(ARA) – While it may be the most wonderful time of the year, all too often the holidays are short on cheer and high on stress. With the festivities just weeks away, many are feeling the pressure to find the perfect gift, plan a delectable feast and make the trek to visit the in-laws.
With the holiday to-do list seemingly endless, it’s still possible to skate through the season with plenty of cheer and no sneer.
Whether you’re the ultimate procrastinator or meticulous planner, Brooke Burke, TV host, entrepreneur and mother of four, has gleaned some tips and tricks from Bing.com on how to reduce the stress and spend more time celebrating and less time worrying.
Ditch the crowds: The mall is often the last place you want to be during the holidays, with its jammed parking lot, hoards of people vying for the season’s “it” gift and the never ending cashier lines. It’s enough to make anyone want to stay indoors and curl up with a hot buttered rum. But, you can’t because you have a mile-long shopping list that would make Santa cringe.
* Don’t waste time and gas going to the mall. Cuddle up to your computer and do all your shopping online. Tackle your list with just a few clicks instead of hours visiting stores. You can even squeeze in a few minutes before work or while the kiddos are doing their homework to scratch a few things off the list.
* Get ideas on how to find the right gift for everyone on your list — from the kids to your mother in-law — with Bing Shopping. Bing lets you browse at your leisure through trusted reviews, price comparison tools and a ranking system so you can buy with confidence.
Deck the halls and table: Just planning your day-to-day activities can be enough of a headache, but making time to plan a holiday feast and decorate your home can be an entirely different story. The pressure to whip up a meal that appeases the taste buds of both the in-laws and the kids is enough to make anyone’s blood pressure rise. But, don’t lose faith; entertaining during the holidays can still be fun.
* Want to look like you went all out and still maintain your sanity? Try this: Decorate the bushes and trees on your property with all white lights, making for an elegant look that brightens up not only your home but the neighborhood too.
* If you prefer more subtle decorations, decorate the windows inside your house with assorted candles. It’s a great way to quickly add warmth and cheer up your home.
* When cooking for large groups, think about your audience before selecting a dish. If there are a bunch of children, the Chilean sea bass with saffron risotto may be too sophisticated. To keep it simple, try making chicken fried rice or spaghetti and meat balls for your guests. These dishes are simple and usually crowd favorites. You can use Bing Recipes where you can get user ratings, nutrition facts and more, so you quickly find the right dish.
Jet setting: The airport during the holiday season can make anyone cringe with the inevitable flight delays, steep ticket prices and grumpy kids who want to be anywhere but on a plane. It’s enough for anyone to want to stay home and visit the in-laws another year. But, traveling during the holiday season doesn’t always have to be an expensive hassle.
* To avoid the migraine, plan ahead and book in advance to keep costs down. Prices are usually much higher during the holidays with people off of work and kids out of school. Bing Travel’s Price Predictor helps you decide when and where to book your holiday trip to get the best deal.
* Book your travel right after the holiday season. You can often find great deals and resort areas will be less crowded, perfect for family getaways.
