My favorite time of the Year

December month can be crazy but the good thing is that it only comes once a year.

Only 14 days until Christmas! And 9 days till we go to Uruguay. My first time spending Christmas there and I hope it won’t be the last!! I am so excited!!! This is going to be a wonderful Christmas. I know jet setters go to Punta del Este to spend the Holidays because is right on the beautiful ocean and very romantic. It is hard to believe I will be there too!!!  This time of year is my very favorite, yet it seems to fly by so quickly each year that I barely am able to appreciate and take in the Christmas spirit. This year here in the DR I didn’t decorate my apartment because I rather use this time to prepare for my trip. It feels weird not having a Christmas tree, first time I ever do that but my time is so precious right now.

 I am beginning to realize that the only way to take control of ENJOYING the holidays is to make a conscious decision to not allow oneself to get sucked into the hustle and bustle and chaos going on throughout the holiday month:  First there is the anxiety of trying to find everyone the perfect gift, then there is the stress of researching online to find those gifts for the lowest price, not to mention the frustration of finding a parking stall at the mall only to stand in endless lines amongst all of the other frustrated shoppers. I love living in the DR because I don’t shop for things here as much. If I want to send something I buy it on line and get it shipped. I like that!!  It sounds sad to say that it takes a conscious effort to slow yourself down at Christmas, but the fact is that it does.  And so this year I am determined to try and handle the holiday season differently.   And so I have come up with a plan:

I plan to finish my shopping up quickly and without stressing over finding the perfect gift.  Instead I am going to put less stress on what the gift is and more emphasis and making sure the person I give the gift to will be able to feel how much I care. I went on line yesterday and found some gifts to let people know I am thinking of them. I think that is the important thing.

I t probably a little tricky since I  have to think of what to give his family there in Uruguay so I have already started packing since  the very day I knew we were going and finding things from the DR that his family might like. The secret to not going insane in December is to start early but easily said than done.  But one thing for sure is true. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR NO MATTER WHAT!!