1st Advent

We light this first Advent candle to

remind us that God is coming.

Creating, Redeeming, Sustaining God,

we lift our hearts up to You. We pray

You will help us do and say

the right and loving things .

Amen.

Holiday Grand Plan - Holiday Decor Week

This is it - can you feel the excitement yet?

This week we chop down the tree, hang the wreaths and deck the halls! This is also the week I can start to safely play Christmas music in my home without a mutiny from teenage boys!

Holiday Prep:

• Hang the wreaths
• Put out Advent items, Creche, holder and candles
• Prepare all packages and envelopes for mailing
• Pepare for St. Nicholas Day
• Thursday, wrap company Christmas 'gift', and ensure I have all ingredients for potluck dish
• Order turkey, and ham
• Cut down our Christmas tree, and gather greens
• Watch Veggie Tales, A St. Nicholas story - with family on Saturday

To Clean and Organize:

• Holiday Decorations and Storage
• Holiday Decorations checklist

To Read this Week:

• Gimmie, Gimmie vs. Doing Good, Teaching Children to Give
• Make it a Family Affair
• Simplify Holiday Traditions
• Keeping Christ in Christmas

Enjoy your day!

November Rudolph Day

Happy Last Rudolph Day of 2009!

On my way from one appointment to another this afternoon, I treated myself - and took a flavor risk - purchasing a Gingerbread Hot Chocolate from Tim Horton's. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised! It was not overly sweet, and the ginger flavor enhanced the chocolate.

This evening we watched Christmas Vacation. I was honestly worried about how my boys would take a few parts; they did seem concerned with the some of the language! I miss the edited for TV version; really the movie can be great without some of the more adult 'humour'! Anyone knows how to 'skip' the cuss words or shorten the pool fantasy scene? Sigh

We have been trying to locate the original Muppet Christmas Carol! The new anniversary edition seems to have poor reviews, as scenes have been edited out! You would think a special edition would add content, or be better some how?

I was able to find new copies of A Christmas Story, and A Charlie Brown Christmas! My eldest son is 17, and the movies we purchased when he was a toddler are all starting to fall apart at their remastered seams! This is one down side of buying things in 'bulk' purchases; they all seem to wear out at the same time.

Enjoy your day!

Holiday Grand Plan - Dining Room Week

This is a perfect week for me to focus on this room; Saturday I will be hosting a candle party at my renovation mess home! The dining room is almost complete, still needs flooring and molding - not to mention decorating - but it is the most serviceable area. I decided to host a brunch this time - I really like to prepare brunch foods, and it fits with the more relaxed atmosphere.

The menu for the event:

• Hashbrown Casserole with Bacon, Onions, and Cheese


• Maple sausages


• Brown Sugar Glazed Ham


• Fruit Salad (pineapple, grapes, clementines, kiwi...) - served with Mediterranean style vanilla yogurt


• Variety of muffins, and a basket of croissants - served with butter and jelly


• Cranberry punch


• Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate
  

What I like about this menu is that the prep and most of the baking is completed the night before. In the morning the casserole is put into the oven, the precooked ham and sausages in the warming unit, and the soda and berries added to the punch. It allows me to spend time with my guests, and feed them hot food!

This morning I completed the fall clean-up of the hedge and urns; they are now ready for wintry green arrangements. I also pulled out the window candles to check for needed replacement bulbs.

The date has been set to gather the greens, and cut down our tree! We will head out after brunch on the 5th of December, the eve of St. Nicholas Day! This will be an exciting weekend, as when the boys awake the next morning they will find their St. Nicholas treats in their slippers. Very much looking forward to it!

This Friday is our shopping night. This is the evening my husband and I send the boys to a sitter and complete all holiday gift giving and wrapping. We also treat ourselves to dinner out, and a late coffee house visit.

Cleaning and Organizing area:

• Dining Room


• Dining Room checklist
  

Holiday Prep:

• Deadline week: if homemade gifts are not ready, reevaluate and perhaps put them away for another time. Be kind to yourself, the holiday is not a competition!


• Stock bathrooms with needed items for holiday guests


• Thursday: use one of the holiday freezer meals with a fresh salad


• Test lights, bring out holiday decoration boxes and prepare to set up the Advent wreath and Creche.


• Print out this years Advent worship and add to your family worship binder


• Put holiday books in a basket, and bring out the Christmas movies!

To Print:

• Holiday Decor Inventory


• Decor storage planner


• Decor plan

To Read this Week:

• Frugal Holiday Tips


• (There Is No Such Thing As) A Perfect Christmas

Enjoy your day!

Holiday Grand Plan - Attic & Storage Week

Another week of organizing our storage areas! My attic is almost empty - it is the future site of an oldest son's bedroom! Since the first day we moved into our home he claimed this 'top of the house' as his. We have added three skylights to this area and are now insulating, will be installing new stairs once the main level is on the 'finishing' stage. Once this foundational prep work is complete we can look at drywall and flooring. I will be very pleased once we are able to start decorating this space together!

This week I will continue to move storage items from one space to another - making room for renovation materials and prep.

This is also a great oppurtunity to check if there are roof repairs needed (from the inside), or insect/animal infestations when you are up there!

Grand Plan Cleaning and Organizing:

• Attic/ Storage
  
• Attic/ Storage Checklist

Holiday Prep:

• Make one batch of Holiday goodies
  
• Make one extra meal for the freezer
  
• Buy two items for the 'holiday pantry'
  
• Buy 1/8 gifts
  
• Work at least one hour on crafts or homemade gifts
  
• Make place cards
  
• Check holiday menu binder to ensure you have listed the recipe, serving dish w/utensil, and needed garnish for each holiday meal - add needed items to master shopping list
  
• Check dishes, ensure they are clean and not in need of replacing or repair
  
• Check and clean linens
  
• Continue work on centerpiece

Enjoy your day!

Lest we Forget.

Gifts and Giving (or not)

This is going to be a little different, as I do not focus much on gift giving. I do not like to shop, gifts are not my love language, and I think buying something for someone out of expectation is illogical.

Shopping and gift giving are two areas that can cause the most stress during the holiday season. Yet we seem to hold onto crazy guilt ridden ideas that we need to buy Great-Aunt-Becky's-second-cousins-dog 'something'. . . Why?

What are we compensating for... this need to buy gifts, any gift, for the ever expanding list of people we "need" to buy for? Teachers, garbage man, postal worker, parents, aunts, uncles, siblings and their spouses - then come the nieces, nephews, God child, cousins, babysitter, library worker, school secretary, receptionist (who we cannot remember her name) at the office, grandparents, 'Secret Santa', the gift exchange at the office, the accountant, pastor, therapist, doctor, neighbours, coach, class gifts for kids peers, dry cleaner... I think you get the idea, and I am sure I missed someone! Oh, we need to put something-just-in-case aside for that.

Really it is crazy.

About 10 years ago I woke up and said,

"No. I am not going to do it!"

I ripped up the incredible list of things I:

a) found no pleasure in

AND

b)could not afford.

I purchase gifts for the children; they receive three things I want to give them - not just items from a 'shopping' list. I admit it was very hard at first not to just 'tow the line', but it felt good not to have the pressure of thinking of unique or thoughtful gifts that brought me no pleasure in buying or making, and where most likely not needed, or required, or well received!

Does this make me a Scrooge, not a Santa?

I like to think I can celebrate Christmas without the need to buy gifts. But I do understand the needs of my children, husband, sister, and nieces/nephews. They are gift people, and receiving a gift from me is important in how they perceive my affection for them.

I think that is the key, and the point in my ramblings, finding the balance for yourself, and those you care for. For gifts to be just that, a gift - without obligation or expectation, something one person gives to another who gratefully receives.

My focus this week is to look at how I give again. Is it meaningful and thoughtful? Am I compensating for feelings of guilt or inadequacy?

My hope this week is that we all find the balance in how we celebrate, finding the balance, the joy in giving - or not.

Enjoy your day!

Holiday Grand Plan - Garage and Storage Week

We started yesterday on the storage area of our home - because for the next stage of renovation it will need to become the workshop! Unfortunately, this 'workshop' is also right next to my 'office' space! I was told that we could 'limit' the dust by drop cloths... hmm I am thinking I may need to pack up my short lived reorganized work space. My main focus is to be a little ruthless with what I do have in storage - and to see if I could reuse in another space or need to donate it.

The 'want to be' garage is thankfully off limits to me! I call it the 'want to be' garage because it has never seen a modern size vehicle! However... I am sure if the model T was to make a comeback I would have a two car garage! The garage is slated for a rip down, including a lean-to shed attached to the back of our home, for next fall. I will be doing a happy dance when these two structures become fire wood. In there space will be built a garage with loft space, and a patio area off the back of the house where we will have a raised herbal garden w/ water feature, and a outside fireplace. What will be the most interesting will be to see the exterior brick on this side of the wall once the lean-to is removed. The brick appears to be a much lighter colour in this area - perhaps a fire at some time? We did find evidence that there was at once a coal stove, and a wood stove along this wall. We need to have the door we removed bricked up, and any damage or repointing done at this time.

Cleaning and organizing:

• Garage and Storage area


• Garage and Storage area checklist

When it comes to centerpieces, I like to always have three elements: nature (flower &/or greens), glass/mirror, and candles.

Holiday Prep:

• Make one batch of holiday goodies


• Make one meal for the freezer


• Purchase two items from the holiday menu for the pantry


• Purchase 1/8th of the gifts


• Work at least 1 hour on holiday crafts


• Review and revise menu


• Review table settings


• Plan centerpiece


• Look for new items needed for table setting or serving dishes - add to master shopping list


• Purchase needed clothes for the holidays

Enjoy your day!

Noble November

Well, it was not much, and it did not actually touch the ground - but we did have snow last night! This morning we awoke to the beauty of hoar frost, ice still visible in the water buckets outside. There is a certain beauty to winter, a cold quiet majestic beauty.

The month of November is a sombre month, a time between the colours of October and not yet the holidays of December. I must admit I am fond of this noble month. A time of reflection and stillness, a period of waiting.

In under a week we will observe Remembrance Day. I think this is the month that reflects so much the feelings of sacrifice and duty that are reflected in our Veterans. A stillness, that in it's very quietness gains our attention, our moment of silence.

I wish we all take a moment each day this month to reflect upon what has been given, on what is lost, and what is sacrificed to win. As our tears are silent, I pray we allow our actions to speak for us.

Holiday Grand Plan - Family Room Week

This week we turn our attention to the family room. I do not have a family room... but I do have a space that my boys spend their free time, a section of the basement where they play games and 'hang out'. Looking at this space I can see that seating is an issue, the current futon does not fit in how they use the space; they prefer individual seating - on wheels! So I am hunting on Kijiji for computer office chairs (six). This will do double duty, seating when they are playing console games, and with the height adjustment lever they can fit along the table to play board games. Another storage unit I need to look for is a three drawer file (preferably) metal unit to hold their papers beside the computer area; also a blue box for paper, and an area to hold gamer books/ magazines would be very useful!

This is a time change Sunday - check your smoke and carbon monozide detectors. Give them a good cleaning and replace the batteries! While your at it, review with your family the procedure in case there is a fire - and ensure the fire extinguishers in the kitchen and garage are ready. This is also a good time to check the first aid kit and add any needed supplies to your list. Before winter storms begin - look in your vehicle, do you have an emergency roadside assitance kit? Add needed items to your now growing master shopping list. Is it time to schedule a tune-up, and to put your snow tires on? While I am on a safety roll, this is also a good time to ensure your 72 hour emergency kit is ready! Check dates on food items, add them to your general food stores if needed, and replace with 'fresh' items. Replace batteries in flashlights.

Cleaning and Organizing:

• Family Room


• Family Room checklist
  

Holiday Prep:

• Make 1 batch of holiday goodies


• Make 1 extra meal for the freezer


• Buy 2 items needed for the holiday meal


• Buy 1/8th of gifts


• Work at least one hour on gifts or crafts


• Take down Halloween decorations and store


• Start fall clean-up of the flower/shrub beds, mulch


• Go through the winter coats and accessories - give away unwanted items, make list of needed gear for this winter


• Make a family wardrobe list, include what you plan on wearing for the holiday photo, Mass... for casual and formal holiday get-togethers

To Print:

• Family Room Checklist


• Reality Week Checklist
• Master shopping list

Enjoy your day!