If you believe the lyrics to “Jingle Bells,” people used to laugh all the way during their holiday travels. Today, getting to grandma’s house may be a little more complicated, but there are still ways you can make it less stressful.

Try these holiday travel tips and sample meditation to make your trip more enjoyable.

Stress-Free Holiday Traveling

1. Give yourself plenty of extra time. Staying calm is easier when you give yourself plenty of lead time. Leave the house a little earlier than usual.

2. Expect to run into snags. That extra time will come in handy if you miss a connecting flight. Keep an extra change of clothes with you in case some luggage gets lost.

3. Pack light. If possible, ship your gifts directly to the recipients so you have fewer suitcases to wrangle. Get in the habit of using a single carry-on bag.

4. Travel during off-peak hours. Early mornings, late nights, and the middle of the week may be less crowded. Shorter lines are a great way to reduce stress and weariness.

5. Start out well rested. You can manage everything better after a full night’s rest. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep before your trip. Take an afternoon nap if you’ve got a late flight ahead.

6. Bring healthy snacks. Skip the fast food at the airport. A protein bar or a bag of homemade trail mix with nuts and dry cereal will give you more nutrition and energy.

7. Limit alcohol and caffeine. Take it easy with the free cocktails. Flying is dehydrating, so alcohol and caffeine aggravate the effects. They can also make it more difficult to meditate. Drink more water instead.

8. Use portable meditation props. Airlines generally disapprove of lighting up incense but will welcome less intrusive props. Bring a string of wooden beads you can use for counting or load a favorite image onto your smart phone or tablet.

• There is something special about coming “Home for the Holidays” and this unique cheese & sausage gift basket is a great way to share the sentiment.
• Take this holiday favorite with you or send it when you can’t be there in person.
• With enough cheese, sausage and crackers to start any holiday celebration, this basket will be talked about long after the season is over.
• SHOP NOW, SHIP LATER – enter a preferred future delivery date in the memo field while placing your order and we’ll take care of the rest.
• Gift Basket Village gourmet gift baskets usually ship the same day the order is received with ground delivery throughout the US taking 2-5 business days. Expedited shipping options are also available.

Product Description
We have filled this very handsome and unique wooden basket with gourmet Crackers, Cranberry Cheddar gourmet Cheese, Wisconsin Swiss Cheese, Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese, Havarti Dill Cheese Dip, Deluxe Smoked Almonds, “Nik Naks” Cocktail Mix, Assorted Gourmet Mustards, Beef Salami, Beef Summer Sausage, Mint Chocolate Wafer Cookies, Cranberry Bog Frogs (Sweetened Dried Cranberries and Cashews Smothered w/ Caramel and Chocolate) and frosted pine! To make this basket just… More >>

Home For The Holidays: Christmas Gift Basket with Cheese & Sausage & Cutting Board – FREE SHIPPING

• Rainbow Fruit Crate, 48-Ounce Box
• Includes: dried apricots, dates, peaches, plums and apples
• Gluten-Free, Kosher, Low-fat, Non-GMO, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Low-sodium; Good source of potassium and fiber
• This dried fruit gift basket is hand crafted and delightfully arranged
• Made of assorted dried fruits from the sun-bathed valleys in California

Product Description
This Rainbow Fruit Crate comes with 3 lbs. of assorted dried fruits from the sun-bathed valleys in California. Product includes: dried apricots, dates, peaches, plums and apples. Treat yourself, or give as a gift. Since this product is Gluten-Free, Kosher, Low-fat, Non-GMO, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Low-sodium, it is a suitable gift for anyone!… More >>

Broadway Basketeers Rainbow Fruit Crate

• Gluten free treats.

Product Description
Our Gluten Free Christmas Gift basket is filled with delicious, gourmet gluten-free treats. Perfect for those with gluten sensitivity.

ncludes:

* Dr. Lankin’s Awesome Almonds® Flavored Almonds
* Betty Lou Gluten Free Krispy Bite
* Lesser Evil Flavored Popcorn
* Gluten Free Cookies with all-natural & organic ingredients
* Sensible Foods Dried Fruit Mix
* Boomi Bar or Larabar or Just Great Stuff Bar
* Bare Fruit Apple Chips
* Gluten … More >>

Gluten Free Christmas Gift Basket

• We deliver your best Season’s Greetings with this gourmet food gift box detailed to look like a traditional Holiday Wreath
• Your friends, family or most important clients are sure to delight in the gourmet goodies trucked inside
• Each gift includes a personalized gift card message from you to convey your best holiday wishes

Product Description
We deliver your best Season’s Greetings with this gourmet food gift box detailed to look like a traditional Holiday Wreath. Your friends, family or most important clients are sure to delight in the gourmet goodies trucked inside. Lift the lid to enjoy and assortment Chocolate Covered Popcorn, White Chocolate Almond Popcorn, Butter Toffee Popcorn, Gourmet Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Chocolate Mint Bonbon Candy, Peppermint Holiday Candy, Butte… More >>

Holiday Wreath of Treats Gift Box – A Great Christmas Gift Basket

• Send wintery fresh Holiday wishes with this Winter themed gourmet Holiday gift basket
• Offers a wide assortment of winter and snowman themed gourmet foods like polar fun milk chocolate squares, snowman’s artichoke dip mix, white chocolate mix in a gift boxed ornaments, “penguin fun” shortbread cookies, snowman’s snack mix and more!
• Includes premium gift foods like this Currier & Ives Winter Scene Tin of Danish Butter Cookies, Lindt chocolates, and award winning cookies from Too Good Gourmet carefully arranged in this snowflake decorative gift box.
• Dim: 16″L x 10″W x 10″H
• We guarantee you and your recipients will be 100% satisfied!

Product Description
Send wintery fresh Holiday wishes with this Winter themed gourmet Holiday gift basket. Offers a wide assortment of winter and snowman themed gourmet foods like polar fun milk chocolate squares, Snowman’s dip artichoke dip mix, white chocolate cococa mix in a gift boxed ornament, “peguin fun” shortbread cookies, snowman’s snack mix and more. Includes premium gift foods like this Currier & Ives Winter Scene Tin of Danish Butter Cookies, Lindt chocolates, and award win… More >>

Holiday Winter Wonderland: Gourmet Christmas Gift Basket

• Dried Fruit Round Basket (Extra-Large), 48-Ounce Package
• Includes: pears, prunes, dates, apricots, cherries, pineapple and foil accented fruit
• Gluten-Free, Kosher, Low-fat, Non-GMO, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Low-sodium; Good source of potassium and fiber
• This dried fruit gift basket is hand crafted and delightfully arranged
• Made of assorted dried fruit from California’s fertile valleys

Product Description
This Dried Fruit Round Basket (Extra-Large) comes overstuffed with 3 lbs. of assorted dried fruit from California’s fertile valleys. Product includes: pears, prunes, dates, apricots, cherries, pineapple and foil accented fruit. Treat yourself, or give as a gift. Since this product is Gluten-Free, Kosher, Low-fat, Non-GMO, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Low-sodium, it is a suitable gift for anyone!… More >>

Broadway Basketeers Healthy Gourmet Dried Fruit Round Basket Gift Basket

Sometimes the holidays seem to get away from us. You get too busy to enjoy the simple aspects that make the holidays so special. Marketing messages barrage us from every corner. We forget that Christmas isn’t about buying the latest and greatest toy or device. If you want to get back to basics, consider having a fun, old-fashioned Christmas this year.

Caroling

There’s nothing more old-fashioned than Christmas caroling. Gather a group of friends or join a community or church group. Dress warmly, brush up on your carol lyrics, and make it a special night. Plan to go out for cocoa and treats afterward. It may become a tradition your family looks forward to every year.

Christmas Lights

All around your community, families try to outdo each other with the holiday lights. Some resemble the Griswolds with crazy over-the-top scenes and enough lights to see their home from the moon. Others put out a beautiful display. Take your family for a night walk or drive around your community to enjoy the holiday lights. You can make a game of it to find the most beautiful display or the craziest display.

Decorating

Children love to decorate the holiday tree. Put on some holiday music – Bing Crosby, anyone? Let your children hang the ornaments. In fact, going out to cut down the holiday tree can be an event all by itself. You can get cocoa at the tree lot, take a sleigh ride and sing carols. Once home, children can hang the ornaments or make decorations for the home. It’s great old-fashioned Christmas fun.

Play Outside

Don’t forget the joys to be had outside during the holiday season – ice skating, sledding, snow angels and forts and of course making snowmen. Bundle the family up and head outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Let your children decide what the activity is and then support them.

Christmas doesn’t have to be all hustle and bustle. It doesn’t have to be about the gifts and material things. It can be completely about the special holiday time with family and friends. This year, take steps to take Christmas back. Have fun and engage in old-fashioned holiday activities. Your family will remember this holiday for years to come. And who knows – maybe you’ll start a whole new tradition.

Are you looking for a way to keep your children busy during holiday break? One great way to have them contribute to the holiday festivities is to have them help make holiday treats. In many families cookies are an important part of the holiday tradition. Even if your children aren’t able to bake yet, they can help decorate. Here are a few quick and easy holiday treats your kids will love.

#1 Rice Crispy Treats

Rice Crispy treats are no-bake snacks that can be ready in a matter of minutes. You can find the recipe on the side of any rice cereal box. You need a box of rice crispy cereal, a bag of marshmallows and butter. Once the treats are made, you can use cookie cutters to shape them into holiday decorations.

One easy shape for younger children is to cut the treats into circles and decorate them to resemble tree ornaments. You can use basic colored gel frosting found at the supermarket, or make your own butter cream frosting and color it with food coloring to match your desired decorating style. Let your little ones express their creativity by decorating the treats.

#2 Sugar cookies

Round sugar cookies can be made and decorated like holiday ornaments. Or you can roll them out and use various holiday cookie cutter shapes to get more creative. This is particularly fun for older children who may enjoy more complicated decorating tasks. Additionally, older children can bake the cookies.

#3 Peanut butter balls

Another no-bake cookie that’s fun to make are peanut butter balls. They’re also called buckeyes. Basically, you blend peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar into a gooey mess. You then roll the peanut butter mix into melted chocolate, let cool and enjoy. Here’s a quick and easy recipe.

* 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 6 cups confectioners’ sugar
* 4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and confectioners’ sugar. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a waxed, paper-lined cookie sheet. Chill for thirty minutes in your freezer. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in your microwave. Stir frequently until smooth. Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top. Place back on wax paper and store in refrigerator.

If you have family recipes, invite your children to help bake. Getting your children involved in the holiday preparations accomplishes many beneficial things. It helps them feel valuable. They learn new skills. Additionally, it helps them stay busy during time off of school. They’ll be able to grow up and share their joy of holiday baking with their own family.

During the winter it’s easy to hole up inside like a pack of bears hibernating. However, humans are not bears and there’s a lot of fun to be had outside. This Christmas season, take your family outdoors, get some sunshine and have some good old-fashioned family fun. Here are five ways to have outdoor family fun this Christmas.

#1 Snowball - This is essentially a good game of touch, or tackle, football in the snow. Get everyone dressed warmly from head to toe and head outside. If you have enough folks to get eleven people on a team, that’s great. Otherwise, divide the group evenly. Draw a goal in the snow by digging a trench.

You will also want to mark the half-way point. If you can get one team to wear red snow hats and the other to wear green snow hats, all the better. It’ll be easier to remember who is on your team. If not, no worries. It’s all about fun and playing in the snow. Use the same rules as football and have fun.

#2 Sledding – Sledding is fun for all ages and you don’t need a fancy sled to have fun. Often, the lid of a garbage can or a cardboard box can do the trick. Of course, if you have a large plastic saucer sled then it’s rip-roaring fun. Find the biggest, fastest hill and enjoy.

#3 Build a family snowman – This is a great outdoor activity for little kids. They love to make snowmen. The adults and older children can be responsible for pushing the snowball around when it gets too large for the little ones to manage. They can also do the heavy lifting. Young children can be responsible for finding items to adorn the snowman, or woman, with.

#4 Snow forts and snow angels – Who doesn’t like to make a snow angle or build a fort? If you live in a snowy area it’s almost a required outdoor activity.

#5 Snowy obstacle course - Build ramps, hurdles and other obstacles in the snow and challenge each other to run the course. The fastest time wins. If you don’t live in a snowy area you can enjoy this activity using other items in nature.

You can also simply enjoy a hike, walk around the neighborhood and enjoy the Christmas lights or sing carols to your neighbors. There are a number of outdoor activities to enjoy during the Christmas season. Find one that’s right for your family. Create new family traditions, enjoy spending time together and make it a Christmas to remember.