This isn’t directly Christmassy, but the lead up to Christmas can be very stressful for some people - the end of year tasks, school holdiays starting, more social engagements, Christmas shopping and so on all add up.

Santa is all about sharing happiness, so here are some great ways to reduce your stress this December…

• let go of your stressors on some beautiful leaves (better in Autumn, but it’s a lovely thought and maybe some bark would be a good alternative.) Thanks to Jennifer for this lovely idea and inspiration
• take some water therapy - minimising your water use of course!
• take time to appreciate life and forget your worries for a moment
• read some positive thoughts -and share your own - in teh well of positivity and help brest cancer research at the same time
• decorate a Christmas tree or your house
• wrap a gift for someome less fortunate
• look through photos of Christmas past and enjoy some memories
• watch children sit on Santa’s lap a the shops, etc - their delight is fun to see
• do some yoga, tai chi or other relaxing movements
• join a laughing group/club - at least try it once!
• tell someone what makes them beautiful - and automatically help women with cancer
• watch the sun rsie or set - better, watchboth in the same day
• give a hug
• smile!
• turn off your mobile phone and emails at least one night a week

And share your ideas on ways to relax this December…

If you need to take a dish to a Christmas function, but know you won’t have time to cook anything at the time, why not cook it sooner and freeze it? Then just pull it out of the freezer in time for the event - a great back up for unexpected visitors over the holiday season, too. This is an easy to make lasagne that freezes nicely…

2kg mince meat plus 2 large jars of prepared sauce and 1 large tin tomato puree*
4kg cheese - a combination of two works well, especially if one is mozzarella for the stringy effect!
2kg penne, ziti or other tube pasta

make a layer of meat sauce

cover with pasta

cover with cheese

cover with sauce

repeat until the pan is full and/or you run out of ingredients, but make sure cheese is the top layer. Wrap tightly and freeze. Bake at 180 C for about 30 minutes, plus 5 minutes uncovered - longer if cooking from frozen.

* If you have time, add chopped vegies into the sauce for more flavour and to make it a complete meal when serving it.

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
They’d been worn all week and needed the air.

When going to Christmas parties and functions, do you get into the Christmas spirit with what you wear?

Some ways to dress in the spirit are:

• tinsel in your hair or as a bracelet
• red and green earrings - gift or tree shaped in particular
• find clothes with a christmas message/picture - t-shirts are common
• wear red and green outfits
• tie on some bells - try your shoes, hair, ears, necklace or buttons
• put on a santa hat

What other ways have you shown your Christmas spirit?

How is your Christmas shopping going? The more you can do before 1 December, the better. Why?

• it avoids the need to go to the shops during those crazy, busy December days (and nights)
• it spreads out the expense of Christmas
• you can save money if you buy things on special rather than the day before you need them
• you have more time to realise you forgot something and grab it before you actually need it!

Other than perishable foods, do you try to get everything bought before December?