Comments on: Have Yourself A Stress-free Little Christmas! http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/ every day living with a touch of creativity Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:37:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Sharon O http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6567 Sharon O Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:07:16 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6567 Thank you for the great post! I, too, have been looking for a good reason to cut back the gift giving bonanza that happens at Christmas rather than just saying no or we don\'t have the money. I wanted a good reason to tell the kids this year it\'s \"X dollars or X gifts.\" I think bringing Christmas back to the 3 gifts is a terrific idea! Our kids are 18 & 13 so I may be met with a little resistance. But like your family, mine does not practice restrained giving either. We travel for Christmas so cutting back the gift load would be wonderful! If you ever need an expert on traveling during the holiday or any day, let me know. We have traveled 4 times a year for nearly 12 years from St. Louis, MO to Virginia(11 hours) and Mississippi(8 hours). I have the packing down to a science and can pack the car like a pro in under 30 minutes for 4 people and a dog. Mind you, this does not include the actual packing of suitcases. I have checklists for everything from setting the automatic feeder for the fish to packing the dog, snacks/drinks, sleeping-in-the-car kits, don\'t be bored kits, etc. People don\'t realize how much preparation goes into planning a trip and even my husband is amazed that we rarely forget anything. :) Organization makes for a much less stressful trip! Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and I am looking forward to only buying 6 gifts this year! Thank you for the great post! I, too, have been looking for a good reason to cut back the gift giving bonanza that happens at Christmas rather than just saying no or we don\’t have the money. I wanted a good reason to tell the kids this year it\’s \"X dollars or X gifts.\" I think bringing Christmas back to the 3 gifts is a terrific idea! Our kids are 18 & 13 so I may be met with a little resistance. But like your family, mine does not practice restrained giving either. We travel for Christmas so cutting back the gift load would be wonderful!

If you ever need an expert on traveling during the holiday or any day, let me know. We have traveled 4 times a year for nearly 12 years from St. Louis, MO to Virginia(11 hours) and Mississippi(8 hours). I have the packing down to a science and can pack the car like a pro in under 30 minutes for 4 people and a dog. Mind you, this does not include the actual packing of suitcases. I have checklists for everything from setting the automatic feeder for the fish to packing the dog, snacks/drinks, sleeping-in-the-car kits, don\’t be bored kits, etc. People don\’t realize how much preparation goes into planning a trip and even my husband is amazed that we rarely forget anything. :) Organization makes for a much less stressful trip!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and I am looking forward to only buying 6 gifts this year!

]]> By: Elizabeth http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6517 Elizabeth Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:07:47 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6517 This is a great idea. My daughter is turning two and we have decided to start early with the 3 gifts. I think it\\\'ll be easier than doing it years down the road. That is such an awesome idea. And, if she is disappointed she won\\\'t be for long when she goes to the grandparents house. One set is so over the top. Last year, each grandchild had 28 presents. I\\\'m not lying! Isn\\\'t that ridiculous? It actually made me kind of sad because that isn\\\'t what Christmas is about. We ended up giving some of them away to less fortunate children. This is a great idea. My daughter is turning two and we have decided to start early with the 3 gifts. I think it\\\’ll be easier than doing it years down the road. That is such an awesome idea. And, if she is disappointed she won\\\’t be for long when she goes to the grandparents house. One set is so over the top. Last year, each grandchild had 28 presents. I\\\’m not lying! Isn\\\’t that ridiculous? It actually made me kind of sad because that isn\\\’t what Christmas is about. We ended up giving some of them away to less fortunate children.

]]> By: Jenny in NC http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6466 Jenny in NC Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:19:53 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6466 I am selling all of my Christmas decorations. I don\\\'t enjoy decorating. Plus I do daycare and the decorations are just more things the kids can get into. We are going to buy a live tree, decorate it with popcorn and cranberries, and then mulch it all after Christmas. Nothing to put away! I\\\'m going to spend my holidays listening to music and spending time with my family. I am selling all of my Christmas decorations. I don\\\’t enjoy decorating. Plus I do daycare and the decorations are just more things the kids can get into. We are going to buy a live tree, decorate it with popcorn and cranberries, and then mulch it all after Christmas. Nothing to put away! I\\\’m going to spend my holidays listening to music and spending time with my family.

]]> By: abbie http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6463 abbie Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:06:10 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6463 This is a wonderful post...I think handmaking gifts also slows the holiday season a bit. When I am knitting mittens for my son, or patch working together a cashmere throw for my mom, it is one stitch at a time. This is a wonderful post…I think handmaking gifts also slows the holiday season a bit. When I am knitting mittens for my son, or patch working together a cashmere throw for my mom, it is one stitch at a time.

]]> By: tisha http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6462 tisha Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:59:37 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6462 What a great post! I love the holidays :-) Mainly the food..lol! My sis tried doing the three gifts thing and quickly gave up from the pressure of friends and family. It sure would make life simpler, that's for sure! We set a budget per child but the grandparents normally go nuts so we don't get them a ton:-) What a great post! I love the holidays :-) Mainly the food..lol! My sis tried doing the three gifts thing and quickly gave up from the pressure of friends and family. It sure would make life simpler, that’s for sure! We set a budget per child but the grandparents normally go nuts so we don’t get them a ton:-)

]]> By: erin http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6455 erin Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:17:42 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6455 Thanks for such great tips to keep peace in the home! Christmas excitement and spirit doesn't need to mean MESS. Planning ahead is always great strategy. If moms are looking for fun games activities for the kids in preparation for Xmas they can find them at the advent calendar: <a href="http://www.optimalprint.co.uk/christmas-advent-calendar" title="Christmas Advent Calendar" rel="nofollow">http://www.optimalprint.co.uk/christmas-advent-calendar</a> The calendar is running now and all games can be downloaded and printed out. Thanks for such great tips to keep peace in the home!
Christmas excitement and spirit doesn’t need to mean MESS.
Planning ahead is always great strategy.
If moms are looking for fun games activities for the kids in preparation for Xmas they can find them at the advent calendar: http://www.optimalprint.co.uk/christmas-advent-calendar
The calendar is running now and all games can be downloaded and printed out.

]]> By: Jessica Cudzilo http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6454 Jessica Cudzilo Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:46:58 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6454 I absolutely LOVE this post. What a great reminder. Thank you for writing it at such a great time. You\'ve inspired me to start preparing for a stress-free, enjoyable Christmas holiday. I absolutely LOVE this post. What a great reminder. Thank you for writing it at such a great time. You\’ve inspired me to start preparing for a stress-free, enjoyable Christmas holiday.

]]> By: Marci http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6447 Marci Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:52:52 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6447 <em>Travel tips for the holidays would be an awesome post. I have no wisdom in this area. As soon as we had kids, we stopped the travel. One of my very best friend's and her husband made the car trip from New Hampshire to Illinois last summer with 3 kids 4, 2 and 1. And they all survived!! Maybe I should have her guest post soon! Travel tips for the holidays would be an awesome post. I have no wisdom in this area. As soon as we had kids, we stopped the travel. One of my very best friend’s and her husband made the car trip from New Hampshire to Illinois last summer with 3 kids 4, 2 and 1. And they all survived!! Maybe I should have her guest post soon!

]]> By: heidi @ wonder woman wannabe http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6446 heidi @ wonder woman wannabe Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:48:40 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6446 We are starting the 3 christmas gift tradition based on the 3 gifts of the wisemen this year too! Looking forward to it for sure!! Before, while shopping, it was hard to know what was \'enough\' but after everything was opened up, it always felt like too much! ;) We are starting the 3 christmas gift tradition based on the 3 gifts of the wisemen this year too! Looking forward to it for sure!! Before, while shopping, it was hard to know what was \’enough\’ but after everything was opened up, it always felt like too much! ;)

]]> By: Janet Long http://thecreativemama.com/have-yourself-a-stress-free-little-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-6442 Janet Long Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:07:38 +0000 http://thecreativemama.com/?p=2547#comment-6442 Fantastic tips, thank you for this!! I think just the permission to slow down and actually enjoy what it\'s all about is just what I needed!! Last year my girls were tired of opening presents before we were close to done, so unnecessary. I\'m really considering the 3 gifts thing, although that would be an amazing level of self-control for me to muster up!! Love the tips, and look forward to putting them (most of them at least) into practice this year! Fantastic tips, thank you for this!! I think just the permission to slow down and actually enjoy what it\’s all about is just what I needed!! Last year my girls were tired of opening presents before we were close to done, so unnecessary. I\’m really considering the 3 gifts thing, although that would be an amazing level of self-control for me to muster up!! Love the tips, and look forward to putting them (most of them at least) into practice this year!

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