Reinvent Your Holidays

While you can still drive around to admire or laugh at the outdoor decorations most traditional activities will need some quarantine friendly updates.  Take advantage of this time to start some new holiday traditions such as making gifts and decorations.  This is an added benefit for those who have been financially impacted by Covid-19. 

For adult children you can go through family photos and create an album or order a digital frame and put your photos on it.  Bath bombs are easy to make and you can create them in different colors and scents.  Jar mixes are great way to share favorite cookie, soup or drink recipes.  My daughter loves my mulled cider mix which she uses in a tea infuser.  Put pre-measured dry ingredients in a jar and add a tag with preparation directions.  You may want to decorate the jar using glass paint or a holiday card cutout in the lid.

Younger children will enjoy making decorations that can become part of your annual celebration.  Pinecones don’t just make great birdfeeders they also make cute elf or angel decorations.  Don’t limit them to colored paper, glue and crayons; they can use small toys and candy canes to make wreaths, garlands and table runners.  Start a holiday box for each child’s decorations and add to it annually.

Consider virtual visits instead of personal gatherings.  If you are not familiar with Zoom or similar online meeting platforms then you will be surprised by what you can do.  Create a free account and invite others to join you at a set time.  You can transform a traditional cookie exchange into a cookie recipe exchange where you show off your favorite baked treat and then provide the recipe to the others.  A great way to experience gift exchanges with those you cannot visit is to set up your camera and share the unwrapping party.  Do your traditional family gatherings include a reading by granddad?  Do it virtually add to the fun by using a digital background that suits your theme.

Wishing and anticipation are a big part of the holidays.  Traveling may be out of the question this year but it is a great time to plan where you want to go in the future.  Surprise your family with a gift of future travel by wrapping up small items related to the trip.  Your travel agent will be happy to help you items to include in your package.

We will all get through this together, apart.