The time has come.
It is time to sign up for The Art of Doing Stuff's Christmas Pledge. A hand over heart, pinkie swear, spit in your palm and shake hands agreement that you will get everything you need to get done for Christmas before December 1st.
Except decorating the tree. 'Cause decorating the tree before December 1st is a practice performed only by lunatics and scary people. And I assume, some of you.
The Christmas Pledge was started on this blog a few years ago with more and more people taking part. It's a way to force you into doing the crappy stuff in November, leaving the fun stuff for December. Things like baking cookies and watching Christmas movies. Unless you hate baking cookies and watching Christmas movies in which case you'd better get those things done in November.
I will have a calendar up in the next few days that you can refer to in terms of what you need to get done and by when.
I know there are some of you who avoid the Christmas Pledge. And may in fact refer to it as the Christmas Plague. So I've taken a moment to let you know exactly why you should join the ranks of the Christmas Pledgers.
The following list is a real life account of what will probably happen to you in the month of December, 2013 (based on whether you do or do NOT take the pledge)
The final decision as to whether to sign the pledge or not can only be made by you. Do you want to win a Nobel Peace Prize and eat cookies? Or do you wanna get shanked?
If you're ready to nap and eat cookies throughout the month of December, sign up now.
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As added encouragement, those of you who have taken the pledge in past years, feel free to leave a comment saying how well it worked for you. (no showing off by writing your comment in Japanese or Sanskrit or whatever other language you spontaneously learned by taking the pledge)
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Shelly McKay
Count me in!! Have picked up/made a few gifts already. A little nervous about the calender though ;)
Robyn
The first step in recovery is admitting that you need help ....boy oh boy do I need help getting organized for Christmas!
I'm in (like belly button lint)!!!
Jay
I've done it for the last 2 years (except wrapping presents because I LOVE doing that and save it as a treat while I eat mince pies and watch Jimmy Stewart movies)
Since committing to the pledge I have become a professor at Cambridge, been given a book deal and developed the ability to walk elegantly in high heels.
I'm worried about this year's pledge as I am making most of the presents and I am NOT a quick knitter/sewer
Lindsay
I'm in for sure! I always try to be done shopping before Decemeber rolls around. Those Christmas shoppers are a whole different level of crazy. The decorating is never done too early so that'll be new for me this year.
karol
I guess this makes me both a lunatic and scary because my tree is up! Booya! Toys for my grandtots are in layaway and a list has been made of Christmas brunch menu items. I'll check my mirror daily for shooting cartoon sparkles.
Shannon Floyd
I'm totally in! I even started a bit earlier this year so November could be relaxing as well! Maybe cinnamon and nutmeg will shoot out of my eye on Thanksgiving???
Reg
Oh nooooo. Already? There's still leaves on some of the trees in the yard!
Thera
I'm in again, been doing this the past two years. I am usually a touch behind due to financial constraints, but it does help me get motivated and organized.
Mel
Karen, I'm not sure how all of your advertisers get to list on your page, but I was baffled to see a link to a page warning me that the Democratic candidate for governor is in bed with the Homosexual Agebda lobby crap. What the what?
Karen
What?! LOL. Um ... honestly ... I have no idea. I have a few different ad networks. Chances are it was Google though because it sounds like that particular ad is Geo-targeted (only shows up for people who are in a certain area). ~ karen!
Mel
Thanks, Karen! Voting over, ads from horrible candidates done for a while. Hurrah for Democrats winning in Virginia! Thanks for sharing my bafflement.
Linda J Howes
I pledge, (what exactly I'm not telling) but I pledge!
Su
I'm in! Actually I'm moving the time frame for me up a week. I want to have it all done by American Thanksgiving because I have travel plans to be laying on a warm sunny beach in Cancun that day and the next 9.....
Erin Hall {i can craft that}
I am so in this year. I actually just wrote out my list this morning and am try to figure out how we are going to pay for it and when to have family photos done!
Carolyn
I'm in.. I hate the stress it brings with it. I get so stressed out, I reget the fun in all of it. But never the reason. I am always undone. It would be me putting up the tree before Thanks Giving. And baking the cookies two weeks before Christmas.. And have eaten half of them. Lol. I am looking forward to some help.
Thank You Karen, You are a wonderful person.
Jody
I'm in----wait, let me spit on my hand and type with only my pinkie... I pledge to take part in the Art of Doing Stuff's Christmas Pledge to have everything done by December 1, except the fun stuff. Shopping and wrapping gifts are not fun. I did this last year and admit there were times in December when I was bored-in December-just before Christmas. Yes, bored in December; a very good thing.
Tigersmom
I'm definitely in again.
I did this last year and cartoon sparkles shot out of my ass!
Barbara R
I'm in....my sister and I are pretty organized for the family Christmas! although I admit she carries the brunt of the work for about 22 of us (she hosts us---I will share your blog with her). This year we are required to make one of our gifts...I'm hoping that you will post some ideas for us....non-food please! So far I'm thinking Lamp from a Jug....any other ideas? Thanks Karen for getting us organized.
susan donis
this may be a dumb question, but is there somwhere yo actually sign up? or do i just say "i'm in"?
Karen
You just say "you're in!", but you can print the red pledge form and sign it and put it up on your fridge as motivation. That's what it's there for. (if you want you can print it in black and white to save on colour ink) ~ karen!
mimiindublin
Oh I'm pledged alright!
did you not instruct us weeks ago to buy one Christmas present? Or am I imagining it? Either way, it is done, but I won't gloat about my headstart :)))
magali
every year I say I will send out Christmas cards and then I don't, so I will take the pledge so that I actually do it this year!
Bre
I'm taking this under strong consideration...
Ugh...I'm in....