Simplifying Easter

One of the things that surprises me every holiday season are the number of holiday-themed things you can buy.  There are place settings and dishes for Thanksgiving; elaborate home decorations for Christmas and Halloween; gifts and candies for Valentines and Easter; and elaborate flower arrangements for Mother’s days and birthdays. While I think that special days should be celebrated, it saddens me that the commercial elements seem to overshadow the significance of the holiday. As I mentioned before around Christmas time, I have chosen to simplify holidays and to focus on experiences, not stuff.  Not only is it simpler, and cost effective, it also reduces the headaches that come when things require a lot of fuss:

–Bypass the gift giving (or limit gifts for children).  If family members tend to be elaborate on gifts for birthdays and spring-time holidays, ask if they will donate to a food bank instead.

–Choose seasonal fresh flowers or simple potted plants for giving instead of elaborate bouquets.  Right now, local daffodils are available at the grocery store that bloom a spectacular yellow.

–Simplify entertaining by having people over for brunch instead of a full dinner.  Create one main dish (like a frittata) and augment with purchased foods and fresh fruit.

–Choose experiences to share. As a kid, I remember a moving rendition of Amazing Grace played at an Easter sunrise service.  Great experiences such as a fun Easter egg hunt are the kinds of things that create great memories.

see more tips at Works for Me Wednesday