Easy Peppermint Vanilla Sugar Scrub

This time of year it is so easy to get caught up in all the lists of things we need to do, buy, bake and see that we lose sight of why we are doing it.

Here we are, 9 more days until Christmas, and I feel stressed out!  I feel like I don't have enough time, energy or money to do everything on my lists.  I don't FEEL like it's Christmas yet because I still have so much more to do.

So I got to thinking..........What do I need to do to make it FEEL like Christmas?

Is it the perfectly decorated home?  Is it baking the best treats?  Is it having the most presents under the tree, or the most beautiful family picture?

Nope!

For me, Christmas is the warmth of cuddling up with my family with hot cocoa and watching Elf.
Christmas is decorating cookies while listening to Christmas music.  Christmas is watching my kids play in the snow.  Christmas is going on a shopping date with my Husband.  Christmas is sitting in church singing Christmas Hymns.

Christmas shouldn't be a stressful time, but for so many of us it is because we think we need more than we do.   We put so much pressure on ourselves to make sure everything is picture perfect, wrapped up pretty and all aglow, that we convince ourselves that THAT is what Christmas is.  That we NEED more in order to have a beautiful Christmas.

This Christmas I hope that you find what you NEED.  That this Christmas brings happiness and peace.  I hope you make the time to sit under the Christmas tree lights and read a book.  I hope you listen to Christmas music as you make dinner.  I hope the magic of Christmas touches your heart in the simplest of ways, so that you can go into the new year knowing that you don't NEED much.  And what you do need, you probably already have.

Every year when Christmas rolls around, my kids start asking when I am going to make "Suga Nuts!"

1. Offer to watch a single parents kids, so they can finish up some last minute shopping
2. Drop off some baked goodies to your local fire station, on Christmas Eve
3. Go caroling/visit or drop off Christmas cards/children's art work to a nursing/retirement home
4. Drop off new stuffed animal's to your local police station or S.A.F.E. organization
5. Drop off some flowers to the nurses desk at the hospital (they will know who needs them)
6. Shovel the snow from a neighbors driveway/sidewalk
7. Send Christmas cards to Soldiers, Missionaries, Others who won't be home for the Holidays
8. Drop off children's books to a children's hospital or doctors office
9. Collect and deliver clothes, books, toys to a shelter
10. Pick-up some extra wrapping paper & tape and drop it off to a neighbor
11. Pick-up some personal hygiene items at the dollar store, put in a stocking and deliver to a battered woman's shelter
12. Call a lonely neighbor/friend/family member just to catch up, listen and show love
13. Buy a bag of cat/dog food and deliver it to an animal shelter
14. Bake some treats with your children, then drop them off at their school for the teacher's lounge
15. Offer to put up Christmas lights for older neighbors or family/friends
16. Make easy tie blankets and donate to a shelter
17. Offer to run errands or do some grocery shopping for someone that is in need  (a new mom, an elderly person, someone who is sick or recovering, someone who doesn't drive)
18. Have your family play "Secret Santa" for a family in need
19. Have your family "Adopt" a Grandparent that doesn't have family near
20. Make an sincere effort to smile at others, freely give compliments, show kindness & love