I didn’t do Christmas cards. I skipped last year too.  Last year, in my defense, I gave birth the day after Christmas.  This year, I could play the I have five kids or the baby card still.  I did bake both years and still have to bake more cookies, but I spread them out on different days. We are making the Gingerbread houses from a box as usual. Our Elf on the Shelf hasn’t been as adventurous this year. Gift cards and money have become my MO for many gifts. I don’t like stress. It’s not part of the holidays unless we keep perpetuating it. I choose to change course if I do go there in my mind.

If you have a busy work schedule, lots of kids, travel often, or just have a lot on your plate…the holidays can look like a “to-do list” and not anything FUN!  The mood in the world can be tense as well.  The holidays bring up a lot of issues.  If you’re unhappily single, visiting family, wanting to lose weight, feeling like you’re wallet is stretched, and that what did I accomplish in the past year vibe, holidays can feel like a battlefield as well.  All our inadequacies can be like a flashing light in our life and those damn Christmas commercials with the happy perfect families can make us feel bad on top of our own stress.  The pressure is there.

Some years I had to have perfect presents for people too…like it actually meant my value.  Now I just do the best.  They say you pick your battles and I think it’s all about focus as well.  Pick your point of focus.  Having an impeccable looking house or looking cute, I choose the cute route.  My kids mess up the house on a regular basis anyway.  I can really only control so much without being even more of a crazy drill sergeant I can already be sometimes.  Life is too short for extra stress.  I’m thinking this Let it Go Christmas will lead to a great new year.  2014 was great and this one will be even better  I’ll let go of what doesn’t work best for me.

Speaking of “Let it Go” which was a huge hit song from the adorable movie Frozen which I loved.  I even got a light aqua velvet dress and it’s such an Elsa dress because of that color.  It reminds me of mermaids too.  I’m thinking it will be a lucky dress for my book release party for Sexpot With Stretch Marks, my first non-fiction book.  It’s not a formal party.  I just want to celebrate.  Since it’s right after the holidays, I want it to be fun and easy.  Fancy and simple like me, so a local pub that serves yummy cheese fries is perfect.  I’m so excited to go out and talk about this book.  I love inspiring, inspiring, and empowering others.

As we head down the holiday home stretch, let’s enjoy ourselves and watch the festive movies, listen to the jolly music, and look at the cheerful decorations and savor the season.  Invent new traditions.  Let go of old traditions that just stress you out.  Kids love happy parents not the idea we have of how it should look.  Messy is normal.  And love is messy too.  Lots of love and cookies to you for this stress-free holiday season.    Merry Let it Go Christmas and Happy Let it Go New Years.