I received this today in an e-newsletter and thought it had some really good ideas. Anyone have any more ideas?
Things You Can Do Now for a Simpler Christmas
by Nancy Twigg
Enjoy a less hectic, more meaningful Christmas
Every year do you wish for a less stressful holiday season?
This year, don't just dream about a simpler Christmas. Make it
a reality by taking action. Consider these positive steps you
can take in October to ensure a less hectic, more meaningful
Christmas celebration in December.
Christmas Shopping before the Christmas Rush - Don't wait
until the stores are packed with thousands of holiday
shoppers. Beat the crowds. Ask family members for their
Christmas wish lists and get busy now.
Take Care of Time-Consuming Tasks - Start writing Christmas
cards, wrapping gifts, and boxing up presents to mail. Why
wait until December to attend to these time-consuming details?
There's no reason to put off these tasks. Knock them out now.
Fill Your Freezer - Each time you cook in the next few weeks,
double or even triple your recipes and freeze the extra
portions. During the hectic holiday season, you'll be thankful
to have those quick heat-and-eat meals in the freezer.
Plan Volunteer Activities Now - Is there some charitable work
you'd like to do each year that you never seem to get around
to? Does the idea of giving back to the community always get
lost in the holiday shuffle? Decide what you want to do to
help out this year and volunteer now so it won't get
overlooked in December.
Complete Your Christmas Crafts - If you plan to give any
handcrafted gifts, plan to have them finished by Thanksgiving
or even sooner. Work at it in the evenings or on the weekends
until you finish.
Plan Holiday Menus - Take this time to write out menus for
dinners and family gatherings so you won't have to think about
it later. Talk to other family members now if you'd like them
to help out with the cooking. Also, use this time to
experiment with any new holiday recipes.
Decide What to Delete - What obligations add to your stress
level each year? What activities would you rather forgo this
time? Decide in advance what activities you want to skip and
how you will diplomatically decline these engagements.
_______________
These and many other ideas for enriching the holidays can be
found in Nancy Twigg's new book, "Celebrate Simply: Your Guide
to Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays and Special Occasions"
(
www.celebratesimply.com). Endorsed by financial guru Dave
Ramsey
Iris
It is better to leave people with a piece of your heart, than with a piece of your mind 
It's time for another smiley story contest!
