Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

To be more sane, I'm going to be more realistic about how much time & energy I really have to make handmade gifts, cards, crafts decor and treats. Thanks for the chance to win a spot in Shimelle's class!

I'd like to get my kids more involved in the holiday spirit, more giving and not so much receiviing.

I hope to include my children in many more aspects of the holiday season, to share the work and to give them the basis of doing things for their own family someday. Doing things with them rather than for them.

Hmm a more simple Christmas for us this year. an actual pressie budget. anything that makes my last Christmas before becoming a mum easier ;)

This Christmas will be so joyous. It is the second Christmas that my family can say that my husband survived a brain tumor. We will be crazy, fun, relaxed, and just plain thankful this and every holiday season. We find that we look deeper into the meaning of everything and are following a new philosophy: Do it today...tomorrow might not be yours.

This year i'm creating a more sane and meaningful holiday season by taking Aby Garvey's Holiday Organization class (i actually won a spot from Benita Larrson's blog!). We celebrate a lot of things in December: Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, New Years & some birthdays, too. It's been tough trying to make our varied traditions special and manageable for our son. It's a lot to celebrate without getting completely exhausted and burnt out, and i'm hoping this class will help me prioritize and keep it together! Thanks for the chance to win! i really need to document December.

I started earlier this year, and I'm doing less. All of my gifts for the kids are almost bought. I'm not putting the stress I normally do on myself. The day is over in a blink of an eye if you aren't careful!

I plan on buying a large group family gift this year so that is going to cut down on all the shopping for little stuff this year. I am also having a cookie baking day with the girls in my family so it will al be done in 1 day and we will have a variety of different peoples favs.
LOri R

This year, I'm not going to overcommit, I'm going to stop, breathe, relax and enjoy every single moment of every single day. We're going to do family get togethers - 1 for each side only one of them NOT on the holiday. And Christmas morning? We'll wake up when we wake up, open gifts, eat breakfast, stay in our jammies ALL DAY, play and cuddle at night!

I am very excited to do a project like this, especially since we are expecting our 2nd baby around January 8th! My plan is to make the last month of my pregnancy as relaxing and stress-free as possible! I want to make this Christmas very special for our 17-month-old, as it will be his last one (with us alone) before his brother or sister gets here! (Plus, I just found out that I have Gestational Diabetes again, so I'll need to do some creating to keep my mind off of all of the Thanksgiving and Christmas goodies I'll be missing!)

I am already improving on last year...hubby was deployed, I had a broken elbow and was home with my 5 yr old! We treasured it all the same, but this year we are altogether, hopefully no broken limbs/joints and I am seriously considering a December Daily that will be ready to roll come December, so that I can ENJOY every moment of our family being together. Thanks for the opportunity! Love the inspiration and encouragement!

My plan for a sane holiday? To plan....plan....plan. I do so much better and don't stress as much when I plan ahead. This class would so help me take the holiday season day by day and enjoy it!

This Christmas will be about celebrating the reason for the season and being with family. thanks for the chance to win. cindyml

I am attempting to have my gifts all purchased before Thanksgiving.

I am hoping to focus as much as possible on my family this year, and focus less on the presents, the parties, and all the "have-to's" this year. It is very likely going to be my grandma's last Christmas with my family, and I would like to just cherish this season.

I want to be in the moment this year and let the other stuff go!

We made the decision of not traveling this year. We will stay home for the holidays and invite our family to a half point for our son's birthday on Dec 28th. We will miss seeing our family for the actual holiday, but we hope to see them later.

Hi Ali,
I have enjoyed following your blog since the beginning when I read your first book. I am looking forward to completing the 25 days of christmas this year. Like you, I plan to do it ahead of time...looking forward to capturing the everyday stuff during the holiday season (family, traditions, decorations, etc.)
Thanks for sharing!
Tina

I'd like to work in an advent calendar activity with our girls everyday to get them ready to fully engage the season when "the day" actually arrives.

i just hope to be more organized this year. we are doing it more low key this year so organization will help me be able to just enjoy the season.