Still at a loss? Not sure less will actually translate into more? Start slowly. Changing life patterns and resisting social pressures takes time. It may be too late to significantly change this year's celebration activities. But you still have time to lay groundwork for next year-and years to come. Here are some activities guaranteed to bring you closer to ones you love.

Start Your Family Christmas Traditions Now

Find new ways to kindle spirit of fun and togetherness.

o Christmas morning, after opening stockings take birdseed and bread out to woods or your nearest park and spread it for birds. St. Francis began tradition, saying that animals too deserve to celebrate Christmas. What better celebration for birds on a cold winter day than easy access to food? It's a great way to remind yourself about true spirit of Christmas.

o Before Christmas, ask your children what they most want to do as a family. Offer, suggestions: snowball fights, fort building, movie night, game night, crafts, a hike in woods or baking.

o Let your kids research and choose a charity and an amount of money to donate. Take your kids to your local charity drop off stations like Toys for Tots, which accepts new, packaged toys. Or donate to local churches accepting canned goods for those less fortunate at Christmas.

o Participate in Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/getinvolved.html

o Have a cookie decorating party. Make batches of cut-out Christmas cookies ahead of time. Provide a variety of colored icings, shakers of colored sprinkles, little stars and silver balls and let children decorate cookies. Then serve decorated confections accompanied by hot chocolate with peppermint sticks and cider with cinnamon sticks.

o Play Christmas charades or test your knowledge of Christmas trivia with family quiz contest at: Family Games.com: http://www.familygames.com/features/quizzes/xmasquiz.html. You'll find Novice, Regular and Expert level quizzes. Present small wrapped gifts to winners.

For more ideas visit Santa's Favorite Links http://www.freebird-zine.com/sunshinewords/fav.html

Give Non-commercial Gifts (ideas from www.newdream.org)

o Frame a picture of family home and send it to friends and relatives who can't make it home.

o Share holiday wishes with a photo cards and family newsletters. Let children help make your own cards. Hewlett Packard makes it easy with Home Fun for Holidays. http://h30027.www3.hp.com/homefun/us/holidays.html

o Reconnect. Call an old friend or write to someone you haven't seen in awhile.

o Give away last great book you bought.

o Give your child a box of items that can be assembled into a homemade playhouse or tree house: Scrap wood cardboard, small hammer, non-toxic paint and a pulley.

o Consider gifts that bring out child's creativity: a kid's cookbook, a craft kit, durable tools for building, sheet music, magnifying glass for studying bugs, plants, rocks or sea shells.

o Write a story with your children as main characters.

o Decorate and personalize Christmas stockings.

With a little effort, you can get off commercialized Christmas train. Get back into spirit of Christmas. Start family traditions. Change your buying and gift-giving habits. Discover new ways to share joy of Christmas season with your kids, your family and your friends. Take small steps today and tomorrow your holiday memories will be filled with laughter, joy, and Christmas magic. Put a little holiday spirit back into your “week before Christmas".