I know it’s been more than a month since Christmas (!) but I thought I’d show you how I display and store my Christmas cards so you can pin this idea for next year

• Hang a couple of pieces of ribbon on either end of your doorway. I had two up but alas, I only filled the one. The rest of the cards arrived after I’d taken all the decorations down
• Use clothespegs to pin the card to the ribbon. I got some really cute ones last year at a local stationery store (CNA) but in previous years I used the plain wooden ones.
• I like them pinned this way rather than horizontally because you can get more on your string.

the whole string

top section – the other ribbon with an ornament added some bling

and the bottom section

more close-ups

can you see my reflection in the ornament?

here are the cute clothespegs and the grosgrain ribbon – a nice thick ribbon feels sturdier

and this was hanging at the top – I love these What are your favourite ways to display your Christmas cards?    *********************************************

When I wanted to write about Christmas this week, I wondered if it was too early.

Then I saw two Christmas posts on a couple of my favourite “intentional living” blogs and I felt like I was in good company.

So… onwards and upwards.

When you think about Christmas, what are the aspects that overwhelm you and stress you out?

For me, it’s not knowing what’s happening.

I’m a girl who loves a plan and I like to know who’s hosting the lunch and what I have to bring.

I also like to have clear in my mind what we’re doing about gifts and cards.

Here’s a quick list I made just to get my high-level thinking going:

1. Who will we send Christmas cards to? Do I have enough or do I have to buy some more?
2. Who are we buying gifts for? What is our budget per person/ family?
3. What are we doing for Christmas lunch?
4. How much decorating are we doing?
5. Which activities do we want to participate in?
6. What caused us too much stress last year that we want to let go of? (too many socials, too much spending, etc.)

Does this list help you?

I suggest you print out these 6 questions and take 5 – 10 minutes over a cup of tea to answer them honestly.

Your answers may not look like those of other people but if you embrace YOUR vision, you’ll be a lot happier.

Personally I found that reading too many decorating blogs around this time made me feel inadequate as I’m very minimalistic!

That’s one thing I’m going to let go of

And a quick announcement

I’m doing a free workshop called Organising for a meaningful Christmas at Christian Family Church in Atlas Road, Boksburg on Mon 21 Nov from 7 – 8:30.

We’re meeting at Solo’s restaurant and everyone is welcome. Please bring R20 for your Christmas planner.

How do you get ready for Christmas/ the holidays?

This week our question is an simple, but necessary one – do you budget for Christmas?

• Do you start saving months earlier for all the extra Christmas expenses?
• Do you just wing it and hope for the best?
• Do you set a gift limit per person?

In years past, I used to start putting aside money from July with the aim to be done with shopping by the end of November.

These days I have a general idea in my mind and I try not to exceed it. I stay within if I don’t go to the shops too much so I try and stay away unless absolutely necessary.

We also set a per person limit on gifts and stick relatively close to that number.

I’m actually trying to introduce a Secret Santa thing which nobody was in favour of this year. I’ll try again next year as I really feel that less is more, especially since I have these two cuties.

Tell me what works for you and your family, budgeting-wise.

With just over a month to go before Christmas, you’re probably thinking about decorations, gifts, family, church, friends, Christmas cards, etc.

One of my absolute best Christmases was two years ago.

Dion and I decided to do our own thing at home, just the two of us. Because of that, I had no stress, nothing.

I looked forward to it all because I knew it was simply a time of us being together.

At the last minute, an uncle invited us over and I literally threw together a salad to take with us, and we were off.

Low expectations and we ended up having a fabulous time.

I’m wondering… what is your favourite part of Christmas?

that’s Connor under the Christmas tree

If you’re like me, you’ll use the after-Christmas sales to stock up on gift wrap, cards, etc. and get HUGE discounts.

You can get your cards at definitely 50% off; in some cases you can get an even bigger discount.

This is a great time to evaluate what you DO have so that you don’t just rush out and get more later this year when you do already have enough.

Quickly count your unused Christmas cards, gift tags, gift bags, etc. and write down the numbers on either a post-it note or index card. Store it with your supplies so you don’t have to wonder where that piece of paper is.

Here’s how I store mine

And here’s a post on my Christmas decoration storage

Happy organising

With Christmas fast approaching, I thought I’d point you towards some helpful Christmas posts

Think about clutter-free gifts

Organizing and storing holiday items

Declutter your children’s toys

Let’s talk gifts – what’s your philosophy on the whole gift-giving issue, especially in this economy?

Do you go ALL out, no expense spared?

Do you have a gift limit?

Do you buy for kids only or also for adults?

Do you do handmade gifts?

Share in the comments – I’d love to hear what you do.

P.S. I’ll start by sharing my gift-giving philosophy in the comments.

P.P.S. We found out we were pregnant on Christmas Eve last year. I put up this little stocking not knowing that there were TWO little babies

Before I share my Christmas story with you, I have to tell you a quick funny story.

We went to visit friends of ours one November.

I was most impressed because their Christmas tree was up already so I told them so.

She says to me, “we didn’t ever take it down from last year” LOL

Isn’t that brilliant?

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I’m a very simple, no-fuss person. I don’t like lots of knick-knacks and stuff lying around (more things to clean, people!) so my Christmas decorations are literally a bag full.

I have a tiny Christmas tree that stands on a corner table – you can see it on the right side of this picture. And we (Dion) string up some tinsel, shiny ball decorations and stockings.

And then I do the guest bathroom in red and green.

That’s it!

Here’s the extent of it – without the bathroom stuff.

Before I pack it away, I put each batch of stuff in its own bag. I started this last year and it worked a treat because nothing was dusty.

See that light green bag with the red? That’s a felt string with some Christmas characters that we also string up. I roll it around an old toilet roll so it stays untangled and then ziploc it. You know how I love my ziploc bags.

And here’s everything neatly packed away, ready to go to the very top shelf of my guest bedroom cupboards.

How much Christmas stuff do you have?

Photo credit – http://giftsoftheorient.co.uk

Here’s a selection of some of my previous Christmas organising posts for you, especially if you’re one of those last-minute people.

How to plan your Christmas without getting stressed

Frugal gift ideas – beaded bookmarks and jewellery organisers

Organising gift wrap and ribbons

And if you really want to save lots of money, go get some cheap Christmas cards and gift wrap (if you use Christmas gift wrap) in the days just after Christmas

Let’s have some fun. If you could describe this year’s Christmas in ONE WORD, what would that be?

My word is SIMPLE.

Over to you!

Please encourage all your blog friends to join us in decluttering by using the button on your sidebar. Christmas is just around the corner and you need to start taking action so that you don’t just fill up all the spaces you’ve already decluttered.

The Declutter Tip for the week …

Re-think the types of gifts you give to others.

For Christmas this year, consider giving gifts of time or clutter-free gifts like experiences. Take a friend for coffee and a muffin, or take over a casserole that they can pop in the freezer.

Last year, my sister gave me a massage for Christmas. It was my best gift because not only do I love massages, but also nothing to schlep back to Joburg on the plane and find a place for in my house

This year for my birthday I asked my husband for a DVD of one of my favourite movies (The Holiday) and we spent time together watching a lovely romantic movie on the couch eating popcorn and chocolate. Divine!

Alternatively, give something that is consumable (like my easy oatmeal cookies) or that people will definitely use (not that think they should use, but that they will use)

What other ideas do you have for clutter-free gift giving?

I bought two of these bags (yes, identical) because I couldn’t decide which I’d rather have. I haven’t used the red one at all so I’m decluttering the red one. No, I’m not throwing away a perfectly good (unused bag) – I’ll sell it to someone.

What did you declutter this week?

Please link to the post on your blog where you show off your pictures or talk about the declutter. Or if you don’t have a blog, tell me in the comments about ANYTHING you got rid of this week.

It can be anything – physical, electronic, mental clutter or even the need to be a certain way. Like perfectionism!

I want you to leave a comment telling me what you’re going to declutter next week, just for accountability

There are less than 3 months to Christmas.

When you think about that, what do you feel? Do you feel overwhelmed and just a little bit stressed at everything you have to do? Or do you feel excited at the idea of spending time with friends and family?

My best Christmasses have always been when I’ve been organised, prepared and more importantly, when I didn’t leave everything right up until December

Here are a couple of things to consider so that you have an organised Christmas this year:

Your vision for a great Christmas
Decide, together with your family, if you want to celebrate with many spiritual activities, spend time at home with just your immediate family, do lots of baking, etc.

Christmas cards
Will you be sending cards by themselves, or with a family newsletter? Or will you be sending cards at all? Do you have a list of recipients?

Christmas gifts
Will you be giving gifts this year? Are you making any gifts or are you buying them all? Do you have a gift-giving budget? Remember to budget for gift wrap, gift tags and, if necessary, postage to your loved ones who live in a different city. Do you have a system to keep up with the thank-you notes?

Christmas Day
Where will you spend the day – with your parents or his? Or will the family gather at your house? Who will cook the food? Which recipes will you use? Do you know where to find them?

Someone asked me, “how far in advance should you plan?“
Well, that depends on how much stress you can tolerate

Personally, I like to have gifts done by the end of October and cards by mid-November. That’s because I really don’t enjoy the stress of having to get the perfect gift with no time to spare. Add to that the crowded malls and you can practically see my blood pressure rising!

I like to start planning at the beginning of October and I set myself mini-goals of compiling my card list first, then planning backwards so I write out a certain number of cards per week until they’re all done by my self-imposed due date.

And I do the same for gifts. I also wrap a few gender-neutral gifts just in case someone pops around with something for me. It’s relaxing for me to prepare a beautifully-wrapped gift with a gift tag because I believe that presentation is part of the gift.

Something I do that has saved me lots of money is I no longer buy Christmas gift wrap. Instead, I buy red and green coloured craft paper and matching ribbon. I can use the paper year-round with a different bow so that it doesn’t look Christmassy for birthday gifts.

This year, get organised for Christmas with the 14-page Christmas Planner so you can welcome the season instead of dreading it. This planner is for the overwhelmed!