Happy & Healthy
5X WHY GOING ON VACATION AT CHRISTMAS IS A GOOD IDEA
An average Christmas at the Mans household. On Christmas afternoon (yes, in my world Christmas afternoon exists), I weave through the bunch of overheated bargain hunters in the city for some last minute Christmas shopping. Meanwhile, my partner is putting together a mise en place that would make a chef have wet dreams. As I slam the front door behind me, my crafting time begins, because hey, that gift has to look a bit nice under the tree. With the curling iron in my hair, I also curl a little ribbon around the package for my mother-in-law. And just as I swipe some blush on my winter cheeks, the doorbell rings. Round one of four begins. Christmas, then.
I've been telling anyone who will listen for three years that I'm putting a palm tree outside for the next holiday marathon. As in: goodbye umbrella and off on vacation. This year it would happen, you see. We slipped away. Minor problem: there's a move planned. I don't think Santa will get a moving truck with matching muscle bundles in my Christmas sock, so it's going to be self-carrying. But I have compiled an endless list of arguments for why it's a good idea to go, so take advantage of it.
1. In your bikini
The emails with the festive outfits stay closed and go straight into the trash. You enjoy the Christmas brunch in a bikini with a kaftan, and for dinner, you pull a nice dress out of the suitcase. Stressing about whether you're too overdressed or too casual under the tree? You don't have to.
2. The chef stays home
No mise-en-place at your vacation address. The hunt for that phenomenal truffle oil passes you by, and you don't have to time the cooking of the tenderloin. Someone cooks for you, a minimum of five large courses. You can stare into your loved one's eyes instead of into the pan.
“Stressing about whether you're too overdressed or too casual under the tree?”
3. That agenda stays nicely empty
On September 12th of this year, I received the first message about Christmas at exactly 2:42 PM. SEPTEMBER 12. I briefly dove into the weather archive, but on that day it was 28 degrees Celsius. And there were still three whole weeks between my summer vacation and me. The outfit of that day consisted of flip-flops, a giant pair of sunglasses, and a fluttery dress. Christmas, stop it with me. But if December 25th and 26th are beyond the horizon, then you can legally cancel. No brunch, no Christmas midnight mass, no dinner, and no gifts. Ha.
4. Now that we're talking about those gifts
Even if you want shopping credit, you'll never get it. No, they have to be original gifts. There goes your soap-lotion package, because if you receive something original, you have to give something quirky. And the hunt for grand gifts becomes a crusade. Are you going on a trip? No one will crow about a package under the tree (there's nothing for you either, right, tiny little downside).
5. Peace, cleanliness, and space
A book, a beach chair, a cocktail, pleasant company, and yourself. If you're looking for me, I'm writing a breathtaking epistle to Santa. About how a moving truck and some muscle bundles will definitely fit in that sock.
