Grandma, Uncle Tracy, Aunt Alyson and Dad
There are 32ish days until Christmas. And two things are certain; the days will pass faster than you expect and no matter how much you plan, this season isn’t going to be perfect.
Every year instead of focusing on what I’m gonna do, I first focus on what I’m not going to do. Somehow it helps me feel a little more focused. This year, I won’t put up lights outside {but my boys might} I won’t make teacher gifts, I won’t send Christmas Cards, I won’t enter a mall in a frantic search for the perfect gift, I won’t say yes to things because I feel guilty for saying no. My “no” got a good tune up and is running just fine thank you.
I will do less and be more.
Every Christmas for the past few years DaySpring has sponsored a post here at Nesting Place about that very thing–doing less and being more. Kind of odd for a company that sells cards--don’t they know that sending Christmas cards is the first thing to go? I always try to make sure they know what they are getting themselves into–so you are ok with me encouraging people to do less–even if that means they might rethink their buying habits?–yes they say in their gentle, confident way. They remind me of that Santa at Macy’s on Miracle on 34th Street. I mean, they sponsor a post and then I ramble on and on about how I wanted to move an armoire 2 inches to the right and then before you know it, I’m rearranging the entire downstairs.
So, back to me, since clearly I’m making this post all about my big self, there are also things I do DO every single Christmas season. We get a live tree, we watch Elf and of course, we give gifts. We give gifts to celebrate the gift we have been given. That photo up there of my Grandmother? She made our childhood magical with the living room full of gifts each year. She loved giving. I’m not even sure she understood the real meaning of Christmas until the end of her life but, she understood the love involved with gifting. Her home looked like it could be featured on a Christmas episode of Hoarders if there were such a thing of a hoard of beautifully wrapped Christmas presents precariously stacked on top of each other in layer after glorious layer of shiny wrapped thoughtfulness. Christmas at Grandma’s was the highlight of my childhood.
Prints by Jones Designs my post all about my love for them is here for your reading pleasure
I love gift giving and I want to be intentional with the gifts we give. I’d love it if every gift we gave was Meaningful, Beautiful, Handmade, Personal and Useful. But realistically, if I can hit one or two of those with every gift I give, I feel pretty good.
One thing DaySpring is really good at is providing us with Meaningful Beauty to keep and to gift. They told me I could just link to the sale page to keep this post simple and to honor my love of doing less but, I wanted to show you a few of the super sale items because there are some things that we’ve talked about here before, things I’ve used in my own home, things my mom and friends like, things I think could make good gifts for people you love. And, you can avoid a crowded mall. It’s truly a win win.
Here are some of the mind boggling sales on a few things I’ve used in my house–I’ll link to the posts but, the giveaways are closed for these old posts, if you are new here:
Lightweight Indestructible Grace Wooden Bamboo Tray
Wooden Caddy {a post about setting up a buffet shows how I use my caddy
Silhouette Nativity that you can remove the silhouettes and use year around
And because DaySpring is fun and generous, they are giving a whole slew of meaningful beauty.
One winner per 100 comments will win a few of my current favorite gifts to give: Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling and the flip calendar and my sister’s book Grace for the Good Girl along with a By Grace Alone necklace created by Lisa Leonard. Great gifts to keep for yourself or to give away. DaySpring even let me pick what I wanted to give away {I mean, they are giving it away but I got to pick because they are nice like that}. These are the two gifts my husband and I gave away the most this past year.
And one super lucky person will pretty much get their Christmas shopping done. One Grand Prize winner will get one of every item featured in the Super Sale–that’s over $530 worth of prizes–all that stuff in that photo collage above and more–click here to see everything and find out more about the sale. And did you notice, that caddy is only $9!?
PS: is there something from DaySpring you’ve had your eye on but it’s not included in the Super Sale? No worries, use code SUPER30 for 30% off your entire order {not including the Super Sale items}
Leave a comment telling us what you ARE NOT doing this Christmas season to enter to win one of these meaningful, beautiful prizes. This contest will stay open until midnight Monday, November 28th, winners will hopefully be announced on Wednesday, the 30th.
{Winners announced HERE!}
I’m not going to by a bunch of junk for my kids so they have more presents to open This holiday is about Jesus…we’re NOT going to miss that.
I am not going to make 20 different cookies. I’m just going to make larger batches of a half dozen different cookies. Thanks for hosting this terrific giveaway!
No cards…yep..that’s right…not a one! All my news is on Facebook…plenty o pics too :)
Also I am doing less random stuff and intentionally scheduling a few must dos. Jesse tree
every night for sure. And the annual carpool cousins olders vs youngers Gindgerbread House
decorating smackdown! We love it!
Keeping it simple this year…a lot going on in life (not so happy types of things) which is making me very reflective this year and in the long run may be a very good thing.
I’m not going to worry about making a stocking for my one year old son. He won’t care about using a hand-me-down, and then I’ll have all next year to make his very own. :)
I will not buy all the christmas gifts alone this year. I am making my husband get involved.
I’m not going to wait until the last minute or worry about finding the absolute perfect gift.
I’m not going to freak out about things being perfect. I’m going to do the things that have meaning for me, like mixing the traditional with trying something new.
Instead of focusing on the negatives of what I can’t possibly accomplish before Christmas, I’m focusing on the reason for the season…Jesus and the blessings and positive things he blesses us with each & every day. And in doing so….I hope to pass on a new tradition of gratitude to my grandchildren.
I’m NOT buying my kids a bunch of junk for Christmas. We are doing meaningful gifts that they will love and enjoy, not just filling in a budgeted amount…now remind me of this on December 23rd when I’m at Target looking for stocking stuff.
I’m decorating more simply and more intentionally. Just because I bought a decoration last year or have something my daughter-in-law gave me to decorate with 3 years ago does not mean I have to use it. I will feature a large Advent wreath in the family room, our family tree done with fewer decorations and more natural accessories in the living room and the rest of the house with a few simple floral arrangements and a decorative pillow or two. Of course, lots of lovely white candles. I think I will breathe more deeply and enjoy the season more intensely with the simplification of my holiday decor.
I will not be buying a ton of gifts. I will be keeping it simple and memorable for family and friends.
We too are trying to keep it simple. Being a type A person this is so difficult. I remember my mom decorating every room even the bathrooms and it made holiday time magical. I want that for my own children, just on a lesser sale that allows me to enjoy it as well.
This year I am not trying to do it all at once. I am trying to be content with what gets done and not focus on what does not get done. I am sending our a few cards each day. I am not sending everyone the same thing… some get just our “annual letter” … some get a letter and pictures… some get a letter, pictures and a card. It all has to do with what the recipient would enjoy or value. I am decorating a little at a time… something I learned from several bloggers this year… I am just decorating with what I really like(and I am not keeping the stuff that I no longer like so as I unpack the decorations I am either giving them to someone I know would like them or want them or getting rid of them). I am not worried if everything doesn’t get done on the day planned. Due to the List Plan It Web site I have planned catch up days !!!! (Getting her service is the greatest gift I have given myself this year next to my new gray suede pumps on sale at Nine West !!! which has a 25% of sale till Dec. 5th !!!) And List Plan It has a great deal for its services too !!! Anyway, I am not trying to do everything… just what means the most to my family. I am spending more time alone with God than ever and getting more positive things done than ever. I am also not trying to outspend anyone. I stuck to my Dave Ramsey Money Makeover Budget !!! I am giving to Samaritan’s Purse and Doctors without Borders and other organizations that I believe in. Even if it is not alot… it doesn’t take a lot to bless those in third world countries. And prayer costs nothing but time !!! I guess I would love to get the Oh Holy Night Red Letter Words sign. And I know just where I would put it. On my front door so everyone can see it even the mailman and the UPS man and everyone who comes to my door. God Bless You all in this Joyous time of year !!!
Here’s what I did last year – I let all the non-essentials go! And there never was a better holiday season! Relaxed, refreshed, renewed.
http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/2010/12/letting-non-essentials-go.html
Thank you for the great “A ha” post. Speaks to my heart! Merry Christmas!
I’m not going to buy gifts from big box stores. I’m going to handmake things (or buy handmade) for my friends and family. I’ll also make sure these gifts are something they will actually want – not just something I want to make/give.