Lighten Up!
By Vanessa Vakharia
Party Smart“Holiday parties can easily become stressful if not well planned,” warns Jenna Bushnell, an event and party planning consultant. From her experience planning everything from weddings to giant b-day bashes, Jenna shares these tips:
Get out of the Kitchen!
Forget cooking up a storm—throw a potluck! You can chill out while your friends bring over the treats. That way everyone’s involved and the pressure is off.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew—literally!
Remind yourself how good it feels not to be bulging, bloated or strung-out on caffeine before you find yourself thinking or saying “just one more slice.”
Shopping and Gift Giving
Gabrielle Johnson, a freelance gift planner, has made shopping her career, and finding more for less is her goal! She shares secrets on how reduce overall gift costs by creative shopping, card-making and gift wrapping.
Beat the Crazies
You know it. December 1st hits and stores are rammed! If you’ve not made your gift purchases by now, avoid mall madness by shopping during off-peak hours.
So Many Friends...So Little Time (And Money!)
Buying EVERY one of your friends a gift is expensive! Play “secret friends” instead and set a limit of $10. Save time, money, and the stress!
Credit Crunch
Leave your plastic at home and commit to cash in order to avoid spending more than you have—which only results in a giant freak out come January!
Strapped for Cash?
Getting cards and/or gifts for everyone can be costly—make your own and save money while adding a unique touch.
Wrap THIS!Give a Little
Seek out charity gift-wrapping services and save yourself one task while contributing to a worthy cause.
Free! Free! Free!
Request free gift wrapping. Stores don’t always publicize this service, so be sure to ask.
Reuse AND Recycle
Forget buying wrapping paper—use old newspapers or magazine pics of your fave celebs instead!
Get Real
Had enough of holiday commercialism? Fight back!
The Gift of Giving
Instead of buying gifts, donate money to a charity in honor of your friends.
Friends are the Greatest Gift of All!
Celebrate the holidays by spending time together instead of stressing about gifts. Go to a girly movie or organize a “make me a model” party where you all put on your best pose, take pics and enter vervegirl’s New Faces Search!
With Love
Instead of buying a gift, do something more meaningful. Write a poem, bake a treat, or head to a local bead shop and make your BFF earrings or a bracelet.
Wrapping a million presents making you crazy?
Finding the perfect gift for Mom and Dad driving you nuts? Snaked a few too many cookies off the baking tray? The best stress buster is exercise, and contrary to popular belief, the holiday season is full of exercise-friendly
activities and alternatives to stuffing your face!
Helen Goldstein, owner and founder of The Yoga Studio, has been in the business of using yoga, health and well-being as a way to de-stress for over 15 years. She shares a few tips on how to make the holidays healthier...
Who Said Shopping Wasn’t a Sport?
Get a great workout while walking the mall—just make sure you wear comfy shoes.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Take a walk or jog outdoors in the crisp, cool air. The weather will refresh you while the winter wonderland will instill a sense of calm.
Ommmmmmm!
Afraid of the snow? Stay cozy in your warm house by practicing yoga—an art best practiced in the warmth. The postures and breathing will relax your mind, soothe your soul and tone your body. Try Um, Like... OM: A Girl Goddess’s Guide to Yoga (Paperback) by Evan Cooper $9.99 at Amazon.ca.
Say Goodbye to Guilt!
Who said that treats had to be unhealthy? Instead of baking snacks loaded with bad stuff, be creative! Ever tried holiday sushi? Real fruit pies? Tofu snowmen? There’s no time like the present!
Brrrrr!
Retreat from the cold by soaking yourself in a yummy bath scented with lavender or any holiday-scented oil. Check out The Body Shop for scents like vanilla spice, fireside and gingerbread.
Try a Steaming Aromatherapy Hot Pot
Most cultures refer to potpourri recipes in their writings. Families layered unique fragrances in their clothing, bed sheets, candles and soaps. This holiday season Vervegirls can re-create this tradition by fashioning your own stovetop simmer pot. Dedicate a small pot to potpourri, fill it half-way with water and place it on the lowest heat setting. Add dried fragrant plants until the pot is three-quarters full. Keep an eye on your simmer pot and add water as it evaporates.
Choose from: citrus rinds, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, sage, basil, lemon balm, peppermint, eucalyptus, cedar and pine needles.
Comfort & Joy
• Orange or mandarin rinds
• Lemon rinds
• Cinnamon bark
• Nutmeg or clove
• Eucalyptus leaves
-Sandra Livingstone, Registered Aromatherapist
