So I somehow stumbled onto this article from Rockin’ Granola, and no, I have no idea how I ever end up where I do on the web…. it just happens. Anyway, I’m reposting some of her article because a lot of it sounds like me (except I crochet not knit)… and the rest of it I want to do too, especially the nap part ha ha! Another step in my deGrinchification process. 🙂
Here it is:
How I Do It All … Secrets of a Perfect Holiday Planner!
(I can’t even type that with a straight face)
I Do …
Knit.
I Do NOT …
Have a single handknit stocking in my home. They were all purchased.
I Do …
Make detailed lists of what I would like to accomplish.
I Do NOT …
Ever, ever, ever get every single thing on my list finished. I’m pretty good at planning things and having good intentions, but I sometimes get overwhelmed and end up crossing things off of my To Do list. And that is perfectly okay.
I Do …
Hope that making ahead and freezing some meals will help us to avoid busy night drive-thru runs during the holidays.
I Do NOT …
Plan on beating myself up if I see the pizza guy during the month of December.
I Do …
Get to take a nap on Christmas day. It is becoming a tradition that Mom gets to take a nap during the afternoon. I love this!
I Do NOT …
Get to bed early enough on Christmas Eve. There are always a few last minute things I’m finishing up – wrapping, preparations for breakfast, something always keeps me up past my bedtime every year.
I Do …
Make many of the gifts we give.
I Do NOT …
Ever, ever, ever finish making everything on my list. If a project isn’t done by December 1st, I abandon it and start surfing etsy. There is always next year 🙂
I Also Do NOT …
Make gifts for anyone who has ever sneered or turned up their nose at one of our handmade gifts. One snarky comment and it is gift card city from now on, and I think we’re both happier for it.
I Do …
In general feel pretty good about the quality and the quantity of the gifts our kids receive.
I Do NOT …
Think a single year has gone by where I haven’t had that moment on Christmas Eve where I look at the presents under our tree and worry if they will be enough.
I Do …
Make a holiday budget every year.
I Do NOT …
Ever have the amount of money to spend that I wish I did.
I Do …
Know what and who the holidays are really all about.
I Do NOT …
Have fully have the ability to resist the all of the temptation and consumerism that runs rampant this time of year. I’m working on it, but I am certainly not there yet.
I Do …
Plan that the weekend before and the weekend after Christmas will be spent with family. We happily travel all over the state during the month of December. I actually enjoy those trips, looking at the lights, listening to music, talking with my husband, seeing family and friends.
I Do NOT …
Travel on Christmas Day. I stay home in my pajamas with my kids and we love it, even though I know it hurts some people’s feelings and they don’t understand why we choose to stay home. Our door is open and friends and family are welcome, but we stay home.
I Do …
Quite a bit of holiday baking with the kids. We have a messy, sugary, good time.
I Do NOT …
Enjoy the clean up afterward.
I Do …
Admit that I may have an unnatural love of sequins when it comes to the holidays
I Do NOT …
Care if my husband is too embarrassed to be seen with me in public when I’m wearing my sequined Santa hat. Oh, yeah, I’m the lady at the grocery in the sequin Santa hat. Let your holiday freak flag fly, baby!
I Do …
Try every year to take a photo of the kids for our holiday card.
I Do NOT …
Think I’ve ever been entirely successful. (But I have a lot of fun trying)