Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

I'm trying to simplify the gift-giving and decor, do only those traditions I want to pass on to my children. I want them to see the true meaning of Christmas, not the commercialized holiday.

For me, it's about being more thoughtful - in all senses of the word; in giving; with cooking; and decorating; activities I am involved in; people I want to bless; etc. Thinking more and organizing things up front instead of waiting until I am in do-or-die mode - because when I do that it makes everything more about getting it done and not really enjoying the holidays or experiencing them.

Eat lots of eggnog. :) And take lots of photos to remember later what happened as it goes by so fast!

My boys are older now and it would be fun to remember this Christmas with different eyes!!! Thanks for this opportunity.

I am starting my Christmas shopping early this year and am wrapping gifts as I buy them instead of waiting until last minute!

I plan on taking everything as it comes - no more worrying if everything gets done. This is my Christmas present to myself.

Organization is my key to sanity, so I plan to start my holiday projects early and have my shopping done before the end of this month.

Simple, simple simple! I just want to enjoy the season and not be overrun by all the things that are more important than family! Also, since we are going to be seeing family at Thanksgiving, my plan is to have Christmas presents done by then so we don't have to ship them!! :)

What a wonderful giveaway! Thanks for offering it! We have already started paring down the activities so it can be a more relaxed, (hopefully) family-centered time of year. I plan to do the December Daily this year too. I am hoping that in doing that I will focus on the little traditions that mean so much and often get lost in the shuffle.

It is the last time I will have a child at home, my son is getting married! I will focus on the people more and less on things. We are taking the whole month off from our home business!!!

I have a christmas folder with lists that I check more than twice!!! After Christmas I ask my family what they liked and or disliked about the season and take that on board for next year....

Try to keep the focus on what is important. Keeping my new favorite word in mind, INTENTION...knowing what I want to get out of the holiday season. And to keep the stress level down, I'll keep in mind my new mantra: "embrace imperfection and be flexible"

This year I want to let go of a lot of the stress. If we don't make it out caroling, I'm not going to stress. If we don't get all the decorations up, I'm not going to stress. I just want to let go of the expectations and enjoy the actual moment. My 3 kids will have a better holiday and we'll all be happier I'm sure.

This Holiday season, I really just feel so blessed to have "completed" our family. We got our boy(4 & 1/2) and now our little girl(16 mos). I just feel such joy knowing that, especially to them, this year will be magical and full of wonder. I look forward to seeing this holiday season through their eyes!

My daughters are married with children of their own and they both live away. My husband is deceased and so the magical Christmas holidays have lost their magic and I wrap myself in my job. This year I am planning to rediscover the holiday I use to just love. I am hoping by creating a Christmas journal that I can create new magic for myself.

I have already started creating gifts for family memebers, rather than waiting until the last minute. I also plan to have all my Christmas cards made and sent by the first week in December. With those two hurdles out of the way I hope to enjoy a less-hectic season!

I try to keep things sane by keeping them simple. We don't go overboard on gifts (don't have to stress about money), we have decorations that the entire family can enjoy (don't have to worry about anything breaking), and we choose activities that everyone can participate in from our 3 year old son to our parents. I love this time of year... it truly is magical!

Well, this year I am really trying to plan ahead and have a lot of things ready by Thanksgiving. Just came upon the December Daily idea and I love it! I have gotten out of the habit of scrapbooking and boy do I feel guilty about it ;>) So this sounds like the perfect way to get back into keeping a record. I really like being able to remember the little things and not just the big HOLIDAY. We already do our own advent type thing by reading certain stories etc. to keep our focus on the season and not just the gits.

What a fabulous giveaway! I am currently following the Organized Christmas / Christmas Countdown - six weeks to an organized Christmas. Hopefully by December 1st I will done and ready to enjoy the holiday season (with plenty of time to "Journal My Christmas").

I am SO excited about the holiday season this year. For the past 7 years, I was woking at a job where Christmas was their 'peak' season which meant very very long and stressful hours. I am working a new job now and it's the complete opposite - we even had a Halloween party! SO I will be sane this holiday just in being able to participate and enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway!