Ah, Christmas time – softly falling snow, twinkling lights and children dreaming sweet dreams. Gifts wrapped and under the tree, the smell of shortbread cookies wafting through the house.
Let’s rewind that. Ah, Christmas time – the stress of non-stop baking, battling crowds at the shopping mall. And how about the pressure to prepare a stellar Christmas meal for visiting family and friends, the ones who have descended for the holidays?
For many, this may be a more realistic take on December. If so, here are some ideas on staying sane when the pressures of the season threaten to minimize that festive feeling.
Every year, nearly a thousand St. Albertans ease the stress of making a picture-perfect turkey dinner for a hungry house-full by getting a catered meal—hot and ready for pickup Christmas afternoon. Sure, you can prepare and freeze baking and side dishes, but when time is hard to find, the let-someone-else-do-the-cooking option may be the right one.
Darcy Iseke, longtime owner of D’Arcy’s Casual Catering, offers a turkey or ham dinner with all the trimmings: mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables and desserts for eight to 10 people, and it’s a sell-out every year.
“It’s a convenience thing – there’s grandparents who want to host the meal, but without the work, and young couples hosting their very first Christmas,” said Iseke. “This way, you can enjoy your guests, and enjoy the day.”
You may also be stressing out about cleaning for houseguests, so why not get a hand from one of the many maid services in town? Bless This Mess owner Renae Lavoie said customers often hire her for a one-day cleaning blitz to get their home entertainment-ready.
“It can be hard to cope over Christmas – work, cooking, cleaning, hosting. People say we’ve saved their marriage,” laughed Lavoie.
Even with the meal sorted and house cleaned, some still need a break from all the other busy-ness: gift shopping, school concerts, work parties. Drop-in yoga classes are on the go all month at various studios in town, providing a chance to recharge the batteries. Namasté.
But there are pampering options that provide a break of another kind. Diane Goodwin, owner of the Focus on You day spa in downtown St. Albert, said her customers know the need for a stress-reliever, usually in the form of a manicure, pedicure or facial. “People see the benefit of self-care,” she said. “We can give them three hours where they’re completely at peace.”
And how to entertain the gang for the two weeks of Christmas holidays? Getting outside every day for some fresh air and exercise is a fine idea – St. Albert has 19 outdoor skating rinks, and the plentiful snow means toboggan sites like Seven Hills are great for sledding.
When the weather won’t cooperate, there’s plenty of indoor recreation too. Popcorn and a show at the local movie theatre, a swim at Servus Place or a couple of hours at the library – all good choices.
Another is a folk-art exhibit at the Musée Heritage Museum called Wind Work, Wind Play: Weather Vanes and Whirlygigs. The whimsical collection of 30 wind-powered pieces is a charming way to while away a wintery afternoon, and on until mid-January. Surely the in-laws will have gone by then.
