20 Ways To Feel Festive

20 easy & fun ways to get in the mood for the most wonderful time of the year.

Some people love the holidays: the food, the family, and the festive mood that permeates the country this time of year. But for some people, especially in difficult economic times, the holidays can be a trial. Here are a few ways that you can get into the festive holiday mood without spending an arm and a leg.

• Window Shop – Store window displays can get elaborate and gorgeous during the holiday season, so window shopping can be almost as much fun as the real deal. Take a walk down your town’s main street and see what artistry is happening behind the panes.

• Create A Holiday Playlist – Nothing works more quickly to get you into the holiday spirit than a custom curated holiday playlist. Mix in the old favorites with some of the more contemporary gems, and burn a copy for all of your friends.

• Bake Cookies – Remember baking for the holidays with your parents? Everyone loves holiday cookies, so whether you’re mixing them up from scratch or you prefer slice-n-bake, just get that oven hot to get you in the spirit.

• Send Seasonal Cards – People don’t do snail mail much these days, so the holidays are a good time of year to take a moment to sit down and get back in touch with people the old fashioned way. Grab a stack of cards and let your loved ones know you’re thinking about them.

• Drink Hot Cocoa – Just holding up that steaming cup to your mouth will slap a smile on your face, because no one can resist the draw of a cup of hot cocoa. But you don’t have to drop a ton of cash for a gourmet blend. There are plenty of ingredients right in your pantry to help pull off the classic cocoa.

• Get Nostalgic – Pull out old photos of holidays past and reminisce about the year that your sister actually got that pony she asked for! It’s a great way to share memories and remind yourself of good times.

• Decorate – Whether it’s a tree, your house, or a table top, holiday decorations bring out the celebration in all of us. But don’t think you have to spend a fortune to indulge. Decorating on a budget is simple with a few helpful hints.

• Scent Seasonally – Don’t you love the cozy feeling of walking into a home and smelling baking cake, pine trees, or a fire burning? Scent evokes our strongest memories, so burn a little home fragrance oil to take your guests to a festive frame of mind in no time.

• Hang the Mistletoe – It’s an adorably cheesy tradition, but one that makes everyone blush in good-nature. Hang a sprig of mistletoe over your door and watch the smooches evoke smiles (and possibly sparks!).

• Cat Costuming – I know this article says it’s a no-no, but what could possibly get you more in the holiday mood than dressing up your cat! A few treats will coax him over to your side, and the pictures of him dressed as a reindeer will be worth 1,000 words!

• Make A Wish List – Sitting down and writing up your holiday wish list can make you feel just like an excited kid writing to Santa. Plus, there are tons of fabulous ways to make a visual wish list that looks gorgeous, and helps the people in your life know what to get for you.

• Get Crafty – So maybe you have a little time off over the holidays, and you’re itching to get crafting. The holidays are the perfect time for a little DIY present-making, so hit up the interwebs for plenty of crafty freebies and starters.

• Give Your Time – Nothing gets people in the holiday spirit like donating their time through volunteering. There are plenty of worthy organizations in your back yard, but if you’re planning on taking a trip, check out the innovative vacation/volunteering adventures from Hands Up Holidays.

• Enjoy The Lights – People get fabulously inventive with their front yard light displays this time of year, so why not pile into the car to take an evening cruise to go light-watching?

• Switch Up Your Scent – Get into something a little more in line with the holiday season and you’ll have people wondering if it’s you or the cookies that smell so amazing. A little Nutmeg & Vanilla Body Buttera goes a long way!

• Create Custom Cards – Taking a hilarious photo of you and your roommate in awful Christmas sweaters and then sending them out to your friends will have you all giggling in no time. You can even make your own stamps to match! Blinking reindeer nose sweaters, anyone?

• Hit the Party Circuit – Despite the tough economy, most workplaces are having a get-together or a little soiree to celebrate. Say yes to as many party invites as you can and enjoy the all of the dancing and meeting new people.

• Read the Classics – Nothing like a little “T’was the Night Before Christmas” to bring back the memories of anticipation of Christmas morning. Snag the nearest child and read it to them to pay the tradition forward, and entertain yourself with some of the hilarious parodies.

• Shimmer It Up – The holidays are for glitter, and if you don’t have any gorgeous makeup with shine, now is the time to indulge. Our Frosted Sparkle collection will help up your shimmer quotient without turning you into a disco ball.

• Host a White Elephant Party – White Elephant parties are fun because guests can bring something that they already have at home, but don’t use. It’s a way to conserve by trading unused items, as well as have a good time watching the swapping chaos ensue!

This entry was posted on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 10:49 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.