Seriously? Christmas is More Than Three Months Away

I know, I know, I know I am probably one of only a few crazies out there who start thinking about Christmas in July (ok let’s be honest I think about it all year long) but I would rather be slowly preparing for it all year and enjoy it than frantically try and get it all done in December and hate it.  If you follow the steps below you too can have a stress-free Christmas.  

 

1. Figure out your budget. Record how many people you have to buy gifts for and the amount of money you want to spend on each person. I recommend doing this on your computer so you have a permanent list to work off of, but can also use this free Holiday Shopping List printable.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vnpvi6t5tasj02h/Shopping_List.pdf?m

 

 

Remember to include co-workers, neighbors, your kid’s school teachers, and anyone else who you might have a tendency to overlook.  There are a lot of December birthdays in my circle of family and friends so I include them on the list as well.  Next list any extra expenses that you already foresee incurring like, Christmas cards, parties and other activities and attach a dollar amount to those as well.  Now add it all up and you will have an idea of what you need to save so you don’t have to go in debt for Christmas. 

 

2.  Now that you have your budget complete you can use it to research presents you would like to purchase the people on your list and you can…gasp…slowly and calmly tackle your list. 

 

3.  STICK TO YOUR LIST

Now close your eyes (well don’t really close your eyes; you need them open to read) and imagine yourself sitting next to your decorated tree.  The gifts are wrapped and place neatly under the tree.  Your grandmother’s famous holiday cookies are baking in the oven and the sweet aroma fills your home.  You have been able to get all of your “regular work” done and you are waiting for your friends and family to arrive so you can go to your community’s Christmas Pageant.  Now imagine the date is December 1^st.   My idea of heaven.

Shepherds Learn of the Birth of Christ

I am a memeber of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

During the December 4, 2011, First Presidency Christmas Devotional, Church leaders presented The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos website, a “gift” to the world.

BibleVideos.lds.org is a repository for original short videos that depict scenes from Christ’s life, ranging from the angel foretelling Christ’s birth to the Savior's Resurrection.

Luke 2:8-18

8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

View Luke 2

Our Friendly Elf, Peep

(Inspired by Elf on the Shelf)

For the past three years we have had a special guest stay with us through the whole month of December.  He arrives, at the front door, every December 1^st with nothing but a letter for the boys and he mysteriously leaves sometime during the day on December 23^rd.  The boys love their friend Peep and can’t wait for him to come.  This is the letter he brought the first year he came…

Dear Charlie and Oliver,

My name is Peep.  I am one of Santa's helpers and he has sent me to your house for a little while.  Santa has asked that your Mommy and Daddy set me somewhere in your house so that I can see you work, play and sleep.  I will be taking notes from time to time to see how well you are helping, listening and obeying.  On December 23rd I will leave your home and go back to the North Pole where I will give my report to Santa.

I am looking forward to being a guest in your home.  Charlie and Oliver you can take turns sleeping with me if you would like.  We can have some fun sleepovers.

I know I will be able to go back to Santa and tell him what good little boys you both are.  I hope you will make some room for me and that we will have a fun few weeks together.  I don't need anything but a hug from time to time.

Love your friendly elf, Peep

Here is a video of Peep arriving last year (2011).

Use Tinsel Instead of Tissue Paper

Add a little sparkle to the bottom of your tree by using tinsel instead of tissue paper in your gift bags.  

I love this idea because tinsel not only adds another layer of glitter to your presents...

...but you can also use it year-after-year and it stores well.

Subway Art with Custom Mat Tutorial

A couple of Christmases ago I purchased six black 11x14 frames (with white mats for 8x10 pictures) to hang six black and white Christmas images I had.  Before I printed the pictures I added text to each of them so when they were hung they read 1. Have   2. Yourself   3. A   4. Merry   5. Little   6. Christmas. 

When I hung them up again this year they lacked “pop” so I changed them up and this is what I ended up with. 

Subway Word Art is super trendy right now and if you’ve never done it, then you don’t know how easy-peasy it is.  You Seriously Made That posted an awesome tutorial that shows, even the most computer illiterate, how to create subway word art using picnik.

The Christmas Tree in my family room is decorated in a Mad Hatter meets Tim Burton’s Willy Wonka motif and I wanted my word art to match which is why I used lime green, purple, pink, blue, white and black as my colors.  I know these are not colors you typically think of when you think of Christmas, but if they appeal to you, please feel free to print off mine and use them in your own home. 

When I framed the word art pictures I still thought they lacked “pop” so I decided to jazz up the mats in the frames by covering them with the same wrapping paper I used to wrap the presents that were under the tree.

What You Will Need

6 - 11x14 frames

6 - 11x14 mats with 8x10 holes

Wrapping paper

Pencil

Scissors

Tape

This is the absolute easiest thing you can do to add a little pizazz to your frames and pictures.  First, you take the mat out of the frame and line it up on the back side of your wrapping paper.  Next, trace a line on the paper around the outside and inside of the mat.

Using a pair of scissors cut the outside lines on the paper first so you end up with a solid rectangle.  Then, slightly fold the middle of the rectangle and make a small cut in the center.  Now you have a small hole to work from so you can cut out the center of the rectangle.

To adhere the paper to the mat I simply looped pieces of scotch tape and attached one piece to each of the corners of the mat and then placed the paper on top.  I did it this way because is not as much of commitment as gluing the paper to the mat would be.  I change things up a lot and I wanted to preserve the mats as best I could. 

Finally, you place the mat back in the frame, insert your picture and voila…you’re done! 

Now you just have to find the perfect place to display your art.

Organizing Your Advent Calendar

Do you love the idea of creating Christmas memories for you and your family that will last for a lifetime?  Hey...me too!  Since you're just like me you've probably started each Christmas Season off with really good intentions.

• This year I am going to finally get a picture of my kids wearing cute little elf outfits (that I have sewn, although I have no sewing experience) sitting on Santa's lap.
• I am going to fill my grandma's old candy jars with homemade candy, just like she used to.  Oh wait you need a candy thermometer?  Would an ear thermometer work?  I have one of those.
• I am going to teach my kids the true meaning of Christmas by setting up a live nativity in our backyard.  Now where can I get a live camel?

I love filling the whole moth of December with Christmas related activities.  And I have finally discovered the secret to doing it successfully....Are you ready for it?....The secret is PLANNING!  "But Shannon, planning makes me...sad."  You might be saying.

I know, I know, I hear you.  But a little bit of planning is all it takes to create the Christmas vision that dances in your head.   The first thing you need to do is look at your schedule and existing calendar of events.  A lot of the activities will automatically be filled into your activity calendar simply by default. Now events like school programs, recitals, and family, church and company parties become a fun family Christmas activity instead of "just one more thing to do".

Next, fill in the rest of your Activity Calendar with the things you really want to do.  Make sure you take into account you and/or your family's schedule so you don't overlap events and you give yourself enough time to execute.  Notice, December 15th on my calendar, our activity is "cinnamon rolls for breakfast".  When I looked at our schedule I knew there was no way we could fit in an activity after school or in the evening so breakfast became the activity.  One side note here, get rid of your illusions of grandeur and Keep It Simple Stupid.  I did not make cinnamon rolls from scratch, the dough came from a tube baby.  Be satisfied with a regular ol' picture of your kids with Santa, no matter what it's going to be cute.  They're your babies, they're always cute.  Your grandma's old candy jars can be filled with...gasp..store bought candy and your kids can learn the true meaning of Christmas without live animals.

Now, I know you're going to think I'm nuts-o but I try to get all of my Christmas stuff done before December 1st.  Presents are bought and wrapped, the house is decorated and my Magnetic Spice Tin Advent Calendar is organized and filled so all I have to worry about in December is creating memories that will last for a lifetime. 

Spice Tin Advent Calendar Tutorial

My mom made this Advent Calendar for me a few years ago and I love it because it can be used every year, it stores well and it’s super easy to make.

What you will need…

• 25 Magnetic Spice Tins.  Mine are the 6 oz clear ones from IKEA called Grundtal.
• Metal Surface: garage door, refrigerator, framed piece of sheet metal, etc.
• Cardstock.  Christmas theme or prints/solids that match your Christmas Décor.
• Printer or number stickers
• Scissors or circle cutter

Step #1

Decide how you want to add numbers to the paper that will go on the inside of the tins.  I wanted mine printed so I measured the diameter of the inside of the tin and used Microsoft Office Publisher to create a circle and then typed a number in the middle of the circle.  My circles were 3 ¾ inches so I was able to print four circles on each 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper.  I simply cut them out after they printed.  You will need to number your circles 1-24 and add a star to the last circle.  I have changed the colors of the circles and the font of the numbers a couple of times depending on what room I put the calendar in and I use this same template every time.  Super easy!   

***Note:  You can also punch or cut out circles and then add number stickers to the middle of the circles.

Step #2

Place the circles in the lids of the tins. 

Step #3

Decide what you want to put in the tins and fill ‘em up.  I always have leftover Halloween candy (I know…crazy huh?) so I put three pieces of candy in each tin; one for each of my kids.  I also put in small a piece of paper; printed on the paper is the Christmas activity we are going to do for the day.  My nephew doesn’t like candy (I know…crazy huh?) so my sister puts little toys in his. 

Step #4

Place the tins on a metal surface (I use my garage door) in the shape of a Christmas tree.  And…ta-da…you’re done!  Each day, after the kids have opened the tin, I turn the paper around so the number is facing the inside of the tin.  Now it’s easy for the kids, and me, to see how many days left till Christmas.

Step #5

When it's time to take down your calendar you can put the tins back in the boxes they came in and store them all in a 15Q/14L storage bin.