Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

I did lots of bargain shopping online or instores early this year. Leave more time for fun and less stress.

I plan to be more organised ... with lists and achieving them! I also want to capture December with a December Daily! I have my 2 sons' birthdays and my wedding anniversary in December. Then I hope to enjoy the decorating of the house for Christmas and being cosy with my family and friends over the festivities!

I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I certainly need to get things hopping more around here. It's been quite a challenge since my husband and I split after 21 years of marriage, my children are of adult age, one of which moved out of state. All holidays have been really hard these past couple of years. I'm determined to change things around.
~Robin
rockinreddrobin@yahoo.com
robinredd.typepad.com/west_coast_scrapper

I am just going to enjoy enjoy enjoy!!! Merry Christmas

My plan this year was to START EARLY, and I'm happy to say that I have! My shopping is started, projects are started and some are done! Yay for me! I am sooo in the mood for Christmas music, Christmas decorations, and the whole Christmas spirit, BUT I so want to make it more meaningful this year. I want my kids to have something to remember besides all the "stuff" that doesn't matter. This sounds like ti would be a great start. Thanks for the chance!

I'm already making my holiday less crazy! I've already started my xmas cards, and I already have a list of what to buy for the people on my list! I just have to go buy/order the items!

I'm trying to get all my shopping done before Thanksgiving. I'm also trying to plan and prep a bit early for a few holiday activities that we want to do as a family. We'll see if it keeps me sane!

I am doing less. Spending less and enjoying more. I pressure myself to do MORE, buy MORE, prepare and eat MORE. Now it's about less stuff and MORE in the moment. Love the December daily idea. Now I want to do it.

This year our focus is going to be on family time! We are going to see the Rockettes perform, go to church for a live nativity, and see 2 plays....all within one month's time. It is our gift to us!

I am hoping to reduce holiday stress by making gifts ahead of time and by using up my leftover storebought Xmas cards instead making handmade ones. I usually stock up on gifts year round during our travels.
Thank you for the giveaway!

Well, since my husband and I had to move back in with my folks over the summer, and we have a 15 month old, and at Christmas, an almost 2 month old, and since I have two other sisters, my mom actually came up with a new idea for Christmas. Instead of us all buying gifts for each other because the economy is tight, we are all to purchase a $25 gift card of our choice for any store and place, then my sister is going to make envelopes that all look alike and stick the gift cards in the envelopes. Then when we do our christmas, we will play a game and draw envelopes, and be surprised as to what gift card you get! And we are not supposed to tell each other where our gift cards come from. So, it will definitely be interesting!

Instead of giving material gifts, we are giving our friends invitations to dinner in our home and donating money to advent conspiracy (probably the most awesome movement in the world)
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/

I will prioritize. If we each get to do our favorite thing and nothing else, it will still be an enjoyable season.

I am hoping to have a Christmas season that is spent in joy. I want to see family and friends and enjoy the act of giving.

This year we are doing our best to minimize our decorations... keeping only the things that make us happiest. We're also using brown butcher paper tied up with strings that the kids will decorate with original artwork or stamping, this really makes wrapping more economical. Christmas cookies will be baked, but shared with those we visit or who visit in our home: no more baking & packing boxes and boxes of cookies for everyone!

I plan on making my christmas saner by making gifts now. I already have several done and more started!

I am going to read some Christmas novels and watch some corny "made-for-televison" Christmas movies this year instead of going to as many events as I normally do. I think cozying up at home will both simplify Christmas and prevent exhaustion by the time Christmas day actually gets here!

Due to health I am turning some things over to my grown children. It has taken awhile to realize I can't do it all anymore.

This year I'm going to try and slow down. When January comes rushing upon us, sometimes I feel like I barely had time to rest and reflect upon this wonderful season. I want to slow down this year. Say "No" to some events and people. Commit to less outside my home. Commit to more inside my home. Concentrate on making the ending of 2009 as wonderful as can be.

I am trying to plan ahead more, lists, lists and more lists, to keep me sane...I am also not doing as much baking and spending the time with family...