WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS AND INCREASE JOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Simplify the Season
SENTIMENT OVER SPLURGE Navigating the gift-giving landscape can be a financial tightrope. Before diving into the holiday sales, set a budget that keeps your finances intact. Gifts from the heart, like homemade treats or handcrafted items, often become treasured keepsakes, proving that sentiment always outweighs the price. CHOOSE MERRIMENT OVER MAYHEM Not every holiday event is a must-attend. Evaluate your invitations and commit only to gatherings that genuinely bring you happiness. Politely declining an event can free you up to fully enjoy the parties and people that matter most to you, reducing the holiday rush and traffic turmoil. EMBRACE DIFFERENCES AND PRACTICE PEACE Family gatherings can be a melting pot of opinions, leading to high tensions. This season,
strive for harmony by focusing on shared love and respect. When discussions heat up, a change in topic or a brief timeout can maintain the festive peace. KEEP THE TRUE SPIRIT ALIVE In the hustle of holiday preparations, pause to reflect on the deeper reasons for the season — whatever they may be for you and your loved ones. Prioritize intimate moments over grand gestures, and remember that presence is more valuable than presents. Navigating the holiday season doesn’t have to be a stress-inducing experience. Embrace imperfection, manage expectations, and remember the true reasons we celebrate. Let’s have a lighter, more enjoyable holiday season filled with love, laughter, and goodwill.
While it certainly is the most magical time of the year, the pressure of perfect celebrations can easily turn joy into stress. The quest for a quintessential holiday can be overwhelming, from orchestrating the ideal feast to managing a packed social calendar. Here are five tips on keeping the holidays light, merry, and mindful. PERFECTLY IMPERFECT CELEBRATIONS Embrace the charm of imperfection this holiday season. If the pies are lopsided or the string lights are tangled, it’s fine! Rather than being mishaps or flaws, see them as opportunities for sharing laughter and stories in years to come. Letting go of the ideal of a picture-perfect holiday allows everyone, including the host, to relax and enjoy the festivities to the fullest.
Inspired by Delicious.com
TAKE A BREAK
Sticky Fig and Pecan Pudding With Toffee Sauce
Ingredients •
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
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3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped
• • • • •
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup hot water
2 eggs, beaten
Toffee sauce •
1 tsp baking powder 3/4 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup heavy cream
• •
3/4 cup dried figs, roughly chopped
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 6-cup ovenproof bowl and line the bottom with waxed paper. 2. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and flour until smooth. Stir in pecans and figs, then add 1/2 cup hot water. 3. Pour batter into prepared bowl, cover with a circle of waxed paper, then cover tightly with foil. Bake for 50–60 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. 4. For toffee sauce, put butter and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Stir in cream and increase heat to medium. Bring to just below boiling, then reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–7 minutes until thickened. 5. Turn pudding onto a plate and drizzle with toffee sauce.
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