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)
Are you in? Or are you out?
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
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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In.
I'm in! Perhaps, being organized will help me stop saying Christmas is a 4 letter word "X-m-a-s"!
I'm in! I'm a working mother of two boys. I get a lot of help from my husband, but I have trouble with getting gifts and sending Christmas cards on time.
I really don't want to end up in jail so close to Christmas so I'm in!
Wise choice. ~ karen!
I'm in, but I need my calendar. Where to find it? Time's a wasting.
Calendar will be posted tomorrow Carol! ~ karen
Thanks. I have 8 children(four married, four at home) and 6 grandchildren and my brother's coming in for Christmas. I really need to get going!
I'm in! and ahead of the game cuz my outdoor lights are up... (since last year) heh. At least they weren't plugged in all year... sheesh
Is it creepy to admit that when I bought my first Christmas gift of the year a month or so ago, I thought of you? Suffice to say I've been looking forward to this!
I took the pledge last year and used my free time to volunteer at a few fill-a-shoebox-for-the-homeless events and host a mince-pies-and-mulled-wine night with my friends! Both activities made me feel more Christmassy than I've felt since I was a kid! So thank you Karen! Merry Christmas! (Too soon?)
I, Sarah, agree to take part in the Christmas pledge!
Congratulations Sarah and welcome aboard! ~ karen
Oh girl, I'm in.
I always have to restrain myself from starting Xmas activity this early, but this gives me an excuse and a goal to focus on while making my 'Shitty Xmas to-do' list and 'Awesome Xmas to-do' list.
One of the first things on my Awesome Xmas to-do list? Wrapping presents with dad and having an annual single-malt Scotch. Holiday bliss.
Heck yes!!!
I'm in.
:0D
I'M GONNA DO IT.... This year I'm really gonna do it - at least I WANT to do it! With your help, who knows! Bring on the eggnog & bourbon in December!!
I'm in! I hereby swear to abide by all rules of the Christmas Pledge, to do my best (wow--flashback to the days of being a Brownie) and procrastinate no more :)
Yours Truly, a former lurker-now-subscriber-at-last,
Janice
You're gonna like the newsletter on Friday Janice! ~ karen
I'm in, but my lazy, procrastinating ass is scared half to death... I am not the sort of person who "does stuff"; I am utterly in awe of your apparent energy level!
We, too, have a couple birthdays in November, plus I'm working at the hospital (American) Thanksgiving weekend while my family takes the long weekend at the cottage. I'm probably getting shanked, and/or arrested...
Nah, you'll be fine. And you don't have to as much as me. Doing stuff is my job. (granted I did this much stuff before this blog) If you're terrified once you see the calendar just pick 3 things to get done. You can do 3 things! ~ karen
I take the pledge! No slacking this year for me!!
I have only recently found you but I have practised this idea the last few years on my own and I'm definitely IN! Having December "free" is the best feeling!
I have the best Holidays when I don't do a darn thing..... so that is my pledge. Nope, not a scrooge, just refuse to be stressed over the Holidays. My whole family has taken this attitude and we have a great time. Try it!
No. NO I will not try it. To me, Christmas is trees and presents and parties and cookies. NO! ~ karen
This is the first year I'm taking the Pledge. I can finally get the dust off my furniture.
I'm in, unless my whole household gets the stomach flu twice in November like last year. Then I'm in survival mode and all such pledges go out the window.
I AM IN!
I've been waiting for this! After the last few years of crazy weeks leading up to Christmas, I need this encouragement to get it all done so I can actually ENJOY the holidays. Doesn't sound like such a crazy notion when you think about it :)