Each year we all approach the festive season with either great enthusiasm and joy, or fear, anxiety and trepidation. Why is it that for some of us it all just feels so overwhelming and stressful? What is it that we’re not doing right, or missing, that others seem to handle with such ease and joy?
Is the key to a successful, fun and stress-free Christmas planning, time, lists, or maybe even help? We’ve put together a few simple tips and tricks to make the holiday season feel a lot less stressful and a lot more fun, as well as some great gift ideas from Poho to tie it all together.
Planning
Before we embark on anything festive, we make a list and check it twice. A morning off with a coffee and pen and paper, or a to-do list on your phone, is the best place to start. We like to break it down into various sections: gifts, groceries, things for home, and people to see or things to do between now and Christmas Eve. Breaking things into smaller, more manageable sections instantly makes everything feel less overwhelming. You can then allocate different tasks to different days rather than trying to do everything all at once.
Things for Home
Christmas and New Year are social times. It often means people dropping in or vice versa, so it’s always a good idea to make sure the house is ready to receive guests. Think a festive arrangement on the hall table and a lovely Maison Balzac scented candle in the guest bathroom. Simple festive touches that make people feel welcome and help you feel more settled at the thought of their impending arrival.
Same-day delivery from Poho also means that those last-minute drop-ins are covered too. A few treats in the fridge and a bottle of Perrier-Jouët on ice always help. We’re also stashing a few Loco Love Pistachio Mylk Praline chocolates in the pantry so there’s always something on hand. Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, Poho has you covered.
Gift Giving
We all approach gift giving differently. Some people put a great deal of time and thought into gifts for each and every special person in their life, whilst others prefer something simple, festive and fun that fits all sizes, like a Maison Balzac candle, Frama hand cream, or one of our favourites, a seasonal panettone. Simple, thoughtful gestures that everyone loves and appreciates.
Our pet hate? Gift giving for the sake of gift giving: thoughtless things that clutter and say nothing other than “I left this to the last minute” or, worse, scream re-gifting. For those situations where you simply don’t have time, we like to choose something that has social impact, a donation or a gift that gives back. Our Poho x AWC Tote, for example, sends the full $15 straight to AWC and their incredible work conserving our landscapes and wildlife.
Flowers… of course!
At the very top of each of those lists should be flowers. The perfect end-of-year gift for friends, colleagues, loved ones, or perhaps even just the neighbours or someone who has shown you kindness this year. A Poho gift bouquet is the perfect way to say thank you.
And don’t forget to think about where you’ll be on Christmas Day. Offering to style the table with a beautiful centrepiece, an arrangement, or even just some Christmas bush or spruce is a lovely way to contribute something simple, decorative and thoughtful that doesn’t break the bank and, let’s be honest, gets you off the hook pretty easily. With same-day delivery both online and over the phone, we’re here to help. We also love seeing you in-store, and our amazing team of florists are always ready to lend a hand and make some festive suggestions.
Decorations
Less is more! This year in-store we’ve gone for a potted green pine tree with classic warm lights, decorated with boxes and boxes of your favourite Helle Mardahl hand-blown glassware that Santa delivered just in time for Christmas. The wonderful thing about a potted tree is that you can take it outside afterwards and care for it until next year, or even plant it in the garden as a gesture for future generations.
Our big no’s: tinsel, coloured lights and anything that flashes. The classics are classic for a reason; they work, and they’re timelessly chic.
Each year we try to make Christmas just that little bit more simple and fun. Think family, love, kindness and community. The rest is just fluff. And don’t forget to eat and drink all the best stuff.
Merry Christmas from Poho!
