by kathilipp | Dec 3, 2011 | Christmas, Home |
Thanks for all your feedback about how the Project is going!
“Loving this challenge, it has made such a difference! I feel like things are under control and I am way ahead of the game this year. Thanks so much Kathi!” Kyla
I have to tell you that selfishly I have loved this entire project. I’m ahead of the game on shopping, I just got my Christmas cards in the mail, and I don’t feel nearly as scattered as I do when I don’t have a plan.
Today’s Project: Get some of your decorating done.
Here are some of the things you may want to consider working on:
Get and decorating your tree
Put away some of your everyday “stuff” so you’ll have room for your Christmas decor
Swap out your dishes for your Christmas dishes
Decorate outside
I have to admit that the majority of the decorating around our house is done by Roger (there is a reason that he is a lighting designer. He likes bright shiny things…)
But the hanging of the Christmas cards in up to me. So Every year I take a plain door in our house (this year it’s the plain looking door that houses our furnace,) and wrap it like a big presents. Like such:
One of
the other big helps for Christmas decor is to get rid of anything that you are no longer decorating with – those pink snowmen your bought during your Miami Vice Christmas phase, or that stack of Christmas cards from people you no longer talk with (and maybe, don’t really like). The less you have to sort through, the easier the decorating process will be.
Happy decorating friends!
by kathilipp | Dec 2, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Today is the day to catch up! I know that I will be working hard on sending out Christmas cards. What will you be working on?
- Wrapping gifts
- Ordering gifts
- Pulling together your recipes
- Creating a shopping list
Let me know here on the blog or on my Facebook Author Page what you will be catching up on and I will enter you into the drawing to win THE “WHAT’S FOR DINNER?” SOLUTION for yourself or as a wrapped gift that I will send to someone on your list.
by kathilipp | Dec 1, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
You have a tab in your Holiday Binder for your family favorite recipes. Now is the time to fill up that tab with the traditional recipes your family love.
Each of our kids has a favorite food that they confirm in advance will be prepared by me or my hubby. Here is just a partial list of what is on the must list:
- cranberry no-bake cheesecake
- pumpkin no-bake cheesecake
- artichoke dip
- bruchetta
- broccoli casserole
- ratatouille
- drunken turkey (turkey brined in white wine and spices)
In year’s past I’ve spent a lot of time and energy going through various cookbooks, computer searches and junk drawer layers looking for all these recipes – but no more! This year they were all sitting in the Holiday binder just where they were supposed to be.
The other wonderful thing about having all your recipes together is that when your kids start to want to bring your family recipes to their future in-law’s homes, you can copy everything at once.
OK -now it’s your turn. Tell me what is the one recipe your family would boycott Christmas without. (I love to hear other people’s favorite foods, especially if they’re weird.)
by kathilipp | Nov 30, 2011 | Christmas, God |
My friend Robin sent this to me. She has seen this several times around the Internet , but it was a first for me – and I love it.
I will not apologize for trying to keep Christmas well-planned. But that ‘s because I want to do my part to experience the Peace that passes understanding. Prayer, peace, and a little planning.
I’ve printed it out and put it in my holiday binder.
Christmas- 1 Corinthians 13 Style
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals,
and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way.
Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures allthings. Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.
Author Unknown
by kathilipp | Nov 29, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Hey girls – can you believe that you are ten days in? If no one else is saying it, I’m really, really proud of you. I love that so many of you are posting the benefits that you are already enjoying:
- Feeling ahead for this year
- Feeling ahead for next year
- Knowing what you are going to get each person on your list
- A feeling of accomplishment
Here are just a few of the comments that I’m hearing:
“Thanks for helping me keep it simple, Kathi. Doing photo Christmas cards for the first time ever and they are done and ready to go. I am smiling and ready to start sending…:)” Catha
“It’s so fun to get out of bed this week and see what I get to do today to get ready for Christmas!” Renee
Y’all have made my season – I love that you are encouraging me, as I try to encourage you. I am way ahead this year and a LOT of it is due to you.
OK – enough of the love in. Time to get to today’s project. Simple: Gather your stuff.
Originally this project was going to be “Buy your stuff”, but I know that all of us probably have enough gift wrap, tags and ribbon to supply Santa’s workshop. Problem is, most of us find it December 26th.
So dig through your basement, garage, spare closet or under the bed and gather together:
- wrapping paper
- ribbon
- tissue paper
- tags, etc.
- Scotch tape
- scissors
Get all this stuff in one place so that when you have to go into elf mode you’re not running all over the house.
This would be the time to also purchase anything that you are short on (I end up buying tape every single year.)
I would love to see what you do to make your wrapping special or how you save money on wrapping for Christmas. Send me a picture of your how you make your packages special, and if I feature your pic on the blog, I will send you one of my books as a thank you! Send the pics to info@kathilipp.com
by kathilipp | Nov 28, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
My life was so simple. Then I married Roger.
You see, my whole family lives within a two hour drive of my home. We get together for holidays and exchange gifts like the Norman Rockwell painting says we are supposed to do.
Then I had to marry a southern boy.
When Roger was looking for his first grown-up job, as a senior at Purdue University, he told God his requirements. “God, I will go anywhere except California.” Yeah. That’s a good idea. Tell God what you won’t do.
So twenty-five years ago Roger got a job in Cupertino with HP and he has been a California boy ever since.
The only problem is that he left a whole family who all live in Georgia, and who all celebrate Christmas. And somehow, each year I forget that their gifts require an extra step or two.
So today, your project is to get your plan together for any out of town gifts. There are three approaches you can take:
- Order all your gifts online and have them shipped from the company.
- Buy gifts and ship them out from home.
- Make sure you’ve married a local boy or stop talking to out of state relatives and friends.
Let me know what approach you subscribe to, as well as any tips you have for gift giving for out of towners. I would love some fresh thoughts about what to do for my mother-in-law.
Later in the projects, my daughter, Kimberly, will be sharing all of her mailing tips for getting those gifts to Grandmother’s house.
I have to tell you that selfishly I have loved this entire project. I’m ahead of the game on shopping, I just got my Christmas cards in the mail, and I don’t feel nearly as scattered as I do when I don’t have a plan.
the other big helps for Christmas decor is to get rid of anything that you are no longer decorating with – those pink snowmen your bought during your Miami Vice Christmas phase, or that stack of Christmas cards from people you no longer talk with (and maybe, don’t really like). The less you have to sort through, the easier the decorating process will be.
