Beginner's Luck
First holiday in charge? Steer clear of stress and create new traditions
Image courtesy Lands' End
Deck the halls. Wrap the gifts. Cook the meal. It's your first Christmas on your own, and you're beginning to understand what your parents went through to create those holiday memories that still make you smile.
Whether you're a newlywed, a member of a relocating family or you're just branching out on your own, the first holiday in a new home has the potential to be more stressful than joyful. Certified special events professional Carol Rosen advises you to K.I.S.S. your worries away and "keep it simple, stupid."
"When you're young it should be simple," says the owner of Bel Air, Calif.-based Party Designs by Carol. "You don't have to spend a lot of money the first time around." Rather than focusing on the material necessities, Rosen suggests establishing traditions. They can be as small and casual as baking cookies, as long as you're making memories.
"I don't think tradition has to cost a lot of money," says Nicole Matthews, founder of San Diego-based event management and concierge firm The Henley Company. She says that chemistry and interaction are key in making any event successful.
Think quality over quantity
"I think you're better off going small and high quality," Rosen says to first-timers. She advises buying high quality decorations and holiday dishes so they'll last for years to come. There's no sense in doing it all over again next year because you bought junk this year. With decorations, you also "get more punch if you concentrate in one area," Rosen says. So, you don't need millions of bows and mistletoe for every corner of your home.
Share the load
If extended family members are planning to eat their holiday meal at your place, both Rosen and Matthews suggest organizing a potluck. It's an easy way to lessen the burden of hosting your first holiday party. Pick up items if you can afford to. You'll relieve stress with every dish added that you don't have to prepare.
Pump up the presentation
Newlyweds should break out their wedding gifts, Rosen says. China makes everything look more appetizing.
Focus on what's important
In this economy, "it's not about being flashy anymore," Matthews says. "It's about being authentic." She suggests creating a memory box as a holiday tradition full of pictures, quotes and trinkets that each member of the family adds to each year.
"Don't bite off more than you can chew," Rosen says. "Figure out how to make it easy enough so it's fun. Don't let it become some kind of horrible chore."
 |
CATEGORIES
CONTACT 
|