From Christmas trees to homemade holiday cookies, the holidays are full of joy and love. 2020 has been a rough year for everyone, but there’s nothing the holiday season’s magic can’t make a little better.
This year, with many families deciding to celebrate individually instead of in large groups, there’s no doubt that the holidays will look different. As a result, many families will need to think a little more creatively when preparing for Christmas under quarantine. If this is the case for you, don’t worry—here are some quick tips to get Christmas-ready while under quarantine.
Don’t be afraid to go overboard with decorations.
If your family loves celebrating Christmas, consider going over the top with your decorations this year. For example, when decorating your home for Christmas, consider adding a nativity scene or letting the whole family help with hanging ornaments.
If you’re willing to take on a DIY project, try creating a Christmas tree this year instead of buying one. Instead of getting a conventional fir or pine tree, you can use anything from empty bottles to books to create your own one-of-a-kind tree. Regardless of what you have lying around your home, there’s no limit to what you can use to create a Christmas masterpiece with the help of your family.
For bonus points, get an advent calendar or light advent candles each night to celebrate in your home. Ultimately, celebrating the holiday season and creating a winter wonderland in your home is a great way to enjoy the love and joy of the holiday season with your loved ones.
Prepare your kitchen for holiday cooking.
From baking holiday cookies and cooking Christmas dinner to catching up with family members around the island, you’re sure to spend lots of time in your kitchen during the holiday season. To get your kitchen Christmas-ready, you’ll need to start with a fresh slate. Start by cleaning your kitchen and throwing away any old food. Remember: expiration dates aren’t just for your fridge—be sure to check out boxes of crackers, cans of soup, and everything else in your pantry.
With your newly cleaned space, you can more easily take stock of what you have and what you need to stock up on. If you’re planning to cook and/or bake for the holidays, craft a menu and list all the ingredients, you’ll need. This way, you can save on trips to the grocery store and buy in bulk to cut costs.
After preparing your kitchen for heavy-duty cooking and baking, it’s time to decorate. As the focal point of a kitchen, the kitchen table is the perfect spot to go all out with your holiday decor—think Christmas centerpieces, gingerbread houses, and poinsettias. Meanwhile, if you have extra counter space, consider adding a fun countertop tree. And don’t overlook spots like your cabinets, where there’s always room for a fun DIY wreath or Christmas garlands.
Stock up on stocking stuffers.
Whether you’re Christmas shopping for older adults or younger kids, surprising someone with a stocking full of goodies is always fun. Unfortunately, finding inexpensive gifts, t0 fit into a stocking can be challenging, especially if you’re shopping last minute.
Some great stocking stuffer ideas include:
- Fuzzy socks: Everyone gets cold feet during the winter, which is why fuzzy socks make a great stocking stuffer for the whole family. Many stores sell five-packs of fuzzy socks that come in multiple patterns. If you’re shopping on a budget, you can split up the pack into a few stockings.
- Nail polish stickers: If your giftee loves nail polish, the ManiMe stick-on gel nail polish stickers are ideal for getting beautiful nails without scheduling a trip to the salon. As the first-ever custom-fit stick-on gel nail polish stickers, ManiMe stickers can help your giftee achieve the perfect salon manicure under quarantine.
- Popsockets: Popsockets is a convenient phone accessory that can be popped in or out, which makes talking on the phone and FaceTiming easier than ever, especially if your loved ones have been FaceTiming to stay connected during the quarantine.
- Assorted candy: No matter who you’re shopping for, you can’t go wrong with candy. From holiday-themed chocolates to candy canes, an assorted box of candy is the perfect gift for coworkers, family members, and friends.
- Extra phone chargers: You can never have too many phone chargers. There’s always the chance that one of your chargers will break—or you can use the extra one in your car. Any tech user will appreciate a durable and reliable phone charger in their stocking.
Don’t forget about your extended family.
If you’re not visiting loved ones this year due to safety concerns, be sure to mail them a gift to remind them how much you appreciate them. When it comes to buying gifts that your whole family can enjoy on Christmas, you can never go wrong with simple gifts like advent calendars, board games, or an ice cream maker that can be enjoyed after the holiday season ends.
Another great option is a monthly subscription box. Monthly subscription boxes come in all shapes and sizes, making them the perfect gift for anyone in the family. For the wine lover in your family, you can surprise them with a new bottle each month.
Meanwhile, for your family’s foodies, consider sending a subscription box with dessert or cheese samplers. Even your family members who love makeup, socks, video games, or almost anything you can think of will enjoy a gift that keeps on giving every month. Subscription boxes are one of the best ways to remind your loved ones that they’re special and loved all year-round, not just during the holiday season.
Even if you can’t visit your friends and family this holiday season, it’s still possible to enjoy the love and joy of Christmas under quarantine. Between DIY Christmas decorations and mailing gifts to your extended family, thinking outside of the box this year can help you come up with fun Christmas traditions with your loved ones.