I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving this year! Last year we started a new tradition of having a low-key (but still traditional) Thanksgiving dinner with my mom, step-dad and little sister at their house, and it was a lot of fun. Of course, last year I ruined all of the pies, so they may decide…
There are 8 weeks until Christmas! Whether that thought sends you into a panic attack or gets you excited, I hope you'll join me as we spend the next two weeks talking about organizing and simplifying Christmas. Getting organized is half the battle when it comes to enjoying the holiday season, and simplifying is the…
Today we're wrapping up our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. Getting organized is an important part of having an intentional Christmas, where we choose gifts and activities that will provide a lifetime of memories rather than trying to pack everything into the season and ending up exhausted and stressed out…
Today is day eleven in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. One of the best ways to keep from getting caught up in the commercialization of Christmas is to give to others in need. It's easy to start out with the best of intentions to keep your focus on the…
Today is day ten in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. One of the hardest parts of Christmas for me is dealing with the aftermath. Not just taking down decorations but finding a place for all of the new stuff, most notably all of the new toys my girls get.…
Today is day nine in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. Holiday baking is yet another aspect of Christmas that I love. I'm not a great cook, but I make some pretty yummy baked goods, and I love to make cookies, chocolate-dipped pretzels and other treats for friends, families, neighbors,…
Today is day seven in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. l love receiving Christmas cards in the mail, especially those with updated family pictures. We hang ours along the garland on our staircase, and it becomes just one more reminder that Christmas is about people not stuff! Whether you…
Today is day six in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. Almost everyone has family traditions -- for the everyday mundane things as well as holidays and special events -- but have you ever taken the time to write down your Christmas traditions? In the midst of a busy holiday…
Today is day five in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. There is nothing quite like heading to the mall on Christmas Eve to watch as people scurry in and out of stores in search of the perfect gift while the clock counts down to closing. I can't imagine that…
Today is day three in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. Simple gift giving doesn't have to mean pruning your gift list to just your immediate family, although it certainly can be if that's what you need to do for your own sanity. But it does require some planning and…