What I’ve learned over the years is that no matter who is not there, what money we may not have, or how far away our families may be, there’s something bigger that we can always rely on to give us the love we all desire.

There are many clichés about the holidays and the “real reason for the season,” but in its truest essence, God’s greatest gift to us is the unconditional love that remains available every day of the year. God’s love for us is real, tangible, and everywhere we go. He tells us in Romans 8:37-39:

Yet amid all these things, we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How great His love is for us! It surpasses all heartbreak and deficits that we have encountered throughout the year.

Don’t have that special someone to shower with love and gifts? Consider showing love to those in need who aren’t as fortunate as you
Money is tight and can’t give gifts? Bake some cookies or other sweets, bag them up, and share with friends and family!
Can’t get home for the holidays? Use Skype to see the bright and shining faces of those you love!

A shift in perspective keeps the most perfect love of all at the forefront and teaches us to lean on the blessings we have. Enjoy the holidays and feel the love from the one who sacrificed the most for us!

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I know, I know. Labor Day is still on the tips of our tongues and you haven’t even thought about the kids Halloween costume yet. It may feel too early, but unless you’re expecting some type of financial windfall between now and December, it’s definitely time to start Christmas planning! With just over 100 days until Christmas, it’s time to start your preparation for the holiday season. The reality is that when you’re not prepared, you make what could be and should be an amazing time of year far too stressful.

Far too many of us become overwhelmed by trivial things; From the decorations most people won’t even pay attention to, to what to buy co-workers we barely like, we spend money we don’t truly have because of both commercial and self-induced pressures. Getting into the holiday spirit doesn’t have to break the bank. You can do it by simply asking yourself these questions to ensure you are stress-free and financially ready for this holiday season.

What did I spend last year? The best indication of what your holiday spending may be this year is determined by what you spent last year. Check last year’s bank statements or gather every last receipt for each purchase you made or expense you incurred during the holiday season (November 20th – December 31st). Include everything from gifts to additional food, wrapping paper and decorations. Tally it up and add at least $100 for all the small things we know you’re going to forget. This number represents what you need to save over the next few months.

Where will my holiday money come from? Based on your findings, create a holiday fund. Divide the total dollar amount of what you need to save by the number of paychecks you plan on receiving between now and Christmas. Begin stashing money away in a separate account as soon as you possibly can. If you don’t trust yourself, utilize online banks like ING Direct. They typically takes 48 hours to transfer funds, so that should help you think twice before spending your holiday fund on anything not holiday related.

3.What’s in my spending plan? Categorize every holiday-related expense imaginable. Write down how much you anticipate spending on each. Add everything up. If it exceeds the budget, prioritize and adjust your list accordingly. Remember everything is negotiable. Don’t feel pressured to go beyond your means. READ MORE

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1. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to beat dehydration. Alcohol consumption, fatty foods, and insufficient water are some of the main reasons people feel “hung over” and heavy from the holidays. Every cell in your body needs adequate water to function properly so try to drink at least 2 liters a day to flush fat and toxins out.

2. Take a high-quality B-complex and vitamin C supplement, both of which are depleted by alcohol consumption and stress—and chances are you had both during the holidays.

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3. Eat fruit in the morning on an empty stomach—fruit is the best food to keep the lymphatic system cleansed and moving properly. The lymphatic system is what I call “the body’s version of a street-cleaner”—it sweeps up toxins, fat, and the by-products of bodily processes to lessen pain, inflammation, cellulite, and toxic overload in the body.

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1. Go Volunteer:

Have you visited a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter or a home for battered women lately? Pay a visit to any of these places and volunteer to help out for a day – or even just an hour or so – and I can guarantee you that you will have a fresh perspective on your own situation, no matter how dire it may be. Nothing will take you out of the doldrums faster than seeing so many people out there who have it far worse than you do.

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Make Your Christmas Gifts, Instead of Buying Them!

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1. Winter Wonderland

Materials

• 9-ounce clear plastic cup
• Silver poster board
• Pinking shears or decorative craft scissors
• Polyester batting
• Miniature trees (sold in craft stores; try the dollhouse or model railroad section)
• Miniature animals or people (sold in craft stores or online at BJCRAFTSUPPLIES.COM)

• 1-inch-wide mirror
• Tacky glue
• Fine glitter
• Pushpin
• Monofilament
• Several craft beads

2. Dangling Snowman

Materials

• 3 round objects (we used a spice jar lid, the bottom of a yogurt container, and a mason jar lid)
• Scissors
• Craft foam, white and orange
• Glue dots

• Monofilament
• Buttons
• Permanent marker
• Ribbon

3. Lollipop Tree

Materials

• Corrugated cardboard that measures 9 inches across the base and 8 inches tall
• Craft knife
• Lollipops

• 11-inch wooden skewer
• Bottle cork
• Glue

Go to familyfun.go.com for directions

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However, if you’ve turned up your workout and weight loss programs plus think you’re looking good, how can we find a balance during the holidays?  What can we do to enjoy all of the good food without packing back on the pounds we’ve shed?  Fitness blogger Stephanie C Hodges gives 5 tips for  individuals who are looking for smart ideas this holiday.  Check them out.

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1. Preparation

You won’t necessarily lose or gain weight because of what you do in a single day. Your habits over time ultimately determine your weight. There are 3500 calories in a pound (read more about weight loss math here), and your weight ultimately reflects what you’ve done over the week/month.

You can prepare for days you are going to eat a little more (like Thursday, Nov 25th) by eating a little less in the days before and after. I’m not talking about starving yourself or skipping meals! But you have more incentive, knowing Thanksgiving is coming, to be extra strict with your diet and hold on treats and desserts so you can enjoy them on the holiday.

2. Recipe Revision

There are some easy ways to make small substitutions to recipes and cooking methods to create healthier Thanksgiving dishes. Many times, you can’t taste a difference. Just google “healthy Thanksgiving recipe substitutions” and you will find many resources.

Traditionally, the Thanksgiving meal is not prepared in the healthiest way and is loaded with high-carb favorites like rolls, stuffing, and potatoes. Over time, you can incorporate more green foods and healthier dishes to create new meal traditions.

3. Stuff the turkey, not yourself

It’s not just about the calories you’ll save – stuffing yourself makes you feel awful in the end! During the holidays, we not only fail to eat proper portion sizes, but feel entitled to go back for seconds or thirds.

STOP EATING WHEN YOU’RE FULL. There is no reason to eat 4x the amount you normally would at dinner. There will be leftovers, and you will not die if you if don’t have a chance to eat every single food offered on the table.

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1. During the holidays, creating a budget and knowing your spending limits are great ways to keep a clear sight on what you can or can not purchase.

2. Once you have made a budget for yourself, you can start your list and write down the items that you are looking to buy.

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3. If possible use cash, but we all know credit cards are designed to capture us and make us want to spend money! However, if you must use a credit card use one that offers rewards for your spending, like cash back or reward points.

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4. Check articles for any sales or coupons, like newspapers, magazines, or an online site. A great website for you to find offers, online codes and printable coupons is www.retailmenot.com. This website offers coupons for more than 100 retail stores.

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Every family celebrates the holidays differently. That means each partners comes to a relationship with family members that inevitably place demands for time and attention, when both are running dangerously low. Also, running notably low, patience. So, the least bit of strain from outside a relationship coming in the form of pressure from in-laws can seem like an unbearable pressure. How do you keep your Honey’s family from being the straw that broke the camel’s back?

1. Sit down with your significant other and have a long, honest talk about what the holidays mean to the two of you as a couple.
If you don’t know what traditions are important to you, you will have no compass to know if you are getting off course. Think about what you want to teach your kids about Christmas and what activities are special to you. Write a list of the things you chose to make your couple or family holiday traditions. For example, my husband, oldest son and I had this talk over the weekend. We decided we want a holiday season that is more about experience then gift giving. We mapped out one holiday related experience a week from now until after the first of the year.

2. Now make a list of all the activities and functions your respective families have each year.
Highlight those that are perceived as attendance mandatory. See if any of the items on your list overlap, or is there something on your list that might be proposed as an alternative or a place you can include family. One way we did this was by opting out of the Christmas morning Santa grab-fest with my husband’s family, but inviting them to attend the zoo lights festival with us on Christmas Eve. We all agreed that would be a tradition that all parts of the family might cherish for years to come.

3. Talk with your family in advance about what you can do and what you cannot do.
We had this talk with my family after Thanksgiving dinner. We made a special attempt to be clear about our expectations around what we want for the baby. We do not want a pile of presents. We came to the table prepared with suggestions about alternatives for gift giving that involved ways to spend time together.

4. Make sure you and your Honey have time alone during the holidays to decompress.
A holiday date can be very romantic. This is a no kids – no family event! One very romantic evening can go a long way to defray the stress of the season. My husband and I planned a romantic dinner in a restaurant where the local Christmas lights parade goes by. Little one is staying with his big brother. They are planning their own little date!

5. Be prepared to stand firm with your boundaries with family.
Practice makes perfect. Keep putting your foot down. If the time you have set aside for family interaction is Christmas dinner, don’t budge when Mom calls and demands that you bring the kids to Christmas Eve services. Smile, be sweet, but be firm. You’ll be glad you did.

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