In case you need one more reminder…Christmas is just 9 days away! Here are a few last minute tips to insure you have a non-stressful, Happy Holiday:
- Declutter NOW! (Do the following BEFORE Christmas to make room for new stuff) This week I took about 1 hour and decluttered my daughters room. I took out all the clothes she was no longer wearing, organized the clothes she will be wearing soon and cleaned out her toy box! It didn’t take long at all. I had a TOSS pile for things that were broken and just need to be thrown away, a DONATE pile for clothes and/or toys that we could give to friends or charity, then a KEEP pile, obviously for toys and clothes I was not ready to let go of. For now all my items to KEEP are in large, see through, plastic storage bins waiting to be put in the attic until the next little one arrives. (which is not anytime soon!)
- Christmas Cards If you aren’t sending out Christmas cards this year you won’t be getting a lecture from me! Not many of us moms have the time or money to send out cards. If you haven’t sent out cards and still want to, why not consider sending an E-Card this year? I know a card via e-mail isn’t quite as personal as a hand written one, but this will save you tons of time and of course money and is just a different way of letting someone know you are thinking of them this Holiday Season.
Follow these simple steps:
- Log onto to www.evite.com and set up an account (super quick and easy).
- Search for “Christmas Cards.
- Select the card that you like best, with so many cute ones to choose from, they even have animated cards!
- Fill in a personalized message, and type in e-mail addresses. Save even more time by sending the same card to each person! (I won’t tell anyone)
- Shopping Thankfully I am all done with my shopping! I did a lot of shopping on-line this year and saved valuable time and money. If there are a few more people on your list that you haven’t bought for, consider these gift buying alternatives:
- REALLY GIVE! Make a donation in honor of a friend, or family member to a local charity or international cause. A few great ones to choose from: your towns local homeless shelter and/or soup kitchen, International Justice Mission (check out their Freedom Holiday Catalog), Wine to Water (help provide clean water to needy people around the world), Birthday Wishes(this is a great organization I just came across that provides birthday parties for homeless children). The opportunities to help others are endless!
- TIME! Give the gift of time to a friend or relative you may not see too often. Surprise them at work by bringing them lunch on their break, or organize a Sunday afternoon to invite them to your home for popcorn and a movie. Have your mom over one night and paint her finger nails and make her her favorite dessert to enjoy. Get creative and personal!
- SERVICE! Do you have a special knack for taking great photographs? Offer to take some family photos for a friend. Do you love to cook? Make dinner for a family member a few weeks after Christmas when all the running around has died down. Or maybe you are great at sewing? Take an afternoon with a friend and hit all the local thrift shops in hunt for old fabric you could make into some funky pillows for their bedroom or living room. You would be surprised how much these little personal touches could mean to someone.
Hope these tips helped! We would love to hear your tips for keeping your Holiday fun and stress free!
December 16th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
You ladies have such great ideas! Instead of doing Christmas cards this year, we did a Christmas letter and emailed it to friends and family. We joined Facebook too and that helps stay connected throughout the year so those “long distance” friends who we don’t talk to all that often (except for the help of Facebook) can keep up with what’s going on with us.
Gift ideas: Just like everyone else, money is tight and I have found that with friends they enjoy service gifts. Cooking costs money too and I’ve been shocked at what we’ve spent on ingredients for simple snack mixes or a couple variety of cookies for the amount of family and friends that we would like to do something for. My specialty happens to be cleaning/organizing so I’ve “gifted” those services to friends. We usually end up working together and spending quality time together adn strengthening bonds of friendship while accomplishing a task that is needed!
December 17th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I clean out Grace’s room just before Christmas, along with 2 other times during the year. I have to do it while she’s away from the house, otherwise nothing will get tossed out! There’s only been a few times that she’s noticed something is missing. I tell her that we’ve donated it or given it away to someone who doesn’t have a baby doll, toy, etc. (this is true)
Then she’s not as sad. Kids (mine anyway) are so rotten these days and overloaded with STUFF! What ever happened to just one cheap toy!
December 18th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I loved this post. Something fun that has become a new traditon for us is that I make a different Christmas treat every year. This way I get a chance to make something yummy for my friends and family, try a new goodie, and now that we have Emma, let her help me out. Everyone loves the sweets and we have a great time making something. Also, Emma makes an ornament each year as well. These gifts don’t cost as much, are extremely personal, and are fun to give and receive. We also make sure that we give away toys to Toys for Tots each year. This year Emma was really torn about giving away the toy that she had picked out, but it was a great opportunity to teach her about the joy found in giving. Oh, by the way, got the placemat today and it is INCREDIBLE! Emma loves it and I know it will come in handy for her and her friends. Thanks for the early Chrismas gift!!!!!