good post!

Lets see- simplfy right-- well then I won't suggest going over to the boards at organizedchristmas.com- that site makes me feel like I'm not doing enough for the holidays- kinda like holiday editions of women's magazines. Like- if you don't have a themed tree in every room of the house, you aren't in the christmas spirit. It's organized- but also.. a bit obsessive over there.

anyway, what I've done this year is to make my list. I have everything with ideas, prices, links to sites, ect .
---I don't buy until closer to the holiday since I have older kids with specific tastes.
---We have eliminated all gift giving with the adults in our family. Only child gift exchanges.
---we eliminated the chore of the family holiday portrait. Too stressful
----I cut down my christmas card list considerably. I send about 10 now.
--- we got a fake tree. The hardest for me to do- but in az- a real tree seeemed almost cruel. at it was 100.00 bucks anyway. now, there is no vacuming, watering, hauling. It's really ok. ( I keep telling myself)
I'm considering NOT putting up lights on my house this year. maybe just a wreath on the door. no one ever helps me put up lights and it's stressful and alot of work.
I want to DO more this year. In years past I spent so much time in the house baking, decorating , wrapping- this year and I want to get out of the house and DO smething- see lights, go to a party or something.
If I buy baked goods, ( or break and bake) , put things in gift bags and sticky bows, don't put up lights, and do a fake tree, I might have free time to go DO some of the things I feel compelled to skip because I'm always in the house.

I saw a very cool men's wedding ring in the clearance section of overstock.com. They are almost sold out but they are 88% off. Usually over $350 and now about $45. I have no idea of your taste but overstock has a lot of really good jewelry deals. HTH!

__________________
Mommy to Bryce 2/20/2005 and Skye 3/4/2008

FLYLADY is wonderful!! for those of us unorganized perfectionists in this world that would die to be the "perfect mom" her normal website is flylady.com

there you can sign up for daily reminders, start your control journal and get organized! The flylady christmas control journal link is FlyLady.net: Cruising Through The Holidays

I hope you find this useful. i luv flylady!

anyhow.. what am i doing now to simplify the holidays?

I just finished organizing my Christmas Planning Binder.

I had the flylady christmas control journal but it just wasn't clicking with everything I needed. so i fashioned my own, with a combination of hints from other websites and what i needed to get done. i'll explain whats in mine.

section 1- Planning

Christmas countdown 2007 calendar
explaination pages of what needs to happen each week until Dec 1st so i can be completely done with christmas planning. i also transfered these to my day planner.

i got these from organizedchristmas.com

Section 2- House

Cleaning sheets- what needs to be cleaned before the holidays
cooking sheets-Favorite recipes, recipes i want to try and baking ingredients shopping list.
decorating sheets- what to decorate (the when is covered in section 1)
Inventory Sheets- to keep track of what chrismas decorations i have
Gift closet inventory

Section 3-Gifts

Holiday Budget sheet
Master gift list
Gifts to make list
Christmas card list

Section 4- Activities

Travel plans
photo sessions information

I hope this helps someone else!

__________________
My choices yesterday create my today. My choices today create my tomorrow.

Forget the Joneses Blog

I've already bought some gifts, but my plan is to get them done and send them to New Jersey BEFORE we leave. That way I don't have to put them in our suitcases for the plane and then wrap them when we get there. Then I usually send stuff back via mail too, so we don't have to put them all in suitcases to come back. If I plan it right, we and our packages arrive in the same place on the same day.

The majority of my shopping is done, and I have many ideas for those gifts still to come.
I've picked out my wrapping papers (I match it to my living room) and am keeping them under my couch. Now when a gift comes into the house, I wrap it and it's done. Last year I set up a wrapping station in the basement but it seemed to go on forever.
I have my cards ready to address and will do that as soon as Halloween is over.
My goal is to be all done by Dec. 1st because we are hosting the annual neighbourhood Christmas tree day after party and I would like to be decorated for that.

__________________
Children Learn What They Live, And Live What They Learn.
What have you taught your child today?
When life throws you a curve ball...it's up to you how you catch it!

We have three kids and also give gifts to extended family and a few friends. We are on a tight budget, and I cannot remember anything unless it is written down. So, I have made spreadsheets the last couple of years to keep track of who I have to buy for, items I'm considering, items I've bought, things I need to make. It has made all the difference for me in not feeling overwhelmed! For some people, this would probably add to the stress, but for me, it greatly decreases it, and makes me feel very organized.

A website called 'cindysporch.net' also has a printable holiday list to help you get organized. I just use the pages that pertain to me. Every few years I ask what the most important tradition is to each one of my immediate family members. We pare down the ones that no one seems to want to do anymore. Don't say yes to every invitation! Try to get enough rest. Make lists everyday so you don't forget the important things.

My bestfriend just confessed to me that she has stomach ache when she thinks about the holidays because she always ends up extremely tired after and she feels like they did not really enjoyed it.

For the last couple of years I tried to improve things so that it's not to crazy for us. We only go to one place per day. No running around from one party to another. I buy hostess gifts in advance and also wine we want to bring when we are invited somewhere.

This year all my gift are already bought. I went on a monday afternoon, it was quiet in the stores and it went really fast.

Good luck

__________________
Marie - SAHM of DS Benjamin (april 2004) and DD Rose (march 2006).

I printed up a Holiday Gift List from Microsoft online. I keep it with me and immediately note what I got for whom on what day, and the store and it's price . . . or I am absolutely certain to forget. I keep all the gifts in a cabinet in my garage so I can find them.

I bought my Christmas cards months ago on sale, and still have to take a picture of my kids to put in it. I've already made mailing labels and bought stamps.

I am just starting to make cookie dough to freeze - an idea I got from this site! When it comes time to bake for neighbors and teachers, it'll be quick and easy. I found plates for the baked goods on clearance at Target for .44 cents a few months ago.

The shopping is something I want to finish soon. I actually enjoy wrapping, at night after the kids are in bed, so that's not stressful at all.

I have to say I'm done. I started WAY early this year and everything is completed. Wrapped, gift bags made up and instead of cards I did a email collage with the kids pictures of things they did this year. I'm not baking much, maybe a few batches of cookies for my dad. I limited the kids to 5 gifts from me and one gift to each other they had to pick out. I just have to decorate and will do that the day after Thanksgiving. I love to decorate this time of year!!