Making Memories and Holiday Magic
MAKING MEMORIES. It’s what we all want right? It’s why we spend hours hiding elves and wrapping beautiful gifts that will be shredded in a pile in 30 seconds. This week, I want to share some ideas of how you can make your holidays memorable without spending your kids’ college funds.
The formula I’m sharing with you is called EPIC adventures. Each day, I’ll share one of those letters and ways you can use it to make memories.
E stands for Elevate. Build the experience into something above the every day. Some easy ways to elevate the holidays is by using the 5 senses.
Taste- have a special holiday treat. Hot cocoa, cookie making, a special holiday meal. The reason family recipes are so cherished isn’t just because they are delicious (though that doesn’t hurt). It’s because those recipes elevate the meal. It connects everyone to eachother. To their ancestors. To history. It’s a way that families live on. If you don’t have family recipes, there is no time like this holiday to start. Have a fun brunch. Or this year, I’m doing breakfast for dinner on Christmas Eve.
Smell-taste and smell are so closely linked. Some potpourri, candles or apple cider mulling on the stove are inexpensive ideas that elevate the holiday.
Sound- holiday music elevates an occasion. How about a game of family karaoke. My son and I have started a once a week family car jam. Dancing and singing is required and I will admit I sometimes do this alone as well. (Don’t judge me lol)
Touch-another fun way to elevate your holiday is either family pajamas or ugly holiday sweaters. These don’t have to be new (although if you have growing kids it will be an extra laugh if you try to fit them into last years Jammie’s).
Sight-ornaments, like recipes, tell a story. I will admit I am sometimes guilty of being “matchy matchy” with my Chritmas tree. But since I lost my dad, I’ve been reflecting more on what his legacy was. One thing he and my mom did when I was young, was chopped down (yep- ax in hand and tied to the top of our station wagon) two trees. The one upstairs was beautifully decorated. The one downstairs was decorated completely by my sister and me. With handmade ornaments. My mom bought us a new set every year. That is my new goal. Two trees. One for me. And one for Atticus.
Whichever senses you choose, remember that it’s not the cost that makes holidays special. It’s the elevation. The choosing to make something extraordinary out of something simple. That’s what memories are made of.
Will you try any of these ideas? Do you do any already?