No Pain Holiday
WE ALL KNOW THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE ANYTHING BUT EASY, SO WE ASKED SOME OF OUR
EXPERT FRIENDS TO GIVE YOU THEIR TOP TIPS FOR A PAINLESS HOLIDAY SEASON.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY CAROLINE ROGERS
SCHEDULE!
Pace yourself. I’ve found that if I take two to
three nights and assign them one holiday task—
writing out cards one night, gift wrapping
another—just to get them on my schedule, I’ll
no longer have those all-nighters scrambling
to pull it together. I make the nights fun—I’ll
watch old movies or make cider while doing
the tasks.
Frances Bailey, Editor and Blogger, 400sqft.
blogspot.com
but it should be something unique that will
make your friends or family smile. Have them
wrapped and ready to go so when the season
rolls around, you’ve got a bunch of sweet gifts
to give to teachers, co-workers, etc. I also like
to buy all my wrapping paper and bows, tape,
etc. in the fall.
Jan Halvarson, Editor and Blogger, poppytalk.com
www.gilt.com) to make sure you are getting the
best prices on designer goods. Also, shop etsy
( http://www.etsy.com) to support artists.
Dallas Shaw, Designer, dallasshaw.com
ESTABLISH CHILD CARE
If you are entertaining, hire a group babysitter
so your friends can bring their children and still
be able to enjoy the party as adults.
Jen Ramos, Designer and Blogger, madebygirl.com
BE TECH SAVVY
Use the internet. Compare prices on items at
sites like the Find ( http://www.thefind.com)
to make sure you are getting the best prices.
Join discount groups like Gilt Group (http://
KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED
Always have activities on hand for the young
ones invited to holiday parties to ensure
everyone is happy and having a good time.
Coloring books, paper and crayons are great, or
better yet, create a do-it-yourself crafty project
for the kids.
Karen Chien, Designer and Founder of Cheeky
Living, cheekyliving.com
GATHER GIFTS
The most stressful thing for me is gift
buying. What I like to do is get most of my
purchases done by mid-November leaving
December free for me to focus on baking,
wrapping, parties, etc. I also make sure to find a
go-to gift and buy 10 to 15 of them in the early
fall. You don’t need to spend a lot of money,
BAKE MORE COOKIES
The holidays bring out the baker in
me. Growing up, cookie making was
always a big part of the season for our
family. Now that I spend my holidays
in the city, I make big batches of
cookie dough and keep it rolled in
logs in the freezer. It’s so easy to pop
it in the oven for an impromptu party,
or even wrap with a piece of pretty
stationery and a ribbon for a last-
minute gift. The best part is cookies
are always just a few minutes away!
Caroline Rogers, Illustrator and Blogger,
itlooksgoodtome.com
