How I plan to Zen-mas Our Christmas (and I‘m taking suggestions!)
I am NOT a Christmas person, I’d LOVE to be a Christmas person, but I hate the shopping, crowds, the money, parties (more money), Christmas dinner (I don‘t cook), Christmas music, trying to keep my daughter from eating the decorations (that‘s been a 4 year treat!) – but most of all I hate not knowing what to buy for the people I love (and those I don‘t).
I’m not the greatest gift finder – actually I suck at it! I want to be great at it, but I usually manage to find one near perfect gift a season ….. and I stress over this All Year!
Everyone Loves Gift Card – right? NO! My Dad and Step mom never use gift cards. Plus my parents have everything.
Here are several of my stressing points:
When is the right date to send out Christmas cards?
If I’m sending overseas is it to late to ship?
Will my dad get the humor behind the fuzzy slippers?
My niece is 12 and is in that ‘Hates Everything’ stage.
My in-laws live on the other side of the country – we talk 3 times a year.
Are movie passes considered a gift or a cop-out?
Christmas dinner?
I’m supposed to bring WHAT to the Christmas party?
I don’t cook!
ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
This is going to be a “Several Part-er” post.
Please make suggestions and I’ll let you know how things work out along the way.
#1 Christmas cards – I like to make my own Christmas cards, but coming up with ideas every year is almost impossible.
My Short Cut – Digital Scrapbooking. It’s a God Send. There are moms out there who are fabulous with PhotoShop and other programs and they create digital scrap booking elements, pages, cards and what not.
You need very little creative ability and you can download the free program GIMP to edit your Christmas card creations.
Some Digital Scrapbook sets come as cards – Even easier.
ScrapBooksGoneDigital.com is my favorite!
She has something called “Brag Books” just purchase a brag book template, they are usually under $5 and use one of those templates as either the front of your Christmas card Or the front of your Christmas POST CARD!
Yes I said Post Card and why not? They cost less and everyone from your door to your recipient gets to enjoy it. You’re just spreading joy all over the place!
Here’s a cute template: http://www.scrapbooksgonedigital.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2955
Print them out on either post card stock or pre-cut cards (which come with envelopes) available everywhere from WalMart to Staples or heavy card stock available at the same stores.
Just pop some pictures behind the template and click print. Sign it, address it, stamp it and off they go.
Christmas Post Cards from 2009 and 2010
Next post: Gifts for the Impossible to buy for (or please)
Sounds like you’re doing a bit of overthinking! Send your gifts ASAP … the thought is better than the timing, and as long as they’re in the US anytime after Thanksgiving seems to be the best time to mail a card. 😉
I don’t ever really have a problem xmas shopping xD I buy myself something (which I was unable to do this year), buy my parents a gift certificate to the mall, & get my son the one thing he’s been begging for all year. Then I’m done. Then I wait a month for xmas to come & go then wait to start the new year and do it all over again… le sigh.
Step 1, cut back on the caffeine.
Step 2, slim it down. Just put it out there that you are doing gifts for your immediate family only this year. Tell everyone you love them, but don’t expect anything. Take a year off from the cards too. We send cards every other year and it seems to work out fine. Your loved ones won’t care and people that feel slighted about the lack of gift or card have bigger issues they should worry about.
cheers
I feel the same way about Christmas. I am happy to spend the money and buy gifts if it is something I really want to give, but the whole process of making a list. Finding something for everyone, making sure I am spending the right amount, not too much, not too little, and don’t get me started on shipping gifts that I never see opened or used. That said, I’m not willing to do away with gift exchanges entirely. Sigh… not the worst problem in the world to have… channeling gratitude. Speaking of which, I am grateful every year that I can outsource the holiday card choosing, designing, ordering to my husband. But they are here now, on my kitchen table and they are not going to address themselves. As for overseas cards, who cares if they are a little late? Cards arriving a few days after Christmas may be enjoyed more than ones arriving in those busy days just before. One year I sent out big red valentines instead!
Sarah from http://www.usalovelist.com
I gave up sending Christmas cards to everyone. I cut out the ones that were only sending cards only because I sent them one. I only send out to about 10 people. My husband sends cards to his side of the family, I worry about my friends and my side of the family which is only one person.
I know what you mean about making cards. It’s a dubious task as to what and how you’re going to do it. As far as when to send them, don’t take it so seriously. Send them when you want even if it’s after Christmas! There is no set time! If you have to send them out Christmas Eve, then they get sent Christmas Eve.