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Embracing holiday magic the artful way By Sandra Magsamen "May your days be merry and bright ..." Irving Berlin
Too often, our holiday celebrations are filled with such tremendous effort, chaos and stress that they cease to be happy. In all the rush, we misplace the value of simply coming together with family and friends. We overspend, overindulge and overlook the reason we have gathered together. I'd like to share some simple, meaningful and artful approaches to embracing the true spirit of the holidays. Celebrations are an opportunity to use your creativity and the treasury of your imagination to touch others in your own distinctive style. Often, the cherished moments and memories in your life and the lives of others begin with the unique ways in which you give of yourself. Make a holiday that celebrates believing in magic, kindheartedness and love. Create a Christmas that is thoughtful, relaxing, comforting and satisfying. It's not about doing more; it's about doing what you do with meaning. You can add renewed warmth and sparkle to the season and surprise friends and family by getting creative this holiday season. When you keep in mind that the best gifts of the season are family and friends, you embrace the true spirit of the holidays. I enjoy inviting friends over for a Sweet Treat Party. Everyone arrives bearing something sugary. Secret family recipes are shared, first-time bakers try their hands at the art of creating pastries, and seasoned professionals astonish with Christmas cakes. A little cider and a spiked punch is the final touch on this delightfully sweet evening. For our home adornments, we explore inexpensive, imaginative and handcrafted decorations. Each year I search the hardware store for something that I can turn into a Christmas tree. My daughter and I inspect every aisle for items with potential. This year we were pleasantly surprised and inspired by tomato cages and funnels. It is such a joy to embark on our hunt for the perfect ornament materials, and equally rewarding to shine in the glow of our creative accomplishments. Another annual event is our Make an Ornament Party. On a long table, we provide scraps of fabric, beads, wire, string and glitter. Our guests provide the imagination. Family and friends gather, sometimes with a theme in mind, to fashion new and treasured ornaments for their home decor. Each piece is dated creating a keepsake and a lasting memory. At our holiday dinners there is always a project to tempt folks' artistic sides. This year we bought canning jars, lots of bushy trees, glitter and miniature people. We invited everyone to make a snow globe. After we completed our globes, we wrapped them in brightly colored tissue paper tied with string and placed one on each dinner plate. Before we began feasting we sang Christmas carols, passing the vibrant packages hand-tohand. When the last song ended, the package in front of you was your gift. We had a laugh shaking them up, and discovered that there is a lot of magic in a snow globe, even more in making one, and still more in giving one. There are many years when we say nay to the idea that I have to cook the whole meal. Instead, we welcome friends to come over and bring their favorite dish. "Anything?" they ask, hardly believing us. "Anything," we reply. At several holiday gatherings, we have stuffed ourselves on appetizers alone. Other dinners featured casseroles. My favorites are those years when the desserts rule. Friends of mine host an Un-Party each year, to exchange with guests any unwanted, under appreciated, odd, or unexpected gift they received during the holiday season. This present swap not only brings renewed emphasis to the phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure," but also brings friends together for an evening of laughter and fun. Make a holiday that celebrates believing in magic, kindheartedness, and love. Create a Christmas that is thoughtful, relaxing, comforting and satisfying. It's not about doing more; it's about doing what you do with meaning. At any gathering you attend or host, take a moment to celebrate yourself and allow the moment to celebrate you. You yourself are a gift, and you can add joy to another's life every day. We each have different qualities. So often we wonder where we can purchase just the right present for someone we love, when in fact the gift is already within us. The greatest bestowal we ever offer can be a simple gesture of kindness. A gift from the heart touches the heart: A bouquet of flowers picked from your garden to cheer a friend. A wave and a smile to the woman who sits at the window of the nursing home. A ride offered to a co-worker whose car is in the shop. An embrace for a friend who has had a rough day. An invitation for Christmas dinner to the gentleman who lives alone. A supportive word that tells someone you care. The people in my life are the true gifts of all the seasons. Time shared designing gifts, creating ornaments, baking and chatting beats time spent running through the malls. Most of the people I know don't need more things, they need time. Time to relax, laugh, play, and remember that moments enjoyed with friends and family are the heart of days that are merry and bright. "The best portion of a good man's life, his little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love." William Wordsworth All Content ©Copyright 2006
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