For all of us who have been trying to lead a more simple life over the past year, how do you think your Christmas this year compares to a year ago (so far)? Do you feel different? Are you doing things differently?

I can see a big difference in my own life. Last year at this time I had already bought the kids plenty and was fighting the strong urge to buy them more. Dh and I had a big towel fiasco- in which we bought each other new bathroom towels and neither liked what the other bought, and it was all very petty and ridiculous. This year most of my Christmas decorations are still in boxes. The house is decorated mainly with things the kids have made, and I love the look and feel of it.

We have had a tough time the past few months with my dd's health. She has developed reflux and asthma, and in the past month especially we have spent hours and hours with doctors and at the pharmacy. We have spent many, many days at home... a year ago this would have driven me crazy, especially not being able to go out to Christmas shop. This year I am better at just shrugging my shoulders and being thankful we are all together and she is not worse.

This week was my anniversary, and dh presented me with a Cary Grant dvd (I love his old movies). I was happy to get it, but at the same time I thought... I bet they have this at the library. Then I looked closer, and, sure enough, it *was* a library dvd. I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry... at myself or at him.

The dvd was "The Grass is Greener", one of my favorites- very funny. But, I am happy to say, that as a result of trying to live more simply, I can see the grass is pretty green right here where I am

__________________
I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

Our Christmas is a bit more simple this year, but it's partly due to my calculated efforts to become more simple, and partly to my laziness!

I've decided our boys will no longer get 15+ gifts each like I've done in the past! Last year I shopped garage sales all year long! They got a TON of gifts - mostly used but still great toys - but it was overwhelming! My older son quickly picked a favorite toy and kept going back to play with it! We had to keep reminding him to open his next gift! My younger son was only a year and a half at the time and he just liked the wrapping paper! All those toys were just too much! This year each boy will get 3 toys each from us, plus a group gift (which keeps getting smaller as we get closer to christmas) and then 1 gift plus the stocking from Santa! There are times when even this seems a bit much for me! I'm definitely looking forward to opening gifts this year though - I really think there will be a lot less of the craziness and a lot more time to enjoy the few - good - things they got!

Of course, this year (like every year, I guess) I'm also stressing about what to do about all the toys they'll receive! I've given out a few toy ideas to family members who have asked, but I've told them all to keep it simple! I'm gonna have to get my boys to go thru the toys here in the next few days to get rid of some! I did have my parents give them things that fold up and will fit under the couch! I'm excited about those! DS1 will be getting to pop up soccer goals that will replace the broken one in the back yard! He can pull it in and close it up when they're done playing with it! It'll fit perfectly under the couch! DS2 will be getting a pop up tent - the boys can play with it to their hearts content, but at the end of the day I can fold it up and put it under the couch in the playroom! I'm loving these!!

My laziness comes in because I didn't put up half my decorations! We got the tree up, but only put on the boys ornaments and a few of my favorites - probably left 50 or so off the tree! Usually we carry them around the back of the tree more (in the corner of the room) no one sees it but we have to get EVERY LAST ornament up there... it's crazy! This year I have a whole tub of my big snowmen still in the garage! I just don't have places to put them so I figured why bother! There's an additional 2-3 tubs FULL in the attic! Way too much! I do miss the snowmen some, but I don't at the same time! Keeping it simple has been nice (kinda refreshing)!

I'm loving the simplicity of Christmas this year - but I'm continuing to take notes to figure out how I can make Christmas even MORE simple next year!

__________________
Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

I think our Christmas is simple this year compared to normally. The only problem is that I am stuck doing a lot of things last minute where normally I am not. But that is because I was away from my home for almost a month and just got home this past Sunday. I went to visit my parents for a couple weeks after Thanksgiving and then instead of coming home and finishing things up like I planned, the ice storm kept me away even longer. But its not too bad.

We didn't put up all our decorations this year. Both household and tree decorations stayed boxed because we have so many that we didn't want the extra clutter around. Besides we have enough extra stuff around with the new baby.

Gifts are much simpler this year, for the most part. I got dh things he needs/wanted for hunting season which he keeps in his shop anyway and it is stuff he really uses. And I got him 2 dvds. While some may think they would be clutter to us they aren't. We don't pay for cable so dvds are a big source of entertainment for us. The closest library is nearly an hour away and doesn't have many anyway so we consider it a treat for us and we only buy ones we would watch over and over again. Dh bought me a video camera. It is something I really wanted but wouldn't spend the money on so it was nice that he did this for me. It will really come in handy to take videos of the baby's firsts!

We had to be careful not to go overboard for the baby because that is easy to do. Thankfully this year she is too little for most things and that made it easier for me to tell dh no. We also decided that we would continue the idea of only getting her a couple things that she wants/needs and then put money into her savings account instead of getting her just a bunch of junk toys she will never play with anyway. Plus we know our families are always going to buy her toys and stuffed animals so we want to go another way to help keep it under control.

The way we aren't so simple this year is in what we are giving everyone else. We kept spending well under control but everyone is getting quite a few things from us. I did gift baskets for EVERYONE. I am trying to get rid of a lot of the excess items in my gift closet so I'm passing it on! Okay some may think this is mean but in all honesty dh's family loves "stuff" and they don't care about simplifying at all. So they think they are getting great things and I'm getting extra space so everyone wins. I am not however doing that to my mom because she is the queen of simple living. Next year though I vow to give only useable items to everyone on my list. In fact I've already started my list.

__________________
Proud mommy to adorable Kinsley

MY BLOG!

This year, I stuck to a budget, and don't feel bad about it! Normally I will stress out that I didn't get someone enough and just go ahead and charge it, then it takes me all year to pay it off!
I normally buy things throughout the year when I see good sales, but this year I really didn't have the room to store anything, we moved into a house with no basement no garage, so we rent a storage building for now, which is not very convienent. Anywho I didn't start shopping until after Thanksgiving and I am surprised at what good deals I have come across! Retailers are really competitive, online and in store. So I was able to stick to my budget for everyone and not feel like I was being "cheap" about it!

One thing that simplified our holiday was not traveling on Christmas Day. Instead, we had family come to us. The kids wore their jammies all day and it was so much more relaxing. I think that might have to be our new tradition!

__________________
"Ordinary riches can be stolen: real riches cannot. In your sould are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken away from you." -- Oscar Wilde

Visit my Forget the Joneses blog - new entries added recently
Check out the Mommysavers Group on Facebook
My frugal tips are on YouTube
I've been posting frugal tips in the Mommysavers Photo Gallery

We stopped going to a lot of the get togethers we normally have to go to so I did not buy as much, got to spend more time with my own family- it was great.

Another thing that we did not do this year was hurry up and leave our home after opening up the presents. It was nice to spend 2 hours at home opening up the presents, letting the girls play with their new stuff while sipping on coffee and eating warm fresh cinnamon rolls (that was my favorite part of the holiday!).