to new traditions...






well christmas is over and the year is almost over too.






our weather is just beautiful right now.
a perfect combination of chill and sunshine.







i've been thinking a lot about our christmas traditions...mostly how they need to change.
i think i've been hanging on to the Way Things Used to Be.
you know my kids aren't little anymore.
if any of you out there reading have children that are adults and live on their own and have been for awhile maybe you'll understand what i'm talking about.

my sons all have very full and interesting lives - separate from me.  
and that's the way it should be (in my eyes.)
whatever your situation is with your adult children, i totally respect that.
but me always trying to create the perfect day and reinvent new ways of presenting things, isn't working for me any longer.
all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, planning, more shopping, eh, i'm over it.

i'm thinking that it's time for a change holiday-wise for us.
i'm thinking a nice get-together at thanksgiving with everyone and then i'm thinking christmas may involve just the 2 of us and a mexican beach.
just thinking out loud here, no one panic!






so here i am ending a years worth of posts in this old outfit that i love.
i turn 55 tomorrow, what are you doing?

thank you a million x 10 for all your support throughout the year.  this blog is nothing w/o you.
really, it's true.

peace, love and happiness to you all.

xo
janet



184 comments

  1. Janet
    Another year gone by....it's hard to believe. You've been such a great friend and I wish you the happiest birthday! You deserve it.
    Chad and I also have been talking about new holiday traditions. I'm also over the shopping and trying to make the day look perfect. So many truly important things get lost when that's what you concentrate on.
    Thanks for sticking by me and thanks for a great year! All my best wishes......xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you sarah for always being there for me too. and i agree the important things have gotten lost and that's what i want to find again. xo

      Delete
  2. Happy, happy birthday, lovely Janet. I will turn 64 this year and I have to say this has been the most wonderful period of my life. We seem to be on the same wavelength- I too have grown sons with families and the usual traditions have become almost burdensome. I was exhausted after the two-day Christmas celebration. I simplified decorations this year and will continue to simplify. It's time to let the "men" establish traditions of their own. I promise to let them down easy. Next year Christmas brunch will be at a local restaurant for any boy who makes it home (my boys live in Boston- 250 miles away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you kristien and this is exactly what i'm talking about. stress reduction is key. xo

      Delete
  3. First off:
    Happy Birthday Lovely Lady!!!! I hope you have a spectacular day!

    I am so with you on the Christmas thing on so many counts. My youngest is only 10 and is at the age now where she is adamant about our "traditions" being upheld year after year. Where we hang the Christmas cards, decorating the house etc. I would love to switch things up, but I indulge her as she is only little once.
    But that being said, I wander the stores looking at all of this useless crap that is hawked for us to buy and stuff under our trees and I have a difficult time opening my wallet to it. It's not the spending, it spending it on something I know my children will cherish for more than a few months or so.
    I threw the suggestion out there that we go away right after the 25th to Maine (our favorite state) instead of the excess of presents. Those memories will last much longer than any toy or electronic device!
    It didn't work out for us to pull it off this year, but there is always next year to start these new traditions and I am looking forward to it!

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you lovely eleanor. ten year olds are the best! i loved the holidays when my kids were little. but lately things have seemed so forced, you know with all the stuff that companies seem to push on us. and maine next year sounds fab. xo

      Delete
  4. Happy Birthday. Feeling pretty much the same as you with regards to the holidays. Two of three boys live on their own. I did have a large Thanksgiving gathering this Year (I'm Canadian so it was in October). I had a much smaller gathering at Christmas and truly enjoyed the day. Happy New Year and cheers to new traditions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you rosanne. i think the distance between thanksgiving and christmas for you canadians is so much nicer. you canadians always seem to get it right. xo

      Delete
  5. Janet a very Happy Birthday to you!

    I'm the opposite, I was single till I was 35 so I just love putting up the tree, bringing in holly and ivy from the garden, blasting my Christmas playlist for a month, and baking and making everything pretty, I never got to do any of it before, it's just the two of us but long may the magic of Christmas continue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. awww tabs i totally get what you say. it's all so personal isn't it? your traditions seem so heartfelt and not forced at all. that's what i'm longing for again. thanks for the inspiration. xo

      Delete
  6. Hi Janet,

    You're preaching to the choir, my friend! I think our whole country needs to take a look at what we have made of our holidays.....shopping, spending, shopping, returning, more shopping...it's very sad. We have given up what little we had left of traditions to shopping. Hey, I like to shop. But it's gone overboard. I don't have any kids (and I'm 55) but my husband has a large family. I have always done the huge Xmas family thing at my house. All of it. The food, the booze, the gifts. All myself. It was stressfull and expensive and never "filled" me with the feelings I thought it should. This year I said NO. I didn't put up a tree or cover my house with decorations. My husband and I went to only a couple of parties and as we do every year we went as soon as we could (alone with our dog) to the beach for the holiday where we walk, read, eat and just be quite and try to stay out of the Xmas expectations and worry. My husband and I don't do gifts either. We buy what we want and need through out the year, so no need. I've been to Maui at Christmas and it's not my thing...too many kids and families. We go in January or February....but I know what you mean. I just want to be somewhere else at the holidays which sadly are coming sooner and sooner every year. I hope you come to a plan that works for you and your family! Have a great New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your days alone at the beach sound heavenly to me. i will keep you posted on our holiday plans for next year. thank you for your honest comment. xo

      Delete
  7. Happy Birthday Janet! I would love to do Christmas a much easier way too. Maybe we'll see you on the beach next year.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hello lovely deb. i could think of nothing better than laying on the beach with you and mr lc sipping margarita's. well maybe if steve came too. xo

      Delete
  8. Attractive, stylish, a wonderful fifty five lass you are . . . Happy Birthday.

    Not sure where I am at with the Christmas decorating, shopping, food, preparation, entertaining . . . right this very minute a quiet walk in a remote setting, sounds like bliss to me . . . and then the next year arrives . . . I do know, each year it becomes more gentle, simple, quiet, and I like!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you dear lynne. you sound just like me. i always vow to make things simpler then at the last minute it seems i get caught up in it again. i thought if i verbalized it publicly it will help me next year. xo

      Delete
  9. We are constantly changing things up to adapt to our changing family. Our sons are in college now so we all met in Denver for Thanksgiving. We had plenty of time together to eat good food and just be together.(We are in CA-One son is in Chicago)

    For Christmas, we celebrate together with breakfast, then we take a bike ride at the beach and then everyone is free to go off with girlfriends or friends, nap or whatever. This year is worked perfectly. Bigger family celebrations were enjoyed Saturday and Christmas Eve.

    As they get older we will probably switch over to taking everyone on a Christmas Vacation together. Wouldn't a cruise be fun too?

    Happy Birthday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hello jana, it sounds like you have such a lovely family and everyone seems willing to be flexible. i think that is one of the keys to happiness. being able to roll with it, you know? xo

      Delete
  10. Hi Janet, we have one son out of the house at uni now, so I am really into the idea of kids coming home for Christmas, especially so they can enjoy the comforts of home (those dorm rooms are rather spare, and don't get me started on his eating habits!). However, I agree that once they are both out with full lives and perhaps families of their own, we won't be the centre of things any more.
    And Happy Birthday for tomorrow Janet, I hope you have a lovely day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you patricia. oh i remember when they came home from college for the holidays, that was the best. got to spoil them a little again.:) i say Live it Up! xo

      Delete
  11. Happy Birthday for tomorrow!
    Having spent 10 of the last 13 Xmases on a tropical beach I can highly recommend it. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hello beauty! ummm, you are the one who got me thinking this way - so i blame you! haha. honestly you've inspired often to think differently about a lot of things. xo

      Delete
  12. Wishing you a wonderful birthday Janet. Enjoy your special day.

    Every year my husband wishes we were on a beach at Christmas, just to escape the family drama. I like that idea but so far we haven't done it. Maybe we will see you on the beach next year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much. yes, please do join me at the beach, i'm sure fab people will be there too. wouldn't that be fun?

      Delete
  13. I love your idea for a new Christmas!
    And who knows, at some point you may have grandchildren, and you will want to change it back.
    Happy Birthday Janet.
    55 never looked so good!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much emily. and i already have a 6 yr old grandaughter but she has 3 sets of grandparents and she can only be split so many times over these hectic days. you get the picture? xoxo

      Delete
  14. Happy Birthday Janet.Have a wonderful 2013 and thank you for all the wonderful blog posts. -Mary Ann

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy early Birthday! My fantasty Christmas involves me and my husband in a cabin in the snow from Christmas Day through New Year's Day...it hasn't happened yet but I'm still hoping! We have three grown kids--a married son with two little kiddies and two daughters, each living with their boyfriend. One is getting married in May and I expect the other to follow after that. We celebrate on Christmas Eve in the European tradition and this year it was so lovely to have everyone together at our place. But I expect change, I welcome it. I am not at all afraid for them to live their lives and for us to fit in wherever easiest. But so far it seems that our Christmas Eve tradition is still important to our family, so we still do it...and I love it. I do think it takes a lot of pressure off of young adults when they know their parents are quite happy on their own too. Happy New Year, Janet. ~Lina~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dear lina, thank you! yes, i say do what works for you and then don't be afraid to change things when needed. like i said in my post i think i've hung on too long to the way things used to be. it's all about letting go you know? xoxo

      Delete
  16. Happy, happy birthday Janet.

    I have an 11 year old so am not yet yearning for low key Christmases. But come December 27 I'm roaming the house looking for stuff to clear out and dreaming of spending time in a rustic, clutter free cottage somewhere warm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you Jo. enjoy the heck out of christmas with an 11 yr old. those are The best years ever. i need to clear out some clutter too. in fact that is what i'm doing today for my birthday. haha

      Delete
  17. Oh, Janet . . . I am so with you on this! I have no children of my own, but when I married 7 years ago I 'inherited' two stepsons, now aged 25 and 27. Well, I've tried--hard enough, I don't know, but our relationship is basically just cordial. Actually, things were better before one got married and the other seriously involved with a girl who basically see me as the woman married to Dad. I didn't even get invited to the bridal shower of the married pair, even though I get on well with the 'real' mother. Anyhow, I digress. So I decorate, shop, bake, cook, serve and clean up on these festive holidays, and end up feeling like a scullery maid who should have been 'let go' ages ago! This Christmas, I was so sick with a sinus infection, I could not eat, nor even talk (laryngitis). Do you think anyone cared enough to even offer to help clear the table? I did it all,went to lay down, and everyone had a jolly time without me. I AM DONE. No more. My husband can organize a restaurant Christmas, he can do presents, I don't really care. This whole thing is making me so bitter--and then I look at news footage of people lining up all night to do more SHOPPING on Boxing Day sales and I think: where is Christmas? Wherever it is hiding, it has left behind greed, entitlement, bad-manners and exhaustion. All I want is a cottage in the snow and some carols.

    Sorry, I ranted. Really enjoy your blog, you are a lovely grace-filled woman. Enjoy your birthday tomorrow!

    xx
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi linda. oh thank you for your honesty and your birthday wishes. this is a good place to rant and it sounds like you needed to. :) here's wishing you a cottage in the snow next year. xoxo

      Delete
  18. Janet,

    Yes, I agree with you about the change of traditions. My parents do what you are proposing. They used to have two huge dinners everyone, but as time progresses, kids growing up, etc, it was inevitable that the evolution of that tradition also changed. I think that if they stuck to those huge dinners would have left them disappointed since many of us couldn't make it, etc. Now, they are more low key about things. They have dinners at restaurants instead of slaving over the stove for hours. At Christmas, they come to my house since I have a family now. You can forge new traditions since those traditions used to be new at one point.

    Have a great birthday, Janet. Us December babies ROCK!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you wendy - dec babies do ROCK and ROLL!!!

      it sounds like your parents are very smart people and i plan to steal some of their ideas. thanks for sharing. xo

      Delete
  19. Have a wonderful birthday tomorrow.
    I like your idea of changing traditions, and the beach idea sounds like a winner. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Happy Happy Birthday, Janet! You wear 55 ver,y very well...And I agree with your decision. I have a son, 27, and baby brother, 37. Both have a permanent lady in their lives these days...and to make the holidays "easier," we had everyone over on the 22nd instead of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My mother used to say, "A daughter is a daughter, always for life. A son is a son until he takes a wife." :-) I kinda think there's some truth in that...maybe...??
    -Suzanne in Illinois

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hello dearest suzanne and thank you. if heard that quote of your mom's. and i think it is SO true. hope all is well in your beautiful new home! xoxo

      Delete
  21. Happy Birthday, Janet. I have so enjoyed reading your blog posts this year.

    I have been simplifying our Christmas and letting go of tradition little by little over the years as my sons have grown. I realised how much things have changed when I made lasagne for our Christmas meal! It has always been a family favourite and when better to serve it than when we are all together at Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you willow. and we've had pasta for christmas and thanksgiving many times. i love the unexpected at the holidays, don't you? xo

      Delete
  22. Happy birthday, fellow Capricorn (my b'day is in two weeks). I don't have children, but I know what you mean about starting new holiday traditions. I'd love to go away one year for Christmas, but talking my husband into that will be tough. I hope you have a very happy New Year, and a fabulous birthday.
    Claudia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you fellow fab capricorn! i think it's my husband who has been trying to talk me into it for a few years now. and now i'm ready so there is hope for your hubby.:)

      Delete
  23. Janet, I agree with you. There is just no need for the hubbub of years past, and with grown children it is much nicer to have a small get together than a huge extravaganza. I tailored down this years holidays, next year my hope is to make it even more intimate.
    Happy early birthday, you don't look your age at all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi brandi and thank you. yeah, i'm over the extravaganza part. it was so fun when they were little but now...not so much. i'm with you all the way! xo

      Delete
  24. My grown sons live all over the US and we rarely have Christmas together anymore. The last few years we have invited two other couples who have no children nearby over for a Christmas dinner. That has been fun, but I am with you about totally changing. We were just talking the other night about taking a trip over Christmas. The only problem we see about that is how the weather always seems to act up at Christmas, and I don't relish the thought of sitting in a airport for a couple of days due to snow storms....have to figure where to go to avoid that.

    Happy New Year and Happy Birthday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you penny. i love your tradition of celebrating with like-minded friends. that sounds wonderful. and yes, weather does play a big roll in it. that's why a warm mexican beach sounds so good to me. xoxo

      Delete
  25. Peace , love and happiness to you too as you enter your 55th year (looking amazing) xo

    ReplyDelete
  26. Janet I hope you have a lovely day for your birthday. Going to a Mexican beach is a great idea anytime. We are hoping to go in feb. which tends to be the dreariest month of the year for me. Have a happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you jessica. mexican beach + february = Fabulous. yummmm.

      Delete
  27. Happy Birthday! Though my children are all still at home, our Christmas has changed to some degree. This year , everyone got a token gift and a card with cash in it. That way each can choose something they would like rather than have me guessing and returning. Also, they can take advantage of the after-Christmas sales. I used to bake lots of cookies and a Buche de Noel every year, but have scaled back to each chooses their favorite cookie and I bake it at some point over the holiday break. It is hard to pick a time for holiday meals when trying to work around everyone's schedules and expectations ( boy/girlfriend's families). It makes me nostalgic for Christmases past when the children were little and everything was a wonder and delight to them. As another mentioned, perhaps that feeling returns when there are grandchildren.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you! i used to cringe at the idea of cash for gifts but i think it's the wisest choice in my case. i can't keep up with everyone's tastes and they change so rapidly. cash fits everyone and it doesn't have to be returned. i think that is the way i'm going next year for sure. and you mentioned expectations. wow, they kill everything no? xoxo

      Delete
  28. Happy Birthday! I will turn 56 on Monday. Hard to believe another year is over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you and happy birthday to you! that is my dad's birthdate. xoxoxo

      Delete
  29. What's great about being older is realizing that YOU get to make the rules :)
    Most years I love all the hoopla-but as I get older, I do what I like, not what's expected.

    This year, my adult twins moved to San Diego (more Capricorns, born on Dec 26); holiday wise we got snowed in in Oregon-so it was a PJ's and Christmas cookie kind of celebration.

    Yea for Skype!

    We also skipped a tree this year-did the mantel, dining room table, and front door area-
    and that was enough for us.

    Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day...your way!
    Here's some B-day fun:

    http://www.paulsadowski.com/Birthday.asp

    "Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." ~ Unknown


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you for the link! and you are right about it being time for me to live by my own rules. so, so true. xoxo

      Delete
  30. Happy B-day Janet!!! From SS

    ReplyDelete
  31. Happy Birthday Janet! There's nothing wrong with making new traditions. Wishing you a healthy & Happy New Year!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy Birthday Janet!

    I completely get it; we've been doing the 2 of us on a Florida beach for 2 years now ... and it's just fabulous! I say go to it.

    All the best to you and Larry in 2013!

    Sue
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you lovely sue and mexico or florida? who cares, right? it's a sandy warm beach!

      Delete
  33. I love your plan. And who knows, maybe after a few years on the beach at christmas you'll want to do something different (even try the old thing). The beauty is that you can do what you want and that's what you should do!

    Happy Birthday to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you julie. and you know i thought of that too. maybe i just need a break from the old traditions. but you are right - do what works. wore your fab necklace into LA yesterday. got 3 compliments on it. yay!

      Delete
  34. Happy Birthday baby. Letting go is the way to go.

    love and hugs from me to you.

    xo Jane

    ReplyDelete
  35. Happy Birthday Janet.
    We are not changing our routines just yet as we have a lovely grand daughter in our midst and I cannot imagine being far away from her at any time. We are so fortunate that our adult children live in the same city...
    we give them plenty of space and I do not S~MOTHER!

    If at any point we were to find ourselves alone I think I'd opt to work in the local food bank and serve at the Christmas dinners here for the homeless...Mr. HB may prefer to be on that Mexican Beach though.

    Have some fun tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you leslie. it sounds like your holidays are perfection. so lucky that you all live close by. tell mr hb to join us on the beach. looks like there will be a few of us! we'll miss you though. haha.

      Delete
  36. A girl after my own Fashion Heart! I love your outfit. Denim is always my favorite. The boots are so cute too. I'm with you on the Christmas thingy. Wow, it's so much work. My kids are young adults so I still feel the need to hold them to me at Christmas time. But they are living their own lives too. I say the Mexican beach sounds lovely. See you in 2013! Thanks, Janet. I so enjoy the simplicity of your beautiful blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you lisa. i love those boots each time i put them on. yeah, do your own thing until you are ready for a change. sounds like that is what most of us do. see you in 2013 too. xoxo

      Delete
  37. Happy Birthday Janet, and I would advise you to make your life whatever you want it to be. It sounds like you have given enough!

    xo Terri

    ReplyDelete
  38. A beach in Mexico....sounds perfect! Happy Birthday and New Year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks, sounds perfect to me too. and thanks for the bday wishes. xo

      Delete
  39. Janet - I am firmly in the camp of "whatever makes you happy"! I don't want to be the parent that is clinging on nor do I want to be the parent who does it all. Mine are almost 18 and 21 - we are not quite there yet - they still love the traditions. I think if I was to go away I would do a dream winter vacation - like Switzerland for example. I think your plans sound grand! Happy Birthday to a fellow Capricorn! On the 14th I will be 50. You make the 50s look pretty darn good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you wmm (aka fellow capricorn) you are so sweet. yes, you are still in it tradition-wise and that is fab. oh don't even say swiss alps to larry!

      Delete
  40. Happy Birthday. I gave away my tree and decorations on moving house 5 years ago as my children are also grown and married living elsewhere. I can feel the stress of others at work and in the shops as Christmas nears each year but for me I just carry on as normal and find it quite liberating. This year I went to the library and, took out as many items possible (mix of DVDs and books) bought a few "treat" foods and have had a really relaxing holiday season. I recommend your Mexican Beach (or wherever)to you! Heather from Australia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hello heather. i love your style. and i plan to copy you ideas. it just makes sense, no? xo

      Delete
  41. I think 55 must be the age that we women start thinking about making changes to our lives. In a good way!
    I wonder why that is? Happy Birthday and all the best for 2013.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you and i think the age def has something to do with it. way better than a mid-life crises don't you think? just spoiling ourselves w/o hurting anyone right?

      Delete
  42. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Janet! Thank you for all of your wonderful posts, recipes, and photos. May you and Larry have a very blessed 2013!

    Your thoughts for Christmas on a beach sound relaxing and stress-free for the both of you. I, on the other hand, have lived near the beach for most of my life, and have no desire to spend any Christmas on it. I would, however, love to spend Christmas in the mountains surrounded by snow. Maybe next year, hopefully. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much ffm - you are wonderful! yes, i think all our dreams and fantasies are different. we are not far from the beach but a warm mexican beach sounds so remote and quiet to me. here's to both of us in 2013! xo

      Delete
  43. Happy Birthday! What a perfect age to be - 55!

    You have hit the nail on the head re Christmas - sometimes it just HAS to change because people & circumstances change. Your ideas for a different one sound perfect.

    I think Christmas is all about children anyway - when the kids were little it was fantastic & we all joined in the excitement. But now they are older you don't need to cater for them anymore - it's all about you & what you want. I remember 20 odd years ago thinking it was absolutely ludicrous for going out for Xmas lunch to a restaurant - now I think it is a great idea - everything catered for, & no washing/clearing up!

    We need to adapt as we get older or our circumstances change - that is the secret of life, I think. And change is ALWAYS good (one way or another) if we look for the positives.

    Have loved your musings & attitudes throughout 2012 - carry on!

    From DeeJay in NZ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you deejay. Yes, i agree. christmas really is for children. and going with the flow is just vital now. otherwise it's just gut-wrenching no? xo

      Delete
  44. Happy Birthday. I'm all for not having the traditional shopping, cooking, crazy Christmas. I enjoyed finding your blog this year and it is one of my favorites due to the fact that you keep it simple and stylish. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you sabra. you are quite sweet! i'm really into the un-traditional at the moment. xo

      Delete
  45. I'm all for the Mexican beach.... All that rushing around, cooking, cleaning and the pressure we put on ourselves to make it all perfect - kinda defeats the purpose of having Christmas in the first place! Happy New Year, Janet. So glad I found you (via FF) this year! xx

    ReplyDelete
  46. Replies
    1. thank you! and yes, ironically it does defeat the purpose. and to think it only took me 55 years to figure that out! lol. xo

      Delete
  47. I think our holiday expectations begin to overwhelm us as we age. We think our kids and family want the same type of holiday that we've provided forever and nobody realizes how exhausting it can be, not only to those of us who host, but to everyone in the family who feels obligated to participate. As our family grows, and as my husband and I have become vegan, I am attempting to"change up" each holiday and my 41 year old daughter-in-law is totally with me! I think your Thanksgiving enchiladas started this process of change! Thank you for being so honest and Happy Birthday to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you for Your honesty. i think you've hit the nail on the head. we *think* everyone wants the same old traditions and no one wants to admit that times have changed and we need to move on and create new ones. i'm all for that! xo

      Delete
  48. Happy birthday, Janet! You are halfway through what I consider to be a marvelous decade - the 50's. I did love mine. Learned so much, changed for the better, let go of things I no longer needed, and learned the beauty of flexibility. And as life changes being flexible allows one to be sane and happy. My thoughts this holiday season mirror yours, even down to the Mexican beach idea. My children are also grown, with marriages and in-laws, and things to do and places to be. I know they love me and I can't make the measure of that be whether they want to be with me on holidays. And I am a bit tired of the holiday hustle and bustle. Actually, I'm exhausted! Next Christmas I want to do what I want, not what I might be tempted to believe is expected of me. And what I want is to be in the warmth of Mexico, enjoying the beach, and Mayan ruins, and taking naps, and drinking tequila! It's good to take care of oneself. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you mahala. your comment says it better than i did. the love in our family is not measured by whether i am with my children on One Special Day. and i've taught them from the time they were small that it's the other 364 that really matter. it's just one day! anyway thanks for this comment as it is spot on. xo

      Delete
  49. Happy Birthday Janet! Thank You for such an inspirational blog. I am with you on spending Christmas on a Mexican beach! My husbands brother and wife flew out on Christmas day to Aruba. Wish I would have done the same instead of the rushing around trying to have the "perfect" Christmas. My kids are older, so I'm sure they would agree with spending Christmas on the beach.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank You lisa for reading. that's what i'm talking about. it sounds like heaven! it's looking like my mexican beach is filling up! haha. love it! xo

      Delete
  50. Happy Birthday Janet! Welcome to the 55 club. :)

    I'm with you on the Christmas tradition stuff...My daughter is grown and has her own life. We did celebrate it with her and her BF Christmas morning but if it hadn't been for her BF's family inviting us to their big get together, my husband and I probably would have stayed home for the remainder of the day. We were also invited to my sister-in-law's house but neither one of us were feelin' it..we were actually relieved we had alternate plans! My husband said I should take advantage now and take a break from all the holiday expectations because once we have grand kids it will probably change.

    Happy New Year!

    Linda
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi lovely lovely linda. it may or may not change with grandchildren. sometimes it just complicates things further. i'm loving lisa b's comment just above yours. doesn't flying over all the hectic-ness sound wonderful?! xo

      Delete
  51. Happy Birthday!! I have made changes! we went out for lunch to a restaurant on christmas day- walk in walk out! But I still need to have food in the house. we chose a restaurant so that we could just wheel my MIL in from the nursing home in town and didn't have to load her up into a car, but she could stay in the wheelchair. Expensive, but no hassles and my fridge relatively free! Can't say that i loved it, but it was easy. In future having it a home here will just be much more simple- just a baked dinner- or just seafood. I have always turned myself inside out tidying and cleaning up and cooking- had every type of meat and seafood imaginable and all sorts of salads or veges, trying to make everyones christmas dinner wish come true. but from now on I am just going to do what suits me! Maybe as my kids get older they will help more oh how I pray for that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your solution sounds pretty good. helping our aging parents while still have young ones at home is extra hard - i know from experience. just anything we can do to simplify sounds like the best way. how did it all get so complicated? i don't remember my childhood christmas's being like this. of course we got 1 or 2 presents at most and played outside the rest of the day. xo

      Delete
  52. Hi Janet, Jack White was named one of "The Best Dressed Men of the Year" by ESQUIRE magazine. I'm quoting, "In rock right now, you've got the Chris Martin approach to style (in which a great amount of care is taken to look cool) and you've got the Jack White approach, which just is. White gives the impression that he's wearing whatever happened to be on the floor, and he puts it on, owns it, and rocks it."

    I thought you should know this. Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dear kathleen. i KNOW! his ex-wife karen elson says that jack taught her all about style. that's saying a lot coming from a super model who was/is surrounded by the world's best designers. thank you for sharing. you know just how much i love jack and that warms my heart! thanks for sharing. xoxo

      Delete
  53. Happy birthday from Poland :-)
    Jarka

    ReplyDelete
  54. my grown up children rightly have their own lives too. Usually I put on a lot of different food for them and a few others, and I end up exhausted in the evening. This year I did a simpler meal,and it didn't really feel like Christmas, plus a couple of them were away. Next year might just do my own thing at the beach too!
    Janey

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hope you have a wonderful birthday and a Very Happy New Year. Love your blog. You have been a huge inspiration (for example, the first of my monthly facials was yesterday and I've rekindled my love-affair with vegan food). You look fabulous - if I look like you do when I'm 55 I will be over the moon. I second all the comments here about changing it up if you want to - be happy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi celeste. thank you so much!!!! yay on the facials and double yay on the rekindled love affair with vegan foods. how fab YOU are! xoxo

      Delete
  56. Christmas is sometimes a hard time of year for me. The last two years we have had it elsewhere (still with the kids though) and it has been great. Next year with a new grandchild, I have a feeling that they will stay put as will we. We will have Christmas here and let them start their tradition of having their baby wake up in their own home. And I'm fine with that. My daughter even said she would like to go away next Christmas with a friend. She's single and I think why not? Before she falls into the xams trap.

    Have a great birthday and also new year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hey chaina. it does get complicated when everyone lives in different parts of the country. i think you do a beautiful job of it. it's heartwarming seeing pics of your holidays with your family. i second the idea of your youngest doing her own thing before it's too late! xoxo

      Delete
  57. we are "reinventing" things around here, too.

    it's hard to set limits at christmas, but i really tried to only buy handmade this year, and that automatically ruled-out lots of possibilities. though this cut down on the volume, i don't think anyone was disappointed. the quality & specialness was appreciated.

    also, wrapping presents in fabric {re-using from year to year} is a great change we have made. {BIG pieces of fabric that can be wrapped, then tied around a present = no need for tape or a bow}

    you will be glad to know that i made your enchiladas at christmas & EVERYONE {even my dad} loved them.

    have a simply, cozy, happy birthday tomorrow, janet! ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks catie. what a fab idea about the fabric! i'm really leaning towards cash next year. i've resisted in the past but it just makes more sense now. i know it's not for everyone but that's the point...do what works for ea of us. so glad you liked the enchiladas. that makes me so happy! xoxo

      Delete
  58. once i was married i sort of took over the holiday meals and we started having my mom and my aunts and uncle and my brother
    and my husband's mom to our home. that went on for over 10 years!
    i always felt x-mas is for kids and since we have no kids or grandkids and my nieces & nephews are all grown up and all our old folks are
    now gone, there is now a certain emptiness about x-mas for me
    i do have the fun pre-x-mas activities with the schoolkids. my students. but i simplified christmas a long time ago and it's a good thing. the best
    christmas i spent after my mother died was several years ago - my hubby & me on a beach on the big island of hawaii - drinking mango juice and eating fresh papaya.
    and swimming in the glorious water! best thanksgiving was 2010 - we went on a mexican rivera cruise with our friends. no cooking or cleaning up just r & r and sleeping late & margaritas and sunshine and salt air. happy birthday & happy new year! Sending you a big hug.....xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks shell and all your travel ideas sound so wonderful to me. hugs to you too! xo

      Delete
  59. Happy Birthday Janet!!!!
    Mexican Christmas getaway for you and Larry sounds wonderful. Or maybe some snowy mountain chalet, drinking wine by the fire? Why not? We should live our lives, not let the life live us... xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much ajc. i'm so glad you started your own blog this year. you really have helped me look at clothing so differently with your detailed reports. anyway, yes, we Should lead our own lives. xoxo

      Delete
  60. I have one who is grown and another one just about there. This year's celebrating changed for us, however, because it was the first Christmas after losing both of my parents. So traditions do change and I wish you luck with changing yours.

    A very, very happy birthday to you. I am a handful of years behind you in age and it is an inspiration to me that you look so great at 55!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you vada! oh the years of losing parents are the worst. it just takes everything out of you so i understand. xoxo

      Delete
  61. Happy Birthday! You look fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I love this blog, and I love the way you think......I respect your feelings .....
    I'm in a similar time of life - it's natural to try to hold on to the way 'things used to be' - it's hard to let go and admit that the kids aren't little any more, and to acknowledge that they have their own lives. Very hard for me to admit that.....but , just like you are, trying.....

    ReplyDelete
  63. Ooops ! Almost forgot - Happy Birthday my Dear, and many, many more.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you patricia. we are kindred spirits right now. change is hard but no impossible is it? xoxo

      Delete
  64. My 2 kids are grown (recently graduated college but still haven't left the nest(!))and I was thinking the same thing, that I am ready for a change holiday-wise, and I was thinking a trip would be a great thing to do. I work retail, and when I see how much corporate giants are just "pulling our strings" ... making us shop, shop, shop each holiday season ... well, I am am over it too. So I happy to know I am not alone in feeling this way. I hope you have a great birthday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi michelle and thank you. oh the corporate giants pulling our strings is at the heart of it. so well worded. that is the crux of all the anxiety for me. trying to stay true to myself but yet feeling pulled in other directions. we really do need to put on a coat of armor this time of year. wow. xoxo

      Delete
    2. oooh, i hate those corporate giants!
      this year i avoided them by
      1. not watching commercials
      2. staying out of big stores
      3. shopping etsy & thrift stores ♥

      Delete
  65. I'd say it's time for them to cook for you:). This year I threw a few lights on the, glass balls, done. Nobody cared one white for the bushels of family ornaments from years passed.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Oh, and I hope you have a blissfully happy birthday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you dear lisa. the day one of them cooks for me...well lets just say i won't hold my breath. haha. xoxo

      Delete
  67. Okay this subject has been interesting! I have been having these same feelings for quite sometime so I proposed change to my family/extended family about 4 years ago and everyone had a complete and utter conniption fit! I simply proposed a desert get together on X-mas day instead of the whole sh-bang and it was bedlam and mayhem I tell you and I did not see it coming. College girls cried, mother of my sister in law stared me down with her words of wisdom that families stick together and do what is "right" for one another and we don't think of ourselves! My own mother in law hid in the kitchen not willing to face me. I got tears, sad faces and a freaking sermon like I had said let's kill Santa and forgo Christmas! They collectively nailed me to the cross and it was rough. This year at about 8:00pm when the last family member left my husband said next year let's go to a mountain cabin and hope that we get snowed in. On another note, I have begun scaling back the decor and did not bake a single cookie this year. I should have been a terrible hostess instead of the enabler that I am waiting on these people! So this is a process and I wish I could meet you on the Mexican beach for some margaritas and some much needed R & R! Happy, Happy Birthday Janet and many more to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh this is just too much! this is just so wrong! i'm thinking we need to organize a christmas beach vacation for next december. it sounds like it will be towel to towel on that beach. wouldn't it be great? ahhhhhh. xoxo

      Delete
  68. You look amazing for 55; I thought you were MUCH younger. Very stylish. Love your blog. I totally hear you about Christmas on a Mexican beach. This year all I could think of as I dragged myself home in the car on Christmas night was, "it's over, it's finally over." I had such an overwhelming feeling of fatigue and relief that there wasn't one more thing to do. I felt the same way last year. We're taking care of my mom but once she passes, my husband and I are so outta here on Christmas. My cousin agreed that Bali sounds wonderful. Christmas is for kids. Once you're not a kid, or apparently once they're not around anymore, it's over. Bah humbug, I know. But it's all too much. And if you don't have everything that the Hallmark card or Kodak moment says you must for it to be authentic and all-in-order, you feel deprived or unsatisfied or sad. There's just too much expectation, retail bombards you, there's so much on the to-do list and, well, I've tried to cut corners and find ways to make it less exhausting but every year is the same to where Christmas becomes something you just want to get thru. It's just too much of a pile-up at the end of the year. Until I can get to Bali, I'll keep trying to simplify but, you know, good luck on that I say to myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you vicki, you are my new best friend. haha. i know that feeling...the thank God it's over. and it just shouldn't be that way. i just want to reject that kodak moment, you know? i try to keep it simple too and then about 2 days before christmas i find myself bleeding money and time for The day. like i said, i'm Over It. here's to 2013 and new traditions! xoxo

      Delete
  69. Happy, Happy, Birthday!!! I hope your day is wonderful, you so deserve it.
    I've been begging my husband to go to a beach somewhere far away for Christmas, it's just the two of us so pretty easy to just fly away. I haven't convinced him yet, hopefully, next year.

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi barbara, thank you so much! tell him we're having a party next december. all you need to pack is a bikini (or whatever you are comfy in) and yourself. sounding better and better....

      Delete
  70. Janet,

    Christmas at the beach is standard for us Aussies. Our Christmas lunches are very casual. Christmas also coincides with our children's summer holiday break so hordes of us head off overseas. My own family's month in New York a few years ago was a dream come true. I love going away at Christmas because it cuts the usual chores like decorating, gifting and in-law visiting to nothing!

    Anyway....I was inspired by your 17 December post to re-read some of your favourite posts. Your posts on de-cluttering really struck a chord. Having spent our Christmas holidays de-cluttering and purging, I'd love to know about your experiences. For us it was more than a monumental task, it was our first step in a life changing experience. Would you consider doing a post on what worked for you and what didn't?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ms bris, you aussies sound so cool. i happen to love some aussie bloggers! exactly what would you like to know about the decluttering? i will tell you it was monumental and gut wrenching. but i pushed through and when i try to think back about what i donated i can't remember anything specific. so how important was it? often i was keeping things...just in case. you know what i mean? what a waste of time energy and space. once you get pretty decluttered, you think hard about what gets to come back in. and i still make mistakes. the only difference now is that i don't live with them. i try to get rid of them before they find a cozy spot to rest in. anyway, let me know exactly what you need. xoxo

      Delete
  71. Happy Birthday, Janet!

    Thanksgiving plus Christmas is one too many. It's probably a good idea to skip one event and celebrate the other instead of struggling. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi paula and thank you. it is all too much in too small a timeframe. then add on a lot of family birthdays and anniversaries and wow...overwhelming! xoxox

      Delete
  72. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  73. That old outfit is fabulous. Happy Birthday Janet! (It's my birthday tomorrow).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy Birthday - always thought NYE would be a great birthday.

      Delete
    2. i agree! my dad was born on nye and we always had big fancy parties. it was so fun. the whole world is celebrating with you. no lack of parties to attend, etc.

      thank you both for all your great comments through the year. xoxo

      Delete
  74. Hi Janet,
    I read this post yesterday...but for some reason I thought I should wait to leave a comment on your actual birthday..ha...I'm just a little bit crazy. Anyway Janet, Happy Birthday! I hope you have a beautiful day! 55 has never looked better!
    xo
    annie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you annie dear. you are the best!!! and i mean that. xoxoxo janet

      Delete
  75. Happy Birthday Janet. I have very mixed feelings about the holidays and what to do, especially with grandchildren on the way, and as the only child of my elderly mother. We also have the ability to go away at any time of the year, so I still want to be around for the holidays. I am going to scale down the amount of complicated cooking I do though, so I get to actually enjoy the time with my family, and not be a slave in the kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi kathy. we just all have to do what works for us and be able to let go of the expectations. easier said than done but baby steps right? xoxoxo

      Delete
  76. Happy, Happy Birthday!
    Totally agree with your idea about Christmas. I told my college age boys that next year we may all go on a tropical vacation and relax. I know that when they finish college this will transition into a couples vacation. They will be living their own lives and i know that most times their future wives will be the deciding factor on where holidays are spent. I hope you have a wonderful birthday and Happy New Year to us All!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Many happy returns of the day, you look fantastic.

    Christmas on a Mexican beach sounds wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Happy Birthday! I love to stop by your little spot on the internet. Your kind, well-edited words always cause me to think for a while on them. Thank you for that! Our boys are in their mid to late teens, and we are grateful for their time at home, as my oldest son is now away at college most of the year. We seem to be in a period of constant change at this point in their lives. I would say that over the years we have increasingly focused on our faith and Advent. Daily readings have been tremendous in keeping the focus of the season in check for me personally. Anyway, I wish you a beautiful day and year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you kathy. and yes focusing on faith during the holidays is The Thing To Do. thank you for that reminder. xo

      Delete
  79. Happy Birthday Janet. I have an almost 7 year old, so Christmas is alive and well in our home. I keep it as simple as possible. I had surgery 7 days before Christmas and had to leave it up to hubby to take over. Ham, mashed taters, corn on the cob and purple cow were dinner and it was lovely. Everyone received some nice gifts and we have had a low key week off, waking up late and just hanging out. It's been awesome. I "made" cookies with my son- store bought that we decorated. It was perfect. I am finally feeling up to getting around and decluttering today too. Next year, we are going camping on Christmas, at the beach. Even bringing our small tree. Go with the flow sister. Happy Birthday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hello heather. your holiday sounds lovely. and what a gem your husband is to pitch in and take care of you and the boys esp at christmas. what a gift that was. i agree with the go with the flow idea. xoxo

      Delete
  80. I think Holidays should be tailored to the people celebrating them. I have small children (8-year-old twin boys) at home, and I've always loved Christmas. Thanksgiving, I couldn't care less about. I believe we should be thankful every day. So, we do the opposite of what you are thinking about doing. We take a trip somewhere exciting for Thanksgiving week--just the four of us. This year we spent Thanksgiving day horseback riding in the Andes Mountains of Chile. Every once in a while, I think "Oh my goodness, my boys won't experience a big Thanksgiving meal and they're missing out." But, then I realize, they are getting to experience other amazing things. Happy Birthday, janet!! May you have a wonderful year ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dear melinda. i love your traditions. and they make perfect sense to me. what a wonderful gift you are giving your children. and thank you for the birthday wishes. xo

      Delete
  81. Happy Birthday and Happy New Year, Janet. I'm with you about new traditions. I enjoy Christmas too, but the shopping and cooking can be too much. Here's to the new year and new ideas. Looking forward to your posts in 2013.
    xo,
    Deborah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi deborah! thank you and i'm also looking forward to your posts in 2013. xo

      Delete
  82. happy birthday, janet - fellow 55'er! it's been a good but very busy year, as my husband and i tied the knot and blended our families of grown children. our parents are still living too. so the holidays this year have def been different, and a bit hectic.

    my husband's family stopped exchanging gifts years ago. for a while, they would choose a charity together, and donate at christmas. they don't even do that anymore... my family, on the other hand, still exchanges gifts. my mom tends to be a shopaholic, and says "as long as i'm alive, we will give presents." my husband and i have talked about this a lot, as he would like to stop the endless shopping and spending for my side. for this year, we still gave to my family - but more personal, scaled back things: pads of drawing paper and pencils to my artist son, cash to my daughter in LA that couldn't make it home to the midwest, and handmade items to my eldest daughter, a scarf and food co-op gift card to my stepson, and favorite childhood book and cash for my stepdaughter. i love to knit, and made items all year long - felted oven mitts for every household, warm scarves and cowls, even an adorable knitted sock monkey for my niece. i enjoyed making everything, and gave gifts that are unique, personal, and not extravagant. only spent $15-25 on most, and $50 each on our kids.

    our gatherings have changed a lot: simple meals (like a soup buffet) and games. my husband and i would love a beach getaway, but don't see that in the cards for anytime soon. at least we don't have the humongous productions of the past.

    happy birthday to you, and a wonderful new year to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wow colleen. i Love that you make and give such heartfelt gifts. and you do it with such love. it sounds as if you've done a beautiful job of blending families. thank you for sharing and happy new year to you too. xo

      Delete
  83. Happy Birthday!
    Have a Safe New Years Eve!
    Cheers! Here's to 2013!

    ReplyDelete
  84. I had these very same thoughts last year. So...we went to Hawaii this year and for some strange reason it seemed very "flat".
    I totally agree because my kids are independent but there was an unusual sadness that I'm going to have to work around.
    Hope your birthday was smashing! You make 55 look great, wish I looked that good last year when I was 55 :-)
    Thanks also for all your terrific recipes. I've been doing many more vegan meals and love them. So yummy.
    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for sharing your experience. i think it is to be expected that you felt a little flat this year. you know letting go of The Way Things Used To Be is not easy. it's a transition and i even think a grieving that takes place. letting go of something we loved so dearly, you know? anyway thanks for reading and sharing. xoxo

      Delete
  85. Happy Birthday, Janet & here's to new adventures in 2013!

    ReplyDelete
  86. Happy belated birthday dear Janet!! I love your blog and look forward to more inspiration in the coming year. Thank you for sharing your life with us!!

    Love,

    Theresa

    ReplyDelete
  87. I've enjoyed reading your blog since I discovered it this fall. Who knew we had birthdays so close together too?! Mine was the day you posted this. :-). Happy belated birthday and Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh happy birthday to you! don't you just love having your bday a few days after christmas? haha. xo

      Delete
  88. Wow!!! amazing dress up, just a rocking style. The dress just adore your persona, smart select for your birthday, hope you would enjoyed it with great fun.


    A-kasse

    ReplyDelete
  89. Dear Janet

    Many Happy Returns! Hope you had a lovely day!

    Here in Australia we don't celebrate Thanksgiving as you do so we haven't already overdosed on turkey. This year Christmas was at our place and I adore getting everything ready and setting up the Christmas tree for our gorgeous little grand-daughters (nearly 8 and 6). They were so thrilled as they came through the front door with their parents and saw the tree. "It's sensational" they both said and their faces lit up. It made my day. I enjoy doing the traditional English Christmas with turkey and pudding (pud made weeks before). On Boxing night our son's god-father and his wife and their two grown sons (my husband is godfather to their oldest) arrived for dinner with our family - they always pitch in and help and bring a plate so it's not difficult. It was great. For us it's a wonderful opportunity for the family to come together (we live in different cities) and celebrate our love for each other. We all miss the absent ones, our parents and our DIL's parents who've all died, some only in the past few years. We attend the midnight service at out local church on Christmas Eve. This year it was even more beautiful than usual. We celebrate the light of Christ coming into the world - everyone has a candle which is lit from the Church Christmas candle then we turn and light our neighbours' candles. This year there were also candles in all the windows. A lovely way to begin Christmas Day.

    Some years we go to Sydney and celebrate at our son's home, Christmas under the trees around the pool, with fish and seafood on their barbecue with fabulous salads. I bring the pudding I've been making for over 35 years. Today it was 32 degrees C! My veggie garden needs quite a bit of care in this weather but it's great to see all the tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, beans etc and the basil, sage, parsley, strawberries etc.
    Best wishes, Pamela

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you pamela for sharing your lovely traditions. they sound absolutely wonderful to me. so much love! i esp like the idea of bbqing and tending the summer garden. it must be magical! xoxo

      Delete
  90. What a great post Janet. Funny I see this happening with my family too as my kids get older. I was exhausted on Christmas day, it was all too much. I scaled down the presents but it was still too much, the shopping for the gifts, wrapping, cleaning, shopping for food, I am definitely doing things differently next year. I can't wait to see how your holiday plans take shape!
    Here's to another fabulous year for you!!
    xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi dani. as much as i prepare...the last 2 or 3 days before christmas day i find myself running around at the last minute and standing in long lines, etc. i swear things will be different this new year. !!!! xoxo

      Delete
  91. I hear you about Christmas! I did it all for over 30 years and when my girls were little it was fun. Now I start dreading it as soon as December hits. Our daughters are in their 30's now (I am also 55) and they feel the same way we do about the holiday-just get ot over with! I make a nice meal (I have done 35 Xmas dinners!) we do not put up a tree, we buy on e gift for each of us. We get a big puzzle and work on it-have so much fun chatting and catching up over that.

    I dread people dropping by because I know they are shocked at the lack of Christmas decorations etc. I think they feel sorry for us! But on Dec 26th we have no tree to take down,no big mess to clean up or a ton of recyling to deal with. I love January! Thanks for agreat post. We need a place for all of us unChristmasy people to meet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha thanks for sharing. here's the thing, i don't think we are unchristmasy (love that term btw)for wanting to scale it back. i don't know if you read the comment way up above about the woman who used the term corporate giants pulling our strings. i'd like to think that maybe *we* are just tired of having our strings pulled. anyway, love your tradtions and cheers to a brand new year! xoxo

      Delete
  92. A belated happy birthday Janet. I love reading your blog. I have been thinking of your comments about changing some traditions and want to try some new things next Christmas. We did try to do something different for the Christmas of 2011 and I took my husband and two children on a 10 day cruise to some Pacific islands (we live in Sydney) which was fab but the actual Christmas Day on the boat felt a bit flat. I felt I had still missed out on that elusive magical Christmas portrayed in the media. Sigh, I might have to give up on that one.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Happy belated birthday Janet! I, too, love your blog. I relate to you, and evidently so do a lot of other women. So many blogs are written by young women. I enjoy them, but often don't relate due to the age difference. You get so many responses! I am considering new ways of decorating for Christmas - less is best maybe. You confirm what I have been feeling about how I celebrate.

    ReplyDelete

kindness is never out of style.

Back to Top