Decking the Halls! (Day 13)

Photo Credit

The beauty of getting all of your Christmas shopping, planning, and card sending done early is that your time is free to enjoy some of the more nostalgic Christmas festivities. Like decorating!

Every year of my childhood, Black Friday was spent not in crazy shopping, but in crazy decorating at my parent's house! As little girls my sisters and I delighted in that day.

Mom would put on her classic Bing Crosby Christmas CD. We started the day early with cleaning- but we didn't mind and did it quickly in anticipation of the fun to come! Then all of the boxes came out. We played with our Christmas tree ornaments and nativity sets, and perused Christmas story collection books while Mom hung garlands and wreaths.

Even today the memories are precious :). I follow my Mom's routine and decorate the day after Thanksgiving. My hope is that little S (and whatever siblings the Lord provides) will grow up with the same sweet memories of evergreen, holiday tunes, and twinkling lights. Sigh...

Here are a few thoughts to inspire and assist you as you think through Christmas decor:

• If it isn't fun for you, its okay to skip it entirely or seriously simplify!
• If your collection of Christmas decorations is in short supply, stock up after Christmas for next year and enjoy the super sales! My mom was able to purchase tree skirts, gorgeous ornament sets, and tree stars for me and each of my sisters future homes this way.
• There are countless ways to decorate your home all by yourself- with little cost or effort involved! Check out my "Merry Christmas" pinboard- I've been collecting lots of ideas to inspire you!

Today's Assignment: Just for fun, dream up your perfectly enchanting vision of home decorated for the Holidays. What aspects of this vision can you turn into reality without spending too much time or money? Pick a day to decorate. If you are crafty, start making a few decorations from my pinboard, magazines, or other online sources. Have fun! 

Don't Miss the Other Posts in this Series!

Photo Credit

 Introduction
Gifting: Your Plan of Attack
Gifting: Think Outside the Box
Gifting: To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards: Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards: Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards: I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food: The Menu
Holiday Food: A Timetable
Holiday Food: Let's Get Down to Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up
Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful
Holiday Schedule: Plan and Chart
Your Holiday Cleaning Plan

Your Holiday Cleaning Plan (Day 12)

Company is coming. You feel the need to impress your mother-in-law, accommodate a ghastly amount of family members, and have a relatively organized linen closet. With all of the other stresses and demands brought along with the holidays, lets not forget about cleaning!

What is a tired and busy woman to do?

First, let's take a tip from Fly Lady and shelve perfectionism. Perfect is for the birds- not for people with children, full-time jobs, or laundry to do and mouths to feed. If you dream of inviting visitors into an enchanting, fairy-tale-picturesque and pristine home, do yourself a favor now and forget about it. Be realistic- a tidy, welcoming, and festively decorated home is possible (unless your circumstances are particularly difficult, in which case, just ignore me). A perfect home is not.

Get into a cleaning routine. If you don't already have one, I highly recommend developing a regular cleaning routine. Right now in our home Friday is my cleaning day. I scrub the bathroom, vacuum the high traffic areas, and mop my linoleum floors. It is so nice to start the weekend with my husband and babe in a clean house :).

My weaker points are tasks like vacuuming side rooms and dusting- these things don't get quite as dirty, and are rarely seen by outsiders... but unfortunately, still need to be done. My goal for today's assignment is to develop a routine that includes these neglected areas!

If you're looking for cleaning schedule inspiration, these are a few resources I commend to your attention:

Fly Lady- This former "messy" helps you organize your life from top to bottom in her 31 Baby Steps. Each day she gives a special cleaning mission, and each week she focuses in on a different "zone" of your home (master bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, etc.). Very helpful!

Cleaning Your Home in 30 Minutes Per Day- Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking shares her plan of attack for keeping a relatively orderly home (with three littles!). I think I will be adopting her proposed plan- it includes both tasks that need to be done weekly, and rotates the tasks that need to be done less frequently. Very sensible and practical!

15 Minutes of Cleaning A Day- Becky at Organizing Made Fun shares the routine that kept her house clean and her sanity intact when her kids were little little. Very useful!

The Case for Once a Month Cleaning- Jamie of Simple Homeschool shares how once a month deep cleaning works for her as a homeschool mom! She doesn't use this system any longer, but it worked great for a certain season in her life. Perhaps it will work for you?

Make a Master List. While you can't have a perfect home, there may be some legitimate special tasks you need to accomplish before all of the holiday craziness fun hits. Like decluttering your guest bedroom that doubles as the place you pile everything that doesn't have a place :). Or paring down the toys your kids no longer play with to make room for new gifts.

Go through your home and make a list of the jobs you'd really like to get done before Christmas or company arrives. Depending on your number of tasks, you might have to do one a week or one a day until your deadline. Spread the tasks out evenly over the next month and a half.

Today's Assignment: Develop a cleaning routine if you don't have one already. Try it out over the next couple of weeks, and if it isn't working for you, find another that does. Schedules should serve you, so if a particular plan doesn't work with your life, go with one that does! Walk around your house and make your "master list" of projects to be done before the holidays. Plan a day to do each task, mark it on your calendar, and follow through!

Don't Miss the Other Posts in this Series!

Photo Credit

Introduction
Gifting: Your Plan of Attack
Gifting: Think Outside the Box
Gifting: To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards: Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards: Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards: I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food: The Menu
Holiday Food: A Timetable
Holiday Food: Let's Get Down to Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up
Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful
Holiday Schedule: Plan and Chart

Linked with: Growing Home .

Monday's Resolution {Living in Light of the Last Trump}

Photo Credit

We are picking apart Jonathan Edward's 70 Resolutions, one week and one resolution at a time. Don't forget to start where he did- "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake."

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

"Behold! I tell you a mystery.We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51,52

One day a trumpet is going to sound, and those who are in Christ will go to meet Him in the air. The 19th Resolution of Jonathan Edwards is a call to live in light of this trumpet sound.

He resolved never to do anything he would be afraid to do if it wouldn't be more than an hour before that trumpet rang. I can only imagine that he meant sin, in its varying shades and forms.

Why was Jonathan Edwards afraid of sin?

Because sin breaks our fellowship with our Savior. Sin is the reason Christ had to shed His blood for His people. The idea of being found in sin at the moment of Christ's return brings a shameful blush to many a Christian's face.

Until we meet Christ or die (whichever comes first!), we are going to sin. Remnants of the fallen nature still linger, corrupting even our best days of walking with the Lord. We are constantly sinning. Jonathan Edwards knew this, I am certain he had it in mind even as he wrote this resolution.

Resolution #19, however, reflects an attitude towards sin that we would do well to adopt. It is an attitude that I fear to be frightfully lacking, both in my own heart and the Church at large.

He was afraid of sinning. 

Our sin bothers us. It may irritate us, or really get under our skin... but are we afraid of it?  

I am afraid of what I perceive to be the "big" sins- adultery, lying, stealing, spewing hateful words that can't be taken back at those I love.

But do I fear them because of the consequences? Because I hate to be wrong? Because I long for good relationships with the people I care about?

Or do I fear them because in committing them I would be sinning against a Holy, Righteous, Awesome, and Good God?

And do I fear the sins that I think of as "small"? Because while impatience, laziness, and unkindness seem "small" to me, each one on its own was more than big enough to nail my Savior to a tree.

And yes, they bother me a little. But when I mediate on the Gospel, I see that they do not bother me nearly as much as they should.

What is the remedy?

Fixing my eyes on Jesus. Meditating upon the Gospel. Anticipating that last trumpet sound.

Today, and Lord willing, every day, I am renewing my commitment to live in light of that last trumpet call. To walk with my eyes fixed on eternity. To seek Him, and His Kingdom, first.

Amen? 

Holiday Schedule: Plan and Chart (Day 11)

Photo by Emma.Kate

If you're tracking along with us, you've determined your scheduled priorities for a peaceful and meaningful Christmas. To ensure that you follow through, get there on time, and avoid he stress of unpreparedness, you must now write your selected activities on your calendar!

I highly recommend investing in a large family calendar that can be hung in a central location of your home. Year round, any and all events can be boldly recorded for all to see and remember!

At this point in the year, it's a little late to purchase a 2012 calendar if you don't already have one. But there are tons of printable calendars available around the web. Google it and find one you like (here are a few to get you started: eprintable calendars, printable 2012 calendars, free calendar). Then record every event you plan on attending- concerts, special church services, family gatherings, etc.

As the events roll around, you can prepare for them in a leisurely fashion. Cookies baked the day before the swap, meal prepared long before company arrives, gifts wrapped and by the door, ready for Grandma's house.

Maybe there are a few occasions you plan on participating in which don't yet have a scheduled date. No sweat! Write the name of the event on a post-it note and stick it on the month of December in your calendar. It is your reminder to mark it down as soon as you know the official date.

Today's Assignment: Find out the dates and times of the programs, parties, and other holiday events you will be attending this year. Write them in ink on your calendar. Make notes next to the events on what you need to bring (cookies? an appetizer? a gift?) so that you can have your act together long before the date arrives!

Photo by Ali Edwards

Don't Miss a Post in this Series!

Introduction
Gifting: Your Plan of Attack
Gifting: Think Outside the Box
Gifting: To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards: Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards: Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards: I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food: The Menu
Holiday Food: A Timetable
Holiday Food: Let's Get Down To Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up
Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful

Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful (Day 10)

Photo Credit

Over the past several weeks, we've discussed many different tips and tricks, all designed to set you up for a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas season. You could do all of the early preparation in the world, but if you miss this one key factor, it won't make a bit of a difference.

Are you ready for it?

For a peaceful Christmas, keep things simple. You cannot do everything. You cannot be everywhere. You cannot gift everyone. Acknowledge this. Embrace it. Allow yourself to rest in it. You cannot do it all, and that is 100% okay. This is especially important when it comes to scheduling your family for various holiday events and activities.

A sure fire way to feel burnt-out, rushed, and stressed is to plan on attending three gatherings Christmas day. Or to sign up for every activity available to you- cookie swaps, school and work parties, caroling, the Church and school plays, concerts, etc.

Early on, you are going to have to sit down as a family and make some tough decisions. What is non-negotiable? What good things will you say "no" to in order to experience the best? Here are a few things to consider for help in the decision making process:

What is Christmas really about? As Christians, we are celebrating the birth of God's Son. Do the gatherings and events you plan on attending reflect this important truth? Would your children look at the activities you're involved in and understand what it is really all about, or are you sending mixed messages (over emphasizing the material and secular)?

What do you want your children to remember? Do you want them to remember crazy rushing and frantic parents? Family feuding and "give me, give me" present greed? Or would you rather them have warm feelings of sweet family gatherings, beautiful music and Bible stories, driving around together to look at Christmas lights? Think about your favorite Christmas memories from your childhood. How can you recreate those good times for your little ones?

What is most important at the end of the day? While your neighbor might be miffed that you were unable to attend her annual bake-off, several years down the road it probably won't make a difference. Seeing family members you haven't been able to meet up with in years, donating gifts to projects like Operation Christmas child, and attending your church's Christmas Eve service, on the other hand, can have a more lasting impact. Your priorities may be vastly different then mine. No matter- determine what they are, and ensure that your schedule is conducive to the most important things.

Today's Assignment: Meet up with your spouse, and even include your children, to discuss what is most important to everybody this year. Explain that as a family you are only able to do so much, but it is important to make time for the events that matter most to individual members. Make a list of your priorities, leaving plenty of free space on your calendar for rest and down time.

Book Review: 21 Days To A More Disciplined Life

Are you famous for making lofty goals, keeping them for a few days, and then crashing and burning?

Yeah, me too.

I plan out ambitious routines on paper, and manage to measure up for about a week before I'm back to sleeping in and struggling to keep up.

Ultimately, we must learn to master ourselves if we're going to grow in the area of self-discipline. But Crystal Paine's new ebook, 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life, may be just the ticket to boosting you on your own journey towards self-control and goal realization.

Crystal Paine is the owner and editor of Money Saving Mom, one of the top personal finance blogs on the web. A successful author, entrepreneur, and homeschooling mother of three, Crystal has a lot to share from her personal experience and success on this topic. She is realistic, reasonable, exceedingly helpful, and to the point. Personally I find her to be incredibly inspiring!

With a short and succinct chapter a day, this three week journey will guide the way for you to install one new key habit, and to complete one major project. The principles can be applied again and again, fueling you on as you seek to get out of debt, get into shape, and even start getting up early. Whatever areas of your life are out of control, you are sure to find help here!

I am personally hoping to run through the challenge with my husband over the next several weeks. Although our personal goals are different, by completing the readings and tasks in the book together, I'm hoping we can keep each other accountable and grow, individually and as a couple.

Do you want to know what's super exciting??? Crystal is offering 21 Days To A More Disciplined Life for only $.99, from now until Thursday. After Thursday, the book will go to its regular price of $4.99 (still a steal in my opinion!). If you'd like to purchase a copy, you can find them here.

What areas of your life have you struggled the most to get under control? How do you guard against burn-out when it comes to goal completion? 

*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. There are affiliate links in this post! If you purchase your copy through the links in this post, a portion of the purchase supports me and the work I put into this blog. The opinions I've shared, however, are 100% mine.

Monday's Resolution {Living in Gospel Framework}

Photo Credit

We are picking apart Jonathan Edward's 70 Resolutions, one week and one resolution at a time. Don't forget to start where he did- "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake."

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

My Paraphrase:

18. Resolved, to live at all times the way that I think I ought to when I am gospel centered and minded, and most in touch with the Lord.

In my day-to-day experience, there are good days and bad days. On the good days I am charged with energy and zeal, loving God and longing to be diligent in my roles of wife, mom, and homemaker. Then a bad day rolls in, and I am lazy, lethargic, and a waster of time- glued to my couch and iPod.

Do you find yourself on the roller coaster ride of good days and bad days? Maybe you struggle through strings of bad days, wondering if your life will ever look up.

Jonathan Edwards determined how he would live on his good days, and resolved to live that way no matter how he felt.

I wonder what that looked like? Obviously, the man had a sin nature just like the rest of us. I'm sure he had days where he really messed up- sunk into sin, struggled with despair. At the same time I look at the impressive legacy he left (numerous godly descendants, dozens of quality books and sermons, countless souls saved and strengthened in the Lord), and I know that he must have persevered through many a bad day.

One of my greatest struggles as a Christian woman is wanting to live by feelings instead of faith. I feel like taking an easy day, staying in my pajamas, drinking another cup of tea and reading a novel. I don't feel like attacking the messes around my house, making dinner, taking a risk and sharing the gospel with a neighbor, getting down on the floor and playing with my baby.

Feelings are up and down, shaky and unreliable. As Christians we aren't called to live by feelings, we are called to live by faith.

When we're thinking in a devout and Gospel-centered frame of mind, we long to read our Bibles, pray, do what is righteous and holy and good. We long to pursue God and the souls of men with passion.

Are you willing to continue on in these things even when you don't feel like it? When you'd rather serve self than God? When you're tired and worn down and the enemy is on your case?

Let's determine how we ought to live on our good days, set the bar high, and then continue to plow away, even when the bad days come.

*Getting up when the alarm clock goes off, so that we can have adequate quiet time with the Lord in reading and prayer- even though we're tired!

*Following through on what we said we'd do, fulfilling the roles God has called us to, even when circumstances are tougher than we'd expected.

*Sharing the gospel with people in our paths, fighting against embarrassment and the fear of man. 

Here's the good news ladies: In Christ, God sees me and loves me the same, good day or bad day. The only reason that I can walk on in a good way, by faith, is because of what Christ has done for and in me.

More good news: As I seek to live by faith, forsaking my feelings, God blesses me with joy. I've found that when I cry out for grace and strength to live as I ought, He answers me abundantly! Just start moving in the right direction, one foot in front of the other, and see if He doesn't meet you there. 

Will you resolve with me today to always live within Gospel framework? I hope so.

Pray for me too, that I would always live as I know I ought to when in a devout frame of mind! It's a daily battle, isn't it? By His grace, we press on.

Playing Christmas Keep Up (Day 10)

Photo Credit

Over the past three weeks I've given you many little assignments. Even if you are keeping up faithfully, I am certain you still have a decent amount of holiday prep left to do. Take this weekend to continue hammering away- buying and making gifts, finishing up your Christmas mailing list and addresses.

In case if you've lost track, here is a list of all the assignments so far (for your convenience, to check off as you finish):

1. Make a list of everyone you will be gifting this Christmas.
2. Make a budget for holiday gifts.
3. Sign up for any rewards programs applicable to you. Check out Money Saving Mom's series for the month of October "31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas."
4. Make a note on your gift list next to each name if you plan to make or buy their gift.
5. If you decide to make gifts, check out my pinboard for inspiration :). Test run your ideas, start making your gifts.
6. Make a plan for this year's Christmas cards. If you are going to need to schedule a photo session, go ahead and call the studio.
7. Make a list of everyone you will be sending a Christmas card to.
8. Collect the addresses of everyone you are sending a card to, and type them up into a neat document. Save the document and set it up to print on labels. Keep it for every future mailing you send out!
9. If you are hosting this year: Plan a holiday meal that will be fun for you to make. Write out your meal plan and corresponding shopping list.
10. If you are going to someone's home for the holidays: Call the person who will be cooking for you and ask how you can contribute to the meal!
11.  If you will be cooking for the holidays: make your meal timetable.
12. Make your list of who and what you are baking for, what baked goods you will be making, and how much of each kind you will need. Pick a couple of dates out on your calendar and set them aside as baking days!

That's it for now! Have a productive and delightful weekend, and tune in next week for our discussion on keeping Christmas peaceful, simple, and rich with meaning.

How are you doing on your early prep? What has been the most helpful part of this series for you so far? 

Holiday Food- Let's Get Down To Baking (Day 9)

Photo Credit

Can I just tell you that I love baking??? Seriously, nothing done in the kitchen thrills my soul so much as baking. It doesn't matter what- muffins, bagels, cookies, biscotti- I just love to bake. I'm hoping that some of you share my enthusiasm! Maybe I love it the best because I like eating it so much ;). Even if you don't enjoy the work itself, I am sure that 99% of you at least love to eat it!

Whether you love to or would rather not, oftentimes the Holidays call for a little extra baking. By planning it out now, I am going to make things nice and easy for you. Either you will have more time to relax and relish the joys of baking, or you can hurry it up and be in and out of the kitchen lickety-split. Totally up to you.

First, ask how many people and events you will be baking for this year. Is there an annual cookie exchange that you plan on attending? Do you plan on passing plates of goodies to neighbors and friends? Write down everyone and thing you will be preparing goods for. In my case, I plan to give cookies to a few close family friends, and people at church. I'd also like to have an assortment of delicacies on hand for visitors who pop in. And finally, each year my church plates up assorted cookies for the men in the halfway house next door. I plan on participating, so that will require 7 dozen or so from me.

Second, decide what kinds of cookies/candies you will be making. Depending on how large your list of people and events is, you could need anywhere from 4-8 types of treats. I personally like to select a few tried and true favorites, well also giving several new and exciting recipes I see (online or in magazines) a whirl. My classics include my grandmother's sugar cookie recipe, peanut butter blossoms, puppy chow (some people call this muddy buddies, chex cereal with peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar), and peppermint spritz (this is the time of year I love to pull out my Pampered Chef cookie press!). I still have to poke around for inspiration on new kinds, but that is the fun part :).

Can you make ahead and freeze any of them? This is where you're going to save yourself some stress. I plan on making my Grandma's cut outs a month in advance, and freezing them without icing. Then I will pull them out as needed and enjoy the relaxing fun of decorating them, maybe with a friend or two. I can also make ahead and freeze my peppermint spritz and peanut butter blossoms.

When will you need your baked goods? Mark each goody-required event clearly on your calendar. Keep track of the dates and what exactly you plan on bringing (what kinds and how much).

When will you make them? Plan a date and set it in ink on your calendar for baking ahead, and another for baking closer to the events. Keep them set in stone, and don't schedule anything else on these days. By planning a specific day and leaving it totally free, you will give yourself the time and margin to accomplish what you need to, sans stress.

Today's Assignment: Make your list of who and what you are baking for, what baked goods you will be making, and how much of each kind you will need. Pick a couple of dates out on your calendar and set them aside as baking days!

What are your favorite things to bake for the holidays? Please share recipes and ideas in the comments! Let the mouth-watering begin ;). 

Photo Credit

 Don't Miss the Other Posts in this Series!

Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting-Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food- The Menu
Holiday Food- A Timetable

Holiday Food- A Timetable (day 8)

Photo Credit

Last year I made my first attempt at cooking Thanksgiving dinner. My family was in town to meet S, so even though the Holiday was a couple of weeks away, we thought we'd enjoy a mini early celebration while we were together.

The day before our intended feast, somehow the turkey came up. "You have it thawing already, right Rachel?" My mom asked.

"No. Should I?"

"Turkeys take a week to thaw! I guess we won't be having any with our dinner."

Oops. Because of my failure to research and plan ahead, we ended up eating chicken instead of turkey. I learned it the hard way- planning your timetable is key when cooking a successful holiday meal.

Here are a few things to consider as you plan the timetable for your dinner preparations:

Is there anything I can make ahead and freeze? Pies, cookies, dinner rolls and some casseroles can be made weeks in advance and frozen. Check your list, mark these items, and plan a date to make them (sometime before holiday stress kicks in!).

What do I need to buy and when can I go shopping? Some ingredients can be purchased weeks ahead, others only a few days. Make your shopping list (by referencing your meal plan), and mark perishables and non-perishables. Plan your shopping trips accordingly. Make sure to give yourself extra time windows in case if you forget something!

What prep can I do the day before to make the holiday itself less crazy? Chop your veggies, peel potatoes, put together casseroles (so they are ready to throw in the oven the next day) and salads. Whatever can be done ahead, do ahead!

What can only be done the day of? List these items and write down how long they take to make and at what time you will need to start them.

After you've considered these important factors, make a written or typed time table. Every item on your menu will go on this list somewhere. Here is an example:

One Month in Advance: Bake cookies, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pies, freeze.
Two Weeks in Advance: Purchase turkey, canned cranberry sauce, and non-perishable casserole ingredients.
One Week in Advance: Pull turkey out of the freezer to thaw.
Three Days Before: Make final shopping trip. 
The Day Before: Pull pies, rolls, and cookies out of the freezer to thaw. Cut and peel potatoes, stick in pot for boiling, cover with water, and leave on stove top ready to go. Chop and put together ingredients for green bean casserole. Prepare stuffing and appetizers. Set the table.
The Day Of: Start turkey at 10 a.m. Throw casserole in the oven at 1 p.m. Start potatoes boiling at 1:05 p.m. Cook green vegetables. Line cookies on trays, put food in serving dishes with spoons, have dinner ready to go by 2 p.m.

It is theoretical and was quickly thrown together, but hopefully my little example gives you the general idea.

Today's Assignment: Sit down and make your meal timetable. Don't worry about finishing or perfecting it today, just sketch out the basic framework to give yourself direction.

By setting a well-laid timetable and following it through to the end, you are bound to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas day more freely and easily!

Photo Credit

Other Posts in this Series:
Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food- The Menu

Linked With: Raising Homemakers, and Women Living Well.

Holiday Food- The Menu (Day 7)

Photo Credit

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite parts of the holidays is the food. Turkey with mashed potatoes, delicious vegetables and casseroles, cranberry sauce, and all of the sublime desserts: pumpkin pie, Christmas cookies, fudge, and candies.

If you are not responsible for cooking any holiday meals this year, please feel free to tune out today and tomorrow. Use the time to catch up on your Christmas cards and gift making/buying.

Perhaps you are going to someone else's home for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner. Why not give them a call this week and ask what you can bring? An extra side dish, loaf of bread, or dessert can greatly bless a busy cook!

If you are cooking a big meal or two, I want to keep you ten steps ahead of the pack by planning it out now :). Whether you are cooking Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner (or both!), a big meal requires thoughtful planning.

The big question is, of course, what are you making?

We are going to celebrate Thanksgiving at a friend's house, but Christmas dinner is on me. I am super excited that we will be entertaining my husband's parents, sister, brother-in-law, and brother-in-law's mother from Ireland (and Spain!) this year.

Extra company makes me extra anxious to impress. I want to serve up an all-American Christmas experience that will delight all.

Now is the time to consult pinboards and foodie blogs :). My husband and I have really enjoyed watching Christmas cooking shows with famous chefs (like Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson) in the past for inspiration.

You can likely find Christmas episodes from whatever cooks inspire you somewhere online, or via Netflix or Amazon Prime. I love watching them because they are usually filmed in the chef's home, so you see their families and festive Christmas decor. It will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit, while making your mouth water ;).

This is the framework I plan to hang my meal plan on. As I find recipes that I want to incorporate, I will fill the corresponding slot:

• Appetizers (optional, but nice if people have a long wait before dinner. 2-3 would be a good number)
• Main dish (Turkey, Ham, etc.)
• One green vegetable (brussel sprouts? asparagus? broccoli? Don't just serve them plain, get creative!)
• Potatoes (mashed? boiled? roasted?)
• Bread
• A casserole (green bean? sweet potato? cheesy potato? stuffing?)
• Cranberry Sauce (or something else fruity and sweet as a condiment)
• At least one dessert (pumpkin pie is a must in this house! I'm thinking I'd like to make chocolate mint truffles too, and have a variety of Christmas cookies available)
• Beverages (you can keep it simple- water, milk, soda, coffee, tea- or make a fancy punch or offer sparkling cider)

Today's Assignment: Get yourself inspired! Watch a cooking show or two, consult Pinterest, dust off that cookbook you've been meaning to explore. Plan a meal that will be fun for you to make. Write out your meal plan and corresponding shopping list. Tuck them away for future reference (make sure they don't get lost before the holiday meal!).

Not cooking? Call the person who will be cooking for you and ask how you can contribute to the meal!

Photo Credit

Looking to get ready for Christmas early this year? Be sure to check out the other posts in this series if you've missed them!

Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking It Twice
Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number

Linked With: Growing Home, and Time Warp Wife.

Monday's Resolution {Live In Light of Death}

Photo Credit

We are picking apart Jonathan Edward's 70 Resolutions, one week and one resolution at a time. Don't forget to start where he did- "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake."

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. 

My paraphrase:


17. Resolved, to live the way I will wish I had when I'm on my deathbed. 

Death has a funny way of putting everything into perspective.


In the busyness of day-to-day demands, it is easy to lose this perspective. The urgency of meals to be made, laundry to be washed and folded and ironed and put away, appointments to get to, and work to be done, leaves us feeling so pressured and stressed and rushed.

When's the last time you took a moment to pause and reflect on your life?

Where are you going with it? What are you seeking to accomplish? Are you spending the time you've been given on the people and priorities most important to you?

It's been said that life is made of many days, each day is a little life, and the way you spend your days is how you live your life. Are you satisfied with your life of little days? More importantly, is the Lord satisfied with your little days?

When I think about dying, so many all-consuming things lose their significance. Catching up on reading my RSS feed, maintaining a pristine home, and keeping up with Joneses just doesn't matter in light of eternity.

What does matter to me?

Faithfully fulfilling my calling as a Christ-follower, wife, mother, and home maker. 

First and foremost I am called to be a Christian. It is my duty to delight myself in the Lord, to seek Him first, to obey His Word. On my death bed I want to be so close to Him that death loses its sting.

On a day-to-day basis, this means I need to be keeping constant communion with Him- living in a consistent spirit of prayer, confessing sins as they're committed, reading and meditating on His Word so that I may know Him as He's revealed Himself to us. 

Secondly I am a wife. It is my sacred duty to love, serve, honor, help, submit to, and respect Niall. This job description is enough to knock the breath out of me when I consider how selfish I am and what a long way I have to go. But what little steps am I making towards improvement in the little life of today? Thinking about dying should propel me forward in this area.

Third, I am a mother. S has been entrusted to me by God Almighty. Wow. It is my privilege and responsibility to teach, train, discipline and nurture her. Yet how often do I find myself distracted from this great and noble priority? How often do I find myself checking email, chatting away on the phone, stressing over my to do list, instead of investing in her as I ought to?

I am also called to steward the home that God has given us. Now if I knew that I was going to die tomorrow, I might not do my dishes or vacuuming today ;). But I don't know the number of my days. I only know that God has called me to care for my home and family, and that these things need to be done. Doing housework diligently with a joyful attitude creates a peaceful and usable environment for the ones I love best. Thus I will care when I come to die how faithfully I managed this arena.

These are the key things that come to mind when I think about how I'd wish I'd lived when I die. By God's grace I want to purpose daily to think on these things, and allow them to mold my daily living.

What will be most important to you when you come to die? How can these priorities shape your life today?

Book Review: First Bites (And Giveaway!)

Maybe I haven't mentioned it before...

But S and I have had a really hard time with solids. I waited until she was nine months old (six adjusted) before introducing my little preemie to "real" food.

You cannot imagine the excitement I had built up. Before having S I was a nanny. Introducing solids to the little girl I watched had been so much fun! I loved every single spoonful of it.

Before I even got pregnant I owned a copy of Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food- I had perused it diligently, and was determined to make and freeze my own baby food.

It was quite the let down when S couldn't care less. I do not even want to tell you how much food I threw away because we tried to feed her, but she still wasn't interested.

Only in the last week and a half (I kid you not!) has S begun to eat two or three pureed meals a day. She is 15 months old now (12 adjusted).

I've learned that kids will eat on their own timetable. All that a poor parent can do is keep trying and be patient!

That being said, over the past six months I've experienced burn out when it comes to making my own baby food. After all of the wasted food, time, attempts, and money- I started buying the stuff so I had it "just in case". S would eat a meal here and another one there, but she was so inconsistent that my freezer spply would go bad before she could finish it. Super Baby Food is a great book, but it is gigantic, and at times overwhelming and intimidating...

So I was super excited when Hilary Kimes Bernstein asked me to read and review her new ebook, First Bites!

As a former journalist (with 10 years experience under her belt!), Hilary serves up a plate full of excellent research on feeding your little one- from formula and breastmilk, to purees and finger foods. It contains a quick and informative survey of what every mom needs to know about nutrition in their child's first year.

• If you're unfamiliar with the benefits of breastfeeding and the downside to formula, this book is for you.

• If you don't have time to read Super Baby Food, or any other big fat book on baby food, this book is for you.

• If you are feeling overwhelmed by all of the information out there on feeding your baby, this book is for you.

I was particularly interested to learn the statistics regarding breast milk supply in first world vs. third world countries, the effects of food coloring (natural and synthetic!) on children, and what to do if you must feed your baby formula (as S is on it right now).

Hilary's book reminded me why I wanted to make my own baby food in the first place. It was just the motivation I've been needing to get back on the bandwagon! I appreciate her Christian perspective and her encouraging tone.

As a baby Hilary herself was fed formula exclusively. She acknowledges that no matter how healthily we try to feed our babies, toxins are a part of life in a fallen world. God is ultimately in control, so we must do the best we can and trust Him to take care of things!

The good news? Hilary is offering to share a free copy of First Bites with one Purposeful Wife reader! The winner of this book will be given her choice between a copy for the Kindle, or PDF. The giveaway starts today, and ends this coming Wednesday. Good luck!

If you don't win the giveaway, you can purchase Hilary's book here for $9.99. Bonus: 10% of all proceeds are going to World Vision to help feed hungry children.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of First Bites for my honest opinion and review. There are no affiliate links in this post.  

Linked with: The Better Mom, and A Mama's Story.

Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number (Day 6)

Photo Credit

If you're tracking with our "No Stress, Ready to Bless, Early Christmas Prep Guide," then you should have already 1) decided what you're doing for this year's Christmas cards, and 2) compiled a numbered list of the names you'll be sending cards to (so that you'll know exactly how many you need).

Now comes my least favorite part. Bleh. It's a good thing we're tackling it in October, not December, huh? ;)

Collecting addresses! Ta da!

I know- not my favorite either.

This year, however, is going to be different. Because this year (if you haven't done it already!) you are going to put all of your necessary addresses into one neat and tidy document on your computer, and you are going to save it, so that next year you won't have to collect. You can just click a button and print out all of your labels.

How exciting! Are you excited??? Because I sure am!

Anytime in the future that you have to send out a mass mailing, you can just refer to your "Mailing List" document. Easy peasy!

Today's Assignment: Enough chatter, its time to get cracking. Pull out your address book, get your mom on the phone line (for obscure relatives addresses), and facebook message all of your buddies whose addresses you are missing. Make sure to find the address of everyone from your numbered list (so that you can actually follow through and send them out!). This might take you longer than 15 minutes. Actually, it definitely will (if you don't already have a saved mailing list document). That's okay- just spend 15 minutes on it each day from now until Saturday.

Money Saver: Instead of mailing, why not hand out your cards to local friends and family? We make a point of doing this each year, especially with church members! So much simpler :).

Photo Credit

Other Posts in this Series:

Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice

Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice (Day 5)

Photo Credit

I have a habitual, ridiculous problem when it comes to cards. My husband and I will talk about who we plan to send them to. Without counting, we guess on the number we need, and round it up to be safe... and always end up having stacks leftover.

I've done this with my wedding invitations, Christmas cards from years past, and thank you cards. More times than I care to admit. In my crafting and cards closet, I have old stacks of extra family photos, wedding thank yous, and Save the Dates. How embarrassing!

I admit that half of my problem is not following through and sending things to people I planned on. The other half is a failure to count and plan properly. 

Obviously I need to figure out a better solution here. I'm going to take a lead from Santa on this one, and make my list and check it twice ;).

First, I will write down the names of everyone I plan on sending it to. No fudge room, no "let's do it later..."- before I order my cards, I will have a numbered list.

After I've written it out, and checked it with my husband, mom, phone contacts, and social media lists, I think that I can safely relax and assume I haven't missed anyone. But just in case, I will order 5 extra. That's right, only 5. Just enough that I have some in case of emergency, but not enough to leave a stack cluttering my desk come New Years.

And I will follow through and send the card to everyone on my list. Before Thanksgiving I plan to have them stamped and addressed, ready to throw into the mail come December 1st.

Today's Assignment: Make your list! Think through friends and family members, check facebook and phone contacts to jog your memory, call and ask your mom if you need assistance ;). Also be sure to run it by your spouse. You can be as thorough or as simple in the amount of cards you send as you please. Don't forget about the cost while you're adding names- postage and cards can be expensive if you aren't careful!

What difficulties have you encountered when it comes to cards? If you have any tips for us in compiling our lists, please leave them in the comments!

Photo Credit

Other Posts in this series:
Happy Holidays- Your No Stress, Ready to Bless, Guide to Getting Christmas Done Early! Intro
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack

Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack (Day 4)

Photo Credit

Now that we've been over the gifts (your list, budget, frugal ideas for expanding it, and whether you're going to make or buy), we can move on to the second most pressing Holiday conundrum: cards.

Last year we waited until the week before Christmas to take a quick and shoddy family picture, print it in mass production, and stuff them into holiday cards I'd gotten on sale after Christmas the year before. I didn't even send the majority of them until after Christmas. Epic fail.

This year I refuse to find myself stuck in the rut of the last minute scramble!

Since we have a baby now and people seem to be more interested in seeing our faces (children change so quickly!),  we plan to send out a printed photo greeting. To make it extra easy on ourselves, we will go to a local chain photo studio for a picture, have them print the cards for us (envelopes included!) and walk out with all of the above in one fell swoop. Awesome- easy and done. It may cost a bit more than making it ourselves, but it is worth the price of less fuss and bother.

Half the battle is having a plan, peoples! So today the pressure is on: what is your plan for holiday greeting cards?

Maybe you won't send them at all. Fine- at least you've made up your mind.

Maybe you'll send out a mass email with pictures and Merry Christmas wishes. Great!

Or maybe you'll buy a box of Christmas cards from the store and just sign your name and send. Will you make cute and crafty card stock cards? Send a photo postcard? Type and print a family newsletter?

Whatever you're going to do, sit down (with your spouse if you have one) and make your decision. Then stick to it! Follow through and get it done (or leave it undone, if that's your plan), and enjoy your Holiday celebrations sans stress.

Today's Assignment: Make a plan for this year's Christmas cards. If you are going to need to schedule a photo session, go ahead and call the studio this week (better yet, today!).

Photo Credit

Linked with: Growing Home and Time-Warp-Wife.

Monday's Resolution {Speak No Evil}

Photo Credit

We are picking apart Jonathan Edward's 70 Resolutions, one week and one resolution at a time. Don't forget to start where he did- "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake."

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

My paraphrase:

16. Resolved, never to speak badly about anyone, never to paint someone's reputation in an ugly light, unless if it is absolutely necessary and absolutely true. 

Several years ago I read an interesting book about two girls involved in a fatal car accident. One was killed instantly, and the other badly injured. Due to their matching blonde hair, a mix up of purses in the collision, and bad mangling from the accident, their identities were confused.

One family was told that their daughter had died- they had a funeral, buried her, and began their grieving process. The other family was told that their daughter was in critical condition- they rushed to her side, kept a 24 hour bedside vigil, and helped her start on the long road to recovery.

Weeks passed- and one day they found out that there had been a grave mistake. "Laura" was asked to say her name. She said that her name was Whitney.

The book was written by both families, sharing how God worked through this crazy mix-up, and how they had coped. This remarkable story was a compelling and memorable read for many reasons. As the life of Laura Van Ryn (the girl who had actually died) was detailed for me, one thing in particular stood out.

According to the testimony of a close friend, Laura never said anything bad about anybody.

The thought stuck in my mind and began to churn. Would my friends be able to say the same about me?

Memories came back, snippets of gossip here, huge venting sessions there. While I may not spread tales abroad, my husband sure has heard a lot of what so-and-so had the audacity to say to me, and what you-know-who has gone and done again.

Have you ever had your view of a person colored by what somebody else said about them?

I have it on a good source that Person A has a history of lying and manipulating. Therefore, in all of my future contact with A, I judge, misread, and am suspicious of A's every word and action. The fresh slate A would have had with me has been marked and broken by my "good source's" opinion of them.

Maybe what I heard was true... but what if it wasn't?

My resolution, and Jonathan Edwards' 16th Resolution, is to never speak evil of anyone. To refuse to destroy the reputation of one in the eye's of another. To flee the poisonous temptation of gossip and to honor those I speak to and about.

Evil speech is destructive. Mud slinging leaves many dirty hands and faces, and nobody clean. The one who gossips has a dirty mouth, the one who hears has dirty ears, and the one discussed a dirty reputation. From start to finish, it is an ugly business.

The exception? According to Edwards, "upon no account except for some real good." Real good is not calling up your best friend to share a "prayer request" about so-and-so.

Real good is calling the police when a child reports that an adult has abused them (how many organizations today, "Christian" and otherwise, have tried instead to brush it under the rug?). Real good is warning a friend about forming too close of a relationship with an untrustworthy significant other.

Real good requires a whole lot of discernment. Real good is slow to speak, prays for wisdom, and proceeds only with much grace and gentleness. Real good does not delight in sharing bad news, but acts under the compulsion of necessity. Real good is motivated by love for God and neighbor.

When we reflect on what is real good reason for speaking evil of another, would most of our evil speech pass the test?

Resolution #16 is a reminder (I confess) that I will be needing again and again.

How about you- what factors do you use to determine if you ought to say something or not? What helps you in the fight against temptation to gossip? 

Linked With: Growing Home.

Gifting- To Make or Purchase? (Day 3)

Photo Credit

If you've missed the first posts in this series, be sure to check them out here: Introduction, Day 1, and Day 2. So far we've made a list of people to gift, mapped out our budget, and looked into a few ways of expanding that budget without spending an extra dime.

Today we ask the all important question- should you make or buy your Christmas gifts?

Let's consider the factors involved:

Pros of making your own gifts:

• Cost-effective
• Customized to the receiver
• That special, extra touch of thoughtfulness and effort can really make a homemade gift uniquely special.

Cons of making your own gifts:

• Time and labor intensive
• If it flops, you are left empty-handed for your efforts

If you are an extremely crafty and talented individual, homemade gifts might be totally attainable and a no-brainer for you.

Me? I've got two left thumbs. If I'm making my gifts, they'd better be on a "Crafting for Dummies" level, or something I made in the kitchen (my forte). That's why I am looking up simple and sweet ideas on Pinterest, and getting a super-duper head start (to avoid last minute disasters).

I plan to do a mix of homemade and purchased gifts this year. I want to keep things simple (not investing too much labor into making things) and frugal (not purchasing every single gift).


Cookies and candies for neighbors and friends are an easy option. I'd also love to make a few t-shirt flower pins/hair clips for sisters and moms. Brownie or beer bread mixes in a jar are pretty and useful.
Do what's best for you. Don't kill yourself, and stay within your set budget!

To aid and assist in homemade gifts ideas, I've made a pinboard of just such a collection! Ninety percent of them are for non-sewing, craft illiterate souls (like myself!), so I am hoping that you will find them helpful!

If you have any great homemade gift ideas that fall into those categories, please share the links in the comments!

Today's Assignment: Sit down with your list of people to gift. Make notes next to each name if you'd like to make or buy for them. Check out my pinboard of homemade gift ideas, or surf Pinterest and other websites for your own ideas.

This Weekend: If you decide to make a few gifts, sit down and take the time to test one or two of your ideas. If one turns out great- awesome! You've just checked a gift off of your list. If it doesn't work out, you have plenty of time to give it a second go, or find a more workable idea.

So... do you make gifts? Or mostly buy? What successful homemade gifts have you given or received in the past?

Gifting- Think Outside the Box (Day 2)

Photo Credit

 If you're keeping up with our early Christmas prep series, by now you should have completed 1) a list of the names of people you plan on gifting, and 2) your projected gift budget. If you're just joining in today, don't worry- you have plenty of time to catch up! Each project should only take 10-15 minutes.

Yesterday I promised to share several ideas with you on how you can increase your gift budget without spending a dime. For many people living in this tight economy, limited spending resources is a great concern.

Today we are going to "think outside the box" and brainstorm creative ways to give us more wiggle room within tight budgets. I'll share several ways I've found to get gifts without opening my wallet, and I would love if you would add anything I don't cover in the comments!

Swagbucks. If you haven't signed up for this genius invention, please do it today! Money Saving Mom has an excellent tutorial on how to earn points on Swagbucks. I'm not going to give an in-depth explanation of what it is and how it works- no need to improve upon what Crystal has already provided!

I will tell you that for every 450 swagbucks you earn, you can cash them in for a $5 Amazon gift card. Other prizes include Starbucks gift cards, baby care items, ebooks and magazines, etc. The only way I try to earn points is 1) I installed the search bar onto my browser, and 2) every website I visit I type into the search bar first. I manage to make anywhere from 10-40 Swagbucks a day with very little effort.

If you go this route, know that it will take two weeks for your gifts cards to be available for use. I recommend cashing in points immediately to avoid a frustrating delay with December purchases! Not that any of you will be buying Christmas gifts in December- since you are following this series ;).

Pampers Rewards. If you use Pampers diapers or wipes, you really ought to take advantage of their rewards program! We've been stocking ours up, and I'm planning on selecting our daughter's Christmas gift from their prize selection. Especially when your child is young enough to not have a specific wish list, this is an excellent option!

Free Kohls Gift Cards. Every month or two I receive in the mail a free $10 gift card to Kohls- no purchase necessary to redeem. Maybe you don't get these mailers in your area, but if you do, don't let it expire! I've often used them for a pair of earrings, or a baby outfit for showers and birthdays. With clearance and sales you can sometimes even buy a dress or blouse with the $10. Be sure to take advantage of any similar offers you might be fortunate enough to find.

Coupons. Coupons cover more than just food and toiletries! I've seen coupons for bags of coffee (a nice gift for more casual relationships, or it can be added to a gift basket with two pretty and inexpensive mugs for a nicer present),toys, select DVD's, cosmetics, photo calendars (excellent for grandparents!), and nice lotions and perfumes. Head to Coupons.com for printables, check out your weekly newspaper inserts, and keep your eyes peeled in stores.

Is it cheap or tacky to give gifts that cost you hardly a penny? Ultimately your conscience alone can answer this question. In my opinion, it is being a good steward of the resources you have (especially when your financial resources are limited). Rewards programs take your time (entering in codes, searching, surveys, etc.) and money (in the case of Pampers)- it did cost you something. As long as you are putting thoughtful effort into selecting gifts for individuals, I think it is just fine.

If you are being stingy, have plenty of extra cash to spend on gifts, and hoard your wealth to buy goodies for yourself, that is another matter all together. But as true Christians, I believe that most of us have the desire to give generously- we just struggle to find the means at times. The bottom line of stingy giving is a heart attitude, not a dollar amount.

Another thought on saving: If you are part of a large extended family, why not suggest drawing names instead of gifting everybody? This will save you a lot of money and headache, and provide the opportunity to give a more thought-endowed gift. Call up your family members today and shoot it by them!

Today's Assignment: Take a few minutes to sign up for any rewards programs applicable to you, and research how they work. If you haven't yet done so, check out Money Saving Mom's series for the month of October "31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas." She is posting great ideas daily!

If it applies to your situation, call a few key family members and ask if they'd like to draw names for gifts instead of buying for everyone.

And if you have a little more time, start jotting ideas of specific gifts you'd like to get for individuals on your list.

Your turn: What great ideas do you have for expanding your gift budget? Please share in the comments!

Tomorrow we will ask the all important question- "to make or to buy?", and we'll explore frugal yet lovely homemade gift options!

Photo Credit

Other posts in this series:

Introduction
Day 1- "Gifting: Your Plan of Attack"

Linked With: The Purposeful Mom, Our Simple Country Life, Serving Joyfully, and Passionate and Creative Homemaking.