ahead. To help,
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| more of those activities into your
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| | chances are, your favorite food website
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| holidays, and reduce the rest.3. Deck the
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| | has a checklist for big holiday
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| Halls with Light and Love. Don't let
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| | events.Replenish your natural energy by
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| commercialism spoil your fun. Make the
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| | taking care of your body. Eat right.
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| simple promise to yourself that, this
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| | Exercise (in the crisp outdoors once in a
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| year, you'll actually enjoy your holiday
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| | while). Drink plenty of water.
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| shopping. Brainstorm ways you can make
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| | Sleep.Energize your image. Give yourself
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| this happen. For me, the mall is a giant
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| | an early holiday gift or a great haircut,
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| energy drain. The look of worried
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| | a brow shaping, a pedicure with bright
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| resignation as a shopper hands over her
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| | red polish, or a free makeover at your
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| credit card tells me that she is shopping
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| | favorite cosmetics counter and a purchase
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| out of a sense of obligation and not one
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| | of the most vibrant lipstick shade you'll
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| of joy. And it sours my holiday
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| | actually wear.Decorate with items of
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| spirit.Instead, I carve out an afternoon
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| | comfort and joy. Display photographs from
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| all to myself. I put on an Andrea Bocelli
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| | past holiday celebrations. Keep in full
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| CD, sip Chai tea from a giant mug, and
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| | view reminders that you take care of
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| curl up with a fleece blanket to surf the
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| | yourself...
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