Countdown to Christmas with Organized Christmas.com

bonnieheather

briliant! thanks!
used to know loads of these "printable" type sites but lost them all
glad to have at least one back lol
bonnie

clairefun

I'll join too - I was looking at the site last week but was away this weekend so couldn't start in time. Also, I have no printer at the moment (it got broken after our house move recently!) so I can't do any printables! so I'll join in as best I can...

So far :
I have a spiral bound notebook that I've kept the last few years with Christmas lists in - both what we want, and what we've bought for others. That way I can add to our lists whenever we think of anything we'd like to ask for - our families always ask for lists and we can never think of anything! It also means I don't get the same thing for people 2 years in a row >.< I also have a file on my PC keeping track of the same sort of thing - and I regularly check the two lists match up.

My holiday planning centre is my computer desk, moving over to the dining table if and when needed to spread out. I cant keep it there all the time, as I have a 3 year old and a cat who is fond of skidaddling away from the 3 year old, and sending everything flying!

Im writing a gift list and working out who gets what. On my side of the family there's only me, mum, sister, and her 2 kids (and my one, and my hubby) but on hubby's side 0.0 millions of them! I'm doing homemade / hampers etc for as many as possible.

I've written a Christmas card list and I'm starting to make cards - have only made six so far but I do a few every couple of days as I have so much else on at the moment - I'll get tthere in time!

We eat at my mums house on Christmas Day, my mother-in-laws on Boxing Day (as it's her birthday) and father in-laws the day after (as it's *his* birthday!). So although I want my house to look good for us, it takes a lower priority as we'll hardly be here anyway...

Haven't been out yet to buy stamps as I've got a cold but I'm going out Friday so I'll try to get them then.

prophecy_grrl

So far I have:

*Set up my Christmas Planning centre, at the computer desk upstairs
*In the middle of setting up my Christmas Notebook, as a section in my filofax
*Put all our festive commitments / deadlines into my diary
*Assessed our family values - quite simple really, we like to eat, drink, visit family and friends and spoil each other rotten with gifts! The difference is, this year we'll be doing it DFW style

This afternoon I'm going to write out my christmas card list and count how many stamps I'll need, and buy them on the weekend. I've finished making my Christmas cards, and have all the ones for work colleagues bought in the January sales. I've also bought loads of gifts throughout the year, and this afternoon will be itemising them in my Christmas notebook, and listing who's left to buy for.

On the checklist the other thing I need to do is plan my Christmas cleaning schedule - am soooooooooooo organised, i love it!!! :T

candyblue

Ok well I have caught up with the plan

Bought all xmas cards, even written them all!
I am making my Christmas hampers as we speak

SO doing quite well

SPANIEL36

:xmastree: Hey count me in on this organised malarky, i attempt to do the weekly fly every wee but dont get too far!!! i could really do with some organisation in my household!!!:xmastree:

furrypig

Hi to you all and thanks so much for keepng me company on this journey!! Not sure if I will continue to keep up with all the daily stuff, as it's half term now so not so frantic in my house and have been off work so far (back tomorrow).

Prophecy Girl you seem to be progressing really well, keep up the good work!

Jam tart A special thank you for the reindeer flannel idea I think Im going to attempt this idea!

Candy Blue Can't believe that you caught up and have all your cards written, I haven't done one yet! WOW!

Pavlov's dog Thanks for the info re the site closing, seems a shame as there is so much info there. Not sure about putting lard in the cookies!

Bonnie Heather Glad this site looks useful to you but bear in mind what Pavlov's dog said about site closing in Jan.

Claire Fun Sorry about the lack of printer at least you can start doing some of the organising even if you can't print the lists etc

Spaniel 36 I definitely need all the help I can get with organising myself and as it's my first ever Christmas at home thought I would give it a try!

Good luck everyone and do keep posting as I'm really enjoying hearing how you are all doing!

Thanks

pavlovs_dog

furrypig wrote: »

Pavlov's dog Thanks for the info re the site closing, seems a shame as there is so much info there. Not sure about putting lard in the cookies!

you were right, its not exactly lard. dug out an old post from this thread which explains it as a sort of melted butter/veg oil, which makes much more sense! :rotfl:

jamtart6

I am not doing exactly what organised christmas suggests mainly because I have done some things slightly differently but I am following their general template. It does make me chuckle at just how darned American they are!

Has anyone done the Family Values task from yesterday? Think that would be good but in my case (living at home still) its not overly applicable.

The Master Gift List is a great idea, I have a section at the back of my Christmas Book which is 'ideas'. The only person I am majorly stuck for now is my Mum. This is a constant problem for bday, xmas etc. and everything I have bought she already knows about (clothes etc.) If anyone has any bright ideas I would be so grateful!! She likes practical things and stuff for the house rather than herself. She is always the person I want to spoil most, and always the one I have most trouble trying to spoil! Very stressful!!

No progress on flannel reindeers but have bought the eyes and bells for them so getting there slowly.

Have finally acquired my friends address so can write the front of her xmas card.

44 more items listed on eBay for my challenge (see signature!)

I have got my xmas cards MADE, WRITTEN and divided into piles of where I need to take them. Last year I took so long making card orders for people that I ended up panicking and making my own on 21st Dec....not this year tho!

Oh and I have also booked my mummy for a girly day on about 23rd December. She doesn't know what its for yet, but I think having a day of NOT doing Christmas stuff will (A) make her more organised if she knows she doesn't have that day to run round like a headless chicken (B) relax her before the big day. Up to now I plan to go and have lunch in the local garden centre, walk round all the decorations and get in ye olde Christmas spirit, then come home and be pampered with a manicure (the beautician is lovely she comes to the house - but mum always says its a waste having her nails done, so never treats herself - she wont have a choice this time!) and finally watch Miracle on 34th street with some nice treats! cant wait!

furrypig

Hi all!

Got a bit behind with the countdown as I have been busy organising Halloween!!
I need to get my Christmas cards out and sorted asap! Was going to be mega organised and take a load home for my parents to give out but means I have to get them done by the weekend as prob not seeing them until boxing day!
I am a bit stuck with my mum's present but have decided to do a 12 days of Christmas present that was mentioned on the message boards on organisedchristmas. Then I googled it and came up with a couple of ideas and will hopefully get that all together for her this weekend so she can start it in December. i might make it joint with my dad but he already has some things for Christmas and think it will amuse mum more!

Good luck everyone and keep us posted on your progress.

I have had serious withdrawl from this site!!

pavlovs_dog

im not following any grand plan as such (dont have a whole house to prepare for one thing as i live with my inlaws). am trying to keep my eye on the christmas bauble as i trundle my way through the autumn and winter months though.

yesterday whilst in town i bought some more bits to put away (stocking fillers mostly). i also bought all bar one of the numerous birthday cards i need for december. i hate the fact that you cannot find a decent selection of birthday cards between nov-jan, and think it is plain rude to send "on your christmas birthday" cards, so always make an effort to buy cards for december birthdays early, to ensure i get a decent card for a fair price.


whilst at a friends that evening, her mother showed me some handmade cards made by a friend of a friend. great quality handmade cards for £1.50 each - much cheaper than what i would have paid for somehting of a poorer quality in the shops. so that is half of the special (relatives) christmas cards taken care of. half to go. next year, aim to get organised and have a crack at making my own cards, as i cant believe how much i spend on them each year :eek:

current goal is to write out a definitive what i intend to buy for x/y/z, and to detail what i already have to avoid overspending. also need to get practising making gingerbread if im going to do the gingerbread gifts this year. so much to do, so little time. i really should do the 12 monthly rudolph days!