January... here we go!

First things first...

I purchased a planner! I'm so excited!

(I used my dessert contest winnings for my new-cute little planner) 

and I am so anxious to put it to the test! :)

I have officially decided that JANUARY is my GET ORGANIZED month!

As I was taking down and putting Christmas away this year (which was much later than I usually do, but I just simply was "pooped" and had no energy to do it any sooner).... I ended up creating a tad bit more work for myself than I wanted - but in the end - I think come Christmas - it will be so worth it!

I cleaned out and organized EVERY Holiday bin I have.... even had to purchase a couple new ones (Lowes had them buy one get one free - DEAL!).... I even managed to hit a GREAT clearance sale at Walmart on New Years Eve - that I just couldn't pass up - (I know... I shouldn't - but I did.... (I used my birthday money - it's all good! - it is something I really wanted!)  After tossing broken holiday decorations and such - I needed to replace a lot.. and what better way than to do it at 75% off!?!?! DEAL!!!!

I spent just $46.04 and purchased a hundred or more ornaments, 16 battery operated candles, 2 sets of a 2&3 foot trees (one for each of the girls to put in their bedrooms), and saved over $175.00.... not that I would REALLY have saved that - because I would NEVER have spent it at the original price in the first place (if that makes any sense!) .... but with what I purchased, I will be able to decorate 3 full size trees and 3 small bedroom trees! I'm so excited! I was SOOOO happy!!!

Then, I decided it was time to start working on my planner... the ORGANIZING of oneself....can be TRICKY! Especially for me, when I can't seem to stay FOCUSED very long in one area... I get side tracked SOOOO easily!  (I think I have decided where my son gets his A.D.D. from.... :) )

So... here goes.... this is what my LIST consists of so far....

I will be focusing on 3-4 of these items every month... 

If anyone cares to join me.... :) 

Or of course - make your own list ... 

then join me!

1-Make sure we take time each day to focus on the REAL meaning of Christmas
(this may be through scripture study, or stories, music etc.)
2-Spend QUALITY time with the family
3-Make time to serve others
4-Plan a holiday budget - not just on gifts - but on EVERYTHING
      a-family gifts
      b-food / entertainment
      c-friend / neighbor gifts
      d-decorations / music
      e-extended family gifts
      f-cards / wrapping / etc.
5-Make decoration plan for inside and out - budget if needed
6-Create gift list - supplies needed to make them / items needed to purchase
7-Update Christmas card list
8-Purchase stamps / gift bags / wrapping paper / tape / ribbon
9-Sign & mail Christmas cards - set a dead line - and STICK to it!  (this is one of the hardest things for me! I have a drawer filled with cards from years past - that NEVER made it to the mailbox...because of one missing thing... the STAMP! I never seem to have $$ by the time I get around to mailing them... so I'm going to determine how many stamps I need and then see how many "books" it will take - then purchase that many between now and October!)
10-Plan Christmas Parties (I really want to get back to having the get-togethers that we use to do! I really miss not having any parties to attend during the month - I've decided that those PARTIES just help me to "feel" the Christmas spirit!..and it makes the month enjoyable too!)
11-Schedule some time off of work - TAKE SOME TIME OFF WORK!
12-Set "pre-trial" deadline for gifts to be done
13-Set "FINAL" deadline for gifts to be done! and STICK to it!
14-Purchased Gifts must be purchased by Sept 30 2011 -
15-Purchase Supplies needed for any gifts by end of JULY
16-Set "ALL WRAPPED UP" deadline date - and stick to it!
17-Plan holiday meals
18-Shop for holiday meals & baking items
19-Set aside Christmas baking days - starting in Oct.
20-House Cleaning -
     a-set deadline dates for "MAJOR" decluttering, carpet cleaning, furniture cleaning
     b-prepare a "daily holdiay" chore list - start it in Sept. to get everyone in the habit and stick to it!
21-Review advent calendar activities - make changes - get calendar prepared.
22-Plan festivities for December (dates and guest lists etc) 

So far... that is all I can think of ... but I'm sure that there will be more to come!  :)  But... with that in mind... I've designated JANUARY to be my CHRISTMAS ORGANIZE MONTH!

So, as I was putting away and throwing away things - I made a list of the things that I need to "finish" getting organized in the decorating department....

January: TIME TO DECORATE MONTH! 

(I know it seems a bit ODD to do it right now, but honestly - it is a good time for me because I have my list for 1 and for 2 - it is FRESH in my mind what I need - and want! so I think it is a great month to organize my decorations!)

*Make ornaments for the FRONT ROOM TREE (I will be crocheting "snowflakes" then dipping in sugar water to stiffen them and sprinkling with fine glitter...)

*Make 3 tree skirts  (at least 2 for sure - I have one - but it isn't my FAVORITE!)

*Make Christmas Stockings for everyone! 

*Organize my "BOOK CHRISTMAS IDEAS" so I can go through and PICK what I want to do this year for gifts, decorations and such..... 

*Make at least 3 items (this month)  for "inside or outside" decorations....(I really am in need of some UP TO DATE decorations!)  

Anyone have any wonderful IDEAS they would like to share with me???

Well - that's it for January.... 

OH - of course the "GOALS" to the right as well...

I'm thinking I'm crazy... but we'll see how we do.... 

I really have NOTHING going on this month! 

So I should be able to ACCOMPLISH most if not all of this! 

    

  

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it!  Another year has just whipped right on by....  I swear it just gets faster and faster every year.... must be because I'm getting older... I just don't know.... everything seems to just "WHIP" right by and I find myself dizzy, confused, delirious, and just plain exhausted..... age right? I'm going with that.... 

Well, I started this blog nearly a year ago - in hopes to keep me focused, organized and to have a much better, more enjoyable, more meaningful Christmas season than I had the previous year.  And although it wasn't exactly "PERFECT" - as "PERFECT" as my HEAD had created... it was better... a little more enjoyable... and a little more meaningful....but also, left lots of room for improvement!  I'm giving myself a C- this year... much better than a D- from last year! (and that is being generous!)

I'm starting this year off on about the same foot as I did last... so, who is in with me? I'm sure that most of you (if not ALL of you) did much better and probably passed the class with flying "A"s... but come on - a girl has got to have some buddies... a support system... right?  So, who will join me - who will coach me - who will step in and SAVE Christmas for me if I mess it up again??? .... Just kidding - you don't have to jump in and SAVE it for me... just pick me up and drop kick me ... that's all I ask... Sometimes it takes a bit to get these old muscles and bones moving again - I promise~it won't hurt... (I have much too much cushion... extra padding... it won't hurt...) really..... 

So, I've got my "BOOK" out from last year... and I'm checking it twice - and by the end of the week, I'll have my goals and projects  ready to roll!  The one thing that I KNOW I will do differently this year is.... better evaluation! I started out so good .... that is until LIFE took hold of me... BUT ~ not this year.... THIS year I will be checking it regularly... I am determined!  I got just a small "sample" taste of what I HOPED DREAMED and WISHED for this past Christmas ... I'm going to just SAVOR it THIS year! SO EXCITED! (but seriously, SLOW DOWN already!....)

We can do this! I CAN DO THIS!  Just 334 days (or 10 months, 4 weeks and 1 day-which sounds better?) until Christmas REALLY counts.... it will be here before we know it... so go get your notebook, or get a new one - and let's make sure we enjoy a 

little bit of HEAVEN in two-thousand eleven! 

(good one huh :))

I just love this.... 

It just puts things back into perspective...

Don't you think?

Santa and the greatest gift of all.

Oh me... Oh my.....

Well, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas! That everything went PERFECT for you... just as you planned.... GOOD FOR YOU!!! Way to go!!! I hope you are taking a little break now and just relaxing and enjoying....even if everything didn't quite go as planned... like myself... :(   BUT! It is ok!  I'm getting through it... I'm learning to cope.... I've started making my list already for next year... and I WILL be much better than this year!  The intentions were good... and I started out on a good foot.... but as time went along... life started happening and I didn't plan very well... but this time I am going to! I REALLY am! :)

When I sat down last night and started thinking about "where the time went" and "how did I fall so far behind..."  I went back to look at my calendar... and I was reminded of a "few" things that "took" hold of my life and thus caused a chain reaction that affected my STRESS FREE DECEMBER in the end .....

For starters....

15 bridal showers (8 of which I either helped with or held here at my house)

9 baby showers (5 were here)

4 friend weddings 

4 family weddings 

2 Missionary showers

My daughter turned 8 - so we had a baptism, luncheon and such to do .... 

My son's wedding.... (not counted in the 8 above)

A wedding rehearsal dinner - plan, prep and cook for....

Made all the flower arrangements, invitations and wedding video for the wedding

My Mr. had not just 1 - but 2 heart attacks this year

and not to mention... LIFE.... just everyday things that "POP" up! (Have I mentioned before that I am not a spontaneous person.... at least for "things" so when "things" interrupt my planning... it is really hard for me to stay focused....I'm good at "serving" on spontaneity but not so much for just "things"... (something I need to work on) 

and... I'm sure we have a partridge in a pear tree somewhere around here....  among some other little "unexpected" events....  :)

All of which took place between March and August.... except for the last heart attack that decided to show up during the holidays.... oh! And somewhere in there (in October) we had our 27th wedding anniversary, which just got bi-passed because there was so much going on.... None of which I would trade, change or not do... they just took time... time that I wasn't "thinking" would interfere with my "Stress Free December".... let alone "planned" on... dang spontaneity!

So, when I looked at the calendar... and added in the 40 plus hours a week of work and try to SQUEEZE everything else into the weekend... (which really is just 1 day... 24 hours (if I choose to not sleep)  that's a lot of "squeezing"....) no wonder I ran out of time... :)

SO... I must make a plan... and make it quick... because if I don't my Christmas will never change... so... here I go... I'm making my list... and I'm checking it twice.... maybe thrice... because I just need to know the "MUSTS" and the "WISHES" for next year.... So for now my list is starting with "Things I need to change for next year..."  basically the things that I didn't get to this year and decide what really is important and what is not..... I will be dealing with a high school graduation and a sending off to college this year....which should not interfere with my year too much.... but I'm sure there will be "THINGS" that will just sneak into play.....

One thing I KNOW for sure will be happening....

A friend and I (yes... I have a friend or two! LOL!) 

have decided to meet at least once a month to "prep!" 

We will be working on things that we "NEED" to do...

Like stockings....(have I mentioned my love for stockings??? :))

Decorations (OH IT IS SO TIME TO CHANGE MY DECORE!) 

Neighbor/Friend gifts 

etc.... so, if you want to join us - just let me know! 

Together we will MAKE IT HAPPEN!
We truly will be ENJOYING the SEASON 

and FOCUSING on the REASON for the SEASON

this coming year!

So... anyone have any suggestions, ideas or tips that would help? I'm totally open for suggestions here.... I've got to get a concrete plan by the end of the year..... :)

In the mean time...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU! 

This year is going to ROCK!

A few other projects....

Here are just a few other things I have been working on this past year for gifts....

This project I started last January.... thinking I would SURELY be done with it LONG before Christmas... I was crocheting every extra minute I could... I even kept a crocheting bag in my car so when and if (OK! If is OUT of the question :) ) WHEN I would end up at the hospital, I would have something to do... grand total.... 100 hand towels crocheted! (and a few others that I've given away during the year for gifts - but I don't know how many...) For me, these were "RELAXING" to do!  I love crocheting and it is a "no-thinker" project... and heaven knows I need "NO THINKER" projects!

The hardest part for me was sewing on all the buttons ... It's a DANG GOOD THING I have sister-in-laws that LOVE me .... or maybe it's because they just want me to shut up about sewing on buttons.... either way - they were a HUGE help... ok ok... the ONLY reason the towels got buttons - was because of them! THANK YOU!!!!!THANK YOU!!!!! 

There are a lot of towels there....

I made 6 sets like this -

One towel for every month.... 

(a couple are missing Feb. & March, because I couldn't "really" decide if I should do this or not... so I still have a few "IOU's" out there for Feb. & March towels.... As long as my sister-in-laws save me again... (in the button department)  I'm sure I can get them done shortly... :))

 

 These two I think are my favorite... :) 

I LOVE the fall colors... and gingerbread people!

Then, I got another WILD hair and decided that if I were going to give "dish towels" I needed to have "washing cloths" to go with them... right???? 

So, I started sewing dish cloths... 

I think I'm going to see about getting something for my A.D.D.... 

Seriously! I would have had my Christmas done, had I stopped getting 

WILD hair ideas! And ADDING to my gifts...

Agh! Sometimes I just drive myself CRAZY!

 Then, this was probably one of my most favorite gifts...

Table Runners

 They were so FUN to do and simple too! 

No cutting (maybe just a little) but not much and talk about quick! 

They worked up in about 20-30 minutes - less the hand sewing time... 

Which again... sometimes involved BUTTONS and my hand (and eyes) will just not co-operate in that department ... so frustrating!

 Anyway, I ended up doing a "SET" of table runners...

One for every month, and a birthday one as well! 

(Only I forgot to take a picture of them BEFORE I wrapped them up and gave them away...

But this is the one for my table... I just love the little Gingerbread people! 

I'm hoping to sit down this weekend and finish my year's worth of table runners... 

SO SO SIMPLE!! 

SO SO CUTE! 

Or at least I think they are! 

All you need is 1/4 yard fabric for the "center and 1/2 yard fabric for the back and sides...

so so simple! 

I'm sure I'll be doing some more of these this coming year.... 

Well... that's all these "sleepy" eyes can do today.... 

I'll get the rest loaded and posted before too long...

BECAUSE...

It is nearly time to get your books ready and start planning 2011 Christmas! 

I'm so SUPER excited.... 

I'm already off to a great start! 

I've got my neighbor gifts all done for 2011! 

(We haven't delivered 2010 yet... but they are going out tomorrow....)

Sneak peak... 

We are making little bags with a "$" sign on them and a tag attached that says 

"Now that Christmas is over, we heard you could use a little extra dough."

And inside the bag is a roll of homemade cookie dough.

This way they can bake them when they want to instead of having so many "treats" hanging around through the holidays that end up getting tossed because you can't possibly eat them all fast enough...AND... I don't have to spend HOURS and HOURS baking COOKIES that never get delivered... :) (Am I the only one that has that problem?)

At least that is the case at our house, except for the past few years.... 

I think that "goody" plates have become a thing of the past... 

BUT- who can't use a "Little extra dough" after Christmas??? 

WHO???? 

Well... time for some shut eye... 

Get your books out and...

Let's get ready for 2011!

It is going to be "HEAVEN!".... 

HEE HEE HEE!!!

Now... I can finally post....

Sorry it has been a while - and I promised to post the "THINGS" I've been so busily working on these past several months.... but when I went to post them, I realized that if I posted them, it would be giving away my Christmas gifts.... so, I had to keep them tucked neatly away.... safe until now.


One of my most favorite projects was this......

A cute little playhouse that fits over the card table.

  

It was SOOOO much fun....

 and SOOOOOO much work!

 AND SOOOO WORTH IT!

 I even added in their favorite puppies... 

Max and Molly

 And I just LOVED this little mail box,

complete with letters... 

You can find the pattern for this and soooo many more designs at 

MissPrettyPretty on Etsy.... Click here

My advise... I'm thinking it would be soooo worth it to purchase the KIT from her. 

Everything is already cut out and ready to sew...

UNLESS you start your project in plenty of time... and or 

you are a sewer... I am NOT a sewer...

In fact, my philosophy has ALWAYS been...

"If it ain't hot clued... I don't do it"

BUT I did do this!

ALL....BY...MYSELF too!

Sure, it isn't the best "sewing" nor by any means the STRAIGHTEST

BUT HEY! I did  it! I made it all by myself and I was quite happy with the finished product! 

 THEN, I found this absolutely DARLING fleece hat - 

OH SO SIMPLE! 

And yep~it is sewn!!!! 

Don't worry, I don't hot glue EVERYTHING! 

 And then, I made SEVERAL of these little scarfs...

SO SIMPLE! 

Start to finish... about 15 mintues! 

and... not to expensive, especially if you purchase fabric on sale!

OH SO CUTE!

well... that's about all I can share tonight...

I'll post some more tomorrow...

They eyes are winning the battle now.

Good night everyone!

Hope your Christmas was all you
DREAMED it would be and then some! 

My top 12 day 2....

Another of my FAVORITE things about Christmas .... is CHRISTMAS CARDS! 

I LOVE getting Christmas cards!  Since the first Christmas that we were married, I have saved every Christmas card we have received. (I think...I'm pretty sure...ok, pretty close!)  I box them up every year with our Christmas decor and I just LOVE pulling them out and taping them to the door after we have reminisced.... taken our little stroll down memory lane... I especially love the cards with family pictures :)  It is so fun to see how everyone is growing up! I also date the card on the back - just in case ... and I try to put cards from the same families through the years together ... OH SO FUN!  I just LOVE it!  

One thing that I find very sad is that the cards have dwindled through the years... we use to get a lot of cards... and just the past 5-6 years they are pretty sparse... guess that goes to show you what the economy has done for most of us... so sad... BUT I still love to go back through the years... We have been so very blessed with so many WONDERFUL friends and family! 

Now...I know what you are thinking... "But SHE never sends out cards!".... weeeellllll.... let me explain.... don't get me wrong here - I do cards EVERY year.... but.... they rarely get sent out ... why? Because I am either "broke" or too lazy to go to the post office to get stamps...  or the biggest reason.... I start to "worry" that people don't want to hear from me... that maybe I say something in my "Christmas letter" that might offend or hurt someone...or sound whiny... or be boring.. or stupid... or they might laugh.... oh the torment I put myself through... it takes me MONTHS and MONTHS to get my Christmas letter done - and then months and MONTHS of editing it.... and pretty soon.... it's Valentines.... and it's just TOO LATE to send a Christmas card... so I tuck them away in a drawer... and I open that drawer - like on days like today - and I find 4 years worth of Christmas cards ... sitting there... in envelopes.... addressed...and all that is missing is the stamp.... but they are ready to go - and yet they sit!  AGH! Why do I do that to myself?? WHY!?!?!  Well, after going through my Christmas Cards today - and visiting with such amazing families (via my cards) I'm determined to just "SIGN" my cards and drop them in the mail!  HECK! No-one really cares what we've been up to,  do they? I mean - I LOVE getting CHRISTMAS LETTERS and CARDS! I LOVE reading about my friends and family and all that they have done through the year1 I LOVE IT!  But.... I don't really do much of anything - we're kinda boring... there really isn't much to share, so signed with "LOVE US" should be just great - or is that too "impersonal"...SEE! .... agh....the worries... what to do....I must send them! That's what I'm going to do! just SEND THEM! 

In the mean time.... I just LOVE Christmas cards!  Absolutely LOVE them! So... please.... keep em coming!  :)

My top 12 favorites!

My top 12 are not in any specific order.... other than... just when they "POP" into my head....

One of my most favorite things about Christmas is "STORIES" ... I LOVE to collect stories, especially CHRISTMAS stories... I have a book that I've printed over the years with different stories - some are very short, some are long... but none the less - I just LOVE them! One of these days I'll have to tackle the project of sorting them - that would really save a lot of time... but not right now... Nope! Not gonna happen right now anyway......

This year I decided to take it one more step.....

Have you ever heard "THE PICKLE JAR" story?

I LOVE this story!  I used it a few years back in a Young Women's lesson.... but had forgotten all about it until I received it in a email a few weeks ago... I saved it because I just KNEW it might help me get through the "rough" spots of the holidays....Then... THEN, when I thought I was just about DONE, a IDEA POPPED into my head... and I just couldn't get it out!  So, I started searching... and searching ... and searching... I knew there was a company here in town that sold "glass" jars - but for the LIFE of me I just couldn't remember the name of it.  Then one day a name came to me - I looked it up - and it was located in the area that I remember going to to get jars... I called - "NOPE!"  WRONG STORE!  shoot!  Still searching I eventually found it.... and guess what! THEY HAD JUST WHAT I NEEDED!!!!

A PICKLE JAR!

Isn't it just CUTE!?!?! 

 

I found this 1 gallon sized glass pickle jar for $2.39.... 

I added the vinyl and just stuffed it with green tulle for the picture... 

Cut a slit in the top of the metal lid and WAH-LAH!

I have a PICKLE JAR to go with the PICKLE JAR story! 

I just LOVE stories.

This is one of the "ELF BUCKET" treats.... 

It just might show up sooner than later.  :)

Click here for the PICKLE JAR story...

I think you're gonna love it too! 

I just added our own little message at the bottom. 

"It is our prayer, that you will find a way to make
“THE PICKLE JAR”
become part of your “gifts” to others in the years to come."