This year my goal is to get all of my shopping and big home projects done by Thanksgiving so that I will have time to savor the season. I am blindly optimistic that way. I like to wrap presents as I buy them because otherwise I might hide them and never find them all. Not even when I move. Weird. Not that that ever happened to me. I love this paper I found at Target this week. Just the right amount of color and festiveness for me. Am I the only one that finds wrapping paper to be a very big decision?
Have you tried the Candy Cane Kisses? I've been craving my peppermint bark for months and months and have been not-so-patiently waiting for candy canes to hit the shelves. Until that happens, I am making do with these.
The baking labels from my last post are from this website and they are also great for the holidays. I made some for a cookie exchange party I had a few years ago. They'd also be great for holiday baking gifts. To further cut back on holiday stress, I'm not baking much for other people this year. If I were I might use something like this one I just designed. I'm also not sending out cards. I'm practically the Grinch. It's freeing. I really just want to sit by my tree and watch Christmas movies and embroider and knit. I refuse to participate in the Christmas crazy this year. Please remind me of that in about 4 weeks.
Hey! I resemble that statement -this post. ;)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your planning. I love that green bird pillow in the background of your photos. cute!
Now I KNOW we're soul sisters. I just ordered my Christmas cards last night and I've got the same exact wrapping paper from target sitting in the closet upstairs waiting for me. The peppermint bark thoughts are dead on too...
ReplyDeleteThat's my plan too...but like you, I will need reminding!~Hugs, Patti
ReplyDeletemmm. i love candy cane kisses. (and if you drop a couple in a homemade cappuccino and stir...it tastes coffee-shop worthy.)
ReplyDeletei also love to look through my Christmas books ahead of time to gather ideas. i'm very excited about this year...it will be our last in this home, so i'm wanting to make it a special one!
I have that paper, too!
ReplyDeleteIt's like we're twins.
I also am not sending out cards. But, I never do, so that's not particularly earth shattering news. But if I did send cards, you'd be on my list for sure.
I'm looking for candy canes today...are they really not out yet? Dang.
OK, I could have written this post... well except for the candy cane kisses part... I'm not chocolate person (I know gasp!).
ReplyDeleteRight now my "pre-Thanksgiving list" is long and getting longer... but I have gotten my wrapping paper figured out for this year ;)
~Chris
Thanks for the link to the labels. My goal is to be finished with the outer part of Christmas by December 1st so that I can focus on the inner part of Christmas the whole month of December. Enjoy the season. Patty
ReplyDeleteWrapping paper is a huge decision not to be taken lightly! ;) I agree completely!
ReplyDeleteI so want to keep things sane this season too- there is always more to do than can possibly be done.
Ooh! I love your collection of books. I have about half of them - now I'll go searching for the others. Maybe this will be the year you meet all of Christmas expectations? Who knows?? : )
ReplyDeleteI laughed when I read the part about wrapping paper, as I stood forever at Target yesterday trying to decide what to pick for this year. I'll be sharing mine soon, as I'm actually getting ready to do some wrapping today. We sound so much alike. Hugs-Carrie
ReplyDeleteTrying to get my holiday decorating done early -- we'll see how that goes. Also love wrapping paper. Unfortunately, I hide presents and find them months later -- the wrapping immediately is a better idea. I will try to do that this year!
ReplyDeleteJanet
I had to smile at your post. I have never seen nor heard of those kisses. I will have to look for them! My desire this season is extreme simplification and deeper reflection on all Christ is to me. I will see how I do!
ReplyDeleteYes, paper is a big decision for me. This year I am actually thinking brown butcher paper. I love butcher paper. We will see if I stick with that. I also love all the color in Christmas paper. Good luck with all you plans and goals. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI love to be organized too...love that blue polka dot cup! ;D
ReplyDeleteI always have great ideas and plans for every holiday but then they come and they go and I usually haven't followed through with anything I had in mind. :/ I don't buy wrapping paper anymore since it just gets ripped up and thrown out. When we visit other countries, they use newspaper to wrap purchases and even make envelopes and bags out of them which really makes a lot of sense. I actually save the paper that is in shoe boxes or stuffed inside purses and such, use the pages from desk calendars or fliers and newspaper. Wow! Almost mid-November. My how time flies. Have a great weekend. Tammy
ReplyDeleteAh, Jen, I don't even want to THINK about Christmas right now! I feel like I just finished decorating for fall. I like to savor one season and holiday at a time. However, that doesn't stop me from eating Christmas candy at this point in time. :-)
ReplyDeleteI need to find me some of those candy cane kisses.;) I have started buying little things here and there for Christmas, but I know that I will not be done by thanksgiving. Hope to be done by the beginning of December though. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
I have high expectations, and a fairly long list to accomplish before Thanksgiving. I do not plan to participate in the crazy at all. Have a blessed weekend. Jackie
ReplyDeleteThe paper is lovely! Perfect choice for you. Enjoy your savoring! Kit
ReplyDeleteI love to grab a stack of Christmas books and dream too. I am due for a new one. Have not bought one since Nell Hill's last one. Are there any new ones out there worth purchasing?
ReplyDeletehi jen,
ReplyDeletei loved the comment your left on my post. thank you so much.
choosing wrapping paper is a huge deal. i get that, for sure.
just last night i was looking through 'the farm chicks christmas' and thinking about what to bake and do, and what not to bake and not do. my head just isn't in it until after thanksgiving.
or is that the wine talking?
xo
elyse
I spend hours pondering my wrapping paper! Love yours!
ReplyDeleteI have been offline for WAY too long and not able to read blogs for WAY too long!!! I had no idea such books existed! I'm combing my library system website right now.
ReplyDeleteAlso -- and this just shows how very woefully out of touch I've been -- I didn't know you moved from the big new suburban house into a vintage house!!!! Congratulations to you -- your neighborhood looks so charming! I need to go back and read your blog from three years ago when I fell off the face of the earth.
Very best to you,
~Angela~
All I have to say is you are more together than I am! I am forever chasing my own tail. You GO, girl!
ReplyDeletexo, Cheryl
I love it that you're not participating in the Christmas crazies this year!
ReplyDeleteI'm a dreamer and a planner, too. Well, sort of. When I was too late last year, I registered some of my "plans" into my datebook for THIS year. Several showed up in late October and early November. A few of them have already been accomplished! This is sparing me SOME of my previous Christmas craziness. (Thank God!)