Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

You know Ali I am lucky because we travel cross country to our daughter's home and spend the holidays with her. I don't have the pressure of the tree, and stuff so I do really get to enjoy Christmas and all it's trimmings. I can take the photos, journal the happenings and truly enjoy each day. I do cook the entire Christmas Day dinner which certainly involves some stress but over all I get to document.
:) Catherine

Wow, great giveaway!! I'm pacing myself, making ierogies one weekend, doing cards in advance, getting shopping done before the middle of December. Anything to avoid the rush!

Over the last few years, I have been trying to cut back on the number of presents I purchase for others and spending less time worrying about whether they are going to like it, etc. Material items are nice but not the real reason for the season.

We are scaling back this year and not go over the top like we have in years past. I just want to enjoy the time with my family and try to not stress about things that don't really matter.

to keep a more sane Christmas I plan on keeping my focus on my two little boys and hubby

Keeping to the basics -- most important to me are sounds and smells so that is what we will focus on.

I am going to make it more crazy by being more involved in my kindergartener's Christmas school activies---fun!

I hope to enjoy the season and not be so wrapped up in it that is is crazy and not enjoyable. Sometimes it just gets crazy.

My Christmas will be crazier than ever this year, and that's just the way I want it. I've planned my almost-step-sister's baby shower for the first weekend in December, my cousin's wedding is the next weekend, I have my junior year college exams during all of this, and then just the normal Christmas crazies on top of all that! The only thing I am really doing to try to make it more sane is planing ahead: I want all of my school stuff done the week before the wedding, that way I don't have to worry about it while I am trying to be a good bridesmaid. I love Christmas, though, and all the extra activities will just make it that much more special! I can't wait!!!

As I sat here thinking about all of the different "things I can do" to SIMPLIFY our Christmas holiday, it dawned on me that that is yet another list of "things to do." In reality, the truest way to simplify the CHRISTmaa season is to simply remember and simply celebrate the reason...the Lord, Jesus, a tiny baby who came to be the most important gift you or I coud ever receive.

Decorate simply, entertain simply, get cards written early, set a per person price limit and stick to it, and do my level best to stay calm and enjoy my family :-)

This holiday season, I just want to take everything in...all the sights, sounds and smells. I hope to take each day as it comes and not get caught up in all the hub-bub.

I plan on getting my Christmas shopping completely done the first week of December. My girls wrap all the gifts and under the tree they go. I will also get our famiy Christmas photo taken and all Christmas cards sent out by the second week of December. The third week of December is spent baking holiday cookies...YUM! The last week is full of family, friends, and celebrating Christmas along with 8 family members birthdays from Dec. 17 thru Dec. 24 and 1 on New Years day.

To make things easier this year, I am starting my holiday preparations NOW! Instead of waiting until the last minute. Time flies in these two months!

I fully intend to relax during the holidays. I have been doing some planning ahead and we are going to keep it simple. I want to really enjoy the spirit of the season.

We will be focusing on family traditions like a day of baking, making cookies,a day of decorating, a day watching old home videos, etc. I will be extremely selective with which holiday parties we attend.

DH and I plan on getting away for a few days at a resort a few hours from our home. Family lives far away and timing just doesn't work to visit during the holidays. So, it's just the two of us which one would think would be a lot easier, but seems to be just as stressful. A saner, relaxing Christmas is what we're looking forward to having.

I'm planning on shopping from now until the day after Thanksgiving. I think this will allow me to truly enjoy the month of December. I am going to try to take the time to appreciate it and hopefully write down past memories, why we celebrate some of the traditions we do, and relish family time together doing the things I love to do (play games, look through photo albums, eat and be thankful for all that we have.)

I was INSPIRED by your Days of December album last year it made me do alot more things with my children and create my own christmas traditions. I love the chaos of christmas wrapping paper everywhere christmas morning, prawns and turkey with roast vegies and of course mum's plum pudding Christmas would not be the same without my family and ofcourse the chaos

Tonight my DH stated that this is going to be a great Christmas. Later he was changing the CD player and found a Christmas CD in it *caught!* Our DD and I listened to it today lol! We are anticipating a great time celebrating the true meaning of Christmas this year; although our family is small by many standards (3) and our extended family gatherings minimal, we have much to be thankful for and celebrate; and I can't think of a better way to remember it than my first December Daily album!
Thank you, Ali, for your inspiration!