Skip to main content

Monday Motivation: Preparing for Christmas






I know, I know, we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet and here I am pulling out the Christmas tree. I've learned over the years that in order to keep your sanity during the Christmas Season you need to have a few things:
1. Time
2. Money
3. Patience
4. Time
5. Joy
6. Time
7. Cooperation
8. Time
9. Creativity
10. Time

Since Time seems to be in high demand I thought it would be prudent to start early. I'm sure some of you have already given the season some thought but for most of us Christmas seems to sneak up on us each year. Over the next few weeks I'd like to prompt you to get started early on preparing for this busy Christmas season so that you can stop and enjoy your family and reflect on the meaning of the season.

This week's Monday Motivation is to make lists of what you need for the holiday. These are the lists you might want to make.

1. Cards: Make a list of who you will send cards to. You will want to know how many cards and stamps to buy. Also, you will want to know how many photos or family letters you will need to have printed.

2. Gifts: Make a list of those you will give gifts to and what you would like to give to them. If you've already done a little shopping during the year, list what items you've already purchased. You might have to go hunting around your home to find where you've stashed the goodies.

3. Food: Make a list of those delicious goodies you want to make so you can shop ahead for the ingredients.

4. Supplies: Make a list of any craft supplies, decorations (lights, ornament hooks, replacement garland etc.), wrapping supplies, and needed clothing. These kinds of items tend to run low the closer it gets to Christmas. Shop early for the best selection!


I keep a binder (because I'm a filer). In it I keep a list of who I send Christmas cards to each year, what gifts we give and to whom, and what activities we participate in. Each new year, I glance back at the previous year to get motivated. The gift list also helps me avoid the embarrassing act of giving the same gift two years in a row (it really happened). Now, 28 years later, it is funny to read what we did so many years ago.

Comments

  1. Oh I am so jealous! Can you turn me into a filer????? PLEASE!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. NOOOOOOOooooooo! It is too early for Christmas decor to come out. Don't believe me, visit my blog...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Now if I can just remember which pile I put the lists in!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm not decorating yet, just planning for it. I think Thanksgiving needs it's own time. A time for us to reflect on all of our blessings. So, don't feel like you need to rush the holiday-just plan for it.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I'd love to know what you're thinking. Please feel free to leave ideas and comments.

Popular posts from this blog

How To Make Your Own Exercise Bike For Next To Nothing

Remember back in April when I had a kidney transplant?  Well, the kidney is doing great (thanks, Cathy , for taking such good care of it when you owned it).  There was one little glitch, however.  During surgery, the retractors they used caused some nerve damage in my right leg.  When I woke up from surgery, I couldn't move or feel my leg.  The docs felt like the feeling would come back but the paralysis had them stumped.  A visit to a neurologist ruled out a stroke and a CT scan showed some fluid which was pressing on L4 and L5 (medical talk which means I couldn't feel or move part of my leg).  The prognosis is good and I'm recovering pretty quickly.  In fact, I've left my cane behind and I'm walking freestyle without falling.  My next goal is to be able to drive. I've been itching to get back to exercising (physical therapy doesn't count) because my medication causes me to gain weight and I need to burn some calories.  Running? - nope.  Walking? - can&

A Designer's Secret For A Taller Bed

  Several years ago Hubs and I spent almost a year looking for a bedroom set that we both loved.  He wanted clean lines and dark wood.  I wanted curves and a "tall" bed.  Of course, there was no perfect bedroom set but we were able to compromise on a set that we both liked.  My main wish was for a bed that I could "climb up into".  The problem with that wish was that most of the "tall" beds were four poster beds and Hubs was not in the mood for that.  We found a Thomasville bed on display at a local furniture store and it fit the clean lines that Hubs wanted and it was "tall"  enough to suit me.  The problem was that once we received the bed we ordered in our home, it wasn't as tall as I had remembered it being.  My heart sunk!  I went back to the furniture store to look at the display.  Their bed was much taller than our bed.  Hmmm. . . what was different? I got nosey and lifted up the comforter on the bed.  It revealed their secret

Plans For A DIY Exercise Bike Stand

  Thank you to so many of you who emailed me about plans for the DIY Exercise Bike Stand .  I apologize that it has taken me so long to get the measurements to you, but they are finally here!   The wood was purchased at Home Depot and the bike pegs were purchased at Walmart in the bike section.    The bike we used for this project is a 24" 12 speed bike (I'm a shorty).  I used the hardest gear while riding, but this set-up does not allow you to really get much resistance (for building muscle).  It was great for getting my legs moving after some nerve damage.  I also wanted to burn calories and get my heart rate up and this did the trick.    If you have any questions, just shoot me an email.