This December, I am participating in the Best American Psychics Photo Contest. Come and snap a photograph with me on the 23rd or 30th, for a chance to win a free reading!*

On both days, I will be available at Hamilton Bakery in the morning, and at my Parkville location in the afternoon. No appointment is required--but I am available on both days, so hurry and snap up time for your snapshot!

*There are details at the Best American Psychics website.

Oh, the holidays are right on top of our heads. Tempers are high, and driving is even more of an adventure than usual. It's as though some gleefully maniacal person is pressing a panic button somewhere!

But we don't have to plug into the chaos. Here are five activities to help us keep perspective:

1. Wear something happy. If you have an item of clothing or an article of jewelry that elevates your mood, put it on. (NOTE: If it plays music or makes other sounds, you may want to save it for home use,)

2. Think of things you enjoy. What do you like about this season, or this time of year? Are there smells (such as a tree in your living room, or a certain red plant that we see everywhere) that make you happy? Keep those in mind. Reproduce them, if you are able. The point here is that it's okay to look for the joy. What brings you joy? Maybe it's time to create more of that!

3. Learn to cook a favorite dish. One of the things that makes holidays feel special is the food we eat at this time of year. Ask the people who make it of they will share their secrets, if that's possible. If not, then you can make it a grand experiment to try and reproduce those dishes yourself. You can also consult internet resources, such as YouTube.com, Epicurious.com, and FoodNetwork.com. One bonus of consulting websites is that they are likely to have video, so you can watch the process.

4. Take inventory of all the things you have. Even if you're not getting everything you want, when you make your list, you'll see that you still come out ahead.

5. Create some handmade gifts. It is very satisfying to share gifts that we made with our own hands*. Some crafts don't take long to learn, so you could even start now. Some quick projects include making cookies, cakes, coffee, or soup in jars; making melt-and-pour soap; and creating beaded earrings. And there's a bonus: you don't have to go to the mall!

I'm stopping at five, unless I receive requests for more. The point is, the holidays are here. There's no escape. But we can find ways to survive them, or possibly even enjoy them.

Happy holidays! That first word is the most important part.Keep holding a happy in your pocket. It will help you get through this.

Enjoy yourself. I am looking forward to spending time with you.

*Here is my bias: I am a cold process soapmaker. I make soap from scratch, and I love sharing my products! So holidays are busy and rewarding times for me.