| Don't start running for the hills screaming that | | | | Seeing as I am going to be writing I will also make note |
| Christmas is coming soon, you haven't fallen asleep for | | | | of Good ideas from the Christmas just gone that I liked |
| a really long time, Christmas Day was really only one | | | | or the children like. For example this year we sprinkled |
| month ago and the big event for 2010 is still a whole 11 | | | | glitter on the driveway for Santa to use as a Landing |
| months away... but who doesn't like to be prepared | | | | Marker. It was such a simple thing to do, but it was |
| before the big event? | | | | great and we had fun doing it as a family. |
| If you too want to prepare for Christmas, then you are | | | | This is also a great time to note down things that I |
| welcome to join me! What these articles are going to | | | | know other people might like, and if needs be put a |
| do is each month tackle a small area of Christmas | | | | copy of the ideas in with the Christmas decorations. A |
| planning as well as the planning for celebrations in the | | | | few years back a family friend joked when we gave |
| month. Like for example today is Burns Night, and so | | | | him and his wife a lamp for Christmas that for the last |
| last month I made sure that as I was going to have a | | | | four years we had slowly been replacing the furniture |
| small celebration with my family that I would remember | | | | in thier living room and would we be buying him a three |
| to buy a Turnip for neeps and tatties to go with the | | | | piece suite the following year. We remembered this |
| mince and onion. (And tomorrow we will have Stovies, | | | | and the following year presented him with his own gift |
| but that's another story) | | | | in a tiny little gift box... |
| Today however I am going to walk around the house | | | | A three piece sweet... |
| and make sure all Christmas items are away, I know | | | | I have already set up this years Gift list ideas file and |
| Top Ender and I know there will be a couple of | | | | have a copy on my ipod touch, a copy on the |
| decorations hidden somewhere in her room... and I also | | | | calender and a copy on the main PC. I have ideas for |
| know that there is a box of Christmas paper still to go | | | | birthdays and for other celebrations such as |
| up into the loft in my bedroom. | | | | Anniversaries, New Baby Gifts etc. That way if I |
| I am also going to catalogue the gifts that were given | | | | happen to be in a shop and see something that would |
| to me this Christmas that I won't use and so are either | | | | make a great gift, I can check that I haven't already |
| going to regift (not to the person who gave it to me) | | | | brought something for them.... like the beautiful baby |
| or take to a Charity Shop. For example next to my | | | | coat I have brought for my Sisters 3rd Baby which is |
| bed is a bottle of Red Door perfume which my Mum | | | | due in late May! |
| loves and my Great Nan got confused and thought I | | | | The last thing I need to do is to check next month for |
| loved. But on me Red Door doesn't smell as nice as it | | | | dates that are coming up. I have Valentines Day (Top |
| does on my Mum! | | | | Ender, Baby Boy and I are making a lot of cards this |
| I must admit this year I have been really bad and still | | | | year!), Chinese New Year (which is the 14th February |
| haven't handed out thank you notes. It isn't too late to | | | | this year), Big Cousins Birthday, Half Term a few |
| give them, and just a quick reminder if you haven't sent | | | | friends Birthdays and of course it is also the start of |
| yours don't say you have been busy and that is why | | | | Lent... Need to plan something big for that one. |
| you haven't written them! Say something along the | | | | Oh and the absolute last thing I am going to do is to |
| lines of "Please forgive me for not having expressed | | | | write a couple of lines about January so that when I |
| sooner how greatful we were for your lovely..." and | | | | come to write my review of the year post and family |
| please remind me to follow my rules for writing Thank | | | | letter in December, I'll remember what I thought was |
| you notes next time. | | | | important! |