I always wonder how we survive December - where in one month we decorate our houses inside and out, bake ourselves silly making cookies and candies, buy everyone we know a present we hope they will love, send everyone we know or knew 10 years ago a handwritten letter, attend lots of parties where we have to look fabulous and festive (and bring more food and white elephant gifts).

Any ONE of these things in a normal month would be considered a lot of work!

Despite my perfectionistic tendencies - despite the fact that I love to decorate and would love to go crazy making my house magazine-spread-worthy, and love setting a stunning table and hosting fabulous meals... there's this thing called reality. This reality says I am working hard at a fledgling business in a difficult economy. I need sleep more than I need a gorgeous, drool-worthy tree.

Further, I struggle with the materialistic tendencies of this time of year. Black Friday is my concept of a nightmare: crowds and people fighting over "deals" that are not really bargains at all. And at the end of every holiday, we are all stuck with gifts we didn't want, do not need, and feeling terrible that people we love wasted money on us! Perhaps the last isn't true of everyone - I have strong minimalistic leanings and feel my home is overcrowded enough as it is, and I'd be perfectly happy if people didn't buy me anything.

So here is what I have been doing to try to tame the insanity - and I'd love to know what you creative gals are doing also.

-Make gifts, make them early (like in the summer). I also try to make things that are consumable, like organic blueberry jam (we have a friend with a farm) and drying herbs for cooking and teas. I've made afghans and aprons, this year I have made soap and crocheted cotton washcloths. Every year people ask how I had time to do these things - I don't think it takes any more time than shopping does (except the afghans) and it's certainly more pleasant than fighting traffic.

-I may not bother with a tree this year (shocking - but we don't have kids and will not be home anyway) so I'll put up wreaths made at a friend's plant nursery and put the electric candles in our windows. Less clutter, still smells good in the house.

-Type up a fun newsletter about the year and send that in place of handwritten cards. I used to address them all in calligraphy - HA!!!

-Stick to simpler baked goods or (considering I'm usually the group "health nut thanks to being mostly vegan anyway) bring in the veggie dishes rather than cookies or cakes.

-For gift exchanges, I usually have made a scarf or two during the year.

-In answer to "what do you want for Christmas" or to hopefully avoid a bunch of things we don't want or need - we are asking for wine this year. I put together a list for the non-savvy - and who cares if we get two or even five of the same bottle???