It’s Christmas Eve. The day before the most anticipated day of the year for many of us. December 25th, known more commonly as Family Fight Day. The day family gathers together to exchange gifts, good wishes and karate kicks.
Everything always starts warm and fuzzy then out of the blue Uncle Bob is wielding a cheese knife, the kids are crying and Auntie Barbara is hiding behind the curtains with a bottle of Sambuca blubbering about how nobody loves her.
Getting through Christmas Day can be hard on people. Whether it’s the family fights, the travelling from home to home or spending it with the inlaws, or the being alone, Christmas Day can be exhausting.
So. I’m here to not so gently remind you that you need to relax. Even if you just pick one day. Here is my official not so gentle reminder. “HEY. STUPID! RELAX!”. It’s directed towards myself too so don’t feel you’re the only stupid one.
Christmas is my favourite time of the year but it’s also the most tiring and also the most stressful. Even WITH the Christmas Pledge. So I always make a point of taking time off after Christmas and using that time to relax. Something I’m not all that good at.
Every year I like to tell you what I plan to do with my time off so here you go.
Read.
Finally hang curtain panels in my office.
Light the fireplace in the morning and not leave the couch other than to eat.
Spend at LEAST one day where I don’t turn on the television or computer. Probably a few days actually.
Cook, cook, cook.
Depending on the weather, a sleigh ride is in the plans.
Start a petition to stop people from using the word “convo” instead of conversation.
Go for a run. Or two. Or lay on the couch.
Do some work on my book proposal.
Work on developing the redesign of The Art of Doing Stuff.
Expand petition to ban the shortening of all words.
Knit.
Nap.
Nibble.
I look forward to this week off all year and even though I will be doing some work I’ll also have plenty of time to sprawl out and not wash my hair. Which let’s face it. Is really what the holidays are all about.
But before all that happens I have to get ready for my annual Christmas Eve party. Stack some wood inside the house, get the hot buttered rum ready and lock up the cheese knives.
Have a great Christmas Day and thank you all sincerely for reading and sharing The Art of Doing Stuff.
I will see you in the New Year.
Just, literally, saw a commercial for a hotel website’s gift card that said something to the effect, “a gift that says ‘You’re special to me’ while simultaneously saying, ‘Go away.'” I just keep thinking that someday my kids will think that way about me. Looking forward to that day! 🙂
Could you add to your ban the idea that Christmas is no longer used–everything is “holiday” this or that. It’s holiday trees, holiday songs, holiday gifts and parties. I want the word Christmas brought back!
Merry Christmas, Karen!
I’m fine with Christmas. All of the Jewish people I know are fine with Christmas. I will use the word “holidays” sometimes but I’m basically referring to the general holiday season that encompasses Chanukah, Christmas and New Years. Merry Christmas Langela.~ karen!
Merry Christmas Karen! enjoy your time off. And … If you were ever to post about your knitting projects, that would be ok.
A book, did you say a book??????? Yipee!!!!
And can we take a “relax pledge” next year along with the Christmas pledge?
Karen, thank you for all the mornings you’ve made me laugh so hard coffee sprayed my keyboard.
I’ll miss you next week but am happy knowing that you’ll be relaxing. Sounds like a wonderful week!!
See you next year!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Have a wonderful well-deserved break!
I’ll sign that petition! I’d also add whatevs (most hated), hubs, vacay, cray, and the incorrect use of the word “literally”, to just name a few instances that make my skin crawl when I hear them.
Merry Christmas, Karen. I am literally delighted every time I see your post pop up in my mailbox, even after all these years. You’re doing a great job, and you are appreciated. 😉
Thanks for an entertaining year. Enjoy your time on the couch.
Wishing you a lovely Christmas Karen. May all your dreams come true.
Merry Christmas Karen, thanks for bringing us all together to share your blog.
Happy Holidays, Karen,
I’ll be having a good convo with my BFF about our next vacay where we will be sure to chillax.
There, I’ve annoyed all your other readers to put them in the spirit for family fight day.
LOL!! And me as well. Uch. Convo. UCH! ~ karen 🙂
Mer’ Chris’.
BAHAHA.
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas from Pakenham, Ontario!
Happy relaxing. 🙂
Pakenham! I taped a show in Pakenham once. We did a makeover on a waitress at a restaurant. I think it was across the street from where they make Viagra. 🙂 Have a good Christmas Kim C. ~ karen!
YES! I remember that episode. I live one concession road across from where that lucky waitress used to live. The restaurant is still there in Arnprior but sadly the ”little blue pill” is no longer manufactured there. Helluva show! 🙂
Have a great end of the year refresher! I hope you get to do everything you want to do, even if that something is actually nothing. Best wishes for 2015 too!!!!
Thanks Natika! You too. ~ karen
Merry Christmas Karen!
XOXO Merry Christmas to you and all of your fans. Pretty funny group! I laugh at some of their responses as much as I laugh at your posts. Looking forward to 2015.
Thanks Karol. Have a good holiday. ~ karen!
Merry Christmas Karen! Thank you for sharing all of your talents with us. You are indeed a blessing.
Merry Christmas Karen!
Merry Christmas, Health, Serenity and continued success in the New Year!
Thanks Maura. Same to you and yours. 🙂 ~ karen!
Have a gr Ch’mas and NY. N’joy ur vaca. I look frwd to ur posts in Jan. I will be n’joy’ng time w/ ‘rents and sibs. Sorry…….Have a great Christmas and New Year. I look forward to your posts in January. I will be enjoying time with parents and siblings. And thank you for your blog, it IS the best.
Jerk, lol. Merry Christmas Jody! ~ karen
Merry Christmas and all the best to you and your family in the New Year. Looking forward to the redesign and morning laughs (I read your post while eating breakfast!!)
Thanks Karen! Same to you and yours. ~ karen!
Merry Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas Karen wishing you an your family a joyful holidays. Turn off your electronic’s bring out the wooden spoons have a old fashioned.
You will all be laughing to hard you will forget the time , you will only remember what a peaceful season you had with family and friends alike.
P.S bells on the horses harness will remind anyone that it is time to slow down an enjoy the moment.
Merry Christmas to all Best Wishes in 2015.
With that said my electronics are going off till the new year.
Almost wrote convo in a post last night…and then did not! Were we channelling the same digital spirit?
Merry Christmas “other Karen with the good blog.” May 2015 bring you all the best of everything.
Merry Christmas to you Karen – thank you for a year of laughter and learning!
Love the Christmas Pledge! No computer and t.v. sounds perfect!
Enjoy the holidays with your family, Merry Christmas!
Thanks Jane P! Same to you. ~ karen
I don’t knit so for me it will be nip, nap nibble. Ah, delicious. Looking forward to 2015, the best is yet to come!
Merry Christmas, Karen!
Just want to say thank you for the Christmas pledge, too. I got sick with a virus that is not the flu but feels just like it and knocked my butt down for the past week. If I hadn’t made the pledge and been 95% done with everything before it hit, I would have been so screwed.
I refuse to count being forced to rest due to illness as relaxing because you can’t DO things you want to do but find relaxing (like cooking which I used to hate but have come to enjoy, thanks in no small part to you, too), so my relaxation will start on New Years Eve and last until my son goes back to school or maybe a tad longer.
I’m glad you’re better and even more glad you’ve taken a liking to cooking. It’s a great creative past time that you also get to EAT! ~ karen
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Karen! Enjoy your time off. See you next year!
Merry Christmas to you, your family and your chickens. Cannot wait to see what you have in store for us in the new year. Enjoy your party to-night and then have a good rest.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from sunny Spain. Xxx
Spain! That’s fun! I’ve never been but it did get to look at it from Portugal, lol. ~ karen!
Have a lovely break and a wonderful Christmas. I so enjoy this blog.
Thank you so very much for sharing your life with us.
I made the hot buttered rum mix for Christmas baskets. Oh my Lord, it’s amazing, and I just tasted it while cooking. Can’t wait to actually have a drink!
That’s great Deb! I hope everyone likes it. 🙂 Merry Christmas. ~ karen!
Whaaaaah! How can I relax without your blog?! I’ll have to comb through your old posts.
I guess you do deserve to relax; you are one insanely hard-working woman!
Happy Celebrating and I so enjoy you, rest well!
Dear Karen,
1. Please add “u” to the list of nasty shortened words.
2. Look! Mindy reads your blog!
3. Enjoy your time away and…
4. Peace on Earth!
May we all be mindful of how very “first world” our problems are.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!!!!!
Have a Very Merry Christmas Karen!
I’m with you on banning shortened words, and so bothered by people who are now using totally ‘wrong’ words, for example, I read a comment on a blog which said – just my two sense worth – when I think she meant – just my two cents’ worth. (It SOUNDS like the same word…)
Anyway, enjoy every moment of your break, eat whatever you feel like, read for hours on the couch in front of a roaring fire and do not feel obliged to celebrate the New Year. I’m going to use the good china, drink the better booze and scarf down all the treats I only bring in when company comes.
Add “must of” to that list! “I “must of” read it wrong.” 🙂 That one drives me bonkers. It sounds similar to must’ve, but that doesn’t make it right!
Have a wonderful holiday. Thank you for the laughs. Don’t forget to feed the girls and the cat. I hate shortened words and couple name words. Guess it is our ages 🙂
Nah. I’ve always disliked shortening words. In high school everyone did it. THey referred to the cafeteria as “the caf” for example. Drove me NUTS then and drives me nuts now, lol. ~ karen!
You don’t need to drive, Karen. You’re close enough to walk! 🙂
I’m so tired I had to read that about 10 times before I understood what you were saying, lol. ~ karen!
Merry Christmas, Karen! Enjoy your week and relax!! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next year! P.S. Add FAB to your petition, please. 😉
Done! ~ karen
Merry Christmas!!!! And a happy new year!! I hope you really enjoy your relaxing time.
Thanks for the pledge again – this year I even made it to a handful of parties that I don’t normally attend. So I’m already working on relaxing thanks to you!
And …sleigh ride?!!? A real sleigh? With horses?!! <<>> Have fun!!!
oh it thought that was HTML… it said ::: yearns for snow::: in the brackets.
LOL. Yup. A friend of mine has a farm with Clydesdales and a couple of fancy sleighs. Now we just need snow. ~ karen!
Happy happy Christmas, Karen. Thanks for inviting us into your conversations 🙂
Heh. You’re welcome Liz. 😉 ~ karen!
Merry Christmas to you, Karen, and thank you for a wonderful year of entertaining and useful posts. Hoping you enjoy your time off.
Merry Peaceful Christmas, Karen. See you next year.
Have a cool yule.
Christmas brings out the best and worst in most of us. Which are we? The besties or the worsties? If we can laugh at our compulsions and try at least to let them go, maybe we’ll be one who is “the best”. What do my kids remember about the holidays? It isn’t perfect decorations or best wrapping job…it’s having the door open to their friends, pulling out the baking gear and whipping up some cookies on Christmas afternoon cuz we were too busy earlier, sending the friends home with goodies and over the mixing bowl, listening to what they wanted to say. Eating too much. Forgetting to cook the cranberries, but remembering the meringues.
Thank heavens for mini Christmas lights, in a pinch, a mass of them as almost as good as a tree!
I enjoyed reading about your plans. Here’s to time off……to knit nap nibble. My new favorite phrase.
A Splendid Christmas to You and Yours, Karen!
Relax. Enjoy. Merry Christmas to you!
And please add chillax to your petition.
and anywho, ugh.
Can we please add “vacay” to your petition?
It will be covered by banning all shortened words, but I think it deserves a special mention along with “convo”.
Merry Christmas!
And Xmas! Where do I sign that petition?
Anyway, have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas Karen! I’ll try and relax too.
I don’t like seeing our amazing language dumbed-down, either. Can we attach a section to your petition encouraging the continued use of words like: dwarves, rooves, hooves, staves, etc.? I mean, what’s next, lifes? Knifes (n.)? Please, no!!
I think knifes are only allowed at restos. Which is totes adorbs.
LOL! ~ k!
Book proposal? Oh joy! Can’t wait!
Yes ma’am. 🙂 https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/the-art-of-doing-stuff-is-growing-read-about-the-changes-coming-up/ ~ karen!
Have a wonderful Christmas Karen!!