*** Holiday Planning, 2012 ***

[Nancy]

The early bird gets the marked down bakery items. Today I got 2 pies one small pumpkin and the other apple w/ crumb topping Paula Dean's at the store and put those in the freezer for the next holiday / potluck thing what ever comes first.

[ellyphant]

Found 2 small gifts for DS and DDIL. Going to get them something big off wedding registry that was not received. Have ideas now for DD. So I am moving forward!

[Harriet]

Cards are exactly as ordered and I'm pleased. The box in which they arrived was well packed with air-packing baggies so now can become the holder for other items as they arrive.

Right now, ordering online is looking pretty good. I remember the year we decided on Coleman lanterns for several presents and when they arrived they were like toy-sized. Sigh. It doesn't always work out, but it is a mileage/gas/time saver when it does.

Checked my Christmas wrappings (underbed in a recycled golf-club box) and I'm not sure I can justify purchasing more this year. If anything, I'm running low on blue and that was not one of the colors of the Thomas Kin kade ones I liked so much. Does that mean I won't buy one? Not necessarily! I can't possibly help what I get for a present, and I am likely to give myself almost anything.

[ellyphant]

LOL, Harriet! The Thomas Kin Kade paper sounds like something I would love to grab on clearance after Christmas. I can't buy any new paper before Christmas...still working on a giant roll of poinsettia-covered paper that I got for about a dollar several years ago.

[Ivy]

I got 2 beanies done for 2 grsons for Christmas today, which ends my total of 7! YAAY!

Next are alternating turns of crochet between to afghans about 1/2 done on one and 1/4 done on the other.

[blessedw2]

yeah on beanies! d Ivy
d Harriet lovely cards and yes lol
Hi d Elly 2 gifts wooo hoo!
D Nancy I like the idea of going through pc.

I gave my dmom her christmas present - perfume. She had been really sick these last 3 weeks and one of our dear friends passed (she was almost 100). A good woman! So she was depressed and that is so unlike her. She has been trying to find this perfume for quite a while and only had a drop left. so I am needing a gift again for dmom

[Harriet]

Awww... ... that was the right thing to do, blessed. That's what Kathryn says - treat your family well all year long. That wasn't just a present, it was taking something off her mind, plus letting her know you listen to her.

ellyphant, I am also still working on a big roll. It looked good in the store but background was orangey-red, not Christmas red when I got it home. So it's helpful for large presents that really need a lot of paper, but in a group of presents it stands out like a sore thumb! I need to be more careful when deciding to buy a really fat, long roll. It's not the money, which was probably a bargain. It's the space it takes up when I get it home, lingering until next (and next!) season. Unless I'm giving another bicycle (not likely) it just cramps my style!

Question - At what point do ya'll take the remnants of a roll of paper and fold it instead and throw the cardboard away? When it's down to just enough to fold once, or even earlier to save space? Or maybe you just never do that, to avoid folds?

A thought I had - as soon as family events are announced, get your schedule and your children's schedules cleared for them the best you can. Don't wait until someone says their calendar won't handle it and it's too late. As soon as dfirstinlaws family party is announced I need to NAG ds to clear his schedule for it in advance. In fact, I might discuss with him the likely date already. They have to juggle these things at the firehouse quite a bit to accommodate everyone's need for time off.

[Harmony]

I used to really decorate and spend lots of time on the wrapping. It is mostly kids now with a few adult packages, so it's a Christmasey wrapping that fits and a ribbon & bow that coordinates. I'm the only one who uses bows or ribbons, so that makes it easier. Noone in my family oooh's and aaahh's over the decorations.

What I do with the paper: I fold pieces that are down to one or 2 boxes. Sometimes I take a cardboard roll and roll pieces tightly and put them inside the roll, especially when I'm keeping those over the summer. I don't worry about creases any more. If they get too bad I might use the paper for tags, cutting oblongs and folding with the picture on the outside. My rolls I wrap together in a big plastic bag, wrapped up with a rubber band. They usually fit between the wall and the shelf brackets, the kind that are shaped like a triangle, out of the way till next year. I think I use a bungie cord to keep them together on the support.

I suspect your packages look way nicer than mine!

[Nancy]

Is any one doing Halloween anything?
I told dgson I'd give him $1.oo for his fav. candy bar or what ever he wanted to spend it on will give it to him early so he won't have to come door knocking on that day. The businesses pass out candy and that's the thing to do here these days hardly any one goes door to door in neighborhoods any more. Hoping our church does an activity for the kids.

I thought about doing pumpkin poop bags.

[ellyphant]

I do the same as Harmony, folding the paper once it gets to be only enough for 1 or 2 packages the size of a shirt box. If the creases show too much, I hide them with ribbon. Love Harmony's idea of storing the rolls between triangular shelf brackets!

Not doing anything for Halloween here. With no street lights and houses far apart, I can't imagine we will get any trick-or-treaters. There are neighborhoods nearby where it will be much easier and safer for little ones to be out. I do have 2 orange electric candles in the window. Will leave them through Thanksgiving.