15 Ways to Inspire Your Christmas Mood
Have you ever looked at pictures of yourself from 10 or 15 years ago and wonder where that woman went? The one who has that spark in her eye. As women and moms, we tend to to care for much of the behind scene’s details to help make life happen. But sometimes we allow life to overwhelm us or to start dictating who we are. I want to be the kind of mom who cares deeply for her family, in little and big ways. But I also want to retain a part of that young woman who still has a twinkle in her eye and believes in miracles. So while we work away preparing for our families this Christmas season, let’s also allow time to get into the Christmas spirit. Here are 15 ways to inspire your Christmas mood to get your sparkle on!!
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I truly love Christmas. It’s one day when the world slows down to celebrate and things feel different. If you are familiar with the Bible, you know that the true meaning of Christmas is about a promise kept, a redeemer born and a miracle. And we all need that, more miracles!
Part of having a vibrant life, is being intentional about taking care of ourselves and creating time for the things our soul’s crave.
I believe we all long for a little peace, joy and miracles. And maybe some sparkle!
15 Ways to Inspire Your Christmas Mood
I tried to offer you plenty of ideas to get you thinking of what inspires you or helps you feel a little more hopeful. Get ready to be more excited about life’s possibilities!
Go on a Date with your True Love
Mark your calendar and go on a date with your husband. Whether you dress up in your best heels or your favorite jeans, relax and enjoy one another’s company! Take a little time away to laugh and forget about the household duties for a minute. Enjoy all the festive decorations wherever you go!
Exchange Christmas Cards with Your Husband
I think my husband was the one that started this one. Most years, we will exchange a Christmas card on Christmas Day. I love cards so receiving a sweet love note from my husband always makes me feel more sparkly!
Sit in the Dark and Admire Your Tree
OK, so you spent all that time getting the tree set up and decorated. But have you stopped to just look at it. It’s so beautiful. So after the kids are tucked into their beds (or at least most of them) just sit down and relish a few quiet moments looking at all the beautiful or sentimental ornaments.
Watch Your Favorite Romantic Christmas Movie
I love the movie Sleepless in Seattle. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan make the perfect “magic” couple! Hmmm…Ok there are probably a few of you that are thinking, “That movie is not about Christmas!” Well, a big part of it does happen during the holidays so it always makes ME think of Christmas! So there:)! Anyhoo, I love to watch that movie while I wrap presents. It’s one of my favorite traditions just for me.
Paint Your Nails a Festive Color
Most the time, all the extra money is going to Christmas. But you can probably find enough to buy yourself a little sparkle. Purchase a festive nail color and pamper yourself. You may decide to give yourself a pedicure instead of a manicure as that will last longer with all you have on your to do list! But then every time you check out your sparkly toes you will smile!
Look at Baby Photos
If it has been awhile since your kids were babies, take a minute to look at the old photos. When our daughter was born, life was stable and we were blessed to have lots of help. I just remember being in awe of her and the miracle of birth. Life seemed to slow down for a minute for us to treasure this new blessing in our lives. Whenever, I think back to those times, I’m so thankful and it helps me to stop and breathe, thankful for my children.
Make Christmas Cookies to Get In Christmas Spirirt
I typically pour over old and new recipes, trying to decide what cookies I’m going to make. It is so much fun baking familiar favorites and experimenting with delicious new recipes. This year, I am cutting back a little, since I am still trying to balance being a homeschool mom, blogger and wife. But don’t worry. I will definitely make time to bake with the Christmas music cranked!
Hanging out in the kitchen not one of your favorites? Here is a super easy recipe for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies that you can make from scratch or you can substitute store-bought cookie dough. The kids still have a lot of fun unwrapping all the Reese cup candies either way:)
Deliver Homemade Cookies to Neighbors
People love to receive homemade goodies! While it is work baking, I always walk away thankful and blessed. It is awesome to have my daughter help me and to be part of brightening some one’s day. And I feel like I’m stepping into the true meaning of Christmas when we share a little holiday cheer with others.
As I mentioned, I used to make dozens and dozens of cookies. But, I have found that Pioneer Women’s Cinnamon Rolls makes so many pans that there are plenty to go around so it consolidates my baking time! So I’m including her amazing recipe as my little gift to you.
Again adjust this to work for you! I have a friend from church who is a gift giving machine. She is a self-declared non-baker, but she loves to give goodie bags filled with every kind of treasure to her classes and workers!
Enjoy Some Live Christmas Music to Get Into the Christmas Spirit
One day I will treat myself to Mannheim Steamroller’s Live Christmas Show! Currently, I take advantage of slightly cheaper options. Most towns have free Christmas shows at local churches and schools. Make sure to go and enjoy hearing all the favorite carols sung and hopefully joining in! We love to have visitors at our church so don’t be shy about going to a Christmas service or mass!
Buy Yourself a Gift
Now, I love surprises, so I typically don’t buy myself gifts. But last year, I told my husband I really wanted to buy myself the Brilliant Life Planner for 2019. And boy, am I glad I did! The Brilliant Business Planner helped me keep on track and take action on my goals. As I have kept at this blogging/ small business craft, I LOVE having a planner that understands I’m a small business owner AND a mom!
Physical planners are so wonderful as they are both beautiful and keep everything in one place. The Brilliant Life Planner is not available this year. So I have been on the lookout for the PERFECT planner. Here are a couple I’m looking at this year!
Life Planner from Erin Condren. I love that Erin Condren has so many varieties of planner covers and planner styles. Their Life Planner is one of their main planners with 3 unique styles so you can try and see what style of planner user you are!
With the Life Planner you can keep track of daily tasks, set and review your monthly goals and see the month at a glance.
Shop Erin Condren planners here and find the perfect planner for you, a friend or even for your student! Love that they offer planners for teens and tweens!
Passionate Penny Pincher Home Planner is great for those who home is the main focus! I love that the Home Planner has reminders about household cleaning tasks and quarterly items to take care of in the home!
Sweet Life Planner from I Heart Planners has 3 options for tracking tasks and setting goals. You can customize your planner to suit your planner style. Plus, I Heart Planners comes with planner stickers and a handy pouch to keep your pens. And they give you tons and tons of videos on how to use your planner, which I really appreciate!
Inspire Your Christmas Mood by Taking in a Christmas Parade
Has anyone ever gone to the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade? That is on my bucket list too!! But, for now, I love to watch Miracle of 34th Street while putting up the tree!
We also enjoy going to an all horse-drawn parade at a nearby town. It is so beautiful with the magnificent horses decked out in bells and lights. It’s fun to hear everyone saying “Merry Christmas” and see the children so excited! So going to a parade can be a great way to remind yourself of the beauty of the season.
Get Into the Christmas Spirit by Window Shopping
What? OK, let me explain. One year, I was not feeling the Christmas spirit. My daughter asked me if we could step into this small specialty shop that is close to her orthodontist. I gave in and said we could but for just a minute. We walked into the shop and entered a fairy land! It was so beautiful, it took my breath away. There were twinkle lights and sparkly treasures everywhere!
So if you get a chance to just window shop, take it, and enjoy the beauty just for beauty’s sake!
Enjoy a fire to Inspire Your Christmas Mood
There is nothing more wonderful than cuddling around a bonfire or fireplace! One year, I had to get creative and tune Netflix to the fireplace show. My kids laughed at me, but it helped me to feel more festive! So if you get a chance to enjoy a warm fireplace jump at the opportunity. But if not, go digital!
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Take a Walk Outside
Get outside and enjoy the weather! We all need a little extra Vitamin D anyway, so head on outside! You know the kids love when you join them. Or perhaps take a stroll in evening when the air is crisp and the lights are dazzling!
Treat Yourself to an Experience
Set some of that Christmas money aside for buying your family tickets to the zoo or museum. It is such fun to enjoy the Christmas Break together as a family exploring and learning! No cooking or clean-up required!
Or purchase your own learning experience! I shared with you all in an earlier post how I motivated myself to keep moving forward this year. Learning and trying new things is so much fun and definitely makes life seem fresh and new. The Get Your Pretty On Winter Style Challenge is now open so you can sign up and treat yourself to your own personal stylist. Imagine the fun of receiving a shopping list to build your own capsule wardrobe from your closet and your favorite stores.
Plus when you purchase the Get Your Pretty On Style Challenge, you receive customized links to clothing from a variety of stores (like Nordstrom, Old Navy, Amazon, etc…) so you can even shop from home. I love that I can shop my closet first. Then for each piece of clothing, I can pick the style and budget that suits me using the easy links.
Then when the challenge starts on December 16th, 2019 you will have daily outfit ideas dropped right into your inbox! I love the fun of seeing all the ways you can pair a relatively small amount of clothing. Plus, if you need any inspiration, check out the Facebook group to see how the other ladies are customizing their look!
Get all the details about the Get Your Pretty On Winter Style Challenge here!
15 Ways to Inspire Your Christmas Mood
We probably won’t get everything done this year that we had hoped.
But this year, don’t let the thing that falls through the cracks be you!
Take some time to care for yourself, as you remind yourself how to get into the Christmas spirit. And believe in the possibilities and the miracle of Christmas!
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Ohmygoodness, I love this post. I am writing some of these ideas down to do this month.
Thanks Teresa! I am so glad you found the ideas helpful.
This is awesome. I needed this. I have been in a semi state of bah hum bug. I want to snap out of it. I know the true meaning of Christmas and I am focusing on that. I love cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies and I love driving around and looking at people’s light. I will make this a date with my SO. 🙂 This Sunday I am also going over to my mom’s to decrate some cookie. I think that will help too. Thanks for the great tips!! Hope your season is bright. 🙂
Awww, thanks Payton! I love sentimental Christmas movies too:)! Hope you make some great memories decorating cookies with your mom.
At least a few times a week, I sit in the dark after my kids go to bed and just appreciate our Christmas tree, all of our holiday lights and try to live in the moment. You have some other fabulous ideas too that I can’t wait to try out.
Oh, that sounds so nice. Here’s to a few quiet moments!
My favorite thing to do at Christmas is after the kids go to bed, turn off all the other lights except for the tree and listen to Christmas music Mannheim Steamroller is one of my favorites too. I have two CD’s that I listen to on repeat.
You’ve got some really great, but unique ideas in this post. Love it!
Thanks Julia! Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music is so powerful! Love it!
Great ideas! I really need to include a date night this holiday season! We are going to a parade tomorrow in really cold temps and I plan to take it in. Thanks for the ideas!
Hope you have fun at your parade!
I love these. At first it might seem as though some of them are so obvious and yet they don’t get done unless we are deliberate about it. Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes we have to sit back from the bustle to see the most beauty.
Misty,
Yes, reflecting on the beauty and choosing to make time to do those little things that bring us joy is important:)
Miranda, this is just the post I needed to read today! I’m just not feeling Christmas right now, but most of your ideas are so easy and inexpensive that I think I may try getting in the spirit. When our kids were young, it was difficult to not feel festive. Thanks for reminding me to capture that sparkle! I’m going to paint my toes tonight nd some day, I’m going to treat myself to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert!
Heather,
Your family has a lot going on again this Christmas season! But I hope that your family will all be together, at home, for Christmas this year!
Love all of your ideas! This year I have decided to stop and reflect on Jesus every time I see Christmas lights. It brings back the AWE of Christmas. Also, I love the idea of exchanging cards with your hubby, and looking at phots from the past :). Have a wonderful season!
I love how you have connected something visible to something unseen as reminder of the real reason of the season!