On the other side of my mountain.

We are on the other side of the holiday season - and I welcome it each year!

Yes, that is me!  

Struggling to the top,

 each and every year.

I try to simplify so that this desire to "get passed" the season is reduced.   But still my mountain looks a lot like this:

Create a "to do" list right after Thanksgiving.  

(My reduced list this year had about 25 holiday items on it.)

Decorate the tree.  

Christmas shop.
 (This time online shopping saved a bunch of time.)

Wrap presents.

Make Christmas cookies.

Plan Christmas Eve menu.

Plan Christmas Day menu.

Plan Holiday Gamer Party menu.

Food shop.

Food preparation
 (About 50% food prep done by the grocery store.)

Clean.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Holiday Party

Clean up.

Take down and pack away holiday decorations.

Update the new 2013 calendar.
Sit back and recover.

This is my simplified list, my simplified holiday.  I know it looks a lot like your list, your mountain.  But I desire a simpler holiday.  

On this first day of 2013, I am in a celebratory mood.  I have reached the other side of this mountain.  My to-do list each day has gloriously shrunk.  I celebrated with a walk, my first walk in many weeks.  It was short - only 30 minutes. It is a start (I am a big starter.)   And my stretching routine - well, I need to start over on that.  My husband and I went out to eat at a restaurant this New Year's Day ... where someone else cooked, delivered the food to the table, and cleaned up.

But best of all, I am past the mountain.  Now I can enjoy my truly favorite season of the year - Winter.

Happy New Year!