Christmas can be an especially stressful and hectic time of year. Want to enjoy the Christmas holiday season and parties a little more this year, and/or feel less pressured even in the times you're still struggling to find your Christmas spirit, comfort and joy? Let us at Lick an Ear help! Try some of these suggestions and off-the-wall ideas this Christmas:

Buy gag gifts for a few on your Christmas shopping list this holiday season.

A small, "just for fun" gift --- whether unexpected or in addition to the "good" gifts --- can really lighten up the holiday festivities. Spend $1, $2, $5 or whatever you feel appropriate for the "perfect" silly gag gift. Sharing laughs can be the greatest gift of all sometimes, especially with as stressful and hectic as the Christmas holiday season is.

Make someone else smile, even if it means buying some godawful, singing bobble-head doll you found on clearance somewhere.

Don't overstress or overbook yourself.

The holidays are a busy time of year, but it's still important to remember your sanity, no matter how little may be left!

Block off time for you, for your peace of mind and your own health...both mental and physical. You're more susceptible to illness when you're worn out, so remember to take time out...or make it...for rest and relaxation. Your immune system will thank you! (Nonetheless, keep the zinc lozenges and vitamin C handy, in case those holiday illnesses decide to pay you a visit.)

Jingle your bells...Dress in costume!

Got a party to attend? Make an entrance and a statement. Be a reindeer...Santa...or elf, even if everyone else looks "normal" --- or as close to "normal" as they can get. Be the life or talk of the party! Dare it! Do it!

You will liven up the holiday gathering, and in some cases, even relieve the tensions and stress present in the room!

Spread the love...

Wear a hat with mistletoe above your head. Maybe you'll even actually get a few kisses out of it, but hopefully, you're not wearing it just to get kisses from your mom, dad, grandma or other relative. (This suggestion is more for those non-family gatherings...unless, of course, you really DO like to keep it all in the family and you happen to be a regular guest on a "white trash" TV talk show.)

Make it snow!

Put snowflake confetti in your holiday greetings or Christmas cards and letters. Sure, it's a mess, but it's good, clean...slightly evil...fun! Just imagine the muttered curses of your friends and family as they open their cards, the snowflake confetti now on them, their desk, the floor, the dog......

Note: If you do this, some recipients will be tempted to retaliate somehow. Watch out...especially if they send you any cards or packages! They could be littered with confetti or that nuisance Styrofoam known as "popcorn."

Spike the eggnog!

...even if it's already spiked. It's not really possible to have too much liquor over the holidays, is it? Besides, it goes well with the sugar cookies and chocolate covered pretzels!

Karaoke Caroling!

Host a Christmas carols party, but make it a karaoke party. Depending on your guest list, you may want to keep the karaoke part a surprise.

Refer to the above suggestion regarding eggnog. Also be sure to have plenty of other liquor available, so your guests will be more apt to sing Christmas carols karaoke-style, no matter how shy or terrible they may think they are. (Just don't mention that you might actually be recording their embarrassments via sound-optimized digital camera or recorder.)

Gift cards are your savior...

Are you a last minute shopper, or have a few on your shopping list that are "hard to shop for"? Turn to the almighty gift card. Gift cards and certificates take the hassle out of last minute shopping, and the worry out of wondering whether or not your gift will be liked. Restaurants, malls, their favorites stores, book stores, entertainment stores, movie theaters...oh, my! The options on gift cards are near limitless, some even available for the online shoppers!

Most people enjoy receiving gift cards, as it lets them choose their gift in the end when they spend that gift card...so if the color, size or style are wrong, they have only themselves to blame!

Special note: If the gift certificate or card is for an SO (significant other), you'd better be along when that gift card is spent. Some SO's, (mainly women) feel that a gift card is their SO's "easy way out" of shopping - even if they're the same ones that complain their significant other just doesn't understand their tastes or preferences. However, if they know in advance (at the time you present the gift card) you're going to be there with them when they spend the gift card, you may have scored some serious points back...especially if there's the promise of dinner, a movie or some other entertainment afterwards!   Time together is precious. It's also relatively affordable, unless you're a lawyer, doctor or a twenty-million-dollar-plus-per-movie-fee-earning actor or actress!

Gift those that "need"...

...more than you or those on your holiday shopping list. Donate a toy, donate to the food pantry or to any charitable organization...but do it from your heart, not for the sake of tax deductions. Donate time to a shelter. Buy gifts for a needy family that knows not where the gifts come from. Or maybe even send a friend going through tough financial times a little money, anonymously. Play Santa in some other way and makes someone's holiday.

You never know, it could be you the one in "need" some day......

Yes, "deer"!

If you're hosting a holiday party this Christmas, buy or make a bunch of silly holiday-themed headbands, such as reindeer antlers. Make everyone at your party wear those antlers, and be sure to capture it on camera! If everyone looks silly together, they'll be more relaxed and into the holiday spirit. Just don't let anyone wear any hunter orange, or your reindeer party-goers might run home early, feeling a bit skittish, afraid they're being "hunted."

Holiday traditions, old and new...

Take time to watch those old traditional Christmas through New Years holiday movies and specials, or even those that have yet to become traditions. (Looking for suggestions? Check out the holiday movies reviewed at Lick's Picks.) Relax and enjoy the movies and specials...as a child again. By finding your inner child, you can invigorate your holiday spirit and maybe even make a few others "catch" the virus of seasonal joy some have such a hard time obtaining with as hectic as many people's lives are, especially during the winter holiday season.

Mix it up!

Make a "mix" CD of silly seasonal related songs and quotes to give to friends or family early in the season. Over the holidays, people get so frazzled, overworked and over-stressed that they tend to take things too seriously or get stuck in the crowds, commercialization of Christmas and the over-bookings of their time.

Sharing a CD that highlights humor in the season may help others enjoy the season a little more, and remember not to stress so much. It's just one season a year after all. The sooner we all learn how to handle the mad rush of Christmas better, the more we can enjoy it without trying to dash through our holidays and rounds of seasonal gatherings.

Silver bells, silver coins...

Avoid the mall crowds for a few hours, and instead spend some time and a little money...but not more than you can afford to lose...at a casino. Maybe those bells you hear a-ringing will land you a silvery jackpot to help you out with your shopping expenses. And if not, well, you probably didn't waste much more time than you would've spent driving around the parking lot looking for a spot or standing in line waiting to make your purchases anyway!

Don't forget the pets!

Buy a costume for yours and your friends' pets. Insist your friends put the costumes on their pets while you're there. Take pictures of the moment...to your friends' chagrin and their pets' utter despair.

Sure, the pets may not appear happy to be in costume, but they look so cute, how can you resist?! Besides, they'll get used to it, the more they try it on, right?! *evil grin* And if not, well, they can be miniature little Grinches for a little while, and will be appreciative when you finally end their humiliation by helping them out of the costume, if they haven't already ripped it to shreds by the time you're ready to do so!

Start a new holiday tradition...

...do some holiday shopping at the adult toy store, for that naughty one on your list! Let him or her know that sometimes, it really does pay to be naughty!

|   Want more fragmented holiday humor? Click here!   |