Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

This year I am planning on not doing gits for anyone except the kids. I have always dreaded the Christmas season because it is filled with obligations, expectations and guilt. This year I want to simplify and de-stress by doing more and shopping less. More snowboarding trips, more family get-togethers, more board-games, etc. Less looking for a parking spot, waiting in line, buying gifts the recipients don't need/want out of desperation.

I am happy to say that this Christmas will be the sanest ever in our house for one reason. I ordered everyone on our gift giving list a magazine subscription. It will save me a ton of money and no lines or walking around for hours trying to find something they may or may not like. Easy peasy holiday 2009! Thanks for the chance!! :D

I'm looking to do a handmade holiday...eliminate the stress of spending too much & enjoying the process of creating some gifts from the heart.

I'm all about planning ahead. If I don't plan to do something then it probably won't happen. So I must have a plan!

My daughter was too young to enjoy the holidays last year -- only 5 weeks! -- but this year she "gets" it to some extent, so I can't wait to make this Christmas magical for her. And I would love to document the experience with Shimelle's class!

I am planning on purchasing ALL christmas gifts by Thanksgiving so I can truly partake in the holiday season. Wish me luck! ;)

I have to be honest and say that I am not a fan of Christmas. However, I also have to be honest and say that I really wish that I could find a way to enjoy the season a little more. My husband and I don't have kids yet, but having one on the way pushes me to experience more so that when our first Christmas arrives (next year) I will be able to savor and enjoy every minute of it.
I would love to win this so that I can learn {now} to love the season and savor the spirit of Christmas.

More sane? We are traveling for Christmas. I don't know if that is more sane or less....but it is what it is. We are still going to decorate our home because it helps me get in the spirit. We are going to do less shopping so I think that will help my sanity!

I'm going to get out the decorations early so I'm not rushing around and throwing things up just to have the house decorated. I want to enjoy it. I am also starting my shopping this week.

My plan is to plan ahead and if that doesn't happen to enjoy what I did get done and not stress the rest!

I'm not going to stress the little things ! Being together is THE most important thing. As my children grow, I realize that more and more. So the house is dusty; the table is not Martha-Stewart perfect; we order pizza instead of having a 5 course meal. Oh well. Being together is the gift.

We are shifting from one town to another two weeks before christmas. We are renting a house while we decide what to do. The new rental house has a chimney and this year I am hoping to create some new traditions that I really want to document.

I am starting my Decemer Daily and am going to not stress this year by rememering what the season is means to me. It means being with family and friends and not stressing about presents, decorations or things I didn't get done.

We are trying to be simpler this year... to concentrate on the things that really matter, like spending time together... not shopping!

I plan to have all of my Christmas shopping done by Dec 1st so that I can enjoy the whole Christmas season and my Christmas music that I have playing constantly! I can't wait I love this time of year!

We're doing the same old thing.....which seems just perfect for our family.

I'm done Christmas shopping already. By shopping early, I get to focus on other aspects of the holiday during December.

I am hopeful that something like this would help me to SLOW down just a little - long enough to really think about the days that I am passing with my family. Will I ever have a "pressure-free" Christmas? Probably not - lol...but I can try and eliminate a lot of it by looking at all the things I journal about!

I have already started my Christmas shoppping and plan on being done by Thanksgiving. Also, I have decided that I am spending half the amount of money on gifts this year and I am going to stick with the budget. I just want to enjoy Christmas without stress.

This year I am focusing on creating a warm and inviting home and on establishing traditions for my 2-year-old daughter. This is the first year I think she will have enough awareness to take it all in, and I'm consciously focused on the memories I am creating for her this season and how these can be strengthened and repeated in the years to come.