In all my wishing and planning for this year, I have found lots traditions and things I desperately want to try next year.
It started with that Instagram question I put out there into the ether. My best friend suggested an Advent Calendar of some kind to help me count down the days. I started googling and looking at Advent calendars for adults.
There are definitely some products out there, but by that time many were sold out or wouldn’t be here in time for Christmas. I did order a ‘12 days of Coffee’ that I am very excited to try, it’s instead going to be the first 12 days of the new year cause I ordered it too late. I thought about making one for myself, but that’s significantly less fun, it takes the surprise out for sure, and while Nick is mostly willing to endure light shows and cookie baking… asking him to figure out 25 little presents is a BIG ask.
Then it came to me, at some absurdly late hour. Though likely not as late as it is right now. My best friend and I could each make each other’s advent calendars! We each ordered an unfinished wooden advent calendar to paint and decorate ourselves. I ordered 25 tiny linen bags and tags. It’s been so much fun already to plan what will go to her next year. It makes the gift shopping so much easier… and I think this will be a great way for us to connect next year. Although I could use suggestions on what fits into a tiny 1.5×1.5 inch square. I’m going to paint my calendar this week, while inspiration and holiday spirit are abundant, giving me another fun artsy thing to do this year.
I’m putting together 25 cute notes for my partner as well. I’m already excited to see how he’ll like them a year from now.
On to other things I’m hoping for next year… I was reading about more Minimalistic Christmas ideas, ways to simplify and focus more on the season and traditions then the stuff. (Another reason I like the idea of 25 small gifts spread out) We’ve obviously found a few things to try this year that might carry over, but for your own holiday plans, below a list of everything I’m thinking for next year and that I forgot to mention about this year.
- Giving a book on Christmas Eve: while this is adding a thing to the household, we are both avid readers… we also donate books and have a little free library now. I think this is a great way to give something meaningful and exciting, without adding too much to the commercial aspects of Christmas.
- Adding an 8 gift limit. (We set a budget every year, but I think this additional limit helps, though that’s exactly what I hit this year anyway)
- We sent out Christmas cards this year, and while I found parts of that process a bit tedious, I enjoyed other parts of it. I’ll be excited to perfect it next year.
- Handmade decorations. I’m planning on baking some oranges and making some nice garland for this Christmas and New Year weeks. (Supposed to make the house smell wonderful too!) I’m also hoping to wood burn a 2020 ornament. I have ordered some plain wooden nut crackers to paint for next year. I am hoping to make our 2021 ornament before the 24th next year and the garland too. I am also hoping to make our own wreath.
- Decide on best Holiday Album
- Celebrate Yule
- Secret Santa with friends (year 3) This is something I did with friends last year, and again virtually this year. We use a website called Elfster to draw names. While this year it was smaller and we definitely missed being together physically… sneaking gifts onto each others porches and video chatting together was fun and a nice way to connect.
- Cutting our own tree. ( something I did as a child and that we did together 3 years ago, but that we haven’t done since.)
Now I just have to try to come up with what to do for New Years 🙂
Coffee & Conundrums 