Happy Boxing Day!

May your days be merry & bright!

Best wishes from your friends from at the Blue Barn

Saturday Pictures from at the Blue Barn

Q: When do you send out your Christmas Cards?

A: When they are ready.

Remember it is the thought that counts

I love the Christmas season. I love the idea of it - I love Christmas movies and have fond memories from my childhood. I don't know about you, but I am, and have always been, a big gift giver at Christmas. I usually do not like to shop in stores but this is the exception to the rule. I love shopping for gifts for my family. I like a few clues as to what they have been hoping for but I am pretty good at guessing what each member of my family would enjoy.

Choosing for friends, spouses and significant others can be tricky! Dangerous even!  Since I know that giving everybody a gift can really put a damper on your resources, I always try to stick with safe choices such as homemade goodies, a holiday ornament or decorative item or stationery goods.

As I have said many times before, the best way to get around spending too much at Christmas as well as spending too much time at the shoppes, is to plan!

Since the beginning of my gift-giving career, which I think was middle school, I have kept elaborate records of the gifts I give and even the ones I receive.  When my gift-giving efforts amounted to less than 20 people per year, I used a journal to keep track of the gifts I selected over the years. Imagine how helpful this was when I went shopping the next year and avoid duplication from person to person.  

Once we started having children, added household help and after school activities, I had to develop a system that symbolised the effort I set before me.  Since I am good at charts and tables, a simple table with the appropriate columns was easy enough to create in Word.  Initially, I printed the table on lined notebook paper and added stickers for effect.  As the years progressed, and we had more sons, I created a sleeker gift log that reflected my unique affinity for fine stationery, which I print on weighted bond paper.  After storing in a decorative binder, I can check the log each year before we set out to gift our family and friends.

Whether you are giving gifts for just family or extend your list to include community helpers, teachers, coaches and neighbours, keeping track of your gifts will definitely help you spend less money, allow you to take advantage of post-holiday or advance sales and set aside time to enjoy the season without stressing out.  Happy Christmas!

Make a Memory

Keeping this week in concert of remaining stress-free - I want to remind you to do one thing for yourself today or tomorrow - since Christmas is a mere 3 days from now.  To emphasise my point, I am at my illustrious hairdresser today - who will transform my holiday hair.

You probably do not remember the Christmas gifts you received a year or two ago, but you do cherish the memories.  With the upside topsy-turvy holidays our children have shared the last four years, Mr. Blue Barn and I have tried to maintain a simpler version of tradition.  One element our children have learned is that there's always room for change, especially when life-changing events occur or your family grows. Last night, the kids and I finished our holiday shopping. We had a short list of silly things that should have been bought months ago.  While we were all together, I asked the boys what we have done in the past that we need to make sure we do again this year. Asking for input on ideas on favourite traditions or new traditions to add to the mix has been a valuable insight to how the next few days will play out at the Blue Barn.

So, as 25 December approaches, we can feel more frantic than festive.  Take a moment today and give yourself the best gift of all, a calm, joyful celebration.

For the Sake of Tradition

 

Although I may have fallen short in this area many times, you do not need to sacrifice yourself on the altar of Christmas to complete you.  The secret to a merry Christmas is not to take it too seriously.  Some people measure their happiness by a Christmas thinking, "If we don't have a good time, then we can't be a happy family" but that's rubbish.  The mother of the family usually gets pulled into all different directions - trying to make things perfect.  And really what is the expectation of perfection?  It can't be possible to achieve it all!

Christmas is a really funny time while I used think that people came to expect so much from me at this time.  And there were many years that I was (in)capable of meeting their needs. But over the years, I have learned to scale back and do just what is important to me and our family. And even with this philosophy, I still would like to make a ton of changes.  To be thoroughly honest, I do not think our family has shared a Christmas Eve in the fashion they would like. And while I would love to set in motion changes to give them the ideal Christmas Eve, it's not going to happen this year. Instead, I will give our kids a time to relax and enjoy the time they will have with family and friends.  After all, that's the point of Christmas - it's about being with people and relationships - that's what really makes the difference.

For me, Christmas sharpens up my mind to think about what God has given us.  That the entire message is love, peace on Earth and goodwill to all men.  All the little jealousies we have, the family bickering and the competition to out-present each other - it goes hand-in-hand with the panicking and frustrations that can often come with this season - and that's got nothing to do with the true meaning. Christmas is about having the people you love around you and counting your blessings.  Merry Christmas!

Needless to say - there's a lot to do!

Many times during busy holiday seasons, I am asked what the number one best tip is to be organised.  The answer is actually very simple, as in Keep it Simple!  Don't let the minor details cause you to forget to celebrate the real meaning of the holiday.  Things don't have to be perfect.  And you can actually simplify things by making and keeping to a plan.  For me, I plan for Christmas right after Twelfth Night, January 6th.  I make a list of all the successful and exciting things we just did and I immediately mark the calender for next year.  If there was something that I wanted to do and we never got around to it, I add that to a post-it and attach it to the calendar.  If I needed something and I didn't have it on hand, I see if I can grab it at an after-holiday sale. Or mark my agenda for when I need to order it. Then I make a list of the worst bits. You know, all the complaining and whining parts.  This may sound excessive - but while the moments are still in my head and the kids are still talking about the season, I already have a great idea of what I should come to expect in December.

Enter my agenda:

After creating this calendar on Microsoft Publisher, I am able to quickly change the dates and prepare for the season.  Loaded up on this handy padfolio, I can add ideas, suggestions and make notes throughout the year. Do I use this through they year? Yes. Yes, I do. Because I know that if I plan out in advance then the magic of Christmas unfolds. If I find myself moaning "I'll never do that again next Christmas - yuck!" then I know I overdid it and I can scale back.  Or plan better for next year. This agenda definitely helps!

Here's my last bit of advice - if you set aside a day to bake cookies or go ice skating and it didn't happen because, well, life got in the way, don't be one of those who freaks out and screams, "Christmas is ruined!".  Just check your calender and see if you can fit in on another day. Or make the dough at night, bake the next morning and decorate on the next.  Look, Christmas already adds an amazing amount of items to our already over-loaded to-do list.  Please don't make yourself crazy fretting over unbaked cookies and the ice rink!

Saying Grace

The angel Gabriel said to Mary,

"Do not fear, Mary, you shall conceive and bear a son 

and give him the name Jesus. 

Great will be his dignity 

and he will be called Son of the Most High..." 

                   Luke 1 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Saying Grace

 

John's disciples said to Jesus,

"Are you 'He who is to come' or do we look for another?"

In reply, Jesus said: "Tell John what you hear and see: 

the blind recover their sight, 

cripples walk, lepers are cured, 

and the poor have good news preached to them..."

                                              Luke 3:10 Third Week of Advent

Saturday Pictures from at the Blue Barn

Can you keep a secret?

Every year around this time, our family starts thinking about Christmas.  Once the kids realised how spectacular the holiday is, they like to enjoy it earlier each year.  Like the department stores that hang up their decorations early, we also get in the mood by discussing our family traditions and preparing for the holiday.

Our first tradition to tackle is the Secret Santa Gift List.  I am not sure how it started or exactly when, but the list of names is generated and tossed into a jar or hat and either we pass it around at the Thanksgiving table or the boys and I do the choosing at home and generate the list.

This year, we were not all together at Thanksgiving, so tonight the boys and will choose the names and make the list.  Our Secret Santa Gift Exchange is usually only between the cousins who love to shop for each other.  Here are some helpful tips to make the Secret Santa Gift Exchange run smoothly:

Set Rules Ahead of Time. Questions to ask when developing a Secret Santa are: "How much should I spend?"; "When is the present due?"; "How will I know what to get them?"; "How will I exchange gifts?" It is important for your rules to be clear in advance so that each member of the group follows them.

Agree on a Price Limit. This is one of the top reasons to do a Secret Santa: to save money on purchasing gifts. If you belong to a large family, gift buying may simply be out of control. In an office, this is a great way to celebrate the holidays without having coworkers spend hundreds of dollars on coworker gifts. An office Secret Santa gift is typically limited to ten to 30-dollars. Families will might want to use a similar range, but it depends upon the your budget. Find a price limit that allows people to get a nice, yet affordable gift for anyone.

Set a Date, Time and Place for Gift Exchange. The Secret Santa gift exchange can be fun. In our family, we exchange the gifts on Christmas Eve - but sometimes not everyone is at the gathering.  If you are in an office, serve refreshments and play music, where you can make this a potluck-type of event and everyone brings the gift and a dish to share. People should know when they will be exchanging gifts. If someone is unable to give a gift by the deadline, they should notify the organizer of the Secret Santa so other arrangements can be made.

Collect Gift Ideas. You can make shopping easier by getting some gift ideas from each person. The best way to do this is by using index cards. Have each person write their full name and three to five gift ideas that fall into the assigned price range. If children are included, parents can help them come up with gift ideas. This ensures that everyone will receive an enjoyable gift. This is especially helpful if you are in an office and you have to purchase a gift for someone you don't know very well.

Have Fun With the Secret. Part of the fun of Secret Santa is wondering who has you as a Secret Santa partner. You will only find out on the day you exchange gifts. Some that do a Secret Santa have a more extended gift-giving period where you give the person more gifts, like 12 small gifts for the 12 days of Christmas. Or maybe you do something nice as a surprise for them every week of December. You can set this up when you create your Secret Santa rules. Your group can decide how extensive and involved they want their Secret Santa to be.

Christmas is a wonderful season that brings everyone closer together. A Secret Santa is lots of fun because we are often surprised by other people's generosity and goodwill. These tips for starting a Secret Santa can help you start a tradition that everyone enjoys.  We have had such a great success with our gift exchanges in the past that we have one between the six of us this year and will certainly add to the excitement of the season.

Read Aloud at Christmas

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

A Monthly Snapshot: THE THINGS I CARRY

1. Christmas Countdown Calendar 2. Lily Pulitzer Agenda "Docksider" 2. Calendar Pad and To-Do List 4. Greenroom Pencil Box 5. Crane & Co. engraved calling cards, at the Blue Barn business cards, Moo Mini Cards with family contacts 6. Apple iPhone

Saying Grace

"Jesus said to his disciples: 

'Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake!...

You do not know when the Master of the house is coming.'"  

                                         Mark. 13:33 First Sunday of Advent

In those days John the Baptist came, 

preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, 

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

                                               Matthew. 3:1 -2 Second Sunday of Advent

Saturday Pictures from at the Blue Barn

and so begins the season of Advent. . .

 Our Advent Calendar contains reminders each day that Christmas is coming. Counting down the days to Christmas is a fun way to build up the excitement of the holiday. Advent Calendars are a great way, especially for young children whose concept of time is so different from ours, to provide a great visual for them to understand the passage of time. Starting today, as a family we will check the little shelves of our calendar for a daily reminder and a small treat. This year, William helped me come up with several activities to add to our already busy December. This Advent Calendar has the promise to not only provide wonderful whimsy but also keep us on track this busy holiday season!

 
Every Advent Calendar has the potential to be as unique as the family who created it.  

We’d love to see yours! Post a link below or add your link to the our Facebook Page.  One random winner will receive a gift perfect for the New Year from at the Blue Barn!

Making Advent Calendars

The popularity of Advent Calendars in my house is an annual tradition. Starting with the timely classic of a small card or foldout - little windows are opened each day as we countdown to Christmas. A few years ago, Trader Joe's began selling the ones with chocolate candy for 99 cents. A veritable bargain. Lately, I have been receiving many emails about making calendars – some are very creative and give the entire family an opportunity to have fun while counting away the days.

Here are a few that I thought would be fun to tackle:

 Stonewall Kitchen

Stonewall Kitchen offers a few great tips on re-purposing household items to make very creative calendars. They are also offering a tip per day - so this is a great newsletter to sign-up for.

 

 Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart and her elves always have a craft to do with Advent. From a miniature chest of drawers made from matchbooks to baby socks to charming ornaments, This link offers several delightful ways to present a daily quote, scripture verse or photo. Of course, a small piece of candy is yummy!

 

Jenny Harris at All Sorts Makery

This one has been on my to-do list for a while and I might tackle it this year - now that my kids can hep with the stitching. Jenny Harris is an extraordinary crafter and illustrator. This whimsical calendar of pockets would be an awesome tradition in any home. Follow the link above for step-by-step instructions of this adorable project.

Making an Advent calendar that's sure to become a treasured family keepsake is a great way to countdown the days to Christmas. Setting up an Advent calendar this weekend will provide a joyful reminder of the arrival of Christmas!