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How about some good inexpensive holiday cheer?

carilyne

carilyne

It's only impossible if you think it is
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
4,175
I'm really struggling this Christmas. Instead of 5 people here for Christmas there will be three. My youngest has to stay in Seattle and then there is the ex of my other son (obviously not going to be with us). We have differed everything up -- new decorations which we have been making. I'm not sure how far I'll take the differences but no old memories this Christmas.
Problem is I haven't caught the holiday cheer yet and now my knee has inflamed or something and I can barely walk. So that is negating my seeing light displays at the big city park and greenhouse. Money is an issue as well. I tried DYD and it got depressing -- it may become a personal journal of overcoming hard times.
Any ideas of bring in some cheer? Or ideas of things to do on Christmas. My hubby is usually on the computer but we found out he will participate in crafts. I'm stumped and want to go hibernate with the bears.
 
I recommend It's a wonderful life marathon and then the original Miracle on 34th street. I can watch those in July and want to put my tree up!
Are ya'll into games? Charades, turn off the electronics...heck turn off the lights, have a fire If you have a fireplace, and use candles or flashlights and play games!!
dominos, chinese checkers
We always have a hard puzzle going at Christmas, pure fun and so cheap!
Yeah on hubby doing crafts with you, that is a huge huge thing.
as to your knee...perhaps a call to a local Easter Seals and see if you can get a wheel chair to rent for the evening...and decorate you and it?? I bet hubby would laugh and enjoy that...tee hee
 
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Carilyn! I keep coming back to your thread...cause ideas are popping in my head...and your journal of overcoming hard times is just so fabulous to me!!!
Quotes to art journal take on a life of their own to encourage me when I am in a funk...so google some quotes and play...
 
I love having a puzzle on a table during the holidays! It is funny how I will find any one of us randomly sitting there playing with pieces. and I am with Anne, sometimes just working on art journaling pages really helps some memory keepers. Maybe do a pro cons of each feeling you are having, so you don't "absorb" the negative back in - put it out there, then bring in some positive. (hugs)
 
Good ideas.. Actually Anne between the catastrophes, how busy is your week and others I just felt worse. Only 3 people so charades probably won't work, but we are thinking cribbage (hubby plays) maybe find a table game. I think the smallness of the group is part of the fear, yet we haven't found anyone else without plans.
Art journaling would be a good idea. I haven't been this bad for a long time -- it's more the culmination of a year of sad things. Thank goodness for Amazon so at least I can "shop". It will be good, just got sad when the knee flared up and kind of killed my plans for seeing the lights and a big lego display etc.
On the happy side we have a better chance of a white Christmas than usual! (I grew up in Minnesota). Thanks. I'll check out some of those and maybe see if there is an interesting puzzle.
 
I thought some of these were EXACTLY my kind of puzzles - busy and colorful! The site has some cool ones I have not seen before, just to give you some ideas maybe. ♥ (images are linked)






This one would probably make me cry at some point, bwahahahaha! JK

 
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Me too. In fact we found a fat stuffed grey striped cat plush animal and sent it to the son in Seattle.
 
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I love those ideas of Anne's. I think you should try to get a wheelchair for the evening... or even one of those scooters where you can roll along... then go out and enjoy the lights. Puzzles, games, and all of the craftiness sounds like fun. You are soooo lucky that your hubby will do craft things with you. That is pretty amazing.

Maybe make some salt dough ornaments? Or try some new holiday recipes. Binge watch a new series or some movies you've been waiting to see (and make some Santa popcorn). Figure out a new tradition you guys would like to start together. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or holiday related, but something that would put smiles on your faces. Print out some goofy props and do a family photo shoot (the goofier, the better). Play with some Mad Libs (another silly/goofy exercise). Start working on lists and ideas and goals for how to make 2016 special. Make some Grinch punch and watch the show (or movie). Get a can of shaving cream and make Santa beards for photos (the best sculpted beard wins). Create some really ornate paper snowflakes. Kiss under the mistletoe. Have a family sleepover for winter solstice and camp in the living room.

So sorry you are dealing with all of this leading up to the holidays. Pain is never fun to deal with, and totally puts a damper on the holiday spirit. Also, I'm sure it is awful to be separated from your son. It is also hard when someone is still mending from a broken relationship. :( If your son in Seattle needs somewhere to go so he isn't alone for Christmas, he can come to my house. We're south of Seattle, and will have the old people here, but we'll have food anyway. :)

Hugs to you, sweet lady!!!
 
Oh dear. I totally feel you with the knee pain limiting activity. Chronic back pain over here, so I'm well aware of what it's like to miss out on fun things. If you're like me and can't even bear the thought of being in a wheelchair, why don't you consider driving around to look at lights. No, it's not going to be as fantastic, but there's something about everyone's lights warming up the neighborhoods, and you can do it from the comfort of your vehicle. We even have a local place made specifically for you to drive through!

I almost always scrap when I'm feeling low. There's something about visiting earlier times, not that they were necessarily all great, but seeing the photos and remembering things ~ then being creative ~ it almost always helps. For those times when it doesn't, I will usually read or binge watch a TV series. I also doodle/zentangle and that helps me to meditate as well.

One of our fave things to do is purposefully stay in PJs all day and watch TV and have cocoa when it's cool enough. We also eat things are horrible for us, and totally let everything go in the house. It feels wildly decadent. LOL

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts, that you will find peace in the midst of all your changes!
 
Kimberlee you're so sweet. He is very introverted so I don't know that he would come but I'll tell him he is welcome. Is the bus or Metro or whatever close? I love your ideas. I have thought of a few props and pics. We've talked about some of the games you have suggested as well. Just have to see if the budget will accomodate. The new tradition idea is intriguing (surely we won't have a superhero tree forever --- my oldest is into comic books and chose the theme). We need some new ideas. Oh and I was TOTALLY surprised my husband got into painting ornaments and folding paper cones. He hardly ever participates.

Cheryl you're so sweet too. I do detour to look at lights and told my son I needed to drive with someone who can take pics (or even better drive me). It helps. I tried the pajama idea -- I was outvoted but we are getting ugly sweater sweatshirts (my oldest's idea) so we'll be comfy. Definitely need some popcorn and cocoa and maybe Kimberlee's Grinch punch. Thanks ladies you made me smile and laugh. I also colored tonight which helped. And then pinterest-ed some ideas for art journaling. I've been working on 2016 goals so I need an art journaled vision board. Thanks again.
 
Carilyne I can totally understand your inability to get into the spirit. It seems like here at my house we can do nothing to better ourselves and for every step we take forward we get punched in the face kicked in the gut and stomped on all at the same time. I actually took my frustration and my anger to a layout and believe it or not I felt better after. No it doesn't solve the problems but it allowed me to vent where here I am always trying to be strong for my family. I really felt like I was going to bust and it eased the feeling.
In the last four weeks my husband totaled our truck, got laid off, lost our insurance, I got denied again for disability, and we also got a letter from his insurance saying that the accident wasnhis fault and we are going to be sued. Our insurance was a ten thousand dollar policy and because of the nature of the accident we have been told insurance will only cover a portion of it so we need to get a lawyer. If that wasn't enough the man (my husband) is driving me insane here at home! Since he has been laid off he has done nothing but sit and play video games and mess up any cleaning I have done within an hour of it being done! I swear why can men not show a little bit of respect for the work we put into making a housenanclean home? Then when I say something about it I'm the bad guy! Uggghhhh. On top of all this when he applied for his unemployment he went to what he thought was the unemployment website. I told him multiple times he was not in the right place it didn't look right and it was telling him he had to sign up for credit checks etc... He argued with me and got irate about it and I finally said okay do it your way. He filled out all this stuff and still could not get it to show him that he had applied for unemployment so instead of asking for my help and admitting he was wrong he wanted to go to his mother's house for help! I drove him over there and again when they headed back to the same site told them both it was the wrong site. I said I thought they were on a fake site they both then argued with me and spoke to me like I was an idiot. So after three hours of them inputting all his personal information including his SS# and DL# DOB and all that info they still could not figure it out. Finally I took the laptop and went to the real site answered all the questions and gave him his confirmation and pin numbers. He had the nerve to get angry with me and ask me why I didn't tell him that in the first place? So now all his personal info has been entered into no man's land and I have told him he better call the bank and notify them and call and get some credit monitoring. Of course he got angry because I suggested he do it and it has not been done. Due to all of this and more in the last month I had to create this layout! Which I posted here and on FB where I was immediately told by my mother that she hated it. Her words were its scary and ugly. LOL Oh well it was for me not her.
https://the-lilypad.com/gallery/data/500/DejectedBeatDown600.jpg

DejectedBeatDown600.jpg


Maybe if you do the same you can release some stress and move forward as I have been trying to do myself. I hope you are able to find your Christmas fun and spirit soon. Hugs my friends
 
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I love that layout. I've done several through the year but didn't really think about it. Wow you have had quite a month as well!! So glad you got the right website or that could have been a nightmare. We had a month like that -- I'd get us almost caught up and hubby got a no seatbelt ticket, couple weeks pass and his big drill broke. And his parents are being so cruel. This has just been me on the phone getting everything straight.with HIS military stuff. I'm just drained but this has helped.

The other thing I'm going to do is go find my Grow With Love Holidays kit by Sara. Some of it won't fit but I started it last year and it helped with the journaling happy things. It will help balance out the sad stories. It helps knowing someone else is struggling but that feels awful to say. We will make it through this. I'll say a few prayers too.

Cheryl I hope your back is better as well. I think back pain is the worst for me. This is just aggravating and not knowing what's going on I don't want to walk on it. It's different than the original pain.

You ladies are awesome. You have definitely brought me cheer.
 
Carilyn, I hear you. Grown kids, one divorced, mother-in-law crabby as always, husband a grinch at best of times, and me with a flare up of my rheumatoid arthritis. I really wasn't in that much Christmas mood.

Well hells bells, lots of great ideas here, but I opted to just go totally non-traditional for us this year. Quiet comfy family together. No turkey,no guests. Things I can manage and prepare one at a time ahead. Simple inexpensive comfy foods from childhood like Mac and cheese, green bean casserole....

No big bucks spent on gifts either. our local grocery store has a stack of prepackaged grocery bags patrons can purchase for ten bucks. The store then distributes to needy families before Christmas. With a little careful shopping of my own stuff, I've managed to buy a bag every time I stop for some groceries.

Instead of decorating a tree and the house this year, I also spent a couple of Saturday's doing some closet cleaning and sorting stuff we have had forever. Lots of slightly used winter jackets, sweaters we received previous Christmases, which are new because we hate sweaters.... All went to the church for distribution to families who need stuff.

Not only did I get some cleaning up/out done but feel good about what I'm doing for Christmas this year.
 
Great idea. I usually try to buy one of those bags as well. Reminds me to be thankful for what we have as well as blessing someone else. Thing is we haven't had a tree for about 5 years due to my depression (and a grinch for a husband, love that). So we will have one this year. I can't wait to be able to clean out closets. I've been aiming for my closet for a couple months now.

My attitude is slowly changing. Just got in a big hole and couldn't get out alone. Thanks for sharing. Oh and mac & cheese sounds great We're going non-traditional as well.
 
Not sure if your knee would allow it, but what about serving at a soup kitchen/homeless shelter, or a church who provides meals for the homeless? I know when I am down, taking the time to bless someone else cheers me up more than anything else. There's just something about bringing a smile to someone's face that uplifts the soul. Praying that you are able to find a way to enjoy this beautiful time of year!
 
Yes to the puzzle!
The last couple of years we always have done a WasGij christmas puzzle. WasGij puzzles are my favourite because there is always a twist. Basicly the picture on the box is not the picture of your puzzle. In the originals you make the view that's been seen from the eyes of one of the characters on the box. Last year we had this one.

 
Grown-up coloring books are all the rage, but expensive. Sometimes I like to just sit down and color in a traditional coloring book, with crayons. Yes, I'm almost 50 years old and have my own box of crayons. Simple, little things to try to recapture some holiday cheer are often childlike but they work for me. Like glueing cottonballs on colored paper to make a snowman. Christmas is in the brain - and we can tweak that if we try. I'm an army wife and this year my hubby leaves right after, my kids and grandkids and other family are way across the country, AND our priest is going out of town so we won't have church services this year. I put up my tree, I sing my favorite Christmas songs, and I deal. I'm going to go look at lights, too, b/c one of my best Christmas memories is when my girls were small and we were so dirt poor. We all pitched in our change and bought a pack of onion rings and shared them while we drove around to look at lights. Hang in there! Thanks for sharing, too, b/c knowing others are struggling sometimes helps. Hugs~
 
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