What do you do to relax during the Holidays? [Archive] - Merry Forums of My Merry Christmas

Mumof2

08-04-2008, 06:35 PM

Billy Battles

08-04-2008, 07:45 PM

I know it will sound crazy, but I like to wrap presents to relax.

Lfisch

08-04-2008, 09:44 PM

I love to just curl up in a quilt with a good holiday book.

MerrySilver

08-04-2008, 09:58 PM

I enjoy snuggling under a blanket and watching a holiday movie, listening to music, or writing in my journal with some Christmasy candles lit.

RadioJonD

08-04-2008, 10:27 PM

and plenty of slinky cool, off beat Christmas radio shows!

Gingerbug

08-04-2008, 10:29 PM

RJD...when I saw you had posted in this thread I knew you were going to say something involving music!

I like to read a good holiday book, listen to music and bake cookies and other goodies!

RadioJonD

08-04-2008, 10:33 PM

RJD...when I saw you had posted in this thread I knew you were going to say something involving music!

I'll work on being less predictable. Hard to beat some Christmas grooved tinsle tunes though!

Annette1990

08-04-2008, 11:16 PM

and plenty of slinky cool, off beat Christmas radio shows!
Ha! You make me laugh RJD =)

Annette1990

08-04-2008, 11:17 PM

I also like to wrap gifts late at night when everyone is sleeping...also like to take a bath, read or even watch a Christmas Movie. Oh yes I forgot to add...I liked to mix Malibu rum with egg nog heat it up and sip away=)

DoubleA

08-05-2008, 01:30 AM

My cool down time is the gym, I try to head there and get it all out.
Other then that I just watch some tv or hang out with friends, always seems to take my mind off it for a bit.

pinkini

08-05-2008, 06:30 AM

I try to schedule time to unwind, take an afternoon at the spa, etc.

Janet

08-05-2008, 11:09 AM

:rudolph:I like to just curl up on the sofa and watch a holiday movie.

kerst

08-05-2008, 11:14 AM

I too like to curl up on the couch with my Christmas fleece blanket and watch a nice xmas movie. And I love to soak in the tub with lots of bubble bath and read a xmas story.

SparkleNana

08-05-2008, 05:25 PM

This is a really great thread! Lets see -- of course, read Christmassy posts! And - talk to friends - on the phone is fine. The eggnog with Malibu rum -- boy that sounds wonderful!! That might be a great Christmas present! A massage is a fabulous idea -- and maybe an appointment should be made early (write on calendar) and money set aside. Maybe by buying a gift certificate -- then the money would be there to pay for the massage. Light the Christmas tree lights and snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and a book. (Non-Christmas books are more relaxing to me at Christmas -- because they take my mind off everything.)

Basket

08-06-2008, 01:45 AM

I like to read your posts and could relax because I know I get some ideas here to reach stress-free holidays.

Greetings Basket

SparkleNana

08-06-2008, 08:33 PM

How about eating chocolate and not feeling guilty!

Mumof2

08-06-2008, 09:50 PM

OOO Sparkle I agree!! :D :D

MrsH

08-06-2008, 10:31 PM

I like to make a cup of hot chocolate, turn on the Christmas tree lights and some music and turn off the house lights...and just sit looking at the pretty sparkling lights, listen to music and sip the cocoa....ahhhhhhh.

:-)

JOHNOR

08-07-2008, 05:28 AM

i light my vanilla scented candles, turn the light off, switch the christmas tree lights on, settle on the couch with a glass of mint baileys and some really nice food and watch a chritsmassy film!

perfection! :tree:

JanaBanana

08-07-2008, 08:55 AM

Wrap gifts with a glass of wine :) (although wrapping as many as I do, tends to kill my back!)

Hot bubble bath, a pedicure...

joyful

08-07-2008, 02:17 PM

I love to turn off all the lights and just have my christmas lights on and cuddle with my husband.

Also, I love to watch one of my favorite christmas movies.

yuletide

08-13-2008, 01:36 PM

fillup the thermos with cocoa - load the kids up in the van in their PJ's and drive around everywhere (high gas prices or not) and just look at the beautiful Christmas lights. I try to find out where the best ones are ahead of time and we spend the evening with Christmas Cd's playing - it's great!

Yule

MsChristmas

08-13-2008, 02:29 PM

I have an 18 month old son..there isnt much relaxing for me. But after he falls asleep if its not too late I do enjoy a cup of hot choc. with whipped cream, turn the Christmas music on and light up the tree. It doesnt get any better then that!

:tree:

JayIsh

08-13-2008, 03:15 PM

"I have alot of help from Jack Daniels..."

Mumof2

08-20-2008, 05:40 PM

Another thing is Hot chocolate while watching the christmas lights

auntieclaus

08-20-2008, 07:08 PM

I love to relax in the tub with cinnamon candles burning and read Christmas Recipes (weird hunh?)

rodmonster

08-20-2008, 08:55 PM

Eggnog, eggnog, eggnog............

Head Elf

08-20-2008, 10:51 PM

I decide at the first of the year on how many presents I am going to buy for the next Christmas holiday. I buy most of my decorations for the next year during the sales after Christmas. I try to buy a present every month so I don't have to rush around like a mad woman and dealing with all the other people trying to find that one perfect gift. I send my cards out the day after Thanksgiving. And then I soak up the holiday atmosphere and people watch.

I like to turn off all the lights and look at my tree all decorated and lit up. I listen to all kinds of Christmas music. I love to back for friends of my husbands and his work. But I freeze quite a bit of it ahead so as not to stress to much.

Faith4always

08-24-2008, 10:03 AM

There is something about Christmas Music that makes me relax.
I just relax when I hear it!:rudolph:

ReineV

08-25-2008, 06:25 PM

I ride around in the evening and look at all the Christmas lights.

trackrebel

08-26-2008, 04:20 AM

just snuggle up on the sofa to watch some nice Christmas movie or DvD....or even Video....lol....or listen to good Christmas music....or other music that I got as a present....which is usually Hip Hop...so it doesn´t fit the Christmas mood...but it´s still great relaxation....even tho I sometimes end up dancing to the tunes....:D

Wenceslaus

08-26-2008, 04:28 AM

Comfortable bed, warm blankets and a good book on a cold night.

Laura

08-26-2008, 09:11 PM

There are two things I do to relax during the holidays. The first is turn all the lights off but the Christmas village, the tree, and some candles and read Christmas books with my children. The stories we've read since they were born really help me remember how special Christmas with my family is. The second thing we all love to do is blast Christmas music and dance all over the livingroom.

ohchristmastree

08-27-2008, 10:47 AM

Personally I love baking whilst watching a christmas movie or wrapping presents with a movie and the las one is sitting down with all the christmas lights on and drinking Hot chocolate or coffee reading something to do with christmas going on MyMerryChristmas of watching a film.

Minta

08-27-2008, 12:53 PM

I love to sit in the living room with the regular lights off and all the christmas lights on and listen to Christmas music.

MarthaK

08-27-2008, 01:20 PM

I can relate to all of the posts so far.

Just about everything having to do with Christmas is relaxing to me. I even unwind by curling up and watching a Christmas movie in the middle of summer. I can even relax doing laundry at night thanks to the small snowman blow mold I have on a timer in my laundry room.

I guess that's why I work like crazy to have most of the shopping done and decorations up at Thanksgiving, so that when the stress of the season comes I can just stay home and "be." There are some weekends during the season where I don't leave my house.

I love the music, the tree, the lights, the candles, the baking, the books, the movies, the fireplace, the cocoa and eggnog, the wrapping, and walking around enjoying my own display at night.

holidaynut

08-27-2008, 02:09 PM

Last Christmas, Bell Expressvu had a channel that played Christmas music and also had the fireplace scene of a fire burning, I loved watching that. I too LOVE Eggnog, growing up it wasn't Christmas without the eggnog and it helped that my dad worked at a milk company. Can't get enough of the stuff!!!!!

Another way to relax is to start early, already have a few gifts picked up and an idea for some others that I need to buy.

novelist

08-27-2008, 02:37 PM

:snowball:I try not to get stressed out during the holidays, but i do enjoy lighting a christmas scented candle in the kitchen, either playing christmas cd's or listening to the radio. Thats when I do my christmas baking, writing out christmas cards, or I'm in my bedroom wrapping gifts. At night I love it when my husband and i sit together with the lights on the tree lit up, watching christmas movies on tv. WE either have a cup of hot chocolate, or hot tea.

SparkleNana

08-27-2008, 09:51 PM

It is relaxing and fun just to read all these wonderful posts.

clarebear

08-27-2008, 09:54 PM

Not having to work! :lol: and enjoy the holiday :)

trackrebel

08-28-2008, 04:18 AM

I also enjoy walking through the city and check out the decorated shop windows, and listen to the Christmas Music that is being played in the Stores and at the Weihnachtsmarkt....where I have my cup of Glühwein....more than twice a week....:D

Mumof2

09-10-2008, 10:34 AM

Another great way is to have movie night,get snacks,drinks,And of course a few christmas movies.pile the blankets on the floor and viola A great way to chill out with th family and relax. :)

TaraML

09-11-2008, 02:43 PM

I love to lie on the couch with the christmas tree on watching a christmas movie. I love the glow of the christmas tree. So pretty! :mad:

clarebear

09-11-2008, 03:55 PM

We like to drive around and look at every ones Christmas lights. I get my Favorite Christmas cd's and play them as we are driving along. I also take a thermos mug filled with hot coco :D Even better if it snows :)

TaraML

09-11-2008, 05:51 PM

Wenceslaus

09-11-2008, 09:26 PM

MerryChristmasLydio

09-12-2008, 11:53 AM

What things do you all do to relax?

I know when The Holidays come around I get real tired from running around shopping,baking and everything else.Is there any special things you do to unwind and relax?

I love to get a massage.A hot bubble bath,with candles lit.Another thing is when the family goes to bed I like to wrap gifts,candle burning,music on,maybe a movie in the background.and just take my time.
OOH! OOH!! PICK ME! PICK MEEEE!!!!!!!! *Mumof2 calls on MerryChristmasLydio*

OKAY! We like to sit down and eat the popcorn out of those giant popcorn tins and watch Christmas Specials. Also we like to drink eggnog! I loves the eggnog!!!! EGGNOG I TELL YOU!!! LOLOL! We like eggnog too while we watch our TV Specials on ABC Family. I love the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family. OH! Hallmark will have some good ones too. Like Finding John Christmas. That's a good one. OR 3 Days, that is a tear jurker, but it doesn't jurk on my tears enough. I never cry during gooey love movies. LOL i love watching them anyways.:grin: We need a giant eggnog mug smiley!

MerryChristmasLydio

09-12-2008, 12:06 PM

When I was a child, my family liked to drive around and look at the Christmas lights, too. I notice that newspapers sometimes publish photos and addresses of particularly good home Christmas displays (check their Web sites).

The Thermos bottle of cocoa and a CD of music sound like good additions.

We use to do that too! Then we'd go home and look at our beautifully decorated house and say, " Whose house could this be?" LOL! We all knew it was our house, of course. I ejoyed those days. I still love looking at Christmas lights around town.
I decorated the porch at the old place last year and the year before that too, I think. i know i did when we lived in NE Louisiana. We had blue and white Icecycle Lights that looked frosted. I put them up on the front of the house whitch was a VERY long porch. I am not being sarcastic when I say VERY long porch. LOL! It was very long. The house was soooo huge. Not kidding. Anyways My mom and I went out there and while I stood on a chair hanging up the lights mom and I would just chat while she held the lights then I put them up. Then we'd go back in the finish decorating. I love decorating for Christmas. I am probably going to dcorate the front of this house too. I just love decorating the porch for Christmas.

SparkleNana

09-12-2008, 01:13 PM

MerryChristmasLydio

09-13-2008, 02:27 PM

:merry: MerryChristmasLydio ---- I am with you!!!! Yay for Eggnog!!! And for Christmas Movies!!!! I love the lights! I love driving around and looking at them -- and I love putting up lots and lots of outside lights!

I LOVES ME EGGNOG. LOL! I LOVE PUTTING UP LIGHTS. I HAVE NO CLUE HOW I'M GOING TO PUT LIGHTS UP THIS YEAR. I AM GOING TO START PLANNING THAT OUT SOON. :razz:

rodmonster

09-13-2008, 04:57 PM

U can use these BIG red letters....Just make em flash!
=)
hehehehehe
=)

sugarplum fairy

09-13-2008, 05:17 PM

I love to sit at night with nothing but the Christmas tree lights on. It is so peaceful. Sometimes I listen to Christmas music or watch a Christmas cartoon while doing it. I also like to drive around listening to Christmas music and look at the Christmas lights in town.

sugar_plum_fairy

09-14-2008, 08:12 PM

Best way is a nice hot bubble bath with scented christmas candles, getting changed into cosy christmas pajamas, snuggling on sofa/bed with a big comfy duvet or blanket watching a christmas dvd, with plenty of chocolate and cookies! This equals ultimate relaxation. cheesy

TaraML

09-15-2008, 10:56 AM

Christmas Snow Angel

09-21-2008, 09:45 PM

I take a warm bath and then get into my soft robe, curl up on the couch with a hot cup of tea and either a book or a movie. WAIT!!!!! That never happens LOL I'm a MOM!!!

Normally I go to lunch with a couple of friends and vent about how the above never happens lol. :))

BritneyBug

09-22-2008, 10:01 PM

I really don't have to do anything special to relax at christmas....sometimes I get stressed out about finding the "perfect" presents for everyone and paying for them, but I love everything else about the season.
Most relaxing? Sitting in the decorated living room with the family, hot cocoa, and xmas music or a movie.
=)

Mumof2

10-01-2008, 12:05 PM

OOO I got another one! NOT sharing a big huge brownie! while watching a christmas movie?
ok so maybe its not relaxing but boy it sure does taste good.:D

SparkleNana

10-01-2008, 04:20 PM

It is relaxing just to read these wonderful posts!!!! Boy, this is fun!

melindasue

10-01-2008, 04:33 PM

Ideal relaxation: Fire lit, tree and Christmas lights looking beautiful than ever, me under a blanket, soft Christmas music playing (I'm thinking The Christmas Song), the scent of Christmas tree (or for some of us ... Yankee Candle Pine Tree scent lol!), and abc Family 25 days of Christmas on TV with an old fashion movie like Santa Clause is Comin' to Town or Rudolph. :rudolph:

Boogedy

10-01-2008, 05:15 PM

COCKTAILS! Lots and lots of cocktails. :)

Mumof2

10-01-2008, 05:20 PM

I agree with Boogedy....:D

JanaBanana

10-01-2008, 05:31 PM

I have to agree to..except my drink of choice would be wine ;)

JOHNOR

10-01-2008, 05:48 PM

i get cosy on the couch my partner, sip a mint bailey's and watch a chrismas movie.

Franco182

10-01-2008, 05:55 PM

I like to have a bath, get into my PJ's, put some christmas music on low and get into bed all cosy, and slowly fall asleep with the music playing in the background

Very relaxing

cheesy

irishsnow

10-01-2008, 06:30 PM

Relax alot, do some reading and watch all the christmas movies on tv

auntieclaus

10-01-2008, 08:45 PM

Turn off all the lights, except the tree and watch a Chrismas movie with my fella's

Trinityjae

10-01-2008, 08:51 PM

I'll usually get in some comfy pajamas and watch a Christmas movie with my husband or listen to christmas music while wrapping gifts. It's actually therapeutic. If only I had a fireplace...

qltmrkt

10-02-2008, 10:59 AM

I like to make a cup of cocoa and head to the sewing room. For some reason sewing relaxes me.....until I rip out the same mistake twice. I have a tv in there that I just pop in a Christmas dvd and I'm good for the rest of the night.

scottish*mama*claus

10-02-2008, 03:05 PM

I build a fire in the fireplace, grab some tea or cocoa and either put in a movie or play a game with the kids :)
I don't get that stressed over the holidays anyway, though. It's only me and the kids so I don't have any rushing around or multiple things to do. My biggest worry is having the money to get the kids what they asked for for Christmas.

Annie

SparkleNana

10-02-2008, 05:50 PM

I do lots of cooing and baking during the holidays. (Fun.) So - lots of kitchen cleanup. (Not fun.) So, while I clean up the kitchen, I telephone a friend and talk about getting ready for Christmas! Very relaxing, and the work gets done.

trackrebel

10-02-2008, 05:51 PM

yeah...talking on the phone is always relaxing to me as well

yuletide

10-06-2008, 09:27 AM

drive around to look at lights with a thermos of cocoa....
yule

Santa's Helper

10-06-2008, 09:47 AM

I love driving around to look at people's lights! That's always a favorite of mine. I always take my dog with me so that she can see them too. My husband and I have a tradition that we do every year and that is that we go to a place to drive through the lights and then you go and park and can walk around. They have a big fire going and you can sit there and drink hot chocolate, music plays, there's a gift shop, food booths and a horse drawn carriage. They use a sleigh if it snows enough and all the horses have tons of sleigh bells on. The sound is fabulous! We can take the dog too and people always want to feed her. She loves it.

cruzin

10-06-2008, 02:13 PM

My relaxation starts after New Year's.

However, I have to admit, listening to Christmas records while running around and doing the writing, the cooking, the wrapping, the calling, the baking and the designing does tend to keep me calmer. LOL

Gloria

Mumof2

11-23-2008, 05:25 PM

We might stay the weekend of my sons bday (dec 13) weekend at Santa's Village in N.H. that will be our relaxing weekend.

Christmasstar

11-23-2008, 07:18 PM

I'm supposed to relax during the holidays!? :-?

OK then, I would get a nice big mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows a warm quilt, a good movie and actually sit down and watch it. (if you ask my kids they will tell you I very seldom actually sit and watch a movie as I am to busy doing a bunch of other things while one is on)

:snowball:

scott

11-23-2008, 10:09 PM

What things do you all do to relax?

I know when The Holidays come around I get real tired from running around shopping,baking and everything else.Is there any special things you do to unwind and relax?

I love to get a massage.A hot bubble bath,with candles lit.Another thing is when the family goes to bed I like to wrap gifts,candle burning,music on,maybe a movie in the background.and just take my time.

Since we don't buy for each other anymore....seems that if we need anything we get it during the year. So we don't do a whole heck of a lot christmas shopping. Our favorite thing to do, is to hold open an open house for friends and co workers to stop over and have some holiday goodies and just visit...we usually run it from like 11 to 6pm... people can come and go...have some food...visit and be on their way... this gives everyone a chance to say hello as this can be a crazy time of the year...

Sunshine73

11-23-2008, 11:04 PM

This year Dh and I are going away for a Christmas weekend. We'll spend the weekend at a hotel in a town about an hour away from where we live. There's a festival of lights that should be a lot of fun. We're just going to relax, enjoy a soak in the hot tub and the Christmas lights. :)

ckat

11-24-2008, 07:10 AM

Mmmmm....I'm going to pick up some Malibu rum TODAY!

quick5pnt0

11-26-2008, 03:59 AM

I know it will sound crazy, but I like to wrap presents to relax.

Same here. I usually will put on a Christmas movie and wrap some presents.

xmasbug

11-26-2008, 11:16 AM

I like to watch a Christmas movie, snuggled under a big warm blanket, sitting next to the fireplace with a nice warm cup of hot chocolate. hhmmmm.... just describing it makes me want to go home and "relax"

Mumof2

12-19-2008, 11:22 AM

Ya know I think im gonna add sledding,snowball fights,making snowmen and angels with my kids.come in and peel off the wet clothes jump into something warm and fuzzy make some hot chocolate put the lights on and watch a movie while snuggling with my snow babies!!