Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

This is something I've been thinking about for a while actually. My holiday cards are addressed and almost ready to go once we have our photos done. My shopping is just about finished and I only have a couple of crafty projects to finish up so that I will have everything wrapped and ready to go by Thanksgiving weekend. I'm hoping that by having two of my biggest stressers out of the way I will be able to relax and be more present to do more fun and meaningful things with my family this year. I never seem to feel up to completing my Dec. Daily album with everything else on my to do list so I hope that this is my year. Combining your album idea with Shimelle's prompts could be just the thing! Thanks!

Simplify, simplify, simplify.....I need to do less and put family first. I always try to have everything perfect and come Christmas I'm exhausted!

December has always been a crazy month for me. Every month is crazy but December is the craziest. Along with Christmas, we have 3 family birthday's to celebrate and I also teach at a local scrapbook store, host scrapbook classes at my house and attend crops and classes (and I work a full time job). This year, I am clearing the calendar of all classes, crops and teachings so I can spend all my free time doing fun holiday things with my family. They miss me enough during the year that I am devoting myself to them. Hopefully I can continue to do that throughout next year. I definitely need to slow down and try not to do everything all the time. So, to make December more memorable this year, I am letting go and slowing down. Thanks Ali for a chance to win.

Honestly, our holiday season is not hectic at all! We enjoy it and don't let it get crazy. We decided when we got married 9 years ago, that we wanted the focus to be on the holiday and family and not on retail madness and entertaining, and we have stuck to the promise! It is a wonderful time of year when we get to enjoy one another! I love that you are offering not only the class spot, but one for a friend, too! That is just so neat to me! What a wonderful way to give!

Simplify everything is my moto for this year. Gifts made and bought early, less cookies, more time to enjoy the season. Thanks again for you daily inspiration!

I plan to keep myself calm and have my December Daily album ready early!

Sane? What's that! We just had a new grandbaby and I would like to have her first Christmas Season be a very special one, just like I did for her big sister. I can't think of a better way to capture the essence of the Holiday Spirit!

I plan to buy less presents. So less shopping.

I have my little book of lists, that helps me stay organized. I also have a notebook (got the idea from Real Simple Magazine a few years ago) that holds lists, ideas for crafts and decorations, recipes, etc, from year to year. It's nice to look back and see what worked, or what recipes/ideas I want to still try.

Hi Ali - with the economy the way it is and like most of people, we are feeling the financial strain. We don't really have a choice but to SIMPLIFY our Christmas. I see it as a BLESSING. This year without the hype of tons of presents, we can actually celebrate MOMENTS and show the kids the TRUE meaning of Christmas. We will be spending a lot of time together over the break and I look forward to CREATING lots of MEMORIES this Christmas. :)

I'm going to try to keep things more simple and organized...to help keep my sanity. I've already started my Christmas cards which is totally unheard of. I am a last minute lady.

To have a more sane holiday season, I have decided to give up any control I think I might have and just go with the flow. My first little one is due Dec 5th, so there is no telling when he will actually come. First-time parents plus the holidays does not equal sane.

To keep my sanity and since I work full-time. I have taken a vacation day every Friday from Thanksgiving to Christmas. I also keep spreadsheets for everything!!

By commiting to only those activities, traditions, events, etc that we all really want to do - not feeling obligated!

This is the first year in the past 11 years that I will really decorate my home for Christmas. I am going to be the 'host' for our family Christmas this year so that means planning the menu and getting my home ready for the holidays. I really want to make my home "Christmas ready" and the cleaning has already begun. LOL!! Next, I will decide on my theme and go from there. I am hoping to find and think of inexpensive ways to decorate my home for Christmas. I am actually looking forward to decorating my home for Christmas this year. ;-) Thanks so much for the chance to win an awesome prize!!

Simplify and to focus on the traditions and to not over schedule. With three kids all in three different schools (Kindergarten, fourth & fifth) and traveling this year to my mother-in-laws, our Christmas highlights will be a day for decorating cookies, one for making our gingerbread house, one for decorating the tree and house. On Christmas even (and my daughter's birthday), we are planning a 11:00 a.m. movie with cousins to see the new A Christmas Carol. Just being together and enjoying the season and the reason for the season. Counting our blessings.
Laura G.

Emphasize family and listen to everyone's opinion about what to attend.

I hope to cut back on spending, create more gifts with the help of my sewing lessons from my wonderful mom and stay at home on Xmas eve so my boys can experience Santa coming to our house instead of Grandma's.

I am trying to think/plan ahead for the holidays--we will have all six children, their spouses, and kids. What a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays-surrounded by our family!! Simplifying is my mantra now! :)

I hoping to be more organized this year,HOPING is the key word here. And if not then just enjoy the crazy chaos of the season and except that it is just part of it all.
Oh yea and of course to document it all. :0)