Tick Tock, My Internal Christmas Clock

It is early August and I am halfway done with my shopping.

I think I've glossed over the details about the hunt at times. Saying it's all in the planning, keep lists with sizing, interests about everyone on the list. But now, the kiddos on my list have hit that uncomplicated stage where they like the creative kits. Arts. Crafts. Science.

Now I just look for the extremely good deals.

Where I Go

Goodwill. No, I am not buying used things to give people. Unless it's something of the collectibles variety. You know we all have at least one, a relative that collects figurines or vintage buttons or whatever. However, you'd be surprised at how many new in the box things get donated. Probably gifts from a relative that didn't have my innate skill of being the best gift giver ever.

Plus you'll find new rolls of wrapping paper, bags of vintage ornaments. Here, it is all about going early on new arrival days and being able to browse. Your local store has deliveries from the distribution center.

Get friendly with an associate or two and they'll tell you the scoop. What days they get new things coming out. The days that they switch over to the half-price color code. But sometimes you REALLY have to be able to dig in. And not be shy. Lurk near the doors to pounce on the new carts they roll out from the back.

Helpful hints: Best done without your little people in tow. The sales associates do not care if you do this, as long as you don't be a slob about it. If they wheel out a new cart and you take all the stuff, it's less work for them. However, if you decide it's not what you wanted after all, and they've returned to the back with their little goody cart? Put the discard where it goes.

Kohls and Target. Hands down, the BEST clearance sales. They happen often, and they go low, low, low. Watch those endcap deals.

And then this is where the lists come in. If you have adopted my planning tool; your handy dandy Christmas notebook. As you collect your steals and deals, assign them to whoever you had in mind for them when you grabbed them.

Christmas Eve and Happy Tears

It's been a little over one year since we lost Daddy. It's been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, get used to life without him in it.

For my gift to my stepmother, I commissioned a friend to draw my dad.

It was well-received. And everyone was saying how good it was to see his face there tonight. 

My Very First Very Simple Christmas

Bitty and I find ourselves once again on our own.

I bought a tree, but we don't have many decorations.

I don't think she minded in the least.

Losing the Meaning a Little?

My husband said we overdo the Christmas gifts, that we should cut back next year. 

So, I've been perusing other ideas from other families.

The ones I like best;

For Christmas; 1 gift you want, 1 gift you need, 1 you'll wear and 1 you'll read. I like that. My kids are not huge list makers, so I improvise. 

1 box on Christmas Eve. Has pajamas, hot chocolate, popcorn, a movie, a book, and an ornament. They get to put their ornament on the tree, we make popcorn and hot chocolate, snuggle in the pjs and watch the movie. Then they get the books read to them at bedtime.

I also found this article.

Creche

I am going to attempt to make a creche. I actually found a few I want to make.

As gifts.

The first one is a kiddo-friendly one.

I hope to give it to my cousin's little girl for Christmas this year.

I am going to start with baby Jesus.

Mug Rug

I am going to attempt the impossible. To learn to use my sewing machine this weekend.

I had such excellent intentions this year for all the handcrafted goodies I was going to make for all my family and friends.

I may still eek out a few.

The project I had in mind? Mug rugs.

I found several cute tutorials online.

This one has a pocket.

This one is super cute and perfect for Santa's milk and cookies. 

Pocket Mug Rug

Regarding yesterday's post, I have finally found my problem;

Handmade Ornaments

I love them. I didn't make any {(yet)} for Christmas this year.

I did find a few I really liked on etsy.

yarn-ball-christmas-tree-ornament

This one comes in other colors as well.

black-and-white-christmas-ornament

crochet-ornament-in-coral

babys-first-christmas-ornament

Handmade Crap

A long-ago relation, before I was even a twinkle in my father's eye, was not a fan of the artsy-crafty gifts that he had received. Apparently, he was one for saying, oh, not more handmade crap. Or something.

So it has become a long-time joke in my little family.

I love handmade goodies. Giving and receiving.

For the music lover.

Circular Ear Bud Carrier

And, while you're at it;

diy-tangle-free-earbuds

This drives me crazy.

Buttoned Up and Beautiful

I found this little beauty on one of my forays around google images.

I tried to find out more about it, but the link was gone. It appears to be made from buttons and brooches and beads, I just fell in love with it.

I just may try to recreate it, I have an abundance of buttons.

And speaking of button trees, I found a lot of cute ones. In varying degrees of involvement;

I also found a couple of ornaments.