5 Ways to Have a Safe, Healthy, and Fun Pandemic Christmas!

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 Happy December! 

I can't believe that it's already December, but I'm thrilled that it is. Traditionally, December 1 has always been the start of the Christmas holidays for me. I let myself decorate, listen to all the Christmas music, and watch nothing but Christmas movies all month long!

This year, the holidays will look a little different than usual. We're still in the midst of a pandemic and facing a "surge superimposed upon the surge we're already in," in the words of Dr. Fauci. Yikes. 

By staying home and not gathering with our loved ones this year, we ensure that we'll all be around to enjoy many future holidays together. That's a worthy trade. 

Still, we don't have to give up on this holiday season all together! There are ways to have festive fun without exposing anyone. Here are a few ideas.

Spread cheer, not covid!

1. Dress up anyway.

Sparkly makeup, festive fashions, cute hair - whether I'm heavily pregnant or already a new mom this Christmas, I plan to dress up to stay in! 

Sure, we usually get dressed up for a reason - to go to a party or church, to look nice for friends or family. This year, staying home is how we show other people how much we value them. 

But we don't have to miss out on the special holiday styles, just because we're home with our immediate families. Let's dress up for ourselves!

Let's be real. Dressing up is at least as fun as the actual going-out part anyway. 

Since my only two possible circumstances over Christmas are either being heavily pregnant or being the new mother of a tiny, needy newborn, I'd realistically probably only have energy for the dressing up part even if there wasn't a pandemic on.

2. Host a virtual games night. 

Go old school with classics like 'Never Have I Ever' and 'Truth or Dare,' or go modern with crowd-favorites like Fibbage on Jackbox.tv. Invite some friends and enjoy! 

My husband and I have had several virtual games nights over the course of the pandemic and it's a great way to stay connected with friends and have a social 'outing' without endangering anyone. 

Pour a nice glass of wine, or sparkling cider in a fancy stemmed glass for my fellow preggos, and enjoy! 

We've found that the ideal size for a virtual games night is 4 to 6 people. More than that can be a little tough over Zoom with the sound lags, connection speeds, and just generally overcrowding.

3. Have a cookie baking, dancing, and Christmas music party for two.

Or three, or four, or however many people are in your household. 

Blasting your favorite Christmas tunes, dancing goofily around, and baking up a batch of your favorite Christmas cookies is a great way to fill your hearts with merry and glee!

Singing along, on- or off-key, is highly encouraged.

In our household, we're a big fan of the classic chocolate chip cookie - soft and doughy onside, lightly crispy outside.

Here's my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe! 

My husband doesn't like nuts in his cookies (he's wonderful, but has questionable taste as far as nuts go - I think nuts are delicious!) so we'll make some with and some without added walnuts!

4. Camp out in the living room.

Holiday magic brings out the inner child in all of us. Remember the joy of slumber parties as a kid? Recreate it with a living room camp out!

Sure, traveling isn't advisable this holiday season. But there's nothing stopping us from making blanket forts in the living room, rolling out our sleeping bags on the floor, and watching Christmas movies, chatting, and listening to Christmas music late into the night. 

It's a little different and a great way to break up the monotony of seeing the same things and doing the same things day in and day out while quarantining through the pandemic. Give yourself the gift of a shift in perspective!

5. Have a contactless Christmas cookie exchange.

I love baking homemade treats for my loved ones and have been baking since I was a little girl. I even apprenticed in a restaurant kitchen in Germany one summer when I was a teenager.

Not to be full of myself, but I'm quite a good baker. 

Still, and I'm sure lots of other moms feel this way, food somehow always tastes better when someone else makes it for me. 

Even if it's the exact same recipe, prepared the exact same way! I guess it's true that people bake a little love into their food when they bake for others.

Traditionally, the Christmas season has plenty of opportunities to enjoy foods other people have made. There are office parties, dinner parties, all sorts of parties! This year, none of those things are socially responsible given the pandemic.

A contactless cookie exchange, on the other hand, is safe and delicious. Gather a group of friends and/or family and have everyone drop off some cookies for each other. You'll all get to try each other's treats, plus you'll have the fun of baking for people you love!

Do contactless drop-offs, leaving the cookies on each other's front porch/front doorstep/in the mailbox. Be sure to wear masks while making the cookies, and you'll have a safe, tasty way to celebrate!

How are you celebrating the holidays this year?