November 30, 2011

Final Advent Preparation

25 daysAdvent calendars abound as many people find Advent a significant part of their holiday celebration. There are so many fun ways to help children and adults keep track in the countdown to Christmas.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to locate the Advent Calendar of your choice and fill it with your preference of treat. Some families use candy or chocolate, some use trinkets, and some use activities as a filler for their Advent Calendar.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us about your plans for Advent.

Filed Under: Christmas, Fun Tagged With: , Leave a Comment
November 29, 2011

Christmas Cookie & Candy Planning

26 daysFor many people, homemade cookies and candy are as much a part of Christmas as the tree or stockings. For many others, holiday cookies are always the goal, but never thought of until it is too late. Whether baking for a fun family activity, for cookies to give to Santa or for the annual Cookie Exchange you participate in every year, cookies are a fun and delicious way to celebrate the holidays.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to search through your cookie recipes to find the cookies you’d like to make this holiday season. Have a favorite from your childhood? Search it out. Make it a new old tradition. Once you’ve found the recipes, use a Holiday Cookie/Candy Planner* and add the ingredients to your current shopping list (or create a shopping list just for cookies and candy). Start baking now and freeze them for the holidays, or plot any cookie baking on the calendars in your holiday planner.

* Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download a Holiday Cookie/Candy Planner in Holidays & Occasions for your return addresses.

See ListPlanIt’s Christmas Cookie Board on Pinterest.

Filed Under: Christmas, Fun Tagged With: Leave a Comment
November 28, 2011

Goodwill to All

27 daysIf you are fortunate enough this year to have some money in your bank account, bills paid, and food in your pantry, then give thanks and remember those who are not as fortunate. Not only because “what goes around, comes around,” but because we are all human beings and in this together.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to seek out a local aid agency in your area. Choose from either the human or animal variety (or both). Check out their website or give them a call to find out what their wish list is for this year. Round up the children and make a trip to a discount store to purchase whatever you can afford. Every little bit helps. Then, deliver the supplies as a family. Use this season as an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of giving because everyone benefits from generosity.

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” ~ Charles Schulz

Filed Under: Christmas, Giving Tagged With: , Leave a Comment
November 27, 2011

Deck the Halls. . .

28 daysThe Christmas season may have already officially begun, but who had time to think about what that really means with Thanksgiving leftovers to finish off and shopping to accomplish.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to begin your Christmas decorating. The time this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas is short, so you want to not only have time to enjoy it fully, but also to get it all up and in order well before you host any parties or get-togethers.

See ListPlanIt’s Christmas Decor Board on Pinterest.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and upload a photo or two of your Christmas decor. Can’t wait to see it!

Filed Under: Christmas, Home Tagged With: , Leave a Comment
November 25, 2011

Black Friday

30 daysWhile many will be up at 3:30 a.m. to stand in line for the early store opening times of Black Friday, I will be sleeping away until my usual wake time. I am usually done with my Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving, and while the pull of the deep sales is very tempting, I cannot bear to go elbow-to-elbow with so many shoppers. I do realize, however, that for many people, shopping the day after Thanksgiving is as much a part of tradition as anything else.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to shop hard, if that is your thing. Also, take advantage of the day and put away the remnants of your fall and Thanksgiving décor into well- marked boxes or tubs.

* Until November 30, buy a Print or Download Membership to ListPlanit and get a gift certificate for one FREE membership of the same value! Perfect for any mom, dad, grandparent, teacher, friend, or anyone else who would benefit from the gift of organization. You must visit this page in order to qualify.

Are you a Black Friday shopper? Do you get up early or do you prefer to shop online on this day? Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and let us know.

Filed Under: Christmas, Gifts Tagged With: 1 Comment
November 13, 2011

Mom’s Store

42 daysUp until a few years ago, I had a dilemma concerning sibling gifts. I wanted my children to know the joy of giving to their siblings, but I had a terrible time trying to figure out how to work out the shopping trips with each kid alone and control the cost of the gifts. I read in a magazine how one mom set up Mom’s Store every Christmas with low-cost objects she had been collecting throughout the year that she knew would interest her children. She would designate a place in her room as Mom’s Store, set out a number of items appropriate to one child, and then would bring in one child at a time to “buy” a gift from that selection for their brother or sister. Then, she cleared those items and prepared to do another round for the next child.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to take some time to consider gifts for siblings. Maybe you want your children to make gifts for each other. Maybe you have a special night when you take each of them shopping alone. Maybe you’d like to try Mom’s Store. Whatever the case, preparation is a priority. You’ll need to be sure you have the materials you need on hand.

  • List of Gifts to Collect for Mom’s Store

    How do you handle sibling gifts? Visit 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and share.

    • Filed Under: Christmas, Gifts Tagged With: , 2 Comments
    November 9, 2011

    Card Assembly

    46 daysWhether you have chosen to create a card that is more like a work of art, or have decided that “less is more” applies to your card style, today is a good day to begin assembling them, writing messages, and preparing any photos.

    Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take the envelopes you have already addressed and go through each one, preparing each card and photo for its recipient. This is a process that will more than likely take a few days to finish. Remember that the goal is to have the bulk of the Christmas “work” done before December, so be diligent!

    Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and give us the status of your Christmas cards.

    Filed Under: Cards, Christmas Tagged With: Leave a Comment
    November 7, 2011

    Address Christmas Card Envelopes

    48 daysPull out the list you created for your Christmas cards from your holiday planner. Thankfully, you have already rounded up all of your friends and family’s addresses because today is a good day to begin to address the envelopes!

    Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to find a quality pen with a nice color of ink. Gather the envelopes together and begin to write addresses on all of the cards. This will give you a chance to think about what you might like to say to each person in the note you will jot to them when you begin to assemble your Christmas cards. To save yourself some time with the return addresses, use Christmas Mailing Labels* where all you need to do is to type your name and address into the first square, and then copy and paste into all of the rest of the squares. When you are finished, print on adhesive backed paper and cut on the lines for simple and festive return address labels.

    * Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download a blank Christmas Mailing Labels in Holidays & Occasions for your return addresses.

    How many people are on your mailing list? Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and join the conversation.

    Filed Under: Cards, Christmas Tagged With: 1 Comment
    October 26, 2011

    Home for the Holidays

    60 daysMany, many people will be traveling either for Thanksgiving or Christmas. This is no small undertaking, especially if you have children in tow.

    Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take a look at your calendars, take note of the days that would be best to travel based on your schedules, and get serious about making the final preparations: purchase tickets, map out routes, make a packing list, and reserve a car and a hotel.

    Members to ListPlanIt.com have access to pages such as packing lists, itineraries, and travel planners in Travel Planning and in Travel ePlanner.

    Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us where you will be traveling for the holidays.

    Filed Under: Christmas, Thanksgiving Tagged With: , Leave a Comment
    October 25, 2011

    Entertaining for Christmas

    61 daysMany households host a party or get-together sometime during the Christmas holiday season. It might be a cookie exchange with friends, a kids’ party with your playgroup, a holiday tea, a casual family gathering of food and gifts, or a more formal dinner party with just adults.

    Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to begin to think about what might be happening in your home in December. Maybe you’ve always wanted to host a get-together in your home but never considered the details in time to organize it. Maybe your home is already designated as the hub for Christmas gatherings in your family. Don’t wait! It will only bring stress if you put it off. Start thinking about your entertaining budget, list of guests, food, supplies, and location. ListPlanIt‘s Holiday Party Planner* is a great way to get started with your Christmas party planning.

    * Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download a blank Holiday Party Planner in Holidays & Occasions as a worksheet for your holiday event planning.

    Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us where your holiday gatherings are usually held. If in your home, what are your best tips for hosting?

    Filed Under: Christmas, Home, Meal Planning, Party Planning, Time Management Tagged With: 2 Comments
    « Older Posts
    Newer Posts »