Here is my Advent/Christmas notebook. As I mentioned it is very simple and basic, but it works. Each year I add or modify it a bit to better fit what we need.
First, I have a list of the gifts we gave last year as well as all the receipts. I will move this to the back of my notebook soon to make room for 2010 receipts.
Here is a new December 2010 calendar. BTW, Advent starts Nov 28th. This is where I jot down our events for the month. I could just do this in my regular planner, but I like having everything for the month in one spot. I will jot down the Feast of St Nicholas - it is the Patron Saint of Russia and we always do the kids stockings on this night. We celebrate St. Lucy's Feast Day by getting hot chocolate and driving around to look at Christmas lights.
This is (or will be!) my new gift giving list for 2010. I have recipes that I have used for gift giving,
as well as a pocket that I can stuff gift ideas in throughout the year.
The next section is where I keep some decorating ideas.
I like to rip out things from magazines that I might use for inspiration. However, this is mostly just my "dreaming" section for right now. Last year I was happy we got the tree up! Now days my decorating is pretty simple, but we still have special things that we do.
This part is where I keep my Christmas card address list as well as past Christmas cards. If I get any address changes throughout the year I can stick them in the pocket if I don't have time to change the address right away. Also, when it comes time to order my Christmas cards, I know exactly how many I need. I am a nerd about our Christmas cards!
Here is my recipe section and list of Christmas cookies we like to make each year. Also, last year we ended up staying home on Christmas day, so we decided to do a Christmas Around the World. We had something from Russia, Korea, and the Caribbean. Here is where I keep the recipes that I used. That was a fun dinner and I am hoping we do it again this year.
There you have it. Simple, but it does help me to stay more organized through a busy holiday season.
All sorts of pages are available from Organized Christmas. You can get gift ideas, lists for house cleaning for the holidays etc. The only downside is that all the images are secular. I haven't had any luck finding pages that are Christ centered. If you do, please let me know. Enjoy!
13 comments:
ooooh, lovely. what a great idea to keep years past handy too, so you can recall what worked and remind yourself of the things you did. I love those mason jars on the front walk -- the pics are beautiful -- we shall have to do that this year. and I briefly checked out the Organized Christmas link -- looks very inspiriing -- with good ideas. Thanks.
Jen! This is amazing! I LOVE this idea!
First, the address changes always throw me for a loop. What a great way to take care of that problem.
I also keep receipts, but in a bag stuffed up on the shelf in my bedroom closet. I SO like your way a lot more!
I also love how you have a place to put your "ideas". So many times I think of something and it evaporates from my memory.
This is awesome. Thank you for sharing it!
Gardenia- we have done the jars on the porch on Christmas Eve the last couple of years and it really is pretty. I think the Organized Christmas site may have what you are looking for in terms of a countdown list of things to do.
Patty- I am glad you found it helpful!
I have made different attempts at a Christmas notebook, but I like the way yours is put together. My latest version included some planning pages from "Flylady", but that one is still unused! Your post definitely inspires me to pull out my notebooks and reorganize!! Thank you for sharing. :)
This is a really great idea! I love being organized. :)
I stopped by to let you know that I have an award for you on my blog!
You are way too organized for me! But what a grand idea.
What a great idea! I need to get one of those....
Oh, love it! What a great idea! I need to start working on one!
This is a great resource for keeping it all in one place. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one starting to pull out the Christmas ideas. It will be here before we know it!
I REALLY am inspired to get my own together after your post. And your post came at the right time too because my daughter wrote down in her own project book that she'd like to start planning for Christmas by reading all the American Girl books for ideas on decorations, food and such. You've got the gears in my head turning, Thank you!
BTW, you mentioned you decorate simply for Christmas. I've been meaning to post on Kind Conversation about that. I realize that I can't handle too much visual decorations...it makes me very nervous because it makes my house feel cluttered. So, I've been meaning to ask the ladies at K.C how one can still celebrate and make things memorable and lovely without the decorations. (I don't count the tree, jesse tree and advent wreath as decorations, or stockings). Okay, maybe I've got advent and Christmas covered but Thanksgiving has me stumped. Last year I told my husband I had to go out for a drive because I had to get away from the house. He actually realized it was from all the fake fall foilage and metal Thanksgiving decor so he cleared it all out 1 week before Thanksgiving. I couldn't calming it was to walk into my house after he removed everything. I want to anticipate these holidays with my children and my daughter loves the decorations. So how does one anticipate and infuse meaning into these occasions if you can't do it with decorations? Especially Thanksgiving. That's what I'm pondering at the moment. Don't feel like you have to answer. ;-) In fact, I'll probably cut and paste this and stick it onto KC somewhere. :-) Geez, your post really has me thinking.
What a great idea! I am always shuffling here and there at Christmas, this will be perfect!
I'm totally doing this! Thank for re-sharing! :)
Great Idea!!! I wish I could be so organized !!! This has inspired me!! Thank you!!
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