Today kicks off our 12 Days of Christmas series and I’m psyched about it! This is post 1 of 2 today, so stay tuned for the second. The theme this year is Stress Free Holidays focusing on holiday decor, DIY gifts and food & drink recipes.

Not sure about you guys but each year the holidays roll around, and it brings me joy, but it’s also always SO stressful. And really it’s not about stress. It’s about being with family and friends, giving to others and enjoying the time together.

This year, I’m focusing on a stress free holiday and doing so with the help of Ruth Soukup’s 12 Days to a Stress-Free Christmas Challenge. When you sign up you’ll receive an email with a short video each day focusing on staying stress free this holiday season. You’ll also get an added holiday planner to keep you on track this month.

What else are you guys doing to stay stress free? I can tell you that I’ve done 95% of my holiday shopping online which has been a huge stress relief (for someone who despises shopping!). We also cut back on our holiday gift giving and picked names on both sides of the family – stress saving and money savings! I’m focusing on simple decor items, simple gifts and simple recipes in the upcoming 12 Days of Christmas series. Small things to add joy but not suck every ounce of energy out of you.

Stay tuned for the first post, coming this afternoon, with a simple holiday decor suggestion. And if you have any other tips for staying stress free this holiday season, please share in the comments!