Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

I guess first in my mind, is that this year Christmas is not just going to be about our family. II have been volunteering for a local charity in our city, and I will be able to help others experience a happy holiday. I have wanted to do this for so long, but could never fit everything in. This year, I am just making it a priority. It has really changed our family's perspective!

I plan to create a more sane holiday season by loading up my iPod with lots of Christmas music. It should put me in the holiday mood keeping me sane and happy.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful blog!

This book looks fab!
i'd love to go with the flow this December.

THis is an exciting Holiday season for my family. We are in our new home and are so excited to decorate and celebrate this year. We are having gatherings we were not able to before because of our limited space. I can't wait to hang the garland and the stockings. In addition, many of my gifts will b handmade this year. Looking forward to a "new" Holiday Spirit with my family.

I make tons of lists to keep everything organized.

My plan is to complete all my shopping before Dec 1st so I can truly focus on my family and the holidays.

For our holiday sanity, I'm going to try to buy gifts ahead of time, so I can enjoy the moment. It seems to pass SO fast. And focusing on the REAL meaning of Christmas of Peace, Love and Joy through Jesus Christ!

Every year I tell myself that if I am more organized then I will have a less stressful holiday - this year I plan on following through. I will depend on lists and have all my shopping done by Dec. 1 - wish me luck!!
Katie

I think we are going to scale back a little, and focus more on our little family.

I am working on getting my shopping done earlier and other things such as cards, etc done earlier too. That way I can spend the last day or two calmer and reflecting in the real reason for the season.

I am trying to do as much stuff early as possible, shopping, cards, etc. I want to be able to spend the last few days before Christmas reflecting in the real reason for the season.

Less is more this year. My kids have enough toys and I am vowing to not go overboard with presents. I want to focus on teaching them the meaning of Christmas and simplifying what we do, focusing on Christ, family and giving.
Thanks Ali!

My Christam vacation starts on December 11 and ends on January 11. This will keep me calm and sane.

I plan to spread out the craziness so that when I do sit down and do a daily december album, every memory won't be piled up on just a few days of craziness. I need to get in the habit of that this year.

This Christmas will be different for us this year. We're living in Savannah & will be spending Dec. in Indiana with our daughters & grandkids. I would really like to document this change, but not sure how to handle it. Do I do a daily album,even though some days will basically be nothing or filled to the brim as we try to cram everything in?

Hi Ali
This Christmas will be very special for me as I have had an estranged relationship with my son for the last 7 years but recently he called me and we have reconnected. I am so excited to have my family all together at last for this Christmas.
Lynn

I'm taking holiday pictures early this year, in the hopes they turn out well for cards...and I'm not handmaking cards this year! Just want to enjoy the holidays and all the joy that the season brings.

That class sounds Awesome!
I want a relaxed laid back Christmas.
I intend to not over decorate, but will clear out the clutter. My kids are older (21 & 16) so I want to simplifiy before it gets crazy in a few years with grandkids!

This year my husband and I have made a joint decision not to overshop. My parents buy a crazy amount of stuff for the girls and anything extra we buy is just excess, so why not let them spend their money (disposable income) instead of us going into debt. This will help cut out a lot of craziness as I'm always shopping well into the week before Christmas.
I want to have my December Daily album done by mid-november. I did one last year and I'm sad to say it's still not finished as I was still working on it in December. This week I plan to print pics from last year and finish that one and then get this years book put together by the 20th.

This year I am going to try to organize a FEW activities in advance so that my kids & I will be able to sit down and enjoy the season, crafting, listening to christmas music, hot cocoa, the simple things instead of fretting over making everything perfect, I want the memories instead.