Bare

Last week I started clearing out my fall and "everyday" decorations! I decided to do some extra cleaning and start with a clean slate! Here are a couple of my bare photos!





As I'm decorating for Christmas, I'm trying to keep a couple of things in mind:
1. What pieces do I really love? Sometimes less is more!
2. What decorations can be seasonal? Not just for Christmas, but what items can take me through winter!
3. Lastly, what are some of my everyday items that I can "transfer" into a Christmas decoration?

I'm so excited to see all of the upcoming links for Christmas decorations!

Yep!

Did you notice the store bought pumpkin pie in my fridge? Yep, that's right! I bought the pie. Also, did you happen to notice the price? $5.99 for a 58 ounce pie. I can't make it for that! I'm still making sweet potato pie and stuffing, but I purchased the pie. Balance is the key between price & time!

Multitasking, or Maybe Just A.D.D.!

Somehow I came up with an idea to make a number of Christmas presents!You know, give something homemade and from the heart. Well, I have taken on a number of projects including 12 knit items, sewing projects and a couple of other ideas up my sleeve! I won't go into many details, in case you happen to be one of my gift recipients! Oh, and did I happen to mention that I'm also trying to make some homemade decorations for around the house?

I would like to report that I am finished with all my projects! However, that simply would not be true. I would like to report that I'm half finished, again we are scoring a zero! My goal is to be finished by December 3!





What projects are you working on for Christmas?

Sneak Peek

I'm not decorating yet! However, after my last post, I've mentioned that I'm in the "preparing" stage!!

It is time to change up my decorations for Christmas! Any ideas? Here is a clue!






I will be sharing the specifics with you, the closer we get to Christmas!

Prepare

I have the bug! No, not the flu bug. The bug to start decorating for Christmas!

I know some of you already have your Christmas tree up and you are all ready for the holiday season, and some of you are traditionalist and won't decorate until after Thanksgiving. I'm in the latter category. However, both are fine, depending upon what works for you.

Even though I haven't started decorating, I have started preparing for Christmas! Yesterday, I was thinking about all the preparations we go through to get ready for Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. We have a lot of extras on our plate this time of year. In addition to the normal laundry, cleaning, meal making and errand running, we have the holidays to prepare for.

There are a number of books, calendars and websites out there, that can help you prepare for Christmas. I recently came across the Family Life Blog. They feature "8 Weeks to a Frazzle Free Christmas"! This is a great idea, except that my "sweet" husband reminded me that I'm already three weeks behind!

Here are some of the ways that I'm preparing and hopefully making things a little simpler for myself!
1. I'm taking advantage of free shipping!
2. I have goals written in my calendar! For instance, I want my shopping to be completed by December 2!
3. I'm limiting how much baking I'm doing. Plus, I'm making cookies that can be frozen.
4. I have some new ideas on how I want to decorate. On a "budget" I might add!
5. I'm focusing on Jesus! He is what it is all about!

How are you preparing for the holidays?

I will leave you with one more fall decoration,since I'm a traditionalist!

Domestic Challenges?

I need your input.

I want to know what areas of managing your household are the hardest? Is it laundry, organizing, food preparation, preparing for the holidays, etc?

Also, what have you found that has worked for you? Is there a book, piece of advice, website, recipe, etc?

Thanks so much for your help!

My Genes

I shouldn't be surprised by this! Yesterday, my youngest daughter was bored. I told her she could go straighten up her room. So she did. However, she decided that she needed to rearrange it, as well. So with a little help from her older sister, she moved her furniture around!

Maybe, she was inspired by the rearrangement of the living room furniture! After all, variety is the spice of life!!

Enlist A Friend

Do you have any difficult jobs at home, that seem to be "hanging over your head"?

I do! Or I should say, "I Did!"

I had some storage areas that didn't seem to work for me and I was always thinking that someday I would like to tackle them. So what did I do? I emailed a friend who I thought might want to tag team some organizing areas in her home, and in turn help me out. Guess what? It worked!





One Monday she came to my house, we had a quick lunch, and then spent the next two hours tackling my storage areas. Then, the next week, I went to her house and did the same thing. We were both amazed at what you can get accomplished in two hours!

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
1. Have an idea (or a couple) as to what area you want to organize.
2. Be open to suggestions! I couldn't believe how many "logical" ideas we came up with!
3. Food always helps!!