by kathilipp | Nov 21, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Project #2 Put Together Your Christmas Binder
1 Corinthians 14:40
“Put all things in order.”
Today I want you to create a safe place to keep all of your Christmas “stuff”.
If you’re like most people, you have your recipes in various cookbooks, a bunch of envelopes from last year’s Christmas cards stuffed into a kitchen drawer, and your Christmas stamps are tacked to your fridge with a magnet waiting to be used.
Stop the madness.
I want you to grab a binder (yes, you can go buy a pretty one at Target, or you can scavenge one from your kid’s room,) and start pulling all your loose papers, Christmas labels, lists and recipes and any other holiday-related paraphernalia into one place.
Here is what you will need:
- Binder
- Binder tabs
- Sheet protectors
- Three hole punch
- Permanent marker
If you don’t have all these items laying around the house, no worries. The important thing is to gather all your holiday-related papers into one place. Even if you just have a folder lying around, that will do for now.
If you do have the binder and the tabs, here are some sections of the binder you may want to consider (you don’t have to use them all, in fact, the simpler the better.)
- Calendar
- Christmas Cards
- Recipes
- Hiding Places
- Christmas Gift Lists
- Menus
- Receipts (use a page protector to store these in that section)
- Budget
- To Do List
Start putting all your gathered papers into the sections. it’s going to make it a lot easier when it comes to finding your favorite pumpkin custard recipe or the receipt for the Barbie Toothbrush that your daughter just said, “is for babies…”
Over the next few days, I will be posting some form for you to help keep track of those different areas, but for now, just gather up what you have.
Oh, and if you want a fun cover for your binder like mine, you can download it over at my Facebook Author Page
The Binder Cover
by kathilipp | Nov 20, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Project #1 – What Do You Want Your Christmas to Look Like
Proverbs 19:21
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
I know, I know. You want to dive in and start checking things off your list since it’s going to be a busy few weeks. I get it.
But, I want you to spend ten minutes determining how you are going to spend those next few weeks.
If we can go into the holidays being intentional about how we spend our time, physical and emotional energy, it truly will be the key to a more sane and sacred celebration.
Brainstorm about what is important to you. Some years, I’m looking for Joy. I want to experience that deep, abiding Joy that only comes from God and being with His people.
This year, it’s a little bit different; I’m all about the Peace. Between chaos in my ministry, chaos in our home lives, chaos in my husband’s job and a triple shot of chaos with my mom’s health, I need that peace that passes understanding. Here is what my mission statement looks like:
For Christmas 2011 I will share God’s peace with my family, my friends, and people I meet and I will to be done with my prep by December 20th so that I can experience peace during our celebration. I will read the Christmas story each morning of December.
And yes – I believe that God can deliver that – even during while at the mall. In December.
I’ve got a free resource to help you brainstorm and come up with a sentence (or two) about your intention this Christmas. Just go to my Facebook Author Page to download it (we’ll be putting all of our goodies up there!)
For a chance to win a copy of THE HUSBAND PROJECT sent to any address on your Christmas list (and it will be wrapped and a gift enclosure card will be added with your note!) tell me on my FB author page or here at the blog write your one sentence mission statement in the comments by Friday, November 25th. I’ll announce the winner next Monday!
by kathilipp | Nov 17, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Yes- it’s that time of year and Christmas will be here before we want it to be.
But there is no reason to fear! With a little planning and a few steps along the way (OK, 21. But I promise they will be easy…) you will have a saner and more sacred celebration this year.
All you have to do is sign up for the blog here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/kathilipp/KUHK and you will join all of us to get your Christmas under control, and be able to focus on Christ this season!
Wait for that first email to show up in your inbox on Monday to get started!
by kathilipp | Dec 5, 2010 | Because Sometime? I'm Just All Shallow - You Know?, Christmas |
I’ve really, really missed you.
It has been a whirlwind month with racking up flights on Southwest, meeting new friends in New Mexico, Missouri and hanging out with Mickey in Florida.
But with all that traveling, and the time changes and the altitude (who knew that New Mexico was so high…?!?) I just plain left the my real world (bloggy and home) behind.
Here are some of the things that I missed, in no particular order…
1. My dog Jake
2. Being able to share random thoughts on the blog and having all of you share back with me.
3. My mattress
4. Sharing recipes here
5. Facebook (ok, I did a little of it…)
6. Starbucks (the didn’t have it at the Ghost Ranch in NM and the coffee at Disneyworld is atrocious…)
7. Tivo
8. Cooking
9. Writing
Oh, and did I mention the coffee?
Glad to be home. I will be working on finishing up my next book, The What’s for Dinner Solution. I’m excited to finish it up and be home for a while.
by kathilipp | Nov 22, 2010 | Because Sometime? I'm Just All Shallow - You Know?, Christmas, Travel |
For the Airport
Since I have spent a considerable amount of time on an airplane in the past week – and I know some of you will as well, here are some of the Little Comforts that have made flying cross country a little mroe bareable…
Contigo
I am an unpaid sales person for the Contigo Travel Mug. I evangelize everywhere I go about how much I LOVE this little gadget for one reason and one reason only – it does not spill or leak.
Ever.
There is a button at the back of the lid you have to push in order to take a sip – keeping you from spilling. The cup is dishwasher safe but the lid must be cleaned by hand. That is how confident I am about this mug. It keeps coffee hot for about 3 hours, and tea cold for about 4. I throw my coffee into my computer case – that is how confident I am about this cup.
I was at a conference in the New Mexico desert for almost a week. I was without a car and about 90 minutes from the closest Starbucks. My Contigo became my best friend.
At the airport, I pack it in my carryon and then fill it up once I get past security. That way, if I have a super early flight, my morning Peet’s coffee doesn’t land on the lap of the guy sitting next to me.
Southwest Airlines’ Early Bird Check In
For only $10 one way, you can be in the early borading group assuring that you will at least get the window or aisle seat – whatever your preference. This is definately worth the extra $10 when I’m traveling with Roger or a friend so we can sit together.
Neck Pillow
If you are someone who can fall asleep on a plane or in a car or on a train, (thank you, Dr. Suess…) this little pillow is a must have in order for you to keep from drooling on your seatmate. I always do the Early Bird ticketing so I can have a window seat and fall asleep with my head in the neck pillow, leaning against a window.
Noise Canceling Headphones
I didn’t buy noise candeling headphones for a while since I thought if I wanted to get some effective ones I would have to pay the $200 for the ones that are avaiable from foo-foo chi-chi shops. No thanks.
However, after a long flight of trying to watch movies with my cheapo headphones, I knew I had to try something… Sony makes a pair that retails for around $50 that is just great.I can hear every word of How I Met Your Mother on my iPad. And that’s a good thing.
So tell me – what is your favorite travel tip for those long flights.
by kathilipp | Dec 20, 2009 | Christmas |
Playing a little holiday game here – tell me what your holiday musts are in the following categories:
Movies
Cookies
Traditional Family Gifts
Food
Outing
.
Here are my five:
Movie – It’s a Wonderful Life
I was watching this movie on lazy Saturday afternoons before Hallmark started producing ornaments with George Bailey’s face on them. It is the best redemption story out there and you can’t get through the movies without crying –even if you are a big strong guy (right Roger?)
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Cookies – Mexican Wedding Cakes/Russian Tea Cakes
My mom makes these yummy-powdered-sugar-balls of love every single year and they ARE Christmas. Check out this post on how to make these extra special cookies.
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Traditional Family Gifts- Chocolate Orange
It’s easy. Whack ’em on a table and eat. Yum. If Santa doesn’t get one for every kid (and Roger still considers himself a kid) I am in big trouble.
.
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Food – Broccoli Casserole
I love me some Broccoli Casserole – a long-standing tradition in our family. Mayo, condensed soup, and Ritz crackers. And now, I pass my family’s white trash heritage on to you:
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Broccoli Casserole
2 Eggs – Beaten
2 T Green Onions – chopped
1 Can Celery Soup
1 Cup Mayonnaise
2 boxes frozen broccoli
8 oz grated cheddar cheese
1 tube Ritz Crackers
1 cube butter
.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the first four ingredients in a bowl.
Par boil broccoli and drain.
Mix the broccoli into the first four ingredients. Pour into an 8×8 casserole dish.
Sprinkle the cheese on top of the casserole.
Melt the butter.
Crush the tube of Ritz crackers and mix with the melted butter. Cover over the casserole.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
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Outings – Looking at Christmas lights while listening to Trans-Syberian Orchestra
Here is a map of Christmas lights around the Bay Area. For all my homies. However, almost every paper in the country has a guide on their website.
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OK – now it’s your turn – tell me what you need to make it Christmas…
