Giving at Christmas Time

With only 13 days until Christmas day, have you noticed the intensity of people everywhere?  On the roads, in the shopping centres, even at work people seem to have less patience and be more demanding.  Yes, I suppose Christmas is a stressful time, as there's lots to do for the day as well as in preparation for the end of the year.  But i really don't think that all the rushing around and stress is the true spirit of Christmas, do you?

To get into the spirit, and add some meaning to the Season, I've decided that gift giving this year for me and the kids is about homemade goods, thoughtfulness and sharing.  We've made a couple of batches of shortbread now, and they are so yummy and easy once you get the hang of how to handle the dough.  Ingredients are simple:  115g rice flour, 115g caster sugar, 220g plain flour, 200g butter.  Mix up with your fingertips and 'roll' or pat out as flat as you can, to cut into shapes that hold together.  Place onto greased/baking-paper-lined flat trays and bake in a slow oven (140 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.  Once they are cool you can sift icing sugar over the top.  We found some lovely but inexpensive Christmas tins for $2 and packaged the shortbread up to send across to my family who live interstate.  There are a few leftover for us, too.....

Friends of mine at work are fanatical about making cards, paper gifts and stamping and their conversations about project they have worked on throughout the year has been a bit infectious!  One of the girls invited the kids and I around to make some Christmas cards and it was so much fun.  The cards we all made were beautiful, as we followed her instructions as best we could - she's such an amazing talent.  Since that day in late November I have been on the look out for card making kits and happily found in our local Big W store some card kits for Christmas.  The kids and I have had a great time getting crafty and creative.  There's so much more effort put into each and every card and each one is unique.  I hope the recipients appreciate the work that has gone into them..... some will and some won't, but that's okay.

Over the next week or so we'll continue to make some Christmas gifts including jewellery for the children's teachers and daycare carers.  For friends with children younger than mine who live interstate, I'll include in their package some clothes that have become too small for my youngest daughter that have plenty of wear left in them.  I'm sure they'll be appreciated.

I have another 6 days left of work before 3 week sof leave, so there's going to be a bit of pressure on me to complete tasks in readiness for my long break.  I'll do my best to get as much done as I can, while being mindful of others and trying not to get too caught up in the rush.  How are you finding the pace of life with Christmas on the horizon?  Send me a post of drop me an email at livewelllivesmart@gmail.com