This post is a giveaway! You can enter up to 4 times. See how to enter below. The winner’s name will be drawn at 7pm Sunday, November 8th.
I have a confession to make. I’m a recovering Christmas junkie. I struggled for years. And if I’m not careful I will fall back into that black hole of tinsel and holiday baking.
Too many decorations. Too much cooking. Too much shopping. And that’s just the beginning.
The wrapping has to match the tree. And I have to make goodies for the neighbors. And host the Christmas coffee. And the Sunday School Christmas party.
Then a few years ago, on Thanksgiving weekend, exhaustion hit. I realized I was already dreading Christmas. Totally shouldn’t be that way.
So, I gathered the family and starting asking questions about what was most important to them.
Big Christmas dinner? Not necessary. Soup would be fine.
Tree? Oh yes. That’s important.
So, we put up the tree but skipped the big dinner. Wow! Brilliant. And that was just the beginning of taking back Christmas. We decided to keep the things we enjoyed the most and forget the rest. Less stuff and activities would mean less stress!
In her book Get Yourself Organized for Christmas, my friend Kathi Lipp encourages readers to plan for and celebrate a “clutter-free” Christmas:
“A clutter-free Christmas says that we are doing only those things that are truly important. We are not getting weighed down by unnecessary expenditures, obligations, or craziness.”
Enter for a Chance to Win!
Kathi’s book is full of practical, doable “projects” to get your Christmas honed down, organized, and clutter-free! And guess what? She gave me a copy so I could give one away to you! You can enter up to 4 times:
- Comment on this post below and share your favorite Christmas tradition
- Share this post on Facebook and comment again here to let us know
- Share this post on Twitter and comment here again to let us know
- Share this post on Pinterest and comment again here to let us know.
Too Early to Think about Christmas?
You may be wondering why I’m talking about Christmas now. Before Thanksgiving. We need to talk about this before Thanksgiving. After will be entirely too late. By then, you’re already in the middle of it.
So, before I get all worked up and all stressed out, I’m going to take a step back and purposefully give Christmas some thought before I dive in. Will you join me?
This post is the first of 3 that will help us “de-stress” our Christmas. (Be sure to check back for the next 2 Thursdays!) Today, I encourage us to take one action step:
ASK
Ask yourself and your families what’s important and what’s not. What Christmas traditions and activities are “must-haves” for you and your family? What isn’t that important? You may be surprised!
Don’t forget to comment and share for your chance to win a copy of Kathi Lipp’s book “Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.” Share you favorite Christmas tradition!
We have been trying to take back Christmas for a few years. A little at a time. I don’t want to dread the season because of the stress. The hardest obstacle for me was extended family. Having 14 nieces and nephews who expect gifts and siblings who expect big get-togethers. Still working on it.
Hi Susan! You are entered in the drawing. Oh, I feel your pain! One of our sons-in-law is one of 8 siblings. His parents have worked hard at making Christmas manageable for all of them. They drew names for a while, but even that was parred down. Now the adults give presents only to the young children. And each couple brings a game to play and a gift card prize to the family gathering. Fun and easy!
I enjoy just being with my family for Christmas. It’s not about gifts for me just spending time with the family,
Yes, Wanda, that is important to me as well! You are entered in the giveaway!
I get all my best ideas for making gifts and such in the few weeks leading up to Christmas….and have learned to write them down as ideas for possible gifts and ideas for next year. This takes the stress of trying to knit, crochet, bake or cook for someone. :0) God has slowly but surely shown me family is the most important and spending time with them.
Thanks for stopping by. You are entered in the giveaway! I love that you purposefully start thinking and planning more than a year in advance!
God had to teach me to put these ideas down in a small “Christmas Idea” notebook to think over. I used to try to make all those ideas, exhausting myself so I could not enjoy this dear family God has blessed us with…..He was very patient with me. :0) This is much more relaxing.
Doris, thanks for stopping by! You are entered in the giveaway! I am glad to hear you have found a good balance in your Christmas celebration!
I love Christmas including all of the preparation. I start early (almost finished with my shopping) making lists and getting ready. This year, our DIL is having Christmas so it does take some of the stress away from me. We will travel to arrive at our Sons & DIL’s a week before Christmas so there will be plenty of time to help her with her preparations. The most important part of the holidays is the Christmas Eve and Christmas services at Church. It will be a blessing to visit an out of town Church for their services. Thanks for the great give away. Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, you are entered in the giveaway! I am impressed that your shopping is done! I have bought only a handful of small items. Like you, Christmas Eve service will be at the top of my priority list!
Hi, Kathy!
I love your advice about asking the family to choose what traditions are most important to them. We enjoy giving and receiving gifts, but recently started drawing names to help with holiday expenses. We spend less time opening gifts and more time enjoying our family. Having my family all together for Christmas is what makes it memorable and special. I cherish those times more now that my children are grown and out on their own. Wishing you and all of your family a wonderful Christmas!
Hi Kim! Thanks for coming by and sharing about your Christmas activities. You are entered in the giveaway! We are also starting to give some thought to changing our gift giving. Now that the kids are grown, getting married, and having babies, our family keeps expanding!
I LOVE the holiday season!!! Except for the stress of budget restraints and the commercialization of it. Time with family is my most cherished tradition. Aunts, uncles, grandmother, mom, cousins, sisters and all the kids!! We (my sisters and I) still give our grown kids their Christmas Eve pajamas. When our whole family gets together later on in Christmas Day, we talk and eat and laugh and talk and eat and…..what Joy until we can’t keep our eyes open!! God bless us all during this holiday season and to focus on the reason for Christmas.