100 Days to Christmas » Gifts

Gift Check-In

listmama — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:01:05 +0000

With just 11 days until Christmas, there is little time to finish your gift-buying or gift-making. You will save yourself time and stress if you don’t wait until the very last minute.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take stock of the gifts that you have, make an executable plan to finish up in the next few days. There is no need to go out searching for presents that are unnecessary or in excess of what you already have. That is a trap that many Americans fall into – continuing to buy when what they already have is plenty. Be sure to stop when you are done.

Congratulations to the 3 winners of ListPlanIt‘s ePlanners:

Personal ePlanner – Denise (orthomama), Planner ePlanner – Debra Smith, Home ePlanner – Nikki (foofoo)

Wrappin’ Around the Christmas Tree

listmama — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:01:13 +0000

In my house, presents are not placed under the tree until Christmas Eve. I fill the empty space with a new stuffed Christmas creature each year and some empty decorative storage boxes. I was tired of my children picking up the wrapped packages and asking me how many days until they could open them. That does not mean that I don’t wrap as early as possible. Once they are covered by paper, I can relax a little more.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to lock yourself in a bedroom or private space and get as much wrapping done as possible. For some added fun, call some of the girls over and make it a Gift Wrap Party! Some can wrap and some can accessorize. Be sure to label each present.

This week’s drawing is for 3 lucky winners to win 1 of 3 of ListPlanIt‘s ePlanners: Personal ePlanner (perfect for personal goal-setting in the New Year), Planner ePlanner (lots of time management pages to get yourself organized), and Home ePlanner (for motivation to get those home projects done this winter). To enter for your chance to win. . .

1) leave a comment on this post,

2) tell your friends & followers about 100 Days to Christmas on Facebook or Twitter(so easy to do when you use the Share This button at the bottom of this post) and leave a comment here linking to your profile,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until December 13 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Black Friday

listmama — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:01:09 +0000

While many of you will be up at 3:30 a.m. so you can stand in line to enter 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.

The 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 decor into well-marked boxes or tubs.

* Until November 30th, buy a Print or Download Membership to ListPlanit in the next few days and get a gift certificate for 1 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.

This week’s drawing is for a $25 gift certificate to Name Bubbles – Name Bubbles personalized waterproof press-and-stick labels for kids and adults are the perfect choice for labeling all your family’s holiday gifts. Whether they’re destined for a hand-knit sweater from Grandma or that new game player from Dad, Name Bubbles are durable laminated vinyl labels that stay firmly affixed to your most important items, even through the toughest daily use — including trips through the washing machine and dryer, microwave, and dishwasher. With Name Bubbles you’ll always know which item belongs to whom, long after the holiday decorations have been put back in the attic; plus, they’re easy to customize and purchase online at http://www.NameBubbles.com. To enter for your chance to win. . .

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until November 29 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Mom’s Store

listmama — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:01:27 +0000

Up until last year, 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 figure out how to work out the shopping trips alone and control the cost of the gifts. I read in a magazine how one mom set up Mom’s Store every Christmas with objects she had been collecting throughout the year that she knew would interest her children. She would designate a place in her home as Mom’s Store, she would set out a number of items appropriate to one child, then she would bring in 1 child at a time to “buy” a gift from that selection for her brother or sister. Then she cleared those items and prepared to do another round.

The 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 key. You’ll need to be sure you have the materials you need on hand.

*Check out ListPlanIt‘s Blog for a List of Gifts to Collect for Mom’s Store.

Don’t Forget Your Furry Friends!

listmama — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:01:46 +0000

For many families, pets of all kinds are treasured members and friends. They guard homes, warm laps, love unconditionally, make exceptional playmates, and add life.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to pay tribute to the pet in your life this Christmas. Maybe you buy it a new bone or a new play toy or even have your children make something that shows how much you value that pet. Give your pet a little extra attention this holiday season.

One of the symbols of the great state that I am proud to call home (Maine) is none other than L.L. Bean. Not only is their merchandise top quality, but they have a guarantee that is unequaled. And their customer service is excellent! This week’s giveaway is for a $50 gift card from L.L. Bean – perfect for holiday gift-buying. Once again, you have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 25 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Stock Up on Stocking Stuffers

listmama — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:01:50 +0000

“Stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” Stockings are an important part of many families’ Christmas traditions, and yet they are easy to forget about until the last minute.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to go through your stash (and you know you have one) of trinkets and goodies. Inventory what you have and consider what might be good to keep your eye out for. Keep in mind the size of your stockings, and do not go overboard. Santa’s policy is: Less is More!

Check out List Mama’s List of Helpful Stocking Stuffer Ideas post.

For this week’s giveaway, enter to win 1 of 5 Holiday ePlanners from ListPlanIt. You’ll find 22 printable lists and planning pages for sending cards, buying gifts, planning holidays parties and events, and preparing holiday meals. Once again, you have several ways to enter to win this handy, downloadable packet:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 11 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Shop-from-Home-Day

listmama — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:01:17 +0000

You may have already begun receiving those beautiful little catalogs jam-packed with holiday trinkets, toys, decor, and anything else you might want or need for the holidays. You are hereby granted permission to do Christmas window shopping – from home!

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to leaf through your Christmas planner to the gift budget you created. Now scour your catalogs for ideas for the remainder of your gift-buying, while staying within the confines of your budgetary limits. If you’ve opted out of catalog mailings, then make a list of your favorite places to shop and begin to browse their websites.

My favorite guide for shopping for my family is the following poem*:
Something They Want,
Something They Need,
Some Kind of Toy,
And Something to Read.

* Members to ListPlanIt.com will find this poem on Gift List C in Holidays & Occasions.

Congratulations to Tammy (ttyms) for winning Stonewall Kitchen Winter Celebrations: Special Recipes for Family and Friends!

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 11 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Handmade for the Holidays

listmama — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:01:04 +0000

As we prepare for a Christmas in an economy that is still struggling, turning to our own ingenuity, ability, and creativity when giving Christmas gifts is a heartfelt yet economical way to show your affection to friends and loved ones.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to go through your Christmas list to decide who might be most appreciative of a gift made by hand. Start researching what gifts would appropriately match your skills. Make a list* of the materials/supplies. Be sure to have instructions on hand, should you need them. Set goals on your October and November calendars for completing your gifts.

* Please help yourself to this Handmade Gifts Planner from ListPlanIt.com.

This week’s Giveaway is for a brand new book called Stonewall Kitchen Winter Celebrations: Special Recipes for Family and Friends! Once again, you have several ways to enter to win this beautiful full-color cookbook:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 4 at 6 pm EST to enter.

A List of Wishes

listmama — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:01:02 +0000

Gift-giving is a special practice. Though the goal is to give joyfully, there tends to be a lot of stress placed (usually self-induced) on the giver. One tremendous resource for choosing meaningful gifts for loved ones and friends is a simple Wish List.

Whereas Saturday is a day of catching up and working it out, Sunday is a day of family. Each Sunday post will contain an seasonal task or activity that involves getting the most out of time with loved ones.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to create a page** for each member of your immediate family and give them a chance to jot down their wishes (or work on it together). Then add the pages to your Christmas planner for quick reference. Now you’ll have a place to go when new ideas for gifts are mentioned. Make a comprehensive dream list and later, you can whittle it down to a more manageable size.

(**Members to ListPlanIt.com can go to Holidays & Occasions for printable Wish Lists. See also the Holiday ePlanner for just $4.95).

Today is the last day to enter to win 1 of 3 membership to ListPlanIt.com, which has has over 400 printable lists and planning pages to help you organize your life and put your world in order, including everything you need to get prepared for Christmas! In Holidays & Occasions, you’ll find calendars, daily and weekly planners, card lists, wish lists, gift lists, cookie/candy planner, party planning pages, holiday meal planning pages, grocery lists, and so much more!

You have several ways to enter to win a full year of access to ListPlanIt.com:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until 6 pm today to enter.

Who’s on Your List?

listmama — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:01:32 +0000

Although gifts should not be the intentional focus of Christmas, we all know that they play a rather prominent role in what is typically the most beautiful holiday of the year. And honestly, it is a satisfying experience to a) find the perfect gift for a friend, caregiver, or loved one in your life and b) find it with plenty of time to spare. It truly is better to give than to receive.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take out a clean sheet of paper, place it in your Christmas planner, directly behind your calendars, and begin to list everyone you would like to give a gift this year (members to ListPlanIt.com will find several printable gift lists in Holidays & Occasions).

Once your gift-giving list is complete with names, you can begin to make a conscious effort to brainstorm for gift ideas at home or while out shopping. Be sure to make notes about your ideas and list the final gift once you’ve made or purchased it.

ListPlanIt.com has over 400 printable lists and planning pages to help you organize your life and put your world in order, including everything you need to get prepared for Christmas! In Holidays & Occasions, you’ll find calendars, daily and weekly planners, card lists, wish lists, gift lists, cookie/candy planner, party planning pages, holiday meal planning pages, grocery lists, and so much more!

ListPlanIt wants to give 3 Download Memberships to 100 Days participants. You have several ways to enter to win a full year of access to ListPlanIt.com:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until 6 pm on Sunday, September 20 to enter.