Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas

by Mandi on October 27, 2009

source: scottfeldstein

source: scottfeldstein

There are 8 weeks until Christmas!

Whether that thought sends you into a panic attack or gets you excited, I hope you’ll join me as we spend the next two weeks talking about organizing and simplifying Christmas. Getting organized is half the battle when it comes to enjoying the holiday season, and simplifying is the other half!

Each day, I’ll have printables and other resources to help you take another step toward organizing and simplifying so that at the end of these two weeks (which will put us at exactly two months until Christmas!), you’ll feel better prepared to jump into the holiday season and truly enjoy it.

Here’s what we’ll be talking about:

:: Making — and sticking to — a budget

:: Planning your holiday calendar

:: Making a master gift list

:: Homemade gifts from the heart

:: Stress-free gift shopping

:: Creating family traditions and memories

:: Preparing your Christmas cards now

:: Decorating for the holidays

:: Holiday baking you enjoy

:: Decluttering the toy room

:: Charity and volunteering

:: Other resources for a simple holiday

I love everything about Christmas, and although I’ll admit that I’m a little bit worried about what this Christmas season is going to look like with a high-maintenance newborn and a week-long vacation smack in the middle of it, I’m excited to start planning and getting things written down on paper so that I don’t miss a minute of it. I hope you’ll join me!

Have you already started organizing your Christmas plans?

  • Affiliate
  • email
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon

  • http://www.domesticcents.com Nicki at Domestic Cents

    Good stuff Mandi. I’m all for ENJOYING the holiday season with as little stress as possible :)
    .-= Nicki at Domestic Cents´s last blog ..Good Reads: A Cooking Fraud =-.

  • http://www.newbyathome.blogspot.com Catie

    Can’t wait hear your Christmas time organizing solutions! :) Keep ‘em comin!

  • http://www.newbyathome.blogspot.com Catie

    Can’t wait TO hear… sorry!

  • http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/ Kelly B

    I am definitely looking forward to organizing my way to a simple holiday. Budget is the main thing I really need to figure out. Looking forward to your posts. :)

    Kelly
    .-= Kelly B´s last blog ..A Great Batch Of Giveaways! =-.

  • http://dolli-mama.blogspot.com/ Dolli-Mama

    I am excited that you are starting this series now. I have already started my holiday lists and budgets, and I could use a little help!
    Dolli-Mama
    .-= Dolli-Mama´s last blog ..On Vacation =-.

  • http://www.kid-craft-project.com Edda at Kid Craft Project

    I’m glad I found this post! I’m relieved that I’m not the only one who’s already thinking about and preparing for Christmas. :) I just started a series of posts on Christmas crafts on my own blog. Looking forward to the “Homemade gifts from the heart” post!
    .-= Edda at Kid Craft Project´s last blog ..Eyeglass Cases (or Sunglasses Case) Craft Project: Part 1 of Christmas Crafts to Make =-.

  • Rebecca

    I really think these are great planning tools. Thanks for posting them. I have a lot of thinking to do to make this a nice holiday within the budget.
    I love Christmas, but can get a little crazy without a budget. :)

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-gift-lists Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Gift Lists | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day three in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-handmade-gifts Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Handmade Gifts | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day four in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://onceamonthmom.com/think-ahead-thursday-christmas-gift-giving/ Think Ahead Thursday: Christmas Gift Giving | OAMC from Once A Month Mom

    [...] I ran across a GREAT series by Mandi at Organizing Your Way. She has started a two week series on getting ready for the holidays! And one of her first topics is creating a gift list. She even has some great resources for you to [...]

  • http://www.domesticcents.com/links/good-reads-an-autumn-snowman/ Good Reads: An Autumn Snowman : Domestic Cents

    [...] out what Mandi’s written so far in her series Organizing Your Way To A Simple Christmas. Face it – it’s just around the [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-shopping Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Shopping | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day five in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-traditions Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Traditions | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day six in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-christmas-cards Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Christmas Cards | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day seven in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-decorating Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Decorating | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day eight in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • Kim

    I love Christmas.. Im not crazy about the gifting part of it, but I love decorating and I love the food & comaraderie..
    I’ve gotten to the place where I dont add much new if anything anymore, otherwise Im gonna have to buy a bigger house to hold it all. ;-)
    Loving your articles!
    Kim

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-baking Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Baking | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day nine in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-childrens-toys Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Children’s Toys | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day ten in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-charity Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Charity | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day eleven in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-budgeting Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas: Budgeting | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today is day three in our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.organizingyourway.net/featured-posts/organizing-your-way-to-a-simple-christmas-2 Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas | Organizing Your Way

    [...] Today we’re wrapping up our two-week Christmas series: Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas. [...]

  • http://www.domesticjoy.com.au/tortoise-christmas-planning-templates/ Tortoise Christmas Planning Templates

    [...] Organizing your way to a simple Christmas [...]

  • http://www.simplescrapper.com/2009/11/12/how-to-simplify-the-holidays/ How to simplify the holidays

    [...] a discussion on the rest of the story. I’ve been reading some great blog posts at Simple Mom, Organizing your Way and The Creative Mama on keeping the season [...]

  • Chris Grasse

    Holiday Greetings from South Portland, Maine to everyone!

    Websites like this are always such an upper. Shared responsibilities; shared joys. To be able to organize Christmas and not overdo everything, to have gratitude and simplicity instead of debt and chaos is quite an accomplishment.

    It was never about spending. It was about love and blessings. We apparently added the shopping mall, the music starting in September and a host of other distractions. It is such a pleasure to find a website like this one which harkens back, which draws us back, to the real meaning behind it all and puts Christmas where it should be. Not in our pocketbooks, but in our hearts.

    I start early in our home right about now before Thanksgiving to remind myself to simplify everything, even the Christmas card list, so when I sit down and realize it is all over for another year, I will have good memories and not regret poor decisions.

    Merry Christmas, everyone, and Happy New Year 2010, from Chris Grasse in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A. (Posted: 22 November 2009)

  • http://www.polkadotplum.com/blog/?p=393 The Sunday Post: Organzing your Holiday | polkadotplum

    [...] Organizing your Way – Organizing your Way to a Simple Christmas: This is another post about getting your life in order for Christmas.  It focuses on 12 topics, all of which are linked up on this starter post.  My favorite to check out: Decluttering the Toy Room.  Again, these ideas are applicable to the entire Holiday Season. [...]

  • http://abouthdi.com/blog/positive-attitude-can-holidays-become-a-key-moment/ Positive Attitude: Can Holidays Become a Key Moment? : Human Development Institute Blog

    [...] on mutual gift-giving.  And those who don’t understand will adjust and hopefully develop a more positive attitude [...]

  • http://thechristmasstoreonline.com Chris

    Mandi, I am with you. I love everything about Christmas and these organization lists help a lot. Hope to see more for 2010.

    Cheers,
    Chris
    .-= Chris´s last blog ..What Are The Hot Christmas Gifts This Year =-.

  • http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/roundup-and-link-love-the-point-of-personal-finance-blogs/ Roundup and Link Love: The Point of Personal Finance Blogs

    [...] Organizing Your Way to a Simple Christmas [...]

  • http://garmin1490t.com/ Garmin Nuvi 1490t

    Garmin Nuvi 1490t…

    [...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]…

  • http://boston-apartments.net apartments for rent in Boston

    1.) Good Post…

    2.) [...]Will all the junk out there I like to link back to the good sites and this is one![...]…

  • http://investmentopportunitiesusa.com opportunities for investment

    1.) More…

    2.) [...]if you want to read a bit more then I recommend the following[...]…

  • http://goodtraveloffers.com/southwest-promo-code Southwest Promo Code

    Travel Deals…

    [...]number of websites which are placed below, via our opinion are absolutely worth browsing[...]…

  • http://brooklineapartments.net apartments Brookline

    1.) Layout…

    2.) [...]Here is a good example of a clean layout…

  • http://bostonlofts.org Boston lofts

    1.) Good Post…

    2.) [...]Will all the junk out there I like to link back to the good sites and this is one![...]…

  • http://carservices24.com/what-is-your-expectation-for-car-service/ car service

    Car Service…

    [...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]…

  • http://www.havillandssolicitors.co.uk/havillands/blog Solicitors

    family Solicitors…

    [...]while the sites we link to below are completely unrelated to ours, we think they are worth a read, so have a look[...]…

  • http://www.conveyancingshoppers.co.uk/blog/?p=150 Property Solicitors

    UK Porperty Solicitors…

    [...]while the sites we link to below are completely unrelated to ours, we think they are worth a read, so have a look[...]…

  • http://bestvpnrouter.com/internet-disconnects-when-uploading/ Internet disconnects when uploading? | Best VPN Router

    Best VPN Router…

    [...]we like to honor other sites on the web, even if they aren’t related to us, by linking to them. Below are some sites worth checking out[...]…

  • http://www.flashfactory.com/ Flash Website Design

    Flash Web Site Design…

    Neat post thinking I might combine a few not related info, nevertheless still worth having a look,…

  • http://1000caloriediet650.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-6.html Quickest Way to Lose Weight

    Amy Winehouse…

    [...]right here are a couple of urls to sites that we link to seeing as we believe they really are worth browsing[...]…

  • http://www.immigrationpoint.co.uk/blog/?tag=work-visas immigration solicitors

    Immigration Solicitors…

    [...]while the sites we link to below are completely unrelated to ours, we think they are worth a read, so have a look[...]…

  • http://locksmiths Boston Apartments

    1.) Writing Style…

    2.) [...]unique writing style that I like…

  • http://carinsurancequotes-online.org/ Car Insurance Quotes

    Car Insurance Quotes Online…

    [...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]…

  • http://www.havillandssolicitors.co.uk/havillands/blog/ Family solicitors

    Attorneys…

    [...]just below, are some totally unrelated sites to ours, however, they are definitely worth checking out[...]…

  • http://bestforexstrategy.info/auction/ Forex Trading auctions

    [...]I saw this really great post today.[...]…

    Any writer that takes the time to research a subject as thoroughly as you have deserves to be commended. This article is appealing and very well-written. The first two sentences encouraged me to read more. Although unrelated to my blog, worth linking t…

Previous post:

Next post: