5 Tips for Getting into the Holiday Spirit

Being the mother of three children, and a new home owner, I have had a little trouble getting into the Christmas Spirit this year. We moved into a new house about a month ago and decided to go ahead and invite both sides of the family over for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful, and my first attempt at a turkey went over very well, if I do say so myself, but I still stressed myself out to the point of sleeplessness and sickness in the weeks before. So now Thanksgiving is over, we may be living in the house, but our garage only has a small footpath through the boxes, and now my children are telling me it is Christmas time. What?! So how, in the midst of school, work, unpacking boxes, and being able to be home before bedtime, do you get into the holiday spirit and enjoy it as much as the little faces shining up at you with all the wonder of the season in their eyes? Here are some simple things to try to get that bah humbug feeling to transform into wonder and merriment.

1. A roaring fire

The weather has finally turned cold and heaters are kicking in to keep us all toasty. Why not throw some logs in the fireplace, grab a cup of cocoa and your significant other, or even a cuddly child, and relax in front of the fire. Is there a better way to spend an evening then cuddled up with the ones you love? You can't help but feel merry when your cheeks are rosy from the glow of a fire.

2. Watch a holiday show

I am partial to the old classic cartoons. I love to watch my children as they see Snoopy flying through the air fighting the Red Baron, Charlie Brown decorating that pitiful little Christmas tree, Frosty the Snowman hoppity hoppin' down the lane, and the little Whos down in Whoville causing the Grinches heart to grow three sizes in one day. But there are many others to choose from. Some will probably become instant classics, like the new "Shrek the Halls," others will do nothing more than make you smile for a little while. There are also the more "adult" movies that tug at your heart strings. Try "Miracle on 34th Street," "White Christmas," or "It's a Wonderful Life." If you want something more modern these are some of my favorites, "Elf," "The Christmas Card," and "The Family Man."