silly celebrations, take five

Today is 12-12-12. It's become a tradition for me to celebrate this triple date with you. I've had so much fun coming up with a variety of lists each year. I hope you enjoy this silly celebration. 

Twelve Lists of Twelve
all lists in no particular order

Twelve ways to say, "Merry Christmas!"

• Feliz Navidad, Spanish
• Happy Holidays
• Fröhliche Weihnachten, German
• Happy Christmas
• Selamat Hari Natal, Indonesian
• Happy Ho Ho Ho to you
• Feliz Natal, Portuguese 
• A very non-grinchy holiday to you, sir
• Buone Feste Natalizie, Italian
• Season's Greetings (my personal least favorite)
• God Jul, Swedish 
• Wishing you a very, very merry, very, very merry, wonderful Christmas time!

Twelve people who deserve your holiday cheer and patience

• anyone running a cash register
• everyone running a cash register
• your neighbors
• the children in your life
• the person beside you at church or an event
• your bank teller
• your mail-carrier
• mall employees
• your child's teacher(s)
• your own teacher(s)
• your own family
• You.  Be cheerful because it benefits you most of all. 

Twelve things you might consider letting go of this Christmas

• fruitcake
• listening to or singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
• buying too much for your children or grandchildren
• exhausting obligation parties
• over-scheduling
• the need to do everything perfectly
• shopping without a budget
• guilt-gifting
• dieting
• eggnog
• that one thing you dread most every holiday
• over-spending

Twelve reasons to send those Christmas cards

• your Grandma
• your Grandpa
• your Mom 
• your Dad
• to share that fabulous picture of you
• the old friend you really love, but never see any more
• because the people who love you really, really love hearing from you
• It's thoughtful.
• The US postal service really needs the business.
• You want to receive Christmas cards, don't you? 
• There are so many beautiful card options available now. 
• It's a lovely old tradition, and it would be a shame to see it die out.

Twelve free (or very cheap) gift ideas

• a letter to your child's teacher telling her specifically what she has done well
• a copy of that same letter to your child's principal
• spend time with your parents with nothing on the agenda, but time together
• your favorite recipe to someone who loves that dish
• burn a mix cd for a friend
• a pot of chili to the shut-in you keep thinking of, but never making time for
• pass along a favorite book
• set up your parent's tree for them
• carry a few candy canes in your pocket and give them to harried strangers with a great big, "Merry Christmas!"
• give your partner a long, loving massage
• in the drive through line, pay for the person behind you
• bring a coworker their favorite latte

Twelve simple ways to celebrate the holidays

• Go caroling.
• Forgive someone.
• Visit an elderly person.
• Think of the Christmas song you dislike.  Now, sing it loud and silly till it makes you laugh instead of cringe.
• Share your bounty, whether it's baked goods, left-overs, time, or money.
• Say, "Merry Christmas!" to every person who serves you this season.
• Sing along with the radio.
• Choose one person who would never expect a gift from you.  Deliver it in secret to them with an admiring note.
• Hang your cards on the front of your fridge for a happy jolt while you are making dinner.
• Suck on a candy cane.
• Buy a few stocking stuffers from a joke shop.
• Make or buy a dreidle and play it with your family.

Twelve inspiring images

• Heart, by Amy Gross
• now that's my kind of gift giving: Camper by Krista Keltanen
• a gorgeous city scene, photographer unknown
• peppermint delivery by Mandy Lynne
• Red and White Cheer via Midwestern Living magazine
• a rustic doorway by Shadetree Photography
• the perfect Christmas dress
• I want Christmas in a pink house
• beautiful Christmas interiors via Nil blog
• Christmas car, photographer unknown
• minimal holiday decor via Splendid Willow
• Christmas kiss, photographer unknown

Twelve things to do for yourself this Christmas

• tie on a gorgeous ribbon and dangle an old crystal from the corner of your stocking
• take the family on a light-looking drive
• watch something that makes you laugh
• if possible, visit Silver Dollar City
• buy yourself a gorgeous new calendar so you can feast on beauty all year long
• shower with this
• let go of perfect
• wear the red lipstick
• take a quick shower to get clean, then soak, soak, soak in a hot, hot tub
• look through old Christmas pictures and reminisce
• go to Godiva, buy a truffle, then sit in the quiet for 10 minutes and savor
• take a nap

Twelve big and little ways to give this Christmas away

• keep change on hand so you can put some in every red bucket you pass
• offer attention and hugs to anyone who wants it
• pack a box for Operation Christmas Child
• write that Christmas letter
• buy a Toy for a Tot
• give gift certificates to teachers, coaches, technicians
• donate time to your church
• participate in Secret Santa
• ask a teacher how you can help them this year
• give more than is asked for
• donate a big bag of dog food to the local animal shelter
• smile, smile, smile, smile, smile

Twelve terrific Christmas movies

• Christmas in Connecticut
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version)
• It's a Wonderful Life
• Home Alone
• A Christmas Carol (the musical version)
• Elf
• A Season for Miracles (Hallmark Hall of Fame)
• White Christmas
• Miracle on 34th Street
• The Polar Express
• The Story Lady
• A Christmas Story

Twelve things to do before you pack away the decorations

• Spend an evening enjoying your home after the hustle and bustle is over.
• When you hit the After-Christmas sales, remember that a bargin is only a bargain if you use it.
• Toss old and mangled ornaments and lights.
• Make a playlist of your favorite Christmas songs.  Now you'll have it ready for next year.
• Get rid of the half-finished project.  If you haven't done it by now - you likely won't.
• Think of the one thing you did that was most difficult this season.  Make a note to skip that thing next year.
• Buy new strands of lights while they are half off.
• Don't pack your favorite holiday movies.  You may want to watch them in July.
• Buy a small tree after Christmas to turn into a memory tree next year.
• Don't buy another storage bin.  Toss something instead.
• Label the bins so you can find thing quickly and easily next year.
• Use it up, give it away, or toss it out.

Twelve ways to get ready for the new year

• Sort and organize all your pictures from the past year.
• Return all library books or videos and pay any overdue charges.
• Start with a clean slate.
• Spend some time remembering.
• Go ahead and be sad over the losses and the hurts. 
• Now let them go. 
• Try to feel grateful for what the pain taught you.
• Journal about the lessons you've learned in 2012.
• Make a list of five people who changed  your life for the better in 2012. 
• Write them and tell them so.
• Write down 100 blessings of 2012. 
• Read them again on New Year's Eve, 2013.

Today's pictures were borrowed from these photographers: 1. 12, 2. "12", 3. 12 messehalle