Surviving the holidays: hacks and confessions

[Anonymous]

I went from four trees to three.
I dropped budget $100 per person.
I make only caramels And peanut butter cup cookies. That’s call my kids like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gift bags and tissues only. Traditional Christmas dinner postponed to the following night. No greeting cards except to helpers with a gift in person. Kids are old enough to decorate the tree and house.

When my kid was about 7 she insisted on wrapping paper for a friends present. Sge said it’s

[Anonymous]

Sorry I don’t know why the above posted, I wasn’t done.
My 7yo said it’s more fun to open a wrapped gift than a gift in a gift bag. So for kids I still use wrapping paper..

[Anonymous]

My MIL cooked and absolutely inedible, if not super dangerous, meal for us tonight. I'm starving. Ugh+

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My MIL cooked and absolutely inedible, if not super dangerous, meal for us tonight. I'm starving. Ugh+

I have had food poisoning twice because of my MIL and refuse to eat any meat she prepares now because of it. I hope you can run out this morning for snacks to keep in your suitcase!

[Anonymous]

Sometimes clueless people needed to be treated like clueless people. Every year my BIL does something super annoying.
--One year he brought a years worth of junk mail to go through and filled all my trashcans. No problem, I just asked him to help me empty them.
--Last year he brought bunch of expired snack foods to our house. Like 200 pieces. I told him just to leave in his car, unless he had some moon pies, which he didn't.
--This year he brought all his laundry. He is 68 years old married to my sister not some young bachelor. I told him, only laundry in the afternoon with so many showers in the morning taxing our smallish hot water heater. He complied. Clueless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went from four trees to three.
I dropped budget $100 per person.
I make only caramels And peanut butter cup cookies. That’s call my kids like.

Four trees?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes clueless people needed to be treated like clueless people. Every year my BIL does something super annoying.
--One year he brought a years worth of junk mail to go through and filled all my trashcans. No problem, I just asked him to help me empty them.
--Last year he brought bunch of expired snack foods to our house. Like 200 pieces. I told him just to leave in his car, unless he had some moon pies, which he didn't.
--This year he brought all his laundry. He is 68 years old married to my sister not some young bachelor. I told him, only laundry in the afternoon with so many showers in the morning taxing our smallish hot water heater. He complied. Clueless.

lol. I am kind of fascinated by this guy that brings these chores with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes clueless people needed to be treated like clueless people. Every year my BIL does something super annoying.
--One year he brought a years worth of junk mail to go through and filled all my trashcans. No problem, I just asked him to help me empty them.
--Last year he brought bunch of expired snack foods to our house. Like 200 pieces. I told him just to leave in his car, unless he had some moon pies, which he didn't.
--This year he brought all his laundry. He is 68 years old married to my sister not some young bachelor. I told him, only laundry in the afternoon with so many showers in the morning taxing our smallish hot water heater. He complied. Clueless.

I see your point on moon pie. No moon pie, everything gets trashed.

It's fascinating how he thinks though. He saves everything to organize at the holidays at your house. Do they ever host?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes clueless people needed to be treated like clueless people. Every year my BIL does something super annoying.
--One year he brought a years worth of junk mail to go through and filled all my trashcans. No problem, I just asked him to help me empty them.
--Last year he brought bunch of expired snack foods to our house. Like 200 pieces. I told him just to leave in his car, unless he had some moon pies, which he didn't.
--This year he brought all his laundry. He is 68 years old married to my sister not some young bachelor. I told him, only laundry in the afternoon with so many showers in the morning taxing our smallish hot water heater. He complied. Clueless.

I see your point on moon pie. No moon pie, everything gets trashed.

It's fascinating how he thinks though. He saves everything to organize at the holidays at your house. Do they ever host?

No. I am the only one who enjoys cooking. It's best if everyone comes here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes clueless people needed to be treated like clueless people. Every year my BIL does something super annoying.
--One year he brought a years worth of junk mail to go through and filled all my trashcans. No problem, I just asked him to help me empty them.
--Last year he brought bunch of expired snack foods to our house. Like 200 pieces. I told him just to leave in his car, unless he had some moon pies, which he didn't.
--This year he brought all his laundry. He is 68 years old married to my sister not some young bachelor. I told him, only laundry in the afternoon with so many showers in the morning taxing our smallish hot water heater. He complied. Clueless.

lol. I am kind of fascinated by this guy that brings these chores with him.

Last night during dinner (my 2nd of four huge family dinners I'm hosting), I noticed an old beat up suitcase in our dining room--I asked him why that was there. He said it was full of gifts that needed wrapping. It sat there all night. But I'll give him credit, I left wrapping paper and tape out, and he's wrapping away this morning at 8am.

[Anonymous]

I just count the hours until they leave. Right now it's t-minus 48.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t lie. I create the holiday that works best for me and my family.

This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes clueless people needed to be treated like clueless people. Every year my BIL does something super annoying.
--One year he brought a years worth of junk mail to go through and filled all my trashcans. No problem, I just asked him to help me empty them.
--Last year he brought bunch of expired snack foods to our house. Like 200 pieces. I told him just to leave in his car, unless he had some moon pies, which he didn't.
--This year he brought all his laundry. He is 68 years old married to my sister not some young bachelor. I told him, only laundry in the afternoon with so many showers in the morning taxing our smallish hot water heater. He complied. Clueless.

Why didn’t you have him recycle the junk mail?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes clueless people needed to be treated like clueless people. Every year my BIL does something super annoying.
--One year he brought a years worth of junk mail to go through and filled all my trashcans. No problem, I just asked him to help me empty them.
--Last year he brought bunch of expired snack foods to our house. Like 200 pieces. I told him just to leave in his car, unless he had some moon pies, which he didn't.
--This year he brought all his laundry. He is 68 years old married to my sister not some young bachelor. I told him, only laundry in the afternoon with so many showers in the morning taxing our smallish hot water heater. He complied. Clueless.

Why didn’t you have him recycle the junk mail?

Yes, we put it in the recycle bin.