Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

With an almost 2 year old grandson, I've decided to pare down my decorating and finish the decorating early in December so that I have more time to enjoy his excitement this Christmas.

I won't be working this season, so I am looking forward to really diggin into some family traditions and creating new ones! We will be making a trip to the snow for sure this year too!

We are going to focus more on things we can do together as a family and be together as a family and less about what to buy, how much to get. We'll be getting by with less by choice. Who needs it all? It's really all about making memories with our "time" than with material things, we've found.

I don't have a specific plan (yet), but I know that I want to simplify and enjoy the moments.

This will be my first Christmas away from my family, since my husband & I moved to Pennsylvania from Texas a few months ago. I figure it will be pretty low-key, since it will just be the two of us. But I'm hoping that instead of being sad about being away from our family, that I will treasure the time with my husband.

its always the unrealistic expectations that kill me during this time of the year. I hope I ease up on myself this year

I'd like to go somewhere with my husband and chldren and just enjoy each others company. We have three just out of college and one 16 y/o boy. I am burnt out on Christmas at home. I'd love to just enjoy the big city and eat nice meals and see the sites and talk and walk and hug and eat. I think my family would enjoy this more than all the hustle and bustle of the past. I know that being the mom, I can make this change happen. I'd like to start a new tradition, of meeting up somewhere and enjoying a day or three together, without gifts or expectations, cleaning the house, cooking or any gift wrapping.

Simplify, simplify, simplify. That is my plan for a joyful holiday season! In the past year several family members and friends have passed away at a fairly young age. This has me thinking that the holidays should be about spending time with my family making memories not worrying about the small stuff!

starting earlier!

what a wonderful giveaway! I would love to participate in this class, because I'm going to try to do a project-365 type of album for 2010... this would be great "training" for the journaling part, which I am *not* very good at!
This holiday season, I'd like to feel a little more sane by not trying to fit so many things in-- leaving a little bit later than normal to visit family, taking things as they come, rather than trying to "make" everything come out perfectly.
thanks again for the chance to win

We are staying home, trying to simplify the whole gift giving process and focus more on just being together as a family.

We've actually managed to get things pretty sorted for Christmas over the past 3 years. The trick for us was reviewing and refining what we wanted the season to be like. We've made notes after each Christmas. Setting some guidelines and with the kids making our intentions clear. We've always told the kids that we as parents have to send the money to Santa for the gifts and that is a great start with helping them to be realistic about our limitations in a season which exudes excess!

I need a little more excitment for this holiday season. Last year I was graduating in December and life was so hectic that I didn't get involved in celebrating the season. This year I would love to make a December Daily album and find ways make the Christmas season very special and memorable for my little ones.

Just not having schoolwork to do over the break will make it much more sane!

Being that this will be my husband and I's first Christmas with our son, I am going to try doing a lot more things ahead of time. Like our Christmas Cards are "almost" finished (just waiting for the holiday picture to put in them), plus I am focusing more on the memories themselves and not the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating and all the other stressful parts of the holiday season.

I've been forced to have a "more sane" holiday season, due to our tight finances. My husband is unemployed, so I've spent time thinking about the really important traditions that we want to continue this year. We will be dropping all of the craziness (like over-spending and obsessing over finding the perfect gift for each person) and focusing more on spending time with those we love.

awesome! I really need some guidance on journaling!!!

Everybody back home is getting books. A couple mini-albums for mom, grandma, & my brother, a digital shutterfly for my sister, and fun books for all the kids. Last year they all got a fleece from Columbia. Having the same gift to buy for everyone makes my life so much easier.

I am shopping ahead more this year. Last year I didn't and it was kind of crazy at the end.

This season, I plan to get my shopping done early and leave lots of time open throughout the month for family time. I'd like to do something special for advent also.