i’ll let you in on a secret.  i’m not a big fan of thanksgiving.  and forget the fact that i don’t eat meat – because it has nothing to do with someone giving me the bird.

my angst begins at the grocery store, as me and countless others, aggressively maneuver our shopping carts like bumper cars at the carnival. 

then bird or no bird, i still manage to eat a ridiculous amount of food – including ones I would never on any other day even consider.  (check this recipe for fried twinkies).

i even manage to tolerate hours of football, after having long given up trying to understand this seemingly Neanderthal sport. 

and then, lets face it, spending long uninterrupted hours with even the best of families, can drive one to drink.  (throw in conversations regarding parenting, religion, and politics over a few glasses of wine and it is something equivalent to dropping a mentos in diet coke . . . when it happens, run – don’t walk).

ugh.  and thanksgiving is just the beginning of 5 more weeks eating too much, sleeping too little, and a to-do list that multiplies quicker than rabbits on fertility drugs.

 what’s a girl to do? 

1. sleep.  life may be busy and full, but don’t let it infringe on your sleep schedule.  sleep keeps your stress hormones – and even your weight - in check.  even better – nap.
2. say no.  no to invitations, no to special requests, no to second helpings and foods i can’t identify.  no thank you, is preferable.  but no, just the same.
3. say yes.  yes, I would love you to cook this year.  yes, you can help me clean the house.  yes, a massage does sound lovely.  oh yea – yes please.
4. om.  don’t mess with my yoga.  i’ll move it earlier in the morning, perhaps.  om at home, other days.  but ask me to skip and i’m likely to clobber you with my manduka.  (try this yin sequence as my personal remedy for holiday insanity).
5. write it down.  get a good planner – and use it.  write your week down, complete with what you need to do and where you need to go.  it’s like a brain laxative, keeping the mind free of schedule toxins that constipate.
6. get out.  do not let the colder weather trap you indoors.  need some ideas of what to do?  stop by and visit rebecca cohen and get out of the house!  (for those of you parents, there will also be times its your kids who should be sent out!)
7. chill.  chances are, you will eat more than you wish, spend more than you should, and say more than was necessary (blame that 3rd glass of wine).  ease up on yourself.  it happens.  do what you can to see that it doesn't, but when it does - give yourself a break.

all these things help keep me my usual happy, shiny self. instead of the shrew who threatens the lives of those I love, the weeks between thanksgiving and new year’s day.

give it a try . . . and have a merry freakin' christmas.