Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

I plan to simplify my gift list and have begun making many of my gifts. I plan on burning my pine scented candles a lot, baking when I feel like it (no pressure!), focusing on fond memories and making some new simple traditions.

I plan to slow down this hoilday season, really take the time to enjoy being with my family.

I am taking the first week of december off to finish last minute shopping, do the wrapping, and have everything done. Then I will just enjoy the rest of the month( my kids are "off track"- out of school for the last 3 weeks of december) doing fun stuff, like baking cookies and visiting santa.

We are going to have our holiday get-together after Christmas instead of before it, to keep things at a slower pace and enable us to spend the days before Christmas thinking about it's true meaning.

This year I plan to not have any "have to's"...I want to only the things that are fun and enriching -- no doing things just because they are expected.
I truly want this to be the season of JOY!

Enjoying the moments and not overscheduling!!

I want less of a crazed holiday season. This year our Christmas is going to be smaller by looking to purchased gifts that mean the most to someone NOT just purchasing to buy a gift. I want gifts of meaning and not something that is going to just create a place for dust to reside.

Christmas is NEVER sane and that's what I love about it...lots of laughs and lots of family...and hopefully lots of pictures...and just maybe this year (cause I think about it EVERY year) a slot in the Journal Your Christmas Class (and if I DID win, I'd bring my sister along!) So no to sane, yes to fun and maybe to winning.

Oh, this is a good thing to think about now. I'm thinking I may get on the bandwagon and write my list of gifts to get and start getting them NOW as I do my normal errands (not my normal MO). And trying to be intentional with everything -- decorations, events, gifts. Trying to remember that less is more.

Don't pick me because I signed up for this last year. I just wanted to write a comment and encourage everyone to sign up for this - it is so worth it!!

I am making all of our holiday gifts for family and friends this year. It has forced me to slow down and really think about the person we are giving the gift to, and it's been a way for me to take some time to myself to craft them. I also think people really like handmade gifts because you took the time to make them. All and all I have 3 gifts done, and I have ideas for the rest of them. I am carrying on this "tradition" to next year as well as for the other gift giving occasions this year.

Love your album and love the idea of this class! Our plan this year is to keep the focus on time together and off gifts (and purchase very few of them). Thanks, Ali!

We are trying to leave 1 weekend day a weekend free to just be with each other (it is already proving to be hard!) we are forced to really look at what is important and what we don't really need to add in to our calendar.

Would absolutely love to win this class! I have been planning since early October to try to make sure we spend our time on things that are truly meaningful to our family and enhance the spirit and spirituality of the season! Less busy = more 'fizzy' (fun!)

I started a few weeks ago making presents for family and friends...want to be done by Thanksgiving so that I can relax and enjoy the season and be a nicer mommy to be around. :)

I just need to be organized so that on Christmas Eve I don't realize all of a sudden that we haven't put up the tree or bought presnts. At this moment, I can honestly see that happening............

This Christmas I am trying to get a head start on everything...presents, cleaning, birthdays (right before Christmas) and the baking, so we can enjoy the Christmas season together. I just finished the bones for my first December Daily and can't wait to get started.
Thanks for all the great ideas.

This year I am making my gifts so that I am not running around stores trying to figure out what to buy. Also, I'm limiting my travel this year during the holiday season.

I'm planning to live in the moment and enjoy the time with my kids, husband and family more. Simply things when possible. Cutting back on the number of presents we are buying/giving. Getting shopping done early. Wrap early, not on Christmas Eve...that would be my #1 Christmas resolution for 2009!!!

I'm so blessed that I have three weeks in December off!! I can cope with all the great happenings including our wedding anniversary. I really love the Christmas Holiday season and can't wait to document each day with my December Daily (almost finished book). My advice-enjoy!!!