When Is Enough Really Enough

I am going to keep this post short and sweet, but I'm hopeful that it will spur some good discussion at a time where we can be preemptive about "enough." The holidays are looming and there is always so much to do. Every year I sit back in January and tell myself, "Next year I'll enjoy it more. I won't make it so busy." But each year, I somehow manage to do too much and run myself ragged in the name of "holiday."

Maybe now is the time to sit down and think about the top 10 things that really matter. What do you most enjoy doing? What can you live without this season? Who do you want to spend your time with? How much shopping/cooking/crafting is absolutely necessary to your enjoyment of the season?

Example. Christmas cards. Does anyone appreciate the fact that you've hand-stamped and tied ribbons on each and every one? Probably not. So unless that is something you thoroughly love and will rejoice in having done come January 1... skip it.

Here's another. Christmas cookies. Is it really about the home-made holiday conconction that you only torture yourself with making once a year? Or would the kids be happy with the roll of refrigerated slice cookies from the grocery store? I'm just saying....

So what is "enough" to make your holidays full of more joy and less stress? Only you can say for sure. But just like everything else, if you don't sit down and think about it the days keep passing and the next thing you know it's over. Check out the Cozi blog for ideas on holiday cards and links to other ways to make the holidays go a bit more smoothly!

Planning Ahead

Okay, we've established that I am anti- skipping Thanksgiving. However, as all crafters know, you have to plan ahead for Christmas if you want to give homemade gifts. Because although it's "the thought that counts," it really helps your cause if it's also well-made, tasty, beautiful, and/or useful.

Over the years I have been both the giver and receiver of homemade and handmade gifts. Christmastime is a great time for this if you plan ahead. But honestly, homemade gifts are wonderful year round. And if you are a real planner, you can do even better by purchasing items in bulk for making your gifts.

I recently shared on another blog site (www.milehighmamas.com)about how my family has always incorporated crafts for kids into our Thanksgiving Day celebration. This is fun for kids and a good way to get little hands out of the kitchen but not sitting in front of a television. If you'd like, this could be something that the kids could give teachers or friends for Christmas. Depending on the age of the children, you could do ornaments, paper boxes, finger-print cards, cocheted scarves, picture frames, or foam door hangers. One of my favorite sites for projects is: www.familyfun.com. There really is no limit to the great projects you can find.

Now if you are looking for some good adult projects, there are plenty of those too. Last Christmas I received an dipping oil that was fabulous. Just find a recipe and mix in a beautiful glass jar. Attach the recipe with a pretty ribbon and you have a simple, tasty, and beautiful gift.

If you have picutures from a recent trip, either of your family or nature, make or use extra prints and adhere them to cardstock to make unique notecards to give grandparents or aunts and uncles. You can be as fancy as you like by adding ribbons, stamps, stickers, and whatever other embellishments you can think of. Just purchase the cardstock and envelopes at the craft store and your imagination is the limit.

Thanksgiving Day is an ideal day for craft projects, especially if you live where outside in late November is not an option! Do you have great craft and/or gift ideas? Share them here!

Not Skipping Thanksgiving

There have been murmurrings among those that I know over the last several years. "It's coming too soon!" "The Christmas merchandise is out before Halloween is even here!" "I love Thanksgiving and we just skip right over it!"

There is no doubt that Thanksgiving is not the most profitable holiday in the retail world. Sure we buy our share of turkey printed napkins or table runners, but there's not a huge market for tee-shirts or gift-giving. But that really does beg the question: what is it that Thanksgiving has to offer while sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas?

I'll name my favorite things, and I'm sure it will cause you to remember a few reasons of your own to keep you from "skipping" Thanksgiving:

• all the fun of Christmas without all the stress
• all of the fun of Halloween without all the sugar highs
• all the good home cooking... and it lasts for days, not for minutes
• all of the anticipation of getting ready for Christmas
• all of the sales
• all of the turkeys for under $10!! (You better buy another freezer at one of those sales.)
• all of the THANKFULNESS - a time for reflection before the rest of the year flies by like the blink of an eye

 Whether you are feeling thankful for what has transpired so far in 2009 or if you are grasping for something to give thanks for, in just a few short weeks this glorious day will be at our doorstep. Start making a list and I think you'll be surprise at all you have to celebrate on Thanksgiving Day.