I Karen, being of sound mind and body, (except for an occasional dagger-like pain in my eyeball from a migraine) hereby declare I am going to be completely and totally organized for Christmas by December 4th.
That gives me exactly one month to get everything done.
By everything, I mean by December 4th I want all of my presents bought, the house decorated and all my Christmas cards completed and sent out. That leaves pretty much the entire month of December to actually enjoy the festive, holiday season as opposed to cursing it and everyone associated with it.
I should let you know, I have this thought in my head every year, but never actually commit to it.
So here and now, in front of blog and everyone, I am committing to attaining this goal.
Here's the schedule ...
November 5th - November 30th - Buy presents, put lights up outside, do outdoor Christmas planters.
December 1st - 2nd - Decorate inside of house.
December 3rd - 4th - Fill out Christmas cards.
December 5th - 31st - Enjoy festive holiday season. Maybe get drunk or take on a new and exciting lover. Who knows. There's a world of possibilities.
Every year by the time the middle of December comes around, I'm thinking .... I'll never get everything done, I hate this, this is stupid, I haven't even baked a gingerbread man, why did I buy my mother a set of boxing gloves, who knew a parking lot could actually cause my blood pressure to rise to the point of my ears bleeding? And then I'm officially overwhelmed, I pop a Gravol and crawl into a corner to nap.
I've been known to become violent throughout it all and once almost ripped a cashier's arm out of her socket when she told me after spending $350, I'd have to PAY for a box if I wanted one. Since then I've taken to calling the holiday season, Dismember December.
My hope is to make this the most relaxing, enjoyable Christmas season ever. I challenge you to do the same.
I, Karen, being of sound mind and body, challenge you the readers, to a Done by December duel. Are you up for it? You can totally apply this method to Hanukkah or Kwanza or whatever other holiday you celebrate that seems to last for a month.
We can do this if we encourage each other as opposed to trying to run over each other in the parking lots.
I will be keeping you updated as to my progress and I trust you will do the same. Come December 5th I plan to be full of Christmas cheer, standing smack dab in the middle of the mall handing out free boxes.
Erin Hall {i can craft that}
Hey Karen I am totally pumped for Christmas and was re reading some of your last years posts and getting inspiration from your decorating. I was just wondering if you remembered where you got those acrylic/glass risers/blocks from that you had a reindeer on and pine cones on? Also that large glass reindeer. its so elegant. I find that most of the ones I have seen so far are..... awkward and freeky
Karen
Erin - The glass risers are from The Bombay Company, but they only carried them for one season. I bought about 7 or 8 of them, gave some as gifts and kept some myself. The acrylic reindeer is quite popular. Several stores in Canada carried it last season and the season before. I got mine at Terra Nurseries for 70% off at the end of the season 2 years ago. It was something like $150 regular! ~ karen
nikki@kreative knack
I Nikki being of sound mind and body, accept your challenge! Can't wait to try this...I promise I'll give it my all :)
Karen B.
I'm a new follower, but I feel like we are something close to soul sisters. I will take the pledge...but I will break it. Honestly, I spend most of December hating Christmas and stay up all night Christmas eve wondering if everyone else will be happy in the morning. Meanwhile, I am exhausted, fried and tired of the whole thing. Then something magical happens on Christmas night...I realize I'm done...the burden is lifted...I can enjoy it. So for a brief few days, while they are still playing a few Christmas songs on the radio, and before the decor comes down, I enjoy the season and feel the Spirit and eat fudge. Dec. 26th is the best!!!
Lynn
I've already started planning in my planner! I won't be able to be completely done by December 4th as
1. we will be in LA celebrating a friend's birthday and
2.every year I bake up a storm of cookies to send with the gifts, but I have a plan to be sending gifts out by Dec 17th so the cookies are not stale by xmas. Sure people still eat them, (who turns away a delicious cookie??) but I'd like them to be freshly baked too.
if the baking is all I have left tho it will be tons of fun and a super easy holiday season.
kate
This is a good plan! I'll join with you and whoever else would like to do this. Even though I still have Thanksgiving a head of me, i only make the pies (2) nowadays. My pledge will be a little different - I vow to be ready by the 7th, since we have 2 potlucks and 2 open houses to attend the weekend of 3-4. I'll start by telling you I did some Chrismas shopping yesterday and got a few other gifts in early October. --BUT - they are still in their store bags and not wrapped and some need to ship out of state, so that is on my list. One thing I do not do: I do not go to malls; I shop small stores locally owned and operated or even drug or grocery store. I look forward to being inspired and inspiring!!
Ginny
Since everyone is getting home baked goodies this year I will not have to go to the mall. Yea! I already have a list of people that get cards (with their address), stamps and a list of people I give gifts. I do need to buy some new cards so there's that. My wreath from last year is ready to go. Hey, I may actually be able to do this pledge.
Shauna
what is going on with your comments may I ask? Not only do I love to read what you write, but I also love to read the comments. Both yesterday and today, only one comment is showing up. Yesterday, more showed up after I commented, but not today. I can only get one comment to show up today. I went to yesterday's post - holy cow 612 comments!! But, only like 4 are showing up. Even when I click on the link for the comments above, I don't see them. How do I know if you responded to me if I can't even see my comment and I love to read all the great comments from people and your replies. You have such witty readers.
Holiday
Well, I'm typically very, very organized about Christmas, but I don't think I can decorate that early. My tree would be so dry by Christmas the pine needles would be more on the floor than the tree. But, i can commit to the rest. I typically start holiday shopping in August and am 90% done by Dec, 1st. So really, not a problem. It's so much saner that way. No crowds, the leisure to price-shop, and when I wrap it all it's like rediscovering lost treasures!
Karen
Holiday - I should have noted that I normally have 3 or so Christmas trees, but only one of them is real. I always get that one the middle weekend of December, so I'll have that to do. But I enjoy it, so it won't be a nightmare. ~ karen!
Kim
Holiday- When I was growing up we always put up our tree the day after American Thanksgiving and it lasted until well after Christmas. The key is to go to a farm where you can cut your own, if possible, and get it into water immediately. If you don't live in a region with cut-your-own Christmas tree farms, the next best this is to be sure to cut off a few inches of the trunk just before putting it in water. This removes the part of the trunk that sealed up during its long journey from the farm to your living room, and will allow the tree to drink up all the water it needs. Hope this helps!
Shauna
I buy most things online thereby avoiding parking lots, lines and most importantly people - those dreaded people;) I avoid sending out Christmas cards by sending out New Years cards instead. I never, however, avoid decorating. Any chance to decorate and I'm there. You can do it Karen, if anyone can, it's you.
Evalyn
This sounded like a great plan until I remembered I live in the USA and we still have Thanksgiving to hurdle before we can begin the December Debacle. I love Thanksgiving. It has no gift giving, it has food, and pie, and (not for me, thank you) football, and pie. It all happens in one day and then it's done. And it has pie. Then December happens, the password is changed to BUY, and everyone goes insane. I can't wait for the soul-cleanse of New Year's where the Debris of December is heaped on a bon-fire and sent to hell with fireworks. Only then can I enjoy my long winter's nap, after more pie.
Ahnnie
Ditto.
Elen
A gal after my own pie-lovin' heart. lol
Dionne Trifiro
Love your commitment to the impossible ...wishful thinking, I'll sy YAY and forget about it as my two noisy 1&2nd graders come slamming through the door hungry ....plus I have a headache that seems to be very attached to my right temple.
Oh what the hell, I sound like Scrooge I'll give it a go...
When did you say it ended I mean starting or has it started already, am I late?
;) love your blog! *HEART*
Karen
LOL! Whack job. :) ~ karen
kerry
i'm so in. seems every year i put things off until the last minute and last year i didn't even put up a tree! it's going up before thanksgiving this year. two gifts down...
Cricket
I am definitely IN! I've got a good start already, and the kids always force my husband to haul out the tree and proceed to strew ornaments everywhere on Black Friday, so they have that covered. My biggest stumbling block is always the cards. I need to make that my top priority.
Mel
Signed!! I've already purchased all my gifts, so all that's left is a lot of knitting, making Christmas cards and decorating! I love doing things ahead of time so I can actually enjoy December and all the wonderful things going on during the holiday season! :)
Chau
I'm with you Karen, although I've been known for broken pledge due to unforeseen reason, LOL. And believe me there are many unforeseen reasons out there that cause me to panic, freak out and out-of-controlled. An organized and talented person like yourself get crazy during the holiday, what chance do I, with all my humble being, get to avoid that?
Laura
Holy Shit! okay....
Karalee
I pledge to Christmas Cheer. I am excited to see all that I can get done this month!
Susan
I am inspired Karen!! Can do, will do!!! I really feel that we have bonded over this post!
Elysia
Love this! I'm in! Jump me into the gang, just leave the face alone please, lol ;) ok, your on like Donkey Kong! Oh, better get off this computer, get rid of this migraine and get going!!
Laura
I am in. I want to bake and lounge and socialize and have fun during December too!