Christmas 2025
every year, I feel like Christmas is a balancing act between the spiritual, the fun, and the mundane -- and what saves me from losing my mind is the mantra "decide once", a la Kendra Adachi . I have decided that I order photo cards from Walgreens using a same-day pickup promo code (rather than wading through all kinds of assuredly beautiful cards from other sites). I fill stockings with mostly consumables, including toiletry products. I wrap using mostly gift bags -- so much faster! we eat clam chowder for dinner on Christmas Eve. we go to Christmas mass on Christmas Day, rather than the vigil the night before (well, Nick is at ALL the Christmas services, but I take the kids in daylight hours). I keep a locked note on my phone to track gift ideas and ultimate purchases. all of this frees up mental space for things that do shift from season to season! I want to strike a balance between enjoying a beautiful, special experience with my family while still maintaining my equilibri...