Boxes

Today's Task: Start saving your boxes!

I can't stand spending money on boxes so instead of trashing the cereal boxes, I stash them! It's amazing how many cereal, shoe, fruit snack and "Capri Sun" boxes you can save in a month. Bar soap boxes are great to disguise gift cards and they mail great too!

Here's a great tutorial for a cute home-made box!

Here's some more ideas from skip to my lou

The Ultimate Gift Wrapping Station!

You all know I know I am a little obsessed with this organizing stuff - but what is happening to me right this minute while looking at this picture, makes me think I need an INTERVENTION!

I'm beginning to sweat, my heart is racing and I think I might even be drooling a bit! I'm holding myself back from texting my hubby a supply list and asking him to stop at HOME DEPOT on the way home from work!

I'm sure your not getting carried away like that - but LOOK at the details:

Do you think any of my boys would give up their room?

Todays Task is to gather Wrapping Supplies & Create a Gift Wrapping Station.

Hopefully YOU won't get carried away - it could even be as simple as a rubbermaid box under the bed or a cleaned-out drawer!

Here's some more realistic ideas!

Be sure to include these:
Scotch Tape
Wrapping Paper
Bows & Ribbon
Gift Bags
Cardstock for tags & things

Have fun!
Too early for Christmas music - but you could listen to some "WRAP"
hee hee

Holiday Busies Have Begun!

This week marks the first week of the holiday busies. Parent conferences, along with early-outs for the kiddos; Halloween on Saturday and Thanksgiving around the corner - can make life feel pretty overwhelming.

There are a few things we can do to stay calm thru the crazies and keep our families and homes from spinning out of control.

1. Write it down! - Get your brain on paper by writing down the tasks that are spinning around in your mind. Once written down, items can be crossed-out, prioritized, delegated and scheduled.


2. MM's -Keep up the minimum maintenance in your home. Remember the RULE: Complete your mm's before you leave your home or start any projects.


3. Plan Easy Meals (with the emphasis on plan!) Whether you like to plan weekly, monthly or even by seasons- get those meals planned! I like to simplify by having nights dedicated to one type of meal. Tuesday - Taco Night, Thursday - Pasta, Friday - Pizza!
   
   
4. Spend a few quiet moments everyday in prayer and scripture study. During this time keep a pad of paper handy to jot down ideas. It's amazing the thoughts and personal inspiration you can receive if you just take the time to listen.
   
   
5. DO it! PLANNING to do is not enough - we must DO! Get off the computer & get to work DOING! Getting things done that can be completed ahead of time, replaces the frantic-overwhelmed feeling, with confidence and calm!

Today's Task: Grab a pad of paper and spend a few minutes gearing up for the holiday busies that are upon us! Planning and DOING a few things ahead of time makes the difference between CALM and CHAOS!

Date Night!

It's Date Night tonight!
While your getting ready, check out your closet and do a pre-holiday wardrobe check!

We’ve all experienced the panic on the night of our husband's work holiday party and there's NOTHING in the closet to wear! But we can prevent it from happening THIS year by planning ahead.

Find out which items you need and write them on your shopping list. Make sure you have at least one nice Christmas Outfit to wear. What about the shoes? Earrings? belt? Hose? While your at it - check out your kiddos closet too. I love getting my younger boyz matching Christmas Ties from Children's Place. They are in stock now, but they go fast. (You'll have to do your own research on the dresses :0))

Have a great night out (or in)!

Better to Give!

Today's Task: Tackle those Gifts to be Mailed!

Now's the time to focus on GIFTING. We've already talked about home-made gifts - we should get those completed in the next few weeks. Next gifts in line are the presents that need to be mailed.

Although shipping companies, as well as the United States Post Office have made it easier for us by extending shipping deadlines (even delivering on Christmas day), we can save money and stress by getting our packages in the mail a little earlier.

Here are some "light" gift ideas:

Mittens & Scarves
Ties
Clothing
Wallets
Tote bags or Backpacks
Slippers
Earrings/Jewelry
Gardening Gloves & Seeds
Aprons
Kitchen Gadgets -skip the knives :0)
Pot Holders or Dish Towels
Postage Stamps & Stationary
Photo Key Ring
Sewing Kit
First Aid Kits
Art Supplies or Craft Kits
Flashlights - (skip the heavy batteries)
Calendar
Paperback book and bookmark
Cookies in a clean Pringles Can.
Card Games - our family's all time favorite is BLINK.
AND of course Gift Cards - Teens love i-tune or blockbuster gift cards!

Did you know that there are even "e-mailable" gift certificates?
And don't forget many stores will wrap and mail your gift TO the reciever!

FYI: If you're mailing packages oversees, the US Postal Service has given Nov. 13th is the deadline to mail packages parcel post to guarantee they'll get there before Christmas.

Happy Day!

Tradition!

Today's Task: Write Down & Evaluate your Traditions!

Christmas Traditions are fun and provide a sense of security and continuity for our families. Writing our traditions down, not only helps us to remember to DO them, it also helps us EVALUATE them.

As our families change, our family traditions often need changes too. Adjustments should be made in to ensure our traditions are still enjoyable and worth the time, money and energy .

Ask family members which traditions they LOVE the most. Write each tradition down and include the list in your Christmas Binder. Include traditions that you'd like to begin!

Click HERE to download a cute printable from organizing your way .

HERE is a fun tradition that I'm thinking of starting in our home.

What are your favorite family Christmas traditions?

Holiday Calendar

Today’s Task: Create a Holiday Calendar.

Use whatever calendar you love or print mine. I like to have a separate calendar from the one I use the rest of the year so I can scribble my Christmas to-do’s all over it.

Next, spend some time recording holiday tasks and activities. Be sure to include everything - parties, concerts and travel plans.

Calendaring the holiday busies gives you a visual picture of what your Christmas REALLY includes and helps protect you from over- commitment, giving you the courage to say No to anything that doesn’tAAdd to your season of peace.

You might want to include some deadlines for yourself like:

Assemble Cards by October 20th

Finish Homemade Gifts by November 15th
Order online gifts by November 30th.
Finish shopping by end November.
Send cards by December 3rd.
Finish gift wrapping by December 10th.

Enjoy taking control of your time!

Fill In the Blanks

Doesn't this graphic from giverslog sum up our thoughts each Christmas?
Seventy-one more days may seem like a lot of time, but with Halloween and Thanksgiving looming, not to mention "the crazies of everyday life," the time will fly.

Continue spending at bit of time each day on Christmas Prep and
this year could be the year you "get holiday things done in time to enjoy the holidays!"

Today's Task: Fill the Blanks on your Christmas Gift list!

If you haven't made a Gift List yet - click here (for how) and here (for some printable lists) and create a list ASAP.

Now Fill in the Blanks!

Your Filled-In Gift List can be the key to an organized and stress-free Christmas IF you take the time to list each person and make decisions on the gifts you will give. Then create a Shopping List (organized by store) with each item you need to buy.

Now shopping will be a breeze - take your list, go to each store, checking off the items as you go. Your shopping could be done in a only couple of days, saving you time, money and stress! What a difference a little planning makes!

Holiday Menu

Since today is Menu Monday - I thought this task would be perfect!

Today's Task: Develop a Holiday Menu
(Include the recipes & keep it in your Christmas Binder! You can add a grocery list too!)

Here's Mine:

Ham - Spiral Cut (Turkey for Thanksgiving)
Rolls - home-made, frozen dough or Costco
Yam & Apple Casserole -a family tradition
Green Bean Casserole
Funeral Potatoes
Wild Raspberry Delight
Deviled Eggs
Pumpkin Pie & Whipped Topping

HAM - Spiral Cut
Melt margarine, Brown sugar, & orange juice concentrate. Rub on and repeat during cooking. 350 - 10-15 minutes.

Yam & Apple Casserole
6-8 yams
6-8 granny smith apples - peeled and sliced
Arrange in layers and cover with sauce:
Sauce:
2 cups water (yam juice)
¾ Tbs. Salt
1 cup sugar
4 Tbs. Corn starch
¼ lb. Butter (1 cube)
Mix corn starch, sugar, salt. Add water. Bring to a boil, add butter and cook till thick. Stir Constantly. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Original Green Bean Casserole
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell’s® condensed cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup milk
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 pkgs. (9 oz. each) frozen cut green beans, thawed*
1 1/3 cups FRENCH'S® Original French Fried Onions
Combine soup, milk and pepper in a 1 1/2 qt. baking dish; stir until blended. Stir in beans and 2/3 cup French’s French Fried Onions. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until hot. Stir. Sprinkle with remaining 2/3 cup French Fried Onions.
Bake 5 minutes or until onions are golden.
*Or 2 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) cut green beans, drained.

Easy Deviled Eggs Recipe
6 eggs
3 Tbsp. Miracle Whip or mayo
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt or salt substitute
1/8 tsp. pepper
Paprika

Put eggs into large saucepan. Add cold water to cover the eggs. Bring to boil. Turn heat to low and cook for 20 minutes. Run cold water over done eggs. Peel eggs under cold running water. Cut each egg lengthwise in half. Remove yolks and put in bowl. Add Miracle whip, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika.

Funeral Potatoes
2 lb frozen hash browns
Diced onion to taste (approx. ¼ cup)
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1-2 cups grated cheese
1 cup sour cream
Salt & Pepper to taste
Approx. 1 ½ cups crushed corn flakes
Mix first six ingredients and place in a 9 X 13 pan.
Top with crushed corn flakes.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 325 degrees
for an hour if frozen hash browns, half an hour if they are thawed.

Wild Raspberry Delight
1. Mix 2 cubes of margarine, 2 Tbs. Of sugar, 11/2 cups of flour till crumbly.
Spread in a 9x13 greased pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350. Do not let brown. Cool.
2. Mix 1 cube margarine, 2 8 oz. Pkgs of cream cheese and 2 cups powdered sugar. Spread over cooled crust.
3. Sprinkle 1 cup chopped nuts over all.
4. Dissolve 1 3 oz. Pkg raspberry jello in one cup boiling water. Add 1 12 oz. Pkg of frozen raspberries, thawed, juice and all. Cool until the consistency of jelly. Spoon over nuts. Let sit in fridge till firm.
5. Top with Cool Whip

Bon Apetite!

Use What You Have

Today's task is more "advice" than "task."

As I'm sure you've noticed, the stores have made a holiday transformation. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas have taken over our favorite stores! While, the change is fun, we have to remember the stores are NOT thinking of OUR best interests. Since most retailers count on the holiday season for a large percentage of their annual income, they are ONLY about getting MORE of our money.

As we move into the "shopping stage" of our Christmas prep - WE have to be smart! The stores make it incredibly hard as they inundate us with the strategic merchandising - all set-up with one purpose in mind - to make us believe that we HAVE to HAVE it!

My advice is - USE WHAT YOU HAVE!

MORE decorations, MORE gifts, MORE serving dishes, holiday plates, candles... WON'T make our families MORE happy.

While, I'm all for spooky halloween dinners and creepy crawly decorations - I have to constantly remind myself that what my family really wants and needs is my:

• undivided attention
• listening ear
• smile
• time

Let's spend our money, our energy, and our time for what really matters, and
USE WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE!

Assembly Line Cards

Today’s Task: Gather Supplies & Assemble your Cards.

Gather your card supplies in a basket or tote.

Here are some things to include:

1. Christmas Cards
2. Stamps
3. Return address labels
4. Address labels
5. Copies of Christmas Letter
6. Pictures
7. Pen

Now you can work on your card assembly anywhere!

Don’t forget to involve your family -it goes quickly when you form an assembly line of stamping and labeling and filling envelops. If we finish up your cards this week, we can focus on gifting.

79 more days!

Travel Plans

I just got back from a great little weekend getaway. It was a fun little trip – but very last minute, which meant many of the travel details were figured out along the way. Many stressors could have been avoided with a bit of advanced planning.

If you are going out of town this Christmas, spend some time nailing down your travel details. Even just a few minutes of planning will allow you to ENJOY YOURSELF while you’re out of town, instead of working out details.

Today’s Task: Work out your Holiday Travel Plans
What are your travel dates?
Do you need to make Airline or Hotel Reservations?
Are you staying with family?

Happy Trails!

The Christmas Spirit

"True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it.

In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service."
President David O. McKay

Today's Task: Plan a Service Project for your family to participate in this Christmas!

Here's some ideas:

1. Visit residents of a nursing home or assisted living facility.

2. Adopt a family in need and give them a Christmas they may not have otherwise had by providing dinner & gifts.

3. Leave a really generous tip the next time you eat out! Offer to run errands or drive an elderly or sick neighbor to doctor appointments.

4. Write some missionaries serving away from home. Missionaries love letters!

5. Bake cookies for your neighbors.

6. Serve Christmas dinner to the homeless in your community.

7. Check out this website - Create the Good . You don't have to join - put in your zip code, and they'll give you service needs for your area .

8. Do small acts of service for the members of your own family.

9. Invite a family or someone who is not able to spend the holidays with their own family over to your house for Christmas dinner.

10. Take your family caroling to your local hospital, retirement community, or nursing home.

11. Have your children decorate cards, ornaments, or cookies to send to our military troops overseas

12. Tie Quilts for Project Linus - Bakersfield Chapter, National Website

13. LDS Humanitarian Services - Current Needs

14. Keep packed snacks in your car for those who are asking for money or food at street corners.

15. Visit members of your church who are in the hospital.

16. Offer to dog-sit for friends who are traveling during the holidays so they do not have to pay expensive kennel costs.

17. Contact your local ARC and see how you can help make the holidays extra special for people with disabilities.

18. Next time you’re at drive-thru, tell the cashier that you want to pay for the person’s tab behind you as well as a gift…even though you don’t know them!


Have a wonderful giving season!

Christmas Stamps

Today's Task - Purchase Postage Stamps!

To Order Your Christmas Stamps Online - click here

These are available now.

These will be available around October 20th.

Last year's Christmas stamps are still available - just add two cent stamps.

There's always these from Zazzle: hee hee
(they add a fee for personalizing)

The Gift of Preparedness

Since it is Food Storage Friday today – I thought I’d give you some emergency preparedness gift ideas. Christmas is a great time to encourage and support neighbors, friends and relatives to get prepared.


Emergency Items
Flashlights
Emergency Blankets
Flat-Fold Stoves
Jumper Cables
72 hr. Kits
First Aid Kits
First Aid Books or Preparedness Manuals
Batteries
Pocket knives
Hand Warmers
Whistles
Compasses
Mess kits
100 hr. candles
Waterproof Matches
Water Storage Info and Containers
Garden Seeds
Canning Jars
Dutch Oven
Hand Crank Wheat Grinder

Food Storage Items
Popcorn - "Just popping in to wish you a Merry Christmas!"
Wheat, Oats, Beans, Rice, Sugar (Aren’t you sweet!)
Anything fun sealed in a Mason Jar - candy, granola...
Food Storage Cookbooks
Cases of canned food – tuna, chili, fruit, veggies…
Honey, Oil, Powdered Milk
Blender Wheat Pancakes with cute tag

If this isn’t enough check out this article:
Meridian Magazine

If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear! -83 more days