Holiday Countdown is On! {Week 5}
Have you joined the Holiday Countdown yet? I’m sharing weekly ideas and tips to ensure you’re ready for Christmas. We’re on week 5!
We’re already on Week 5 our holiday preparations. Although I’ve been planning for a while now, Christmas seems to be sneaking up very quickly!
If you’re just joining us, I suggest you catch up on weeks one, two, three and four.
How Did I Do?
Decide on Your Cards
I had finalized my holiday card selection after playing around with a few options on Tiny Prints. As I was just about to order them, I got a surprising email from Lindsay over at A Design Story announcing that I won the Brightside Prints Giveaway on her blog. Talk about coincidences! I’ve narrowed down the cards and I’ll be working with them this week to decide on a design and to place my order.
Set a Date for Your Party or Open House
If there’s any party going on at my house this season, it will be a casual holiday get-together. Given the nature of my work, as well as my husband’s, we are swamped with heavy work schedules and event commitments. I said a while back that I’m going to host a wine-tasting, so that will be the first official party on my list.
Create Your Holiday Music Playlist
I’ve added a few songs to my Christmas playlist this year and I’ll likely continue to do so as I hear new ones I really like. As I was driving to get DIY supplies the other day, I heard a beautiful song I tried to look up on Itunes without any success. I’m sure I’ll hear it again and this time I’ll get the title and artist!
Holiday Countdown Week 5
Donate to a Charity and/or Give Your Time
I’m always grateful for the blessings I have in my life. A couple years ago we had a health scare with my son for a 6 week period over the Christmas season. It came to a happy ending when we were given great news from the doctor just into the new year. At that time I was so relieved, but I can’t even begin to tell you how it makes me feel for the parents who are not given such great news.
Every Christmas we donate to a number of charities, but the one I always give to is the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation. It’s a charity that supports families going through really hard times, sends children with cancer to camp and delivers toys to kids who are too sick to make it home for the holidays. As well, who can forget the town of Slave Lake, Alberta. Hundreds of families lost their homes in the massive fire. Can you imagine what it would be like to lose everything?
I suggest you choose a charity that’s close to your family’s heart. If you have more time to give than money, there are always food banks, animal shelters and other causes that can use a helping hand.
Do Something Crafty
Yes, you heard me right. I want you to put on some holiday music, break out the art/craft supplies and create something with your own hands! It’s a great way to get your kids involved and, for myself, it’s the best way to get in the holiday spirit.
Start Gathering Gift Wrapping Supplies
It’s often the last thing we think of, but one of the most important parts of gift giving. If you wait to buy your Christmas gift tags, wrapping paper, bags, tissue, bows, ribbon, and all the rest until you’re done shopping for presents, you’ll likely be disappointed.
Not all wrapping supplies are created equally in both function and design. I find it so frustrating when paper rips at the corner or tissue paper is so thin that you can barely touch it without it falling apart.
As well, unless you’re going for a kitschy look, try to coordinate wrap so it’s part of your decor (remember deciding on a decorating theme back in week two).
It’s also nice to add something to the gift that fits the personality of the recipient. My mother-in-law always does this and I enjoy it every year. For instance, one year she attached a small kitchen gadget tied with ribbon to my gift because she knows I like to cook. For my son, she has fastened a pack of hockey cards to add to his collection. It’s just that extra detail that shows she put a lot of thought into it.
How are holiday preparations going at your house? Do you feel on track or a little frazzled? Is there anything in particular you could use help with? Please leave a comment or shoot me an email. I’d love to know!
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Enjoy your week!
Great ideas in this post!
Great ideas Shauna! Enjoyed reading your post this morning :)
Lots of inspiration. We at TG Bears also support charities for children and one for military families.
What a perfect fit with your bears!
Checking out your blog after finding your comment on my blog. Thank you, btw, for stopping by. Loved your recent post on the Holiday Countdown. I love your ideas, especially the one on do something crafty. I have made a commitment to try to be more creative and your list of suggestions are right up my alley. I think I can accomplish at least one or two for the holidays.