Sometimes, it seems like the holiday magic has just disappeared.  They just don’t seem to sparkle anymore.  There’s the cold weather, and the hassle of buying gifts, and the travel plans or out-of-town guests to host, and the dinner to cook, and so much more.  Suddenly, the holiday season is just plain stressful!  If you’re feeling this way, it’s time to slow down and do what you can to bring the magic back.

Go outside with your kids (or nieces/nephews, friends’ kids, etc.) and have a snowball fight!  Help them build a snowman, create a snow fort, and make snow angels.  Kids always seem full of the holiday cheer, and it can be infectious.  Just be sure to bundle up!

Enjoy the holiday food.  Gingerbread, eggnog, candy canes, and other treats are often hard to find outside of the holiday season.  Spoil yourself a bit and have a snack or two while they’re here.

Go ice skating.  Many cities set up ice skating rinks for the holiday season.  Other areas may have permanent rinks that host special holiday events.

Snuggle by the fire.  If you have a wood-burning fireplace, there’s no time like the holiday season to get it going!  You can even roast marshmallows or make S’mores.  If you don’t have a fireplace, that’s OK—curl up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate or cuddle with your sweetheart while you watch a movie.

Speaking of movies, watching some of the classic holiday movies is sure to help get you in the spirit.  Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Charlie Brown Christmas episode, It’s a Wonderful Life…the list of great holiday movies goes on and on.  Pick your favorite and enjoy!

If movies don’t do it for you, see a live performance.  Many local theater and dance companies have holiday shows.  The Nutcracker ballet is often performed at Christmas; live performances of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol are also usually pretty easy to find.

Christmas Flowers in Austin, Texas.