Hello, and welcome back to The Christmas Calmdown, where we're planning ahead for a calm December! The Christmas Calmdown is co-hosted by myself and my cousin Ainsley of Pattycake Manners.


Oh my goodness. It's September 29. SEPTEMBER 29!!! That means two things...


One, that I'm late posting the September installment of "The Christmas Calmdown," and...


Two...in just a few short days, it's October. We're into the double digits.

In my wacky world, when the calendar flips to October and therefore "double digits," Christmas, well...it's just around the corner.  This is a cause for excitement, but for those of us who are trying to be organized, we become aware that "planning ahead" has transitioned into simply "planning." In short, it's time to put our best laid plans into action.

This is actually going to be a rather short post, because I want you to go find that Christmas Planner we discussed back in February and do some posting of your own. Go through it. Don't be discouraged if there are empty pages (I won't lie...mine isn't as full as I'd like it to be.) BUT, if you've been following along, you've been mentally taking stock and giving the holidays some advance consideration, probably more so than you ever have before. So, grab your favorite pen, and a hot cup of tea, and make your "Real" holiday "to do" list. 


In preparation for this post, I went back and read the earlier Calmdown posts. It really helped to get me on track with what I want to accomplish this holiday season. And, oh my goodness, we've covered a lot! Gifts, cards, cooking, making time for loved ones and pets...so many aspects to the holidays that we never really consider during the hustle and bustle. But this year, this year I really do feel calmer. As I read through the posts, I was mentally checking off items on my list. All those decisions that so often get made "last minute" are this year going to be well thought out with confidence. And so, over the next few weekends, I will be committing my "real" holiday to-do list to my planner. 


Because then? THEN the real fun begins! Stay tuned...we've still got three months to go!

It's Good to be Back!

Hello, lovelies! I'm back!

And, oh, how I've missed you! However, over the past few months, I've had a touch of writer's block and just a smidge of busy-ness. I am blessed to have found a job that I really enjoy, however working full time has left me with less time for my creative pursuits, blogging, and of course, personal time. So I took a few months to slack a bit and adjust. As regular readers may recall, Autumn is my time of rejuvenation, and as I suspected my creative juices are flowing and the urge to write has returned. 

First up, I have some housekeeping to attend to. The last few weeks were a bit of a whirl, and to my chagrin I missed posting the link to the August edition of The Christmas Calmdown. Ainsley prepared a wonderful post on holiday greetings, which you can read here.  You have my sincerest apologies for my tardiness. I will be posting the September edition on or around the 25th.

Next, a brief explanation of what I've been up while I've been neglecting Nesty (and all of you!). Well, despite the weather's best efforts, we did our best to enjoy the summer. We were blessed to have visitors (my husband's cousin and her family) and for a glorious long weekend in August we soaked up the joy of having family close by. We barbecued, enjoyed leisurely morning coffees on the patio (we had one of the only sunny weekends this summer while they were here!), had camp fires, and of course, this being Northern British Columbia, we fished!

Oh yes, that's me!

 This was my first time salmon fishing in BC, and I had a great time! I was equipped with a shiny new rod (not the pink one!), a fluffy pink marabou jig (the jig of choice that weekend, I didn't choose the colour. Really.) and tons of determination! After a terrible showing the first night, I had much better luck the next day! Above, I am posing with a Chum that I caught. Unfortunately, he was foul hooked so I couldn't keep him but I had quite a time bringing him in! We realized about half-way through the battle that my reel was on the wrong side of the rod for right-handed me...check out my fighting face below!

Grrrrr!

 

 

 Luckily a few folks caught some keepers, and our freezer is filling up nicely. Thanks to some very generous friends, we had some lovely salmon in our freezer to serve to our guests; I used this recipe to grill one on the barbecue and it was fantastic! We are hoping to smoke some salmon over the next few weeks, which of course I'll tell you all about!

We are looking forward to Fall and some holiday time. I have been trying out new recipes and am planning a few new features for Nesty. One of them is a "brown bag lunch" series, while the other will be meal solutions for busy households. Now that we are both working full-time, meal planning is becoming more important. So I'm coming up with some solutions which I'll be sharing here. Look forward to "fix it and freeze it" meal solutions as well as lots of slow-cooker recipes. I'm also looking forward to crafting and decorating for the upcoming holiday season. 

Finally, I got a new camera, so Nesty will become much more visual once again! I'm really enjoying capturing the beauty of "Super, Natural British Columbia" on camera again! For those of you who enjoy my tales of life in Northern BC, there should be more of those coming up soon! The bears are back, as well as lots of other wildlife, so I'll be keeping my camera close at hand as we go adventuring this Fall.

Folks, it's great to be back! Have a great week!!!

The Christmas Calmdown - A "How To" for "Handmade"

Hi everyone!  It's time for another installment of The Christmas Calmdown! Today we'll be moseying on over to visit my cousin Ains at Pattycake Manners, where she will be guiding us through  "A 'How To' for 'Handmade."  I'm really excited about this post because I totally botched the handmade mission this past December...as loyal followers will remember! Even if you aren't following the Calmdown month to month, anyone who is planning a handmade holiday should check out her post. Be sure to tell her I said "hi!"

I'll be back soon with some fresh Nesty content!

The Christmas Calmdown - Making Time for Those We Love

Hello, and welcome back to The Christmas Calmdown with Nesty and Pattycake Manners!  We're planning ahead for a peaceful December, and this month we've got some great  suggestions for making time for those we love...both human and animal!

Once the hustle and fuss of the holidays is over, one of my regrets is often not having made enough time to visit and spend time with friends and family. So often it seems that we make the rounds of parties, levees, dinners and socials, but don't spend nearly enough time curled up by the tree or fireplace with a good friend and a cup of mulled cider.  Since becoming a dog owner, I often find myself wishing after the fact that I had planned some Yuletide fun with my furry friends, too.  And so, in the spirit of the Christmas Calmdown, I've thought about it and I've made a plan to incorporate quality time with pets and pals!

First, I'll deal with the humans.  Now, if you're like me, despite how much you love the holidays, there is a part of you that is very happy and relieved to disappear for most of January. Indeed, once my party hat and noise maker are hung up after NYE, I'm ready to embrace my inner hermit for a few weeks.  And yet, for all the people I do see during the holidays, I often find myself wishing I'd had a few more "good chats" with certain people that I really like.  Here's my plan for reaching out in December 2011:

• Phone Calls - How many times do we say "I'll call you over the holidays?" and then never do?  The trick, I've learned, is to pick the right times to call.  Despite our best intentions, my family and I have learned during the two years I've been away that between the time difference and our respective gatherings, December 25 is never going to be the day for a long, meaningful holiday chat.  We call each other and exchange "Miss you, love you, wish I/you was/were there/here's" and that's essentially it. But a few days later, mug of tea in hand, my mum and I will settle in for a long, newsy chat where we catch up on what we've each been up to during Christmas week. Also, there's nothing wrong with scheduling a call.  We schedule everything else in our mad, busy lives, what's wrong with saying to your bestie "Phone date on Saturday at 2:00?"
• Skype - Skype is a great way to stay in touch, and best of all, it's free!  Just be aware that some people need "prep time" to Skype.  No one wants to sit chatting with a messy house behind them, or in their bathrobe, or with crying children in the back ground.  So don't be offended if the person you wish to Skype with puts you off for another day.  And don't leave your Skype online if you have no intention of taking calls...that's kind of a tease. As with the phone calls, why not schedule a Skype?
• In Person Chats - Each season, we start out with the best of intentions...for craft nights, Christmas movie nights, sushi nights, cookie swaps, tree decorating parties, tree cutting parties, and on and on and on.  Let's be honest here, folks, to successfully coordinate everyone we know to all these events, we'd need to start before Halloween and hire Paris Hilton's social secretary. By all mean, aim to have a few fun get-togethers with your gang, but instead of driving yourself nuts trying to "do it all," why not aim to have a quiet evening with one or two good friends, just chatting and decompressing from all the frivolity? I enjoyed one such evening on the 22nd this year, making gnome / nisser ornaments with a friend.  It was just a nice, quiet evening of wine, Christmas cookies, crafting and chat, but it put me in more of a Christmas-y mood than a lot of the bigger gatherings I attended this season.       

 And now, on to the pets!

As a total dog mama, I enjoy the presence of my three fur babies around the tree.  It honestly doesn't seem like Christmas morning without a soft little nose nuzzling my new sweaters, or a paw batting at pretty paper.  Our cats love snuggling under the tree, and we have to pay special attention to make sure that they don't eat the ribbon!  Indeed, the one holiday we spent in Regina, the only thing we didn't like was the fact that we weren't with 
 our babies.

We've had some pretty memorable holiday moments with our pets.  One special outing during our first year in Kitimat was when we went Christmas tree hunting with some new friends.  We took our little Molly along with us as we hiked through an absolute winter wonderland and she had a ball!  When we look back at pictures of that day, it's like a form of "Where's Waldo?" with Molly taking Waldo's place!  It turns out she's quite the photo bomber as she popped up in almost all the pictures!

Ainsley shared a special Christmas pet memory with me in preparation for this post.  On Christmas mornings when their pups were younger, they would give the dogs their presents first.  By the time the humans were ready to open gifts, the pups were tuckered out from the fun and were content to head to their beds with their new toys.

I'm glad to hear that my house isn't the only one where the fuzzy wuzzies are part of the holiday fun. We are always looking for other ways to include our pets in our holiday celebrations, since they really are our family!  Here are some ideas:

• Take a Hike - Whether you're looking for a tree, or just enjoying the fresh, crisp December air, take your dog along.  They definitely add some silly fun to candid shots along the trail!
• Gifts from the Heart - This year why not make some homemade gifts for your best friends?  Gourmet cookies, toys, a new bed or blankie, even a sweater will mean even more if you make it yourself.  Pet websites and blogs are full of great, creative ideas.
• Gifts that Keep Giving - Unfortunately, not all pets have a home for the holidays.  Why not make life a little brighter for a shelter dog by donating food, treats, blankets, towels, leashes, collars, time or even cash to your local animal shelter?
• Photo Op!  -  I'm sure they hated me for it, but this year I found a few pairs of dog antlers and some Santa hats at the local dollar store and I just couldn't resist!  The resulting photos were hilarious; Tinky loved his clothes, Max (fresh from the shelter) would've agreed to anything as long as he got to stay, and Molly, well, the photo speaks for itself...

I hate my parents.

                                                                                     
All joking aside, clothes are really something you shouldn't force on your pets unless they are agreeable to it; we are lucky that our pups don't really mind getting all dolled up! 

• The final, and perhaps most important thing you can give your pets during the holidays is your time.  With all the coming and going, our furry friends can often find themselves home alone more frequently and for longer hours than they might be used to.  Take an evening to stay in and snuggle with your furry friends by the tree, and for goodness sakes, don't forget to take them for lots of walks...it's a great way to check out the neighborhood's Christmas lights!

What's your strategy for staying connected with your friends, family, and furry friends during the holiday season?  Be sure to record your ideas in your Holiday Planner, and of course, share them in the comments!  See you next month!                                                     

The Christmas Calmdown - Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice!

Hi Everyone, and welcome back to The Christmas Calmdown, where we're planning ahead for a calm December!  The Christmas Calmdown is co-hosted by myself and my lovely and talented cousin Ainsley of Pattycake Manners.

If you've been keeping track, you may be surprised that I'm writing this month's post; you're right, it is Ainsley's turn.  However, she is up to her eyeballs in exciting life changes and so I am taking over again this month (don't worry, she'll be back!)  And no, I'm not going to tell you what she's up to...you'll have to mosey on over to Pattycake Manners and check that out for yourself (some of it has me VERY excited...stay tuned!)

You may have also noticed that the Calmdown is a little late this month.  We decided that since Easter fell on the 25th that we would hold off and post the Calmdown a little later.  So that's why we're late!

And now one to the Calmdown!

This month we're thinking about Christmas baking and cooking; those wonderful treats that we look forward to all year long.  Whether bakery bought and made from scratch at home (and everything in between!), food is definitely a major part of the holiday season. And yet, every cook I speak to after the holidays has some special goody that they "didn't get around to making." Sometimes December gets away from us; that's the whole point of the Christmas Calmdown, after all!  And cooking is something that, despite all the advance planning you can do, you still have to make time to actually accomplish. With planning, however, it can be easier to bring the visions of sugarplums dancing out of our heads and across our palates!

Here's what we're going to do.  First, If you have a Christmas planner or household management book, grab it and turn to your holiday food section.  We are going to do four things:

1. Identify problem areas or challenges
2. Make a manageable holiday baking / cooking plan
3. Start a shopping list
4. Plan when to cook

Your first step is to think back on your culinary plan from holiday 2010 and determine what worked and what didn't.  Once you've established this, take a look at what didn't work and make a list. My list would look like this:

• Ran out of time
• Miscalculated supplies and ran out of some items
• Had to cut items due to cost

Not a bad list, when all is said and done. It could have been worse...much worse. (Someday I'll tell you about a certain Christmas dinner that almost did me in.  But not today.)  Items two and three effect me more so because of my geographic location; baking supplies are bulky and heavy and therefore cost more in Northern BC, so some of my planned goodies just weren't worth making for two people when I added up the costs.  I could have made them, but it didn't add up to good home economics. And problem number one came from having too many REALLY GREAT IDEAS!

Now, look for solutions to the issues.  Mine are fairly simple and will be addressed with steps two and three. Even if you had a major issue that probably won't happen again (like food poisoning or oven failure) , it never hurts to look at what went wrong so next time you can anticipate and avoid. Case in point; several years ago, one cook I know popped her fabulous fruitcake in the oven one evening, only to discover after a bit of baking that an element had gone.  He husband got an element from somewhere and the crisis was averted, but if he hadn't been able to,  the evening's baking would have turned into a very expensive and heartbreaking disappointment.  The lesson learned would be not to start baking something that requires several hours in the oven at night after the hardware stores are closed.

Your second step is to make a manageable plan of what you want to cook.  Unless you are a kitchen whiz  I would suggest focusing on no more than five items.  Two or three traditional-to-you "must haves," something new, and a "challenge."

The "must haves" are anything you "must have" to make your holiday complete.  In my house, they are pork pies and short bread.  Remember, these are what make YOU happy; if Robin Hood cookie mix or frozen holiday Pillsbury cookies are what make YOU happy, then that's great.  You'll be enjoying cookies and Bailey's in front of the fire a lot sooner than all your "from scratch" friends!  If you do make your cookies from scratch and they can be made ahead and frozen, consider that.  The shells for my pork pies can be made well in advance and then filled just before.

The "something new" is just that; a new-to-you recipe that you're dying to try.  I often find myself dazzled by those "Hundreds of Holiday Cookies" magazines you see at the supermarket checkout.  I sometimes pick them up, if only for the pretty pictures, and pick one extra special cookie to try out.  Cookie swaps are a great place to pick up recipe cards of tried, true, and new treats.  Pick one new recipe to try this year and who knows?  Maybe next year it will move up to the "must haves!"

Finally, the "challenge."  I struggled with what to call this one; it could also go by "The big one," "The Show Stopper," or "The Piece de Resistance."  Whatever you call it, this is the major culinary project of your holiday season.  Consider making chocolates, a gingerbread house, a fruitcake (yes, some of us actually do like it!), steamed pudding, pizzelles, cannoli, spritz, a luxury seafood chowder (like my Dad's, which comes to the table brimming with mussels, lobster claws, and other delights), and, for some of you, your first turkey.   Whatever you choose, embrace the grandness / newness of the experience; turkey and steamed pudding are not a big deal for me to make, but I've never made spritz or pizzelle, which require special equipment, making them ideal choices for my "big challenge" this year.

Now that you've tackled last year's challenges and made a menu / plan, it's time for step three; your shopping list.  This is something you can work on for the remainder of the year.  Sit down with your recipes (put Bing on the stereo if it helps!) and list the ingredients you'll need.  Then figure out your yields.  This is important; when you start doubling and tripling recipes you will use a lot more flour, margarine, sugar, etcetra than you would making a normal batch of cookies.  In addition to ingredients, consider baking dishes, parchment paper, food wraps and the like. And don't forget decor!  Many a holiday baking budget has been blown by a trip to the cake decorating aisle...everything seems like a good idea at Christmas!

You can add to your list throughout the year as you think of things (Dragees!  Sweetened, Unsweetened AND superfine coconut!  Condensed and evaporated milk!  Bakers Boxes!  Baking Twine!  Candied Peel! SO MUCH ICING SUGAR!!!!) You see?  There's a lot to buy, and many items can be purchased in advance.  If you're going to need new cookie sheets, well, buy them in August.  Many decorator items have a long shelf life, and tin foil, parchment, waxed paper and plastic wrap don't expire.  If you get really lucky you might even hit a summer clearance sale and pick up some real treasures, like cute muffin cups or baker's boxes.  If you have an iPod Touch, iPhone or other smart phone with a list making app, consider inputting your list so you always have it with you.  You'll save yourself a rather pricey trip to the grocery store by buying even some of your supplies ahead of time.

The final step, (and this will be a work in progress) is to plan when to make all these goodies.  This can be hard to do in advance because you don't know what holiday events will be taking place.  Still, I do find, as Ainsley mentioned in one of our first posts, that sometimes the only way to get something done is to schedule for it, even if it's making a gingerbread house.  I suggest making an event out of your holiday baking; buy a nice bottle of wine or some mulled apple cider, put on some holiday tunes or even a Christmas movie, and get your spouse, kids, or friends involved.  You won't feel like you're missing out by staying home and baking.

Good luck with your planning!  Remember, take what you want from these posts; we include a lot of suggestions but ultimately, be flexible and do what's right for you.  If cooking's not your thing, or if December sends you a curve ball and your plans get derailed, get thee to a bakery and grocery store and let them do the cooking for you.  The whole point of the Christmas Calmdown is to avoid post-holiday feelings of guilt and disappointment; if this exercise determines that for you, homemade cookies and chowder just aren't worth all the money and fuss, then it was a success!  Here are some of my favorite entertaining "go-to's" for when time is more precious than bragging rights;

• Frozen Lasagna - Many brands are just as good, and a better value, than home made.  In Canada, check out President's Choice's selection; they're great!  If any of my international buddies have a suggestion, add it to the comments.
• Pillsbury - Yes, yes, hand-made fresh from the oven brioche are all well and good, but really, what we're ultimately craving is warm squishy bread.  I have never seen anyone look sad while eating a Pillsbury Grand.  It's also a favorite with the Pattycake Manner's crew at Christmas!
• Store bought pie - Some brands are better than others; again, President's Choice makes some good ones.  And my mother taught me long ago that when it comes to pumpkin pie, just go with a good store bought; they usually taste better than homemade (sorry!).
• Frozen tart shells - Fill 'em up with sweet or savory fillings and just listen to your guests go "Ooooo."  I served a selection of cranberry and lemon tarts for dessert this Christmas;  people loved them because they got to try both kinds without eating two pieces of pie (because for some reason that's wrong?)
• Frozen appies - Don't you love that we call them "appies" now?  I hate trying to spell HORS D'OEUVRES.  I always mix up the R and the V.  Anyway, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without an Oriental Party Pack from M&M Meats; I have very fond memories of this pack 'o goodness being whipped out late Christmas Eve at my aunt and uncle's house.  And that's the whole point; frozen appies keep the party going without keeping the host hostage in the kitchen.  Don't forget the frozen shrimp rings with cocktail sauce!

As always, please add your suggestions in the comments.  We'd love to hear what you're thinking about the Christmas Calmdown!  See you next month!

The Christmas Calmdown–We’re Making a List!

Hello, and welcome back to another instalment of the Christmas Calmdown!  We’re planning ahead for a calm December, and this month we’re tackling gifts!  Gift giving has the potential to be the loveliest of all holiday rituals, yet it is quite often the straw that breaks the holiday camel’s back.  It’s not hard to understand why; gift giving covers the whole organizing spectrum of:

• Budgeting (how much to spend),
• Planning (who gets what and where do I get it),
• Activity (shopping), and
• Creativity (wrapping and tagging). 

It’s easy to get bogged down and bummed out, which inevitably leads to December 23 Midnight Madness at the mall and a smoking Visa card.

But no more…

Right now, on March 25, with the decidedly un-holiday backdrop of mud and rain, we are going to make a few decisions and commit to a plan!

To me, there are essentially three categories of Christmas presents:

1. Traditional – Essentially, presents that you buy.  Whether in store or online, you decide who gets what and hand over some money .  Many retailers will even giftwrap for you. 

Why it works – Who doesn’t love gifts?  Picking the perfect present can be tons of fun, and if you’re creative you can really go to town wrapping  Check out Martha Stewart.com for great ideas!

Why it goes wrong – Without a budget, all that shopping can hit your wallet hard.  Both in terms of time and money, if you don’t plan carefully, you may find yourself stressed out, tapped out, and missing out on all the fun, meaningful things you want to do.

Plan of attack – Make a list of everyone you need to buy for and decide how much you want to spend.  Think you’re being a Scrooge?  $50.00 for a gift may not seem like much, but once you multiply that by 10…eeep!  Whatever number you came up with, there’s a few ways to make it more tolerable.  One option is to divide that amount by the number of pay cheques you have left until December 1 and commit to transferring that amount to a savings account. (For the $500.00, that works out to about $30.00 every two weeks.  Not as painful, eh?)  Another option is to purchase one gift per pay cheque. Still another (for you power shoppers out there) is to shop the sales year round (my mom starts during Boxing Week, no lie, and she always gives the BEST gifts). 

2. Charitable – Truly the gifts that keep on giving, Charitable Gifts are a personal favourite of mine, and what I’m planning to give this year.  Adopt-a-Family programs, Third World outreach, animal rescues and food banks are all ways you can give while giving back.  This year we’re planning a donation to our local Christmas hamper fund as well as paying for a child’s cleft palate surgery through The Smile Train foundation.  Check out World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, and the website for your local humane society for other ideas.

Why it Works – Charitable gifts are more in keeping with the spirit of the season.  More and more people, tired of the materialism, are turning away from store bought gifts in exchange for heartfelt donations.  Also, this is an excellent way to really put your holiday budget to work; instead of trying to stretch your dollar over many, many gifts, put it all into one great give and share the news in a beautiful Christmas card.  You can’t beat the warm fuzzies!!!

Why it doesn’t work – Really, the only time charitable gifts don’t work is when the recipient doesn’t share your spirit.  It’s sad but sometimes it happens, and I suppose the economy is thankful for these folks. But you’re in luck!  There are plenty of great fair trade organizations who make beautiful gifts; one of my favourites is Ten Thousand Villages. 

Plan of attack – As with traditional gifts, decide what you want to do and how much you can spend, and make a plan to spread that amount out over the months remaining until December.  Some organizations will send out cards acknowledging that a gift has been made in your loved one’s name; these often have a deadline so mark this date down in your Christmas Planner.

3. Home-made Gifts – Ah, the heartfelt and homespun!  Some of my favourite gifts, both given and received, fall into this category.  Knit, crocheted, sewn, thrown, painted, sketched, sanded or beaded, nothing says “I’m thinking of you” like a home-made item.

Why it Works – If you’re crafty you can cross-budget your Christmas gifts with your hobby allowance.  Also, homemade gifts give you an opportunity to try out projects you may not make otherwise, like children’s items for example.  You’ll feel great (and oh so proud) to give something you’ve laboured over to someone you love.

Why it doesn’t work – Time, time, time.  I did homemade gifts this year, and despite my best efforts, time was not on my side.  I got everything finished, but oh my, my hands were sore from all that power knitting!  This has the potential to be a budget wrecker, too; if you purchase a bunch of craft supplies and then have to go out and buy gifts, too….ouch.

Plan of Attack – Be realistic about what you can make.  Consider duplicating the same item with slight variations for a number of people.  I did this for my sisters and sister in law with a fingerless mitt pattern I can practically knit in my sleep.  And as above, budget now; home-made, despite popular belief, is not necessarily cheaper.

And there you have it! You can pick one category, or mix and match.  If you can even commit to a budgeting plan, you can always decide later what you want to do with the money you’ve put aside.  In addition to my charitable gifts, I’d like to make or buy a tree ornament to go along with the announcements so that’s something I’m going to start thinking about now.

No matter what approach you decide to take, you can be confident knowing that come December, you’ll be ahead of the game and can truly enjoy your holiday shopping, knowing that you’re in control.

And now, a note from Ains…

Wow! I never really thought about it, but seeing how Kim has broken it down, I can see how gifting really does fall into three main categories! I would have to say I'm kind of a "mix and match" kinda girl, and tend to spread my giving over all three. We always make a point to give a few charitable gifts (the "choose-your-own" gift cards from World Vision have been our favourites as of late), I love making handmade gifts for those who appreciate the work that goes into them, and I always end up buying a few things too. I really try to do the budget thing as well. Since the majority of our gift-recipients live on the East Coast, I try to do the shopping for those family members during our annual trip home, even if that means wrapping presents in August! This saves the shipping costs, and takes away a lot of the stress come December!

Thanks, Ains!  This post is also appearing over at her blog, Pattycake Manners.  Be sure to check it out!
Finally, did anyone make a planner after last month’s post?  I sure did!  If you made one too, and posted about it, be sure to mention in the comments so we can go check it out!  Here’s mine and Ainsley’s! 

You’ll remember Ainsley’s super cute planner that features gorgeous Stampin’ Up fabric.  Love it!

For my planner, I took a stroll down the pre-cut fabric aisle at Walmart.  I’ve been loving these colourful little treasures (I recently picked up a bundle of spring-y fat quarters in chocolate brown and brights to decorate my office space).  I found a single fat quarter of light-weight flannel in a fine, red houndstooth check.  After I got it home I realized that it was a bit too short to completely cover my binder, so I covered the edges with red felt.  Some jumbo red rick-rack and a cute chip-board tag complete my holiday planner!

So, how goes the planning?  Do you have a method for gift planning?  Or do you think the last minute spend-a-thon is an integral part of the holiday season?  Share in the comments!!!

The Christmas Calmdown–Christmas Planner

It’s Ainsley’s turn to host The Christmas Calmdown; this post is also appearing on her blog, Pattycake Manners.  Be sure to visit her and say hi!  And don’t forget to grab a nifty Christmas Calmdown button to let the whole of Blogdom know that this December, you’re going to be calm, cool, and in control!!!

Wow! I can hardly believe that it has been a whole month since the
launch of our Christmas Calmdown feature!! For those of you who may have missed the first instalment, the Christmas Calmdown is the collaborative effort of myself, and my dear cousin Kim, over at  Nesty.  Each month, for the next year, on or around the 25th, we will take turns posting a goal for anyone wishing to follow along, with the end result being a more organized holiday season for all. You can click here to read the introductory post! And now onto February's Christmas Calmdown Goal!

Ask the mastermind behind any successful event, and they will tell you that it all starts with a plan. A good plan. A plan full of details, and a plan that covers every aspect. A good plan takes time to build, and involves a lot of thought on the part of the person doing the planning.

Today, the event in question is Christmas 2011, and you, my dears, are the people doing the planning! In this post, I'm going to talk you through creating your own Christmas Planner, and then we'll go over just what you should put in there!  I won't re-hash how crazy the holidays get - we've been there, done that - but there's no reason we can't learn from our mistakes, and make  Christmas 2011 a calm and peaceful one. You should know by now
that I am a list maker. Lists make hectic days smoother, and who
doesn't like when things run smoothly? Especially around the holidays! What I'm proposing is that you start making some of those Christmas Lists now, in order to ensure a much smoother December for yourselves, and for your family.

But it's one thing to make the lists. It's another to have them all
neatly contained in some sort of paper keeper, so that they are all
right at your finger tips when inspiration strikes, and again when youare trying to recall that brilliant idea you had last week. Enter...the Christmas Planner.

Your planner can really be anything that can keep your notes and ideas in one place. Here are a few versions to consider.

There is a growing trend towards Home Keeping Journals - a notebook of some sort where organized home managers keep banking info, menu plans, housekeeping schedules, calenders, etc. You might be familiar with FlyLady's Control Journal, or Tsh's Home Management Notebook over at Simple Mom? If you are already going this route, good for you! In my opinion, you are ahead of the game. Your Christmas Planner can be as simple as adding another divider and some more loose leaf to your existing Home Keeping Journal.

There are numerous Christmas Planners on the market, geared toward doing just what we're doing - getting organized for the holidays. A few years ago, my sister-in-law gave me this cute little number for my birthday. It is filled with various sections, and had pages to carry through a number of years. I used every bit of it, and it was fun to look back at my notes from previous years. If time is short, and crafting is not your thing, but you still want something cute and festive, this may be the way to go for you.

Or your Christmas Journal can be as simple as a small notebook that you keep tucked in the cupboard, used solely for jotting down all things Christmas.

But my favorite way to keep holiday ideas in order is with a hand
decorated binder - one that is pretty to have on the kitchen counter or beside my favorite chair, and one that is completely devoted to Christmas planning. Here is the step-by step of what I did to create it.

* this tutorial was originally published in December 2010*

First, I found an old 1 inch binder left over from my college days. I
then gathered up some pretty fabric from Stampin' Up!, my glue gun, and some cardstock.

I covered the binder with fabric and glued down the edges.

I then covered the inside covers with the coordinating cardstock.

Then I decided to embellish the outside cover with a funky flower
using more of the fabric, my Big Shot die cutter, and a big ole'
button. Lovely!!

Once you have decided on what kind of planner you will use, it's time to decide just what is going to go in between the covers. I would suggest using some sort of divider to keep things organized, and a pocket of some sort might be handy for receipts and loose notes. Here are a few things that I keep in my Christmas Planner. Feel free to use them as a launching pad for your own Planner, or toss them and fill your Planner with the things YOU need to keep track of. It's all about making things easier!

1. Notes from last year - While things are still fresh in your mind,
make notes of things that worked and things that didn't work for you during Christmas 2010. My list already includes things like "Buy more fairy lights" and "Make scrapbook cards ahead of time". These are the kinds of things that jump up and get me during the first week of December, and have me shaking my head, asking why I didn't do them in October!
2. Gift Ideas - A no brainer, but one we often lose track of because
we are sure we will remember that book that so-and-so mentioned back in August. Make a list of all the folks you are planning to buy for, and do a quick brainstorm. Did one Aunt love the scarf you made the other Aunt last year? Have your grandfather's swim trunks seen better days ( I can hear all you MacDonald's snickering from here!) Jot down those ideas when you think of them, and then you can plan to shop throughout the year.
3. Decorating Ideas - Again, pretty self-explanatory, but it's always helpful to have everything in one place when the time comes to carry out the task, or when Michaels has a killer sale going on.
4. Christmas Card List - If you are a card sender, keep a master list
of all the people you plan to send Christmas greetings to. It can save so much time and energy if you can quickly calculate how many cards and stamps you need to buy by just looking at your list. Jot down names, as well as addresses, as it can also be a time saver not having to go through your address book. Try to update your list through the year as people move, or have babies!
5. Budget - Oh, you knew it was coming. We all know that the holidays can be a drain on the pocketbook, but with a little planning, we might be able to make it a little less painful. If you can, figure out what you are willing to spend on the holidays, and plan to spread it out over the year. Things like stamps, stocking stuffers, many largergifts items, craft supplies, cards, wrapping supplies, cards, even baking supplies can be purchased throughout the year and tucked away.  Much better, I think, to spend a bit every month, than to enter the New Year dealing with Christmas debt.
6. Calendar - Nothing crazy, but a loose weekly calendar for the
couple of months leading up to December can be helpful. For those of us who make many of our gifts, setting goals and timelines for handmade projects can keep us on track and take the pressure off in the end.
7. Mailing Schedule - As someone who mails the majority of her gifts, I can tell you that this is an important one. Make a list of all the parcels you will be needing to send, and when you want them in the mail by. Postal services of course give guidelines for this, but I like to set my own personal dates. For me, it is a huge relief to know that my gifts are done and on their way, so they are a top priority for me. Decide what needs to go, and by when it must be mailed, and plan to pick up any mailing supplies you might need in early November.
8. Kids Ideas - Ideas that pop up throughout the year for crafts and activities to keep the little ones busy throughout the holiday season.  I also like to jot down supplies for these projects that I accumulate during the year so I don't end up over-buying.
9. Cooking and Baking - Again, just a place to make notes of things
you'd like to try, things that may make good neighbour gifts, and a
master pantry list is always helpful. Making notes early and planning ahead can save money. If you are planning to give a gift in a mason jar, it's cheaper to buy them during canning season than to wait until mid-December!
10. The Fun Stuff - We all know we want lots of nights to relax around the holidays, but it often doesn't happen because we forget to "plan" to relax! For the last few years, I have allotted so many nights in December to doing truly Christmas-ey things. I schedule movie nights, gingerbread house day, even a day to start my Christmas puzzle. It may sound a bit rigid, but if these things are not on the list, they often get pushed to the side and forgotten. Putting them on the list makes them a priority and I don't end up feeling like I missed out on some of my favourite things!

Like I said, these are the lists that work for me. Everyone's planner
will be different. The important thing, in the spirit of the Christmas
Calmdown, is to make notes throughout the year, and to keep them organized in one place. We would love for you to join us in this year-long project!! We'll be back again in March with our next goal, so have your planner ready to share! You'll be invited to leave a link in your comment showing us what you've done, and we'll be pop by to check them out! And be sure to grab a button from my sidebar if you plan on participating in the Christmas Calmdown! The more the merrier!

And a little note from Kim...

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to the Christmas Calmdown! I’m really excited about our first official Calmdown challenge and can’t wait to make my own adorable planner. Ainsley is an incredible paper-crafter; her scrapbooks, cards, and projects always have that certain something that makes you stop and go “Wow!” I can already think of a dozen different ways to use this planner design with a simple change of colour and theme; household planner, shower guestbook (add some scrapbook pages for an elegant souvenir of a special day), memory book
for school or university (so cute in campus colours!), coupon
organizer (just add page protectors), or personalized scrapbook! The possibilities are endless, but of course, the first one I’m going to make is my 2011 Christmas Planner! See you next month!

The Christmas Calmdown - A Year of Christmas Prep for a Calm December!

It’s a very special day, readers! Can you guess what it is? I’m practically dancing with excitement and I’m not sure how I will contain myself. 

It’s 11 MONTHS UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE!!!

(I’ll take a moment and let you absorb that…)

For some of you, that announcement will either have you:

A - Tingling with excitement that the holidays are that much closer, or,

B - Recoiling in horror that someone’s bringing THAT up again so soon, or

C – A bit of both.

No matter what side of the fence you sit on, I hear you. Really, I do. I absolutely adore the holidays and look forward to all the preparations and busy-ness that comes with them. However, sometimes the hustle and fuss can catch up with you, and that’s what happened to me this year. I had visions, not just of sugar plums, but of homemade gifts, multiple trees, and a surfeit of home cooked gourmet goodies. I started strong. I achieved a lot. But somehow, despite my best intentions I found myself insanely slightly stressed and racing to the finish line. Sitting back after the big day, I found myself thinking; there HAS to be a better way!

Regardless of how you feel about the holidays, the truth of the matter is that they’re here before we know it, often leaving us overwhelmed, underfunded and out of time. How many of you have declared time and again that you are going to get organized, spend smarter, and start earlier? Me, too. 

I mentioned this to my cousin Ainsley of Pattycake Manners. She and I had been keeping each other updated on our respective preparations and challenges throughout Holiday 2010. Shortly after the holiday, she presented an idea to help avoid the Christmas crush in Deceember 2011.

We would work together and keep each other on track. By making a challenge of it, we could keep the preparations fun and stay motivated to finish. We’ve made a list of ten goals, and our aim is to complete them throughout the year, thus reducing the amount of Christmas craziness. And just to keep us on our toes, we’ve decided to post our progress on our blogs. We’re calling it…

The Christmas Calmdown

A Year of Christmas Prep for a Calm December

Each month, on or about the 25th, Ainsley or I will post an update presenting the goal for the coming month and update you on our progress with previous goals. I don’t want to give too much away but we plan to include things like Holiday Cooking, Home Decor, Cards and Gifts, and of course, fun ideas for making the holidays special for pets and kids. There’ll even be how-to’s and tutorials, and lots of pictures on our progress.

We’ll be alternating posting responsibilities; Ainsley will be posting on the first goal in February. Here’s a link to her wonderful blog Pattycake Manners; be sure to bookmark or follow her blog so you don’t miss the first goal! Because of course, we want YOU to get involved, too! Follow along with our goals, and each month let us know in the comments how you’re doing and what progress you’ve made. There’s no pressure for you; do one goal or do them all. Or, do none and just cheerlead for Ainsley and I in the comments! For our July post we’re planning a “Christmas in July” linky party where you can link up your related posts to share and inspire (more on that later). So grab a button and let everyone know that this year, your Christmas will be full of fun and meaning, and short on stress and disappointment. 

There’s no goal this month, we’re just getting warmed up, but if there is a topic you’d like to see us cover, please let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to work it in!

Here’s a little note from Ainsley…

Hi All! 

First of all, a great big WELCOME to The Christmas Calmdown! I can’t tell you how excited I am to be starting this project with all of you. It’s no secret that I love Christmas, and one of my favorite things about prepping for the holidays is all the handmade goodness. I knit, I scrapbook, I bake, and I love to make my own greeting cards. I love knowing that my friends and loved ones are receiving something I’ve made, with my own hands, just for them. I enjoy the process of making a plan, gathering supplies, and settling down to create something full of love and warm wishes. What I do not love, however, is when I leave these projects just a little too late. The To Do list gets longer, the days get shorter, my patience dwindles, and the joy I normally feel in going the “handmade route” disappears. With The Christmas Calmdown, our hope is that we can spread these projects out over the year, and in doing so, leave ourselves, and you, plenty of time to enjoy the process of getting ready for the holidays. I do hope you’ll join us!

Here’s to a new kind of Christmas!