Atlanta area author, Amy Lyle, who recently released her comedic memoir, The Amy Binegar-Kimmes-Lyle Book of Failures, understands the anxieties and over-expectations that often come along with the holiday season, and offers a list of five simple tips to bring joy back into the holidays.

“As a wife and mom, I endure the stress each year of gift selection, travel, cooking, family get-togethers, home decorating, and school break boredom, which can overshadow the positives of what the holidays are truly meant to represent,” Lyle explains. “As a comedian and person who looks at life through a not-so-serious lens, I wanted to share some holiday survial tips to my people out there who might be feeling the holiday slouch.”

Get your organization on. Make a list of all the people you need to shop for and all the events you need to attend. Don’t forget teachers, mail carriers, your tennis captain and favorite neighbors.
Check your budget and calendar. If you are low on funds, cross off your least favorites immediately or just get them socks. If you’re overbooked with holiday commitments, prioritize by proximity to your home and the parties with open bars.
Plan some “me-time.” The holidays are all about family but after three hours with your second cousin’s tween triplets that will not shut their pie holes, you’ll need a break. No one will question if you step out to “exercise.” I suggest yoga while drinking beer.
Plan for those extra holiday calories. Wear pants with an elastic waistband.
For the love of all things Holy do not step foot in a mall. Getting sprayed with perfume while you’re trying to muscle your way to the slipper section in crowded stores rubbing elbows with over-sugared and under-disciplined children and their parents is like visiting Hell. Put on your pajamas, pour a glass a wine and shop online instead. (Hint, hint: here’s a great gift suggestion - The Amy Binegar-Kimmes-Lyle Book of Failures, available via Amazon.)

About Author Amy Lyle

Amy Lyle is an author, comedienne, actor and screenwriter who works as a playwright for a large nonprofit in Alpharetta, Ga. Obsessed with fellow female comedians, Amy developed a writing style that is self-deprecating, hilarious and slightly neurotic. She grew up in Marietta, Ohio, in the heart of Appalachia, a place known for a population that is partial to moonshine and prone to acts of violence. She currently lives in Cumming, Ga., with her husband, Peter, lots of teenagers and a large dog. View Amy’s biography.

The Amy Binegar-Kimmes-Lyle Book of Failures, a comedic memoir, offers a stand-up comedy sketch format, containing a series of pithy, short stories that detail Amy’s cringe-worthy experiences. The book targets high-functioning dysfunctionals who aspire to channel their more regrettable moments into success. Recent reviews from book lovers and media illustrate Book of Failure's fast-growing appeal: • Everyone’s life is full of missteps and mistakes, but while most people try to forget their less-than-stellar moments, Amy Lyle decided to put her foibles on full blast.” “Talk of the Town,” www.myajc.com • “Delight in Amy Lyle’s 45 years of missteps, inadequacies and faux pas. You may appreciate your own dysfunction a little more as you take a journey through Amy’s debacles…” – Rick Limpert’s Kindle Pick of The Week • “…signature self-deprecating wit and a well-honed sense of perspective…Bringing laughter to people is one of Lyle’s greatest pleasures.” - Points North Atlanta

For more information on the book and Amy, visit https://amylyle.me/. For interviews and to request a review copy, email becky@chatterhousecommunications.com. The book is available via Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

[Topics: Comedy. Women humor. Funny non-fiction. Blended families. Summer read. Paperback: 238 pages / ISBN-10: 0998968404 / ISBN-13: 978-0998968407. Social media: #bookoffailures.]