Taste Life Blog

The holidays are extra special in our house with Brett being born on Thanksgiving, which was Danielle’s third birthday. We always celebrate Thanksgiving at Auntie Pam’s house in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I usually prepare and take vegetable dishes. This year I made a sweet potato dish, cauliflower au gratin and broccoli salad. No brussel sprouts. Gary’s family doesn’t eat them. My kids love Thanksgiving but LOVE Black Friday even more. Auntie Pam, Uncle Mark and Gram Ady and all the cousins get up at 4:30 a.m. to get in line to get the fantastic Doorbuster specials – if you need them or not.

Gary and I quit getting up at 4:30 am a few years ago and go shopping a little later. This year at one store we watched exhausted sales staff help frenzied tired shoppers buy the “best” flat screen TV for the “best price.” When you scan the holiday ads it’s a techno gadgetry geek’s holiday delight. But is all this stuff really making us happy? Studies suggest that people misjudge what will make them happy, how happy it will make them, and how long the happiness will last.

Here are three ways to get happy this holiday season.

Buy experiences, not stuff

Quick, think about the flat screen TV or latest techno gadget you purchased. What was your first thought? Now, think about your last weekend hanging around with people you love or your last vacation. Ryan Howell, an assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University found that buying experiences like going on a vacation, or renting a sailboat gave people more happiness than buying material things. The study of 154 people ages 19 to 50 showed that experiences increase happiness because they are often social in nature. And, the experiences make the people feel more alive. Howell reported that “people feel more invigorated or inspired” from experiences over stuff. You may be happy with your new high definition TV but more thrilled with a vacation.

In another study by Cornell University, it was found that life experiences can provide more happiness because they can become integrated into our character and help shape our personality. “Stuff” can only become “possessed” and rarely contributes purpose and meaning to our life. And “stuff” needs to be cleaned and maintained. ‘”Stuff” loses it “shine” with age and almost can have a negative connotation.

Gift your time

I don’t need anything and most people I buy for don’t need anything. What people want most is a connection with the ones they love. They want your time. Researcher Stephen Post says you can get a “helper’s high” when you help a neighbor, volunteer or donate your time and goods. Researcher Elizabeth Dunn found that those who spend their money on others report much greater happiness than those who spend it on themselves.

Create memories and traditions

Create Memories For Yourself. Ask yourself what do I want to remember most about this holiday? If you love to sing get a group together and go caroling. This year Krista and Madeline came over and we lay on our backs and stared up into the Christmas tree. I think I will do that every year. The lights felt magical.

Create Memories for Your Kids with Traditions. Ask yourself, twenty years from now what do I want my kids to remember about the holiday? Back in the 70’s when I started to date Gary I made this special meal of Cornish game hens, broccoli with cheese sauce, and wild rice. Loving tradition, I prepared that for our family until two years ago when I realized all four of us were eating one Cornish game hen — the kids weren’t eating. What did they want? Beef tenderloin! I now cook what they want.

It’s never too late to start. Traditions create memories and memories later in life make us feel grateful. And gratitudes are the best memories of our hearts. When the kids were little, we created the Bork family fun box – an oatmeal box covered with dinosaur wrapping paper. Each family member wrote down what they wanted to do for fun. What did the kids want to do the most? They wrote “P-L-A-Y” in their innocent imperfect handwriting. All they wanted to do was play with mom and dad. You don’t have to wait for the holidays. You can celebrate happiness all year with the ones you love by gifting them your time and creating memories that will last a lifetime. You can start with something as easy as routine family dinner. My heart warmed when I asked both Danielle and Brett what they missed most when they went away to college…family dinner, but without the brussel sprouts.

Call to action: Happy holidays are waiting for you. Decide today to get happy through experiences instead of stuff. You only have one life to live, just imagine if it was one you loved.

I am grateful for you my dear Taste Life readers and wish you a holiday ozzing with happiness and health and peace of mind. Remember ever day life is a gift and you can choose to open it.

With love, 

A Pizza Party Gift Experience

For the last several years The Tim Thoma family and Gary, Danielle and I eat pizza together and hop in the car and look at holiday lights. This year Danielle decided on a Barbeque Chicken Pizza. This could be a perfect holiday gift. Here is what you need:

A Pizza Party Gift Experience

Ingredients:

• 1 Pizza crust (we love Trader Joe’s – buy ahead and throw in the freezer)
• 1/2 pound of chicken breasts (could grill them if you are serving them right away)
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• 1 red onion
• 1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce
• 1 package of shredded Mozzarella Cheese

You could give a pizza cutter (Kitchen Aid is my favorite brand) or a new pizza stone.

Bake the pizza together and create warm memories.