Tis’ the Season to Make it Extra Special

Move over Mr. Grinch, there’s a new menace in town that threatens to steal Christmas. I won’t mention this villain’s name, but it almost rhymes with ‘voted’ (which, btw, hopefully you did!)

The year we just had leaves a lot of questions about how to ensure the holidays remain a special season for celebration. This is supposed to be a comforting time of traditions and to make merriment with friends and family. Well…it still is! It’s time to break out the champagne, disco balls, confetti, and whatever else you need to get this year-end party started. Surviving this year gets you a free pass to live it up, even though it might look a little different.

Going “over the top” this year will help keep that feeling of FOMO in check. Besides, we’re all going to remember this year for the rest of our lives, we may as well have this year go down while we’re swinging - even if it’s at a candy cane piñata.

In this year of disruptions finding comfort in the holidays is more important than ever. Especially as we encounter the many adjustments that will have to be made such as - 

• Canceled family gatherings - due to travel restrictions

• Closed cultural centers - canceled services and productions of your holiday favorites

• Different shopping and gifting habits - traditional shopping and gift-giving are going online

• Rescheduling of company galas/parties - putting those sparkling holiday outfits on ice

• Restrictions on festive gatherings - no need to break out your famed ‘Ugly Christmas’ sweater

Despite these glaring challenges, you can always find ways around them with today’s modern capabilities like video conferencing. Moreover, this year brings the opportunity to explore your more local surroundings with friends you usually have a tough time connecting with. With many opting out of traveling this year, more intimate celebrations are a sure-fire way to keep small moments of the season special.

Seize the occasion of unique circumstances that may never come around again. The time to do so is now.

Most years, the sentiment is that the holiday season seems to start earlier and earlier. We begin to wonder if say, Spirit Halloween stores will empty out before we see one green garland? Somehow, earlier is welcome this year. Chalk it up to having something to look forward to, especially now. Plus, planning is a beautiful distraction that creates optimism. That’s a win-win in my opinion.

Extend the Season By Starting Early

Jumpstart the season by fully embracing all those comforting traditions that only come around once a year. Since most of us are being forced to be homebodies this year, why not drag those boxes out of storage a little earlier. Self quarantining is a wonderful excuse to deck the halls early and extend the time you enjoy them. 

Take advantage of the extra downtime. Instead of the usual hustle of crowded parking lots, and lines for checkout you have the opportunity to build some memorable moments by spending real quality time with your loved ones. 

This year you have the chance of a lifetime to slow down for once and embrace what truly matters not just throughout the holiday season but in everyday life. It’s pretty safe to say that this Christmas will be like none we have seen before and likely none that we will see again. 

Celebrations with Family and Friends Will Look Differently This Year

Let’s face it, travel is pretty awkward right now. State-mandated restrictions, an overall decline of quality in your traveling experience, and elevated risk factors make the choice not to travel this year an easy one. 

Keeping celebrations small and localized is a great option for maintaining that feeling of ‘connection’ while adjusting to the idea the grandparents will have to sit this one out. With the big family get-togethers out of the picture, it’s the perfect time to focus on smaller affairs like Friendsgiving or New Year’s Eve brunch. 

The concept of Friendsgiving isn’t new but since most of us will be celebrating without family, adopting it and making it your own can be a great alternative to the usual traditions. If you’re new to hosting, the whole idea can be daunting. There’s a big difference between picking up a few bottles of wine to bring to Thanksgiving dinner and hosting the entire affair yourself. 

So, I created a board on Pinterest filled with decoration ideas, table setting suggestions, preparation checklists, meal planners, entertainment ideas, drink and food recipes plus more. It’s a resource to make you look like a seasoned pro even if it's your first time. You just may like it enough to make it a new tradition going forward - or decide to never again volunteer yourself. Either way, you tried something new and created some great memories while doing it. The board is organized in sections (plus a few more than what is shown below) to easily find what you’re looking for to make it the best event ever.

* Click on the images below to access each board on Pinterest or go straight to a section with the link list

More Downtime Equals More First Times

So far this year has introduced a lot of ‘first-times’ into our behavior. This is a trend that is sure to carry over into the holiday season. If you’re new to hosting you may also be new to things like roasting a turkey. Maybe you normally don’t decorate or even get a tree because you’re rarely home visiting family out-of-state during past years. 

Whatever the case, the excess of downtime is opening up more freedom to explore and create a bit of novelty this holiday season. So, go ahead, be adventurous, and think outside the box. You get to decide what the new ‘normal’ is. Who knows, you might discover a new interest or creative pursuit as a result.  Now, that’s a gift that keeps on giving no matter what time of year it is. 

To warm up your inspiration engines I created some more boards on Pinterest for you to explore. Hundreds of ideas to whip any newbie into Martha Stewart shape by season end. I’ve even gone an extra step, like the above board, for you. Each board topic is organized by category so you can easily find what you need. Keep in mind that most of these boards have many more sections than what is shown here.

* Click on the images below to access each board on Pinterest or go straight to a section with the link list

Video Calls Continue to Be a Mainstay for Connection this Holiday Season

Love it or hate it, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Facetime, or whatever you want to call it is here to stay. This niche way to communicate has finally gone mainstream thanks to the bump in necessity from the circumstances of this year. 

While there’s no way a frozen face on the screen can come close to replacing the real thing it can still bridge the gap of distance better than a phone call. Especially if you use it to creatively recreate a shared experience that would be normally in person. Here’s a couple of ways to make this technology work for you to connect in meaningful ways this holiday season.

1. Christmas movie watch party - To get all the tech details that cover just about every platform that offers a ‘Watch Party’ feature go here or you can select from the list below.

   - Netflix

   - Amazon Watch Party

   - Metastream

   - Scener

   - twoseven

   - Hulu Watch Party

Or send a link to a quiz that covers all of your seasonal favorites, set a timer, then let your movie knowledge fly.

Test your knowledge on the top Christmas movies of all time -

2. Shake things up Rockefeller Style - Team up with extended family to recreate a version of the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting ceremony featuring your own tree this year. Or have a Griswald-like unveiling of your outdoor spread of twinkling lights ala Chevy-Chase-style in Christmas Vacation. Try to maximize even the small events this year by virtually connecting. Going above and beyond with everything from decorating to sharing moments with your loved ones will keep everyone from feeling like they’re missing out.

3. Virtual gift opening - Even though Christmas morning may look a little different this year, you can still share in the joy of gift-giving with the whole family. The Facetime feature on iOS devices or Google Hangouts for Android users can help put the magic back into the most anticipated morning of the season. Get the details on how to set this up here.

Online Shopping and Virtual Gift-Giving

Gifting online has never been easier, especially this year when most shopping will occur on your laptop or phone. Most retailers offer free gift-wrap, custom gift tags, and the option to ship your gift directly to the recipient. There is a Santa Claus and it’s called the internet, complete with a fleet of reindeer (or delivery trucks) to help make spreading joy this holiday season easy for all.

While hand-selected presents are a great way to send cheer, digital gifts can be equally as cherished. There’s such a wide variety of online memberships, subscriptions, and courses that deliver both knowledge and entertainment. These gift ideas are perfect for the procrastinator. Due to their digital nature, they require no shipping and can be easily delivered by email.

If the idea of sending just a digital product is simply not sexy enough there’s a wonderful hybrid. Subscription-based box services cater to almost any interest and offer the best of both worlds. These options continue to give long after your tree is taken down and the lights are stowed away.

Here are some digital gift suggestions that are organized by interest -

For the Fashionista:

👗Rent the Runway - For high-end luxury designer styles.

👗Dia & Co - This service specializes in plus-size style for women.

👗Frank and Oak - For the eco-conscious fashion lover.

For the Beauty Addict:

💄BeautyFIX - Esthetician approved products for the result-driven skincare fanatic.

💄Ipsy Glam Bag - The best of beauty on a budget.

💄BoxyCharm - High-end beauty for the luxury lover.

For the Hobbyist:

🎨Paletteful Packs - Thematic collections of art supplies for the aspiring artist.

🎨The Adults and Crafts Crate - One-of-a-kind keepsake projects for the curious crafter.

🎨CLOTH & PAPER - Put pen to paper for those passionate about hand-lettering and calligraphy.

For the Gamer:

🎮Xbox Game Pass - For the Xbox loyalist.

🎮EA Access - Get access to new games before they launch and to a vault of fan-favorites.

🎮PlayStation Now - On-demand play to over 800 PS4, PS3, and PS2 games on the PlayStation 4 and PC.

For the Knowledge Seeker:

🧠Masterclass - Learn from top thought-leaders from a variety of disciplines ranging from film, fashion, sports, science, politics, culinary arts, and much more.

🧠Skillshare - For learners with limited time. Choose from thousands of topics to get ‘bite-sized’ classes that only require 15 minutes a day.

🧠Udemy - Blissfully budget-friendly with plenty of free courses to choose from. Frequent discounts and class specials make any premium content affordable.

For Men:

👔Bespoke Post - Highly curated selection of uncommon, small-batch items that make cool discoveries easy and fun.

👔BreoBox - A unique collection of tech-savvy products for the gadget lover in your life.

👔Watch Gang - The best of men’s luxury timepieces for the savvy dresser whose watch game is always on point and whose sense of style is well…timeless.

For Foodies:

🍗Carnivore Club - For the charcuterie connoisseur. Discover artisanal cured meats from around the world that you won’t find in your standard grocery store deli.

🍗CrateChef - Artisian food, recipes, and kitchen supplies curated by top celebrity chefs, top chefs, food bloggers, influencers, and more.

🍗CLEAN.FIT - Perfect for the clean eater and health-conscious foodie. Plenty of gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and vegetarian options to choose from.

The Mixologist:

🍸Mash & Grape - Find out what it’s like to have your own spirits rep curate selections from independent distilleries. Be ready to impress even the most die-hard aficionado.

🍸Craft Beer Club - Bar hop the finest micro-breweries in America right from home with a rotating selection of the best craft beers.

🍸SaloonBox DIY Cocktail Kit - For the mixed drink enthusiast who aspires beyond a simple gin and tonic to creating craft cocktails at home.

Ready to Make the Holidays Special

I hope by now you’re starting to see the potential despite all of the adjustments that will need to be made. Although the Christmas season has so many traditions associated with it, it is meant to be so much more. It’s a celebration of the things that matter most in life like friends and family. It’s an acknowledgment of the enduring nature of the human spirit. It’s a chance to reflect on the past year and identify ways to be better in the next.

If we can find some hope this holiday season perhaps we can begin to heal. We get to choose how our future will look, let’s choose a great one together.

As a bonus to this post, I created The Ultimate Holiday Online Shopping Survival Guide. It’s free to download below. You’ll find calendar planning sheets marked with all the important dates for discounts and shipping. As well as linked lists of resources and checklists to help keep you organized this holiday season. Cheers!