*** Holiday Planning, 2012 ***

[Nancy]

Got baking supplies pumpkin pie spice, cake mixes for making up some cookie dough to have on hand ate the other that we had here so need to restock that supply. Going to do up a couple today while dgd is here to help. One is plain for choc. chip and a chocolate for rolling in coconut that will be fun! With a helper.

Remembered I had calico fabric so will be cutting out some of that for bags or what ever later on.


Put another acorn squash on the steps with my collection for fall decorating.

[blessedw2]

great job on cooking items dear nancy

I bought my Christmas cards yesterday.

[Nancy]

We have made up another loaf of pumpkin bread this one this one will go to the potluck on Sun. at church they can help me with this recipe testing! Dgd helped me make this loaf. I also made up humus it's been a hit and will take some of that as well there are usually chips there.

[Harmony]

I picked up another gift tonight. This one is for DGS who has a birthday a week after christmas and I take his gift along when we go for Christmas. This seems to be the only way I'm going to get shopping done this holiday.

[Harriet]

I have something to report.

As of today, cards, stamps and return address labels are all ordered.

Very happy to have that done now - it will take a week or 10 days to get everything here, especially since stamps are a pre-order and labels, of course, are personalized. But by approximately 15th to 20th of the month these will all be gathered here and I have a CHANCE of getting the cards ready by Oct 31.

I did not get the spendy zaz zle stamps. I chose the "Holy Family" 2012 regular stamp instead. That was part of why I shopped online for the other things, because that stamp is almost orange it's so gold/red, therefore made me think I'd like to "see" everything together in "windows" before buying. Still have found no better site than Christianbo ok.com for cards - they discount and even sell damaged-box cards at a 30 percent discount, guaranteed to be perfect inside. I found a Susan Win get that is not new, but just right anyway! (love her)

I did choose zaz zle for the labels because they have a Columbus day sale on through Monday that cut their price 14.92 percent (lol - Columbus Day) on labels - enough to get my attention. They put the code right out there, easy to find. Also, at their site I was able to find labels that offered enough space and lines, so I didn't have to abbreviate. (Now let's hope they get the order right!)

We happened through Walmart and there were all the Christmas things, set out since I was last there. I did walk down the wrap aisle and wow, the standout to me is the Thomas Kin cade ones (3 separate) which are just lovely to look at and also have scriptures. To me, I would call these scriptures benedictions. Anyway, some of the very comforting scriptures. Dd dragged me out of there before I bought something, because I need to look at what I already own before I start buying new.

[Harriet]

The Christmas Countdown starts Wardrobe Week tomorrow. Remember there is a checklist now that is pre-filled with suggestions of chores for the week.

Holiday Grand Plan starts Guest Week tomorrow, which can be EITHER emphasis on a Guest Room, or, if we don't have one or the guest room doesn't need much attention, on any other room that isn't part of the HGP. So, in a way, this may be a really important week since it is flexible.

Note that this is the last week before the HGP "checkpoint". At "checkpoint" we make some of the hard decisions. If a handmade gift is not going well or doesn't look like it can be completed without a hassle/upset, we set it aside for after Christmas. If we are unable to think of a gift for a person, we make the call to one of their family members to find out something about their interests. (Also we make Halloween decisions like buying a pumpkin or costumes.) So these are things to be thinking about this week and next, because HGP suggests the decisions be made in the Oct 14-21 week.

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On the other hand, you may be doing Organized Christmas, and you haven't even started yet, so no worries!

Also on the other hand, you may be combining your favorite parts of several plans like I am, and you feel "on track" even though you may not be ready for hard decisions next week. *

These are just reminders of the HGP and CC suggestions.
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* my plan is taken from all three, really, but I know that my cornerstone is finishing cards by Oct 31 so I can concentrate on gifts in November (hopefully before Black Friday). As long as I'm on track with that I'm good.

[Nancy]

Holiday planning should have a "geek week" for p/c photos, newsletters and the likes of that cleaning out old files, cyber junk, e-mail etc.

[blessedw2]

yeah dharriet getting those cards done. That reminds me I have to buy stamps

Ordered and received my dmom's discontinued parfume - I am happy I could still get it _ she has tried but they just discontinued it.
dh gave me some great ideas

[Ivy]

I need to review my Holiday Grand Plan binder. Things I'm doing or need to do are:

1- currently working on 2 gift afghans for the 18-mo grson and 3 1/2 yr. grson.
2- need to crochet 2 beanies, have the yarn, hooks, and pattern in a tote.
3- need to address Christmas cards, got the list done, addressed pen pal cards already.

We have a small Christmas planned this year. Have made a hat & scarf for Ddil, a boa for DD, a scarf for a DF, beanies for grsons, and will give candy, which are Aplets & Cotlets to 3 neighbors. We're trying to simplify this year. Gift cards, etc..

[blessedw2]

thank you D ladies - reminding me about CEO's holiday grand plan. I use it every year and it seems wild that it is already time to think of the holidays!