Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

Hi Ali. We focus on the religious aspect of Christmas but keep in mind that our nieces and nephews believe in Santa. Gift cards and hand made items (small but meaningful) will be given by us this Christmas.
Joyful Holidays to you.
Year 2 for me on the December Daily. Woo Hoo.

I'm taking time to enjoy the season. I'm trying to plan ahead... no buying (or wrapping) at the last minute. Putting more thought into the gifts I do purchase and making things special - homemade treats, gifts, etc.

I'm currently looking at our community calendar to see what's going on in our city to celebrate the holidays. I'm marking things down, knowing they're not set in stone, but it will be nice to know what's going on and make time for them. Too often the days slip away and we haven't done anything other than shop. (Ugh. My least favorite part of the season: the focus on spending money.) I'm hoping that finding a variety of activities (at home and around town) will help add to our family's experience!

I plan to get my shopping & wrapping
done early like I did last year.
This way, things are more relaxed
& I can concentrate on what means
most....FAMILY

Is there sanity when it comes to the holidays? This year, we decided we're spending the WHOLE holiday with one side of the family instead of traveling all over God's green earth. Should prove to be interesting. Excited about the extended time but I'm sure I'll miss the craziness of trying to see both families who live 500 miles apart.

I'm planning on just taking it easy by doing more family things together like looking back at previous Christmas' and baking cupcakes with my children instead of trying to buy them the lastest technology or toys.

I'm making the same gift for everyone this year a bar of homemade soap, bath salts, and lip balm. Easy for me and fun to use.

Ali, first of all thanks!! I have gotten a great start on a sane Christmas this year. For the past two years, we have had unexpected illness and death in our immediate family. In 2007, my dad that passed away 2 days after Thanksgiving, and in 2008, my husband's brother passed away the 10th of December.
I have been planning all year and working on my homemade gifts. I already have most of my other gifts bought too. AND WRAPPED!!
I want December this year to be a year of wonderful happy memories. I just want to enjoy the season, stressless!! When you have to go through death so close to the holidays, it just makes you want to get through the season the best you can.
Even though death was in our holidays for the past 2 years, we have lots of fabulous memories of our loved ones to remember everyday.
Have a blessed day, my friend!
P.S. Even in the turmoil of last year, I did December Daily. I wasn't at home much in November and part of December, we were at Hospice House, but I carried my computer with me and set up an a journal to record daily happenings. When I look back at all the happenings of last December, I am so happy I took the time each day to record blessings and take pictures.

What a wonderful way to slow down the holiday season and enjoy...that's my goal this year. Things are always too rushed and too busy to fit what is most important into each day. So this year I am simplifing and we are going to try and find the true meaning of Christmas...each and every day from Thanksgiving on...as a family. Hope it works :)

I am trying to create a more calm holiday season this year by planning all the meals & baking ahead of time. Sounds simple but I never manager to do this! I am starting looking through my cookies & meal recipes now to figure out just which ones to make for the holidays. I am excited about being more organized this year - even if it's just in this one area.

Peppermint mochas! And lots of down time at home, crafting with the kids. They love to decorate and make paper stuff-- banners, etc. They also get into setting up Snow Village, which we can then make up stories about while we sip out peppermint mochas and hot chocolates. MMmmmmm.....

I plan to slow down and savor every moment for once. I really miss alot in the business of the season.

With my husband's unemployment...we'll be scaling back A LOT and will be doing more home made stuff this year

My kids are only getting 3 presents each this year. If it was good enough for baby Jesus, then its good enough for my kids!

I've been working on Cutting the Crazy out of my Christmas since I took the class last month at BPS. I'm really excited because I've already got so many things ready and I just purchased my December Daily album today! Now I'd love to win this class to help me complete my album...thanks for another great giveaway!

I am trying to not get in over my head! I always have these grand ideas for handmade gifts for family, friends, even acquaintances(like crafty bloggers I admire, my favorite teacher at school(and I'm in college!), etc)...and then what ends up done is nothing. Ideas and sketches and projects in progress. I am the same way during teh rest of the year for random acts of kindness and birthdays and whatnot.
I'd be honored to win a spot in this class and to have one to share with a friend! xo.

This year I have decided to focus more on the meaning of Christmas to our family... Jesus' birth. I am cutting down all the over spending and limiting my childrens gifts. When the big toy book came in the mail I told my children to go through it once without circling a thing and then the second time through to only pick 10 items they would want on a wish list. I want this Holiday to be more about service to others, baking, spending time together and keeping the focus on the true meaning of Christmas not the commercial side of it.

How fun!! I'd love to do this with my friend :)

I am starting early this year buying what I need for crafts, gifts, cooking and baking.
I make my own Christmas cards, which I will be starting this weekend, so they can be ready to go out the Friday after Thanksgiving. I buy my Christmas wrapping paper after Christmas every year on sale, so I'm set. All I have to work on is getting gifts (I already know pretty much what I will buy,) making tags and wrapping.
I am sooo excited! Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year.
Michelle

I already have a list made up of some of the things I would like to do as part of enjoying the season. Taking note of tree lighting ceremonies, holiday festivals, and light displays in the area ahead of time and planning for them ensures I don't get caught up in the hustle & bustle and that I get to enjoy the time with my family =)

Oh, definitely less crazy is better for me. I've been working on that more and more each year. Planning ahead helps me alot. And making sure to plan for the things I really enjoy helps take the stress away!

I am going to try to not take any trips and just enjoy time at home with my family. That will def. make Christmas less hectic!

I think my holidays will be more crazy this year. I also anticipate that they will be more fulfilling. My husband is overseas right now so I feel the need to make things more special. I want to be on top of things so my three young children and I can send him something meaningful and have it arrive on time. I have several ideas of things to make and do. I've found it necessary to be more organized, so I've started carrying a little notebook and writing down ideas, shopping lists, etc.
On top of that, we're in a new house this year and I want to have the family over, so I want to decorate more and cook a big family meal.
I always make unique and custom photo gifts for each family member and I have several in the works and many more ideas.
In the past I've relied on my husband to take up some of the slack in the holiday season for cleaning the house and taking care of the kids and this year I plan to start a bit earlier, be a litte more focused and really push to not let anything slip through my fingers :)

Hi!
I have already started with planning everything for Chrismas. This year I want to enjoy december with my children. I want this time of year to be calm and peaceful without the stress and pressure.
Lots of love, Katarina "amospersson"

oh what a great give away.i've decided to just go ahead and make christmas a bit more crazy by adding a new baby to the mix! all the more reason to want to document it too.