12.18.2021
12.12.2021
12.04.2021
11.28.2021
11.20.2021
11.16.2021
11.08.2021
10.24.2021
10.16.2021
10.09.2021
10.03.2021
9.25.2021
9.19.2021
9.11.2021
9.06.2021
8.28.2021
8.21.2021
8.14.2021
The Clock is Tickin'...
... toward a stress-free Christmas! Looks like this month's list is focused on preparing to buy gifts. I have to admit though, that I wonder if this list was sponsored by specific retailers?!
Even so, August is definitely the month to start your Christmas gift list. Costco and Sam's Club are both starting to stock toys. Walmart and Target had huge toy sales in July to empty the shelves to prepare for the Christmas toy stock. Hobby Lobby had several aisles of Christmas decor.
Make your list, check it twice, and get ready to save some money this year!
8.07.2021
7.31.2021
7.27.2021
Christmas in July 7.27.2021
As I stated at the beginning of the month, for the 2nd year in a row I was basically "winging" it for CIJ posts. As I sat at the keyboard yesterday morning trying to come up with a theme for the day I decided to cut myself some slack and be done with CIJ for this year. I don't feel comfortable just leaving it so abruptly, so here's a wrap up.
I am so excited and focused on August 2 and August 4. These are the dates that my Grands go back to school. It's been a long time since I haven't had at least one grandchild doing school at my house. Since March 13, 2020 to be exact. I am so looking forward to trying to get my life back to "normal", if I can even recall what normal is! haha
I told my husband the first two weeks I'm going to catch up on the Hallmark Christmas movies I recorded in 2020 and cross-stitch. I must complete two Christmas stockings this year and would like to make two more if possible. (yeah, right)
I'm also looking forward to decorating my house for Christmas. As I know this will be our last Christmas in this house, I'm going to try to decorate it in the style of our new, much smaller, house if possible. My husband has helpfully put painter's tape down on the floors of several of our rooms so I can get a sense of the size of the new rooms. Thank you, Dan!
I have so enjoyed reading your CIJ posts this year. I feel such a sense of community with you. Enjoy the rest of the summer and I know we'll start posting again as the Fall holidays and, of course, the Christmas Season approaches.
7.25.2021
7.24.2021
7.23.2021
Christmas in July 7.23.2021
What do we want? A stress-free holiday. When do we want it? NOW!
I'm not obsessed with Christmas, but I do dedicate a little bit of time thinking about it all year. My goal every year is to be completely done with shopping/wrapping by Thanksgiving. To have all of my baking done by December 10th. And to be able to be present for whatever opportunities come my way during the Season.
Some years I do better than others!
I have my own fool-proof organizational plan that works for me. It is not carved in stone and I make adjustments to it as needed. I'm always on the lookout for ideas that I can incorporate into my plan.
Want a stress-free Christmas? Let's get started today.
The secret to success with any organizational plan is to adapt it to your lifestyle, your needs, your family. For instance, I don't have Kindle or Alexa, so obviously I'm not stocking up on Amazon Prime Day. (I don't have Amazon Prime, either). But I can adapt that suggestion to my life, in fact I already have. I stocked up on toys during Walmart/Target huge toy sales the past week or so.
I don't use the Santa's Bag app, but I do have a Christmas gift app that I keep on my phone. It is very helpful.
I use suggestion #4 also. We stock up on office supplies, stocking stuffers AND Easter basket items during the back-to-school sales.
Whatever method you use, now is the time to be thinking of the upcoming holiday season.
7.22.2021
Christmas in July 7.22.2021
It's time to think about Christmas baking. Last year I actually worked up the courage to try a few new recipes. Some worked, some didn't. I'm pretty sure the ones that didn't were because of my lack of skills rather than the recipe. I love to bake. But I'm not very confident in trying new recipes.
If I had no fear, this is what I'd be making for this year's Holiday Season:
This one I think I could do with the Grands
I'm definitely trying this one...
...and this one!
7.21.2021
7.20.2021
Christmas in July 7.20.2021
As I mentioned yesterday, I got quite a bit Christmas shopping done this past weekend. Ya gotta love sales!
If you've read my blog at all, you know that I have a fool-proof (for me) organizational system for the Holidays. In keeping with my system, I wrapped and tagged the gifts yesterday.
I have 20 people in my immediate family to give gifts to this year. I am completely finished with one grandchild. And have a good start on several other people. One down, 19 to go! It's such a good feeling to have a start toward a stress-free Christmas.
7.19.2021
Christmas in July 7.19.2021
Woo-hoo! I got a lot of Christmas shopping done this past weekend. Target and Walmart had lots of toys on clearance and I picked up some bargains. Today I got out my gift wrap supplies and am busy wrapping gifts. (Yes, my bed is my 'table' today).
It truly is "the most wonderful time of the year"!
7.18.2021
Christmas in July 7.18.2021
When my daughter, Jessica, lived in Ohio she traveled up to Frankenmuth, MI to visit Bronner's Christmas Store. I would like to be able to visit it someday, but in the meantime I enjoy their website. Recently it came to my attention that they also have a blog. I have listed the blog link on the right side of this page under the heading "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...".
Just a little more Christmas for us to enjoy!
7.17.2021
7.16.2021
Christmas in July 7.16.2021
Today I'm sharing some of the Christmas crafts I've made with the Grands over the years:
We made food placecards for our family buffet.
We made photo frames
Cross Stitch ornament for her mom
We painted sun-catcher ornaments
We made candles with sequins.
We made Mason Jar candle holders
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