How are your Christmas preperations going?

Trish...sorry for the "ouch". I thought I was using one of those soft, fluffy wreaths.

Henri and Christie,
Thank you. I've had lean Christmases before and yes they were wonderful on spirit. I must remember that.

My great grandmother always used to tell us about the Christmas that they didn't have enough money for a tree. She and her brother and sisters were so disappointed that their father (my great great grandfather) took a broomstick, some boughs that had fallen in a tree farm, and stuck the boughs in the broomstick. They put their decorations on it and called it their Christmas tree. I always think my lot is ok as long as I don't have to make my own Christmas tree. LOL!
This year has been a low-budget year for me as well, so it's been making gifts instead of buying big stuff. The other thing I like to do is go to the Thrift store and pick out 1.99 or .99 cent frames for people and stick a picture I know they would like in it. That's a high end response for a low end budget. Then there is making ornaments out of craft stuff I have at home for free. Their are oodles of youtube videos on paper ornaments etc. In the end it's the thought that counts. Some of the best gifts I've ever recieved have been hand made things from people with low budgets. Those are the things I treasure and keep that never wear out.

Hey Preraphaelitess (being an Aussie, I soooo want to give you a shortened nickname ) but I was thinking that in the eclectic arty world of Pinterest today, your GG Grandfathers homemade tree would probably be the trendiest idea out there!

You know what Donna, I actually think the world might be a better place if Christmas went back to being a low budget thing, where gifts were homemade and low-key
and the spirit of the season was more apparent.
I really hate the commericaliszation that retailers have shoved down our throats for years...."if you really love Mum, you'll buy her this $850 sewing machine" type ad campaigns.
One thing I will never forget is, as a small child, I could NEVER understand why Santa bought the girl over the road a new bike, Barbie dolls and doll house, and he bought me a pretend Barbie (one). I thought I was a bad kid! It would be nice if there was an unspoken code with parents that Santa brings a small gift and extravagant gifts come from Mum and Dad! (my opinion only...no offence intended)
I'll get off my soapbox now

I hate all the stores having up Christmas displays before Halloween! I hate that!

I know it takes time to put them up - if they want they ready the day after Thanksgiving they have to put them up early - sate with downtown lights and displays - but..... please don't plug them in or turn them on until after Christmas.

And please, don't' bring out the Christmas music until the day after Christmas.

I have one friend and for 30 years I've gotten his Christmas card the day after Thanksgiving. It kind of signals the start of the year every year - my first Christmas card and Christmas letter. I know that means he has to get them ready early and put them in the mail before Thanksgiving but I love getting it the day after Christmas.

I did that one year and everyone called and said they got mine the day after Thanksgiving.

But other than Christmas cards or a long project I'm making (like my mother's cookbook for next year) I don't want the sights, smells or sounds of Christmas until after Thanksgiving.

That just takes some of the joy out of it for me when I hear Jingle Bells early November!

I agree. It's ridiculous. The worst thing is Black Friday. Do you know that people in CA have actually died over Black Friday? Yes. Well, both my daughters (ages 28, 29) are getting remarkable albums. They will love them.

They will love them Donna. You are making Christmas very special for them. Just enjoy the holidays - you don't need a lot of money to make memories.

Thanks Henri!!

Wow! Your recipients are very lucky, bonprof. I would probably cry if someone gave me something like that. In fact one year I did get something like that. A little girl from church (our families were friends) gave me a paint by number of a horse for Christmas. I balled my eyes out when I opened it. It was so thoughtful (we both loved horses) and just made me sob at how much time and effort she must have spent doing a paint by number for me. Later that year I took her horseback riding with her sisters as a "thank you". If someone put some pictures in an album for me, not only would it be meaningful, but it would take a load of stress off the number of photos I felt I needed to do something with!

And Christi, YES! A nickname is indeed warranted. What about Raphie? Lol! That would be short and, uh, meaningful (at least to kids around the world) . Ok, and I can't stop laughing at the thought of my GGF's Christmas tree on pinterest. I will tottally do that next year! It would be fun to see what it looked like and show people what life was like in the depression, you know? Who knows, maybe it will become "a thing"

Raphie it is then! Love it! And you so should recreate your G G Grandad's tree for next year, I will look forward to seeing it.
Donna, I agree. Your daughters' are going to love their albums. Beautiful, special and meaningful gifts.
I have finally finished the bon bons, sewn the crepe paper streamers and bought my daughters' gift.
Wrapping still to be done. I saw a great idea on Pinterest where the presents where wrapped up in brown paper, tied with string, and with stamps and postage markings made to look like they were sent from the north pole from Santa. I am going to attempt to recreate this idea for a bit of extra fun.

Ooh! Could you show us your finished results if you get a chance? I would LOVE to see that. Now adding to my list stamp from North pole!

I finally bought a tree...hopefully I can put it up this afternoon. Presents are almost completely done...just need three frames for Juans school pictures to grandparents and my bro n sis...I may check out the thrift stores for them! ^^^thanks for the idea!

Raphie, I posted the photo of what I found on Pinterest into my gallery for you to have a look at. I don't have a scanner at the moment, although I am hoping Santa will be nice to me.....
I have bought the brown paper and string, printed out some postage labels (free) from the net and I have some old stickers that are Santa (postage) stamps. I have a post mark stamp in a Kaisercraft stamp set I own and will make a "special delivery" label with my small alpha stamps. Mine will probably end up with ideas from all of the different styles.
Where was Pinterest when my kids were little

Update:

Done:
Created most of the cards needed
DH's Grandma's gift bought
Secret Santa in progress - no more work for me on it except fun part
Secret Santa's Elf project done
Prepped two completed B-day cards for coworkers
Took photos of inside decorations to show sister
More postage stamps purchased



Still need to do:
Make 8 more cards (3 tonight - others in next few days)
Mail 3 of those
Prep the rest of card collection for coworkers
Remember to pick up money for Nephew's present (still doesn't want anything else)
Prep a B-Day card for another coworker
Mail late Christmas card to Japanese friends (PO line too long right now)
Print photos for DH's Grandfather
Wrap gifts
Make 2 cheesecakes for travels... maybe

Keep trying to figure out way to do everything while still working 10 hours a day 7 days a week. And my to do list seems to be growing not shrinking.

DONE:
-house deocrated, tree up, & outside lights up (despite a griswald moment...poor DH)
-all presents bought (many arrived already)
-Time off requested
-plans for Christmas eve and morning are set
-Stocking stuffers are purchased and wrapped (tradition)
-pictures with santa
-send out christmas cards
-decide what I am contributing for Christmas eve and Christmas morning foods: (everything can be made ahead)
-->peanutbutter balls
-->cranberry tartlets
-->cinamon rolls
-->crockpot meatballs
-->scalloped potatoes
-->hot bean dip
-->salad
-->garlic bread

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
-Hand made presents for neice and nephew
-assembly of present for my brother
-arrival of the rest of the presents

TO-DO:
-buy and cook Christmas Eve and Day foods
-Wrap presents & put under the tree
-Pack up for Christmas eve overnight at the In-Laws



Santa By Notanavgblond Christmas card photos By Notanavgblond Christmas card photos By Notanavgblond

Tree is in the stand but not decorated. Cook books are out n cookie list is made...but no dough mixed yet. Nothing wrapped yet. I do have all of thurs n fri to bake, mon n tues to wrap. Tonite is gymnastics nite n dinner at a friends...so decorating is tomorrow evening!

Updating my list:

I am so totally glad I had most everything done a week ago. Right after my last post (10th) I went to bed and didn't get out to do much of anything until Sunday. FLU my mamma told me to get that flu shot, not that with would have kept it away but it would not have taken so long to recover.

To Do:
finish the grocery shopping
wrap the last 4 gifts
cook the meal
wait for the family to show up!

Chris you sure are a busy lady! Keep plugging away at it.

Glad you are feeling better Sharon!

I finally finished shopping today. Wow. That's a little too last minute for me. However, this is my first year making cards, and i spent a lot of time on the 24 cards. Each one was different. Lots of fun, Im just so new at it.

I hope everyone is doing well.

Today we got all the food shopping done. We dragged the two teenagers away from the x-box and got them helping. One pushed the trolley with the family's regular grocery shop and the other pushed the trolley with all the Christmas food supplies. They were a little less than impressed about it , too bad, I say!
This afternoon the decorations will go up outside under the pergola...tables set up ready etc....
Tomorrow I will start food preparations and last minute clean up of house....
Christmas, I will be up with the birds,about 4:30am, setting the table outside for Christmas lunch, setting out our secret santa pressies under tree.....guests arriving at 9am and I want everything set up and in it's place before they arrive. All around Christmas brekky and gift opening....roll on Boxing day!
Last year I was soooo over Christmas that on Boxing Day morning I was up and had all signs of Christmas packed away by the time the family got out of bed!

Oh Christie...you have a warm Christmas in Australia, dont you??? Wish we could eat outside on Christmas. ..but its freezing here!

I did some wrapping today.. almost done. I am unmotivated to bake anything. At all. Whoops. The fam will be super mad...as I was unmotivated and depressed on thanksgiving n didn't bake then, either. Oh well...

Chris, I hope you feel good for Christmas. Depression is so hard to deal with. I take medication for it.

Hey Chris, wanna swap I'll do a freezing Christmas, it's on my bucket list in fact..
It isn't supposed to be too hot here Christmas Day, 28 - 30 celsius which I think is 82 - 86 F. As long as this nice breeze stays around and it is not too humid, it will be good. No rain forecast, so it will be great for those heading to the beach for the day!
I do hope you are feeling better and have a great Christmas. I too, get very unmotivated at this time of the year. I wonder if it is in part that we as the Mums bear the majority of the preparation workload for Christmas. Plus I am always tired by the end of the year....

I'm in New York (not the city...we are as country as can be !!!) and we always wish for a white Christmas. Although that means added work, shoveling, plowing, salting n sanding. Its so pretty. I saw a weather report last nite that we may have a record warm Christmas. ..in the 50s (Fahrenheit)! We actually could go outside!

I think I do get depressed because of the workload, expectations, inability to make my house look like BH&G...although I have *really* lowered my expectations. My packages no longer sport ribbons n bows, I dont send cards, there are very few baubles n knicknacks around the house. My only decor is the tree n a strand of lights on the front porch rail...(mostly used as a night light). The baking I think is twofold...I enjoy it so im denying myself pleasure...but its A MASSIVE amount of work. That I do without help. Every year.
And no one ever asks to help or join in...10 dozen plus cookies just dont make themselves (thats on a light year...often its a lot more dozen cookies!). Yet they all look in the cookie tins and say "where are the ...., did you make....??"

And this is the second Christmas that Joaquin will not be with us...he's still in El Salvador...so we miss him...a lot.

Chris, I am so sorry you will be apart from your DH on Christmas, that must be so very hard .
re: cookies....I think I would be very tempted to make a dozen or two of your very favourites, just for you and your little boy to enjoy together when you have some alone time, and let everyone else know the "cookie fairy" didn't make it to your house this year
We are hard on ourselves aren't we, I too put a lot of pressure on myself to have everything perfect, it's a lot of stress and work for one day!
I've gone the extra mile this year, as it is the first year all my siblings have been home for Christmas in 15 years, so this is very special, specially for our parents.
But I haven't sent out cards for maybe 5 years....each year I think, I will get in early and revive the tradition, but I never get there, and the cost of postage stamps is criminal here. I used to enjoy sending out cards, but I don't think many people send them out anymore.

My preparations are going right along, the table is set the napkins are folded into lilies, the food (ham) is thawing! It sounds like lots of work but my sis, mother (just watched) DBIL (he and DH fixed the table (another story) today) came over to wash the Christmas dinnerware and fold napkins.
Tomorrow I start the cooking, pre preparing the dishes I am making so all I have to do on Christmas day is mix the ingredients...... They make so many great tasting dishes that I use to make from scratch, like bread, that I just don't do all that cooking I use to do. I also have two DIL's that are making dishes and there are three of us who like to bake so............... it is not a major chore to cook.

AND TRUST ME, I don't always do all this decorating every year, in fact this is the first time in about 5 years since we have decorated to this extent. I wrap my gifts in the evening while watching TV.

I too usually get stressed during holidays trying to have everything perfect, but this year I figure "It is what it is!" just let the day happen and take plenty of pictures!

I finally got the tree up late 12/23/14, but I struggled this year. I did last minutes shopping too early Christmas Eve, so unlike me. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!

Everyone enjoy your day!

Merry Christmas friends!!! Hope all is beautiful and joyful!! Here's my cookie update: at 8 pm on the 24th I mixed the dough for our HANDS DOWN FAVORITE cookie...n it took a LOT longer to bake than usual...hmmm...ok...mix the next batch (a very expensive mint chocolate chip cookie) and bake the first two sheets for the usual time...they are raw on the middle. Next sheets go in...raw. I bake for a few min longer n forget to take them out...hockey pucks. Roar. I think my stove is done...I only had two burners that barely worked...so it was just a matter of time before it died thoroughly. So I baked nothing for thanksgiving n 1 batch of cookies for Christmas. ..a far cry from my usual abundance. Next year I will really be appreciated! !

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Christmas Day.
Oh no Chris, sorry to hear about your oven!
It is boxing day here, and we had a lovey Christmas day yesterday. The weather was nice, not too hot and everyone loved all the handmade items and decorations, and all the girls collected them up to take home with them as keepsakes.

Oh Chris - sorry about your oven. And what a bad time for it to go out too! Hope it can be fixed and not replaced. At least that would save some money!

Hmmmm mint chocolate chip sound yummy. Sorry to hear your stove/oven gave out on you during this time of year!! You can bet you will be appreciated next year Chris!

Merry belated Christmas everyone! Hope you got all your preparations done on time and without too much stress. i was so behind i ended up decorating the tree and baking Christmas cookies on Christmas day before my sister came in from the airport :0 That was a first! Too boot, i was so stressed out from not getting any sleep Christmas Eve that I cought the flu the 27th and had to stay in bed all day while she was here. But to be fair, after I made my list on here I realized i had 19 gifts to give instead of 12 and all of them had multiple parts as well as a trip to plan.

In fact I still have a gift to send out (though this person and i always celebrate the epiphany Jan. 6) and two gifts to get to send out with my sister. It just doesn't end! I think next year everyone is going to get 1 SMALL gift, instead of multi-part hand-made items.