M2M: Simplifying Your Holidays: Merry Christmas!

Well, it's finally the week of Christmas.  I hope you're not scrambling around, but that you are taking just a few moments this week to truly enjoy the feeling of this season.  Merry Christmas, Everyone!  I hope that you have a wonderful, blessed holiday this Christmas, and just enjoy being with your family. 

Who could have Christmas without Charlie Brown?


This just happens to be my Christmas wish, and probably every child in the country's wish for this Christmas.:) 


Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tree Contest Winners

It's time to announce the winners of the first annual MamaBuzz Christmas tree contest!:)  (Drumroll please....)

1st Place: Be Thou a Knight.

2nd Place: Marine Corps Nomads.

3rd Place: Getting all my Ducks in a Row.

Thank you all for entering!  Congratulations to our winners!  If you are a winner, I need you to email us here at MamaBuzz with your contact info, so that I can get your info to our sponsors, and you can claim your prizes.  I will also reply to your email, letting you know how to claim your prizes.  All the trees that were entered were just so beautiful!  I'm looking forward to doing this again next year, as it turned out to be a lot of fun.  Merry Christmas!

M2M: Simplifying Your Holidays- Alternate Gift Ideas to Show the True Meaning of Christmas

Every year at this time, we hopefully get the opportunity to spend more time with our families, enjoying the spirit of the Christmas season.  Christmas really is about giving.  Remembering the true spirit and meaning of this holiday is just so important.  Jesus gave up his throne in Heaven to come to earth and be born as a baby boy, growing up to be a man Who would one day give His own life for many....to me, that just blazes out the spirit of giving that is so important at not only this time of year, but throughout the year.  Listen to the words of this song, Emmanuel by Tommy Walker Music....(we sang this song in our choir concerts this weekend; this is not us singing....but just listen to the words.) 

So, in the spirit of giving, here are some ideas for alternate gift ideas, gifts that might just make a difference in someone else's life, a life-changing difference.  You could be a blessing to someone this Christmas.

• Give the gift of your time; this is something you can especially do, if your children are old enough to help.  Give your time volunteering at a soup kitchen or food pantry this Christmas.  Be a servant to people who just need a blessing....be that blessing in their lives.
• Donate to a local charity, such as a soup kitchen, food pantry (by way of food or money), crisis pregnancy center, AIDS organization/clinic, Children's Miracle Network, Gideon's ministry (helping to place Bibles), etc.  A lot of these organizations will have special gift giving setups, where you can donate in someone else's name, as a Christmas gift to that person.  What better and more personal of a gift than to know that someone donated to an organization that is dear to your heart, in your name?
• World Vision has a gift catalog they send out every year around Thanksgiving.  In this gift catalog are various gift giving options for you to choose from.  Maybe let your children choose what to give. Your family could come together to send goats or chickens or ducks, etc., to a community or family who needs those resources.  You can give a fishing kit to a family.  Fruit trees or seeds for vegetables are another option.  You can help a community drill a well for their own clean water supply; there's also an option for a shared well.  You can help girls who have been sexually exploited and forced into the world of human trafficking.  You can send a girl to school.  You can help provide basic educational supplies for a school.  Help a woman support herself by giving her the means to have a sewing machine.  Give the gift of life-saving medications or mosquito nets.  There's a wide supply of ideas just within the confines of this catalog.
• Samaritan's Purse is another organization that has a similar gift catalog. Many churches participate in their Operation Christmas Child.  With this program, you, as a family, or your child can fill a shoe box for a child who may not have the means for gifts or basic necessities.  It's a fun way to get your children involved in the gift-giving process and teach them the true meaning of Christmas.
• Angel Tree is another organization that helps to give children of inmates/prisoners a Merry Christmas.  You can sponsor a child's Christmas gift this Christmas.  
• Toys for Tots is another great organization that seeks to provide disadvantaged children Christmas gifts that they might not otherwise receive.  I know our local Dollar Tree has a big box filled with toys they are donating to military families....you can purchase a toy to give by donating just $1 at the checkout counter.
• Find a military family in your area who could use the extra encouragement and support this Christmas; maybe their husband/father is overseas serving in the war right now.  If that family has nowhere else to be on Christmas, invite them to spend Christmas with your family; or maybe this family doesn't have a lot of money to go around this Christmas.  Get your Sunday School class together to help give this family a Merry Christmas; this will be such a tough time of year for many military families, as they are missing loved ones....why not step in and put a smile on their faces?
• Apply the same concept to another family in need this Christmas.  Maybe you know of a single mom or dad who are struggling to just put food on the table.  Maybe a family has just lost their source of income; that has happened to many families with the crunch of these economic times.  Step up, and do what you can to give these families a lovely Christmas.
• I had read this idea or tradition on someone else's blog, and it was too good not to share.  I can't remember where I read it, so if you are who posted about this, please let me know so I can give you proper credit.  We have many public servants who have to work on major holidays like Christmas, such as nurses, fire department personnel, police, etc.  Why not bake a major batch of cookies and drop it off at your local fire department or hospital or police department?  Just thank them for their service....maybe even walk up to your favorite cashier who has to work on Christmas Day, and surprise her/him with something to brighten up their day.  Again, get your kids involved; they'll love it, and it will make a world of difference in how they view Christmas.
• Go to your local children's ward or nursing home, and help to spread Christmas cheer.  Maybe you can read Christmas stories to the patients or sing Christmas carols for them....take along treats that can be given out.  This would be something better suited for a group, so that there would be more interaction for the patients.
• Lastly, look around your community for ideas on where you can give.  Maybe spend less on the toys that your kids really might not need, and focus the majority of your Christmas budget on giving to others....your family could receive the greater blessing through it all.

Ok, now it's your turn.  Leave your comments, letting us all know other ways that we can show the true spirit/meaning of Christmas.  Merry Christmas, dear Readers!:)

To read more from Mel, visit her blog, Real Heart Prints.

You Vote Now: Finalists for Christmas Tree Contest

The finalists for the Christmas tree contest have been chosen.  This was a very tough decision, as all of the trees we received were just so beautiful and creative.  Thank you to all who entered; we loved travelling around to your blogs and reading up on your trees and browsing around all your beautiful decorations. 


To be completely fair and to let our readers vote, I decided to set up a poll on PollDaddy. To vote for your favorite tree, please click on your favorite tree in the pollbox below, and then click the Vote button. The votes will all be recorded, and we will announce the winners on Tuesday, December 15. Remember, prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places....see my post for prize descriptions.


Just to give you a listing of the bloggers/individuals who participated, here's a listing, so you can check them out for yourself and read their posts.

Katydid and Kid- Toddler friendly tree.
My 1 Little World- "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" tree.
2 Little Boys- A tree filled with memories.
Growing Up Graff- Hallmark tree.
Marine Corps Nomads- Handmade ornaments.
Be Thou a Knight- Rotating tree, rotating ornaments.
Growing for Christ- Decorated by little hands.
Of Such is the Kingdom- Kid/homemade ornaments.
Getting all my Ducks in a Row- Snowman tree.
The Mama Zone- "Sugar plum tree."
AStarrAMama- O Christmas Tree!


As you can see, I couldn't pick just ten; I had to pick one more....so we have a grand total of eleven finalists!  Congratulations, and good luck to all of you!:)

M2M: Simplifying Your Holidays: Frugal & Creative Gift Ideas

Before you read on, don't forget today is the last day to link up your pics for the Christmas tree contest!:)

There are only 2 1/2 weeks left to get ready for Christmas.  For some of you this isn't so bad because you're well-organized and have been working on Christmas gifts for quite some time.  For some of us, though, this crunch of a time can get quite stressful, as we haven't even started.  Plus, we have to consider where the money is going to come from for all of these gifts we are supposed to get.  Well, maybe we just need a little inspiration to get us going.  Plus, maybe we can come up with ideas to help us curb the spending and invest in our creative resources.  Believe me, we are all in kind of a financial crunch this year, or at least, a lot of us are; wouldn't it be great to think of some great gift ideas that really do come from the heart?  Here are some ideas for frugal gift giving and creative gift ideas:

• I remember a couple of years early on in our marriage, in which Dan and I would have a very low limit on what we could spend on each other for stockings and all.  I remember one year in particular: we had a limit of $10 apiece.  That meant hitting the dollar store and getting really creative.  It's amazing the things you can find for $10.  Some of those gifts were the best gifts I've ever gotten....all because we had to really think about it. 
• Maybe your family could draw names.  That way each person has a particular person to buy for: just one gift.  Set a limit on how much each person can spend.  Another idea is to do a Bad Santa game, where each family brings one gift (we do this with the adults in our family), with a spending limit, of course, and then we each get to pick a present from the pile.  The next person can either pick a present or take your present, before it's been unwrapped, of course.  It makes the gift giving a lot of fun. 
• Instead of having total Christmas gifts under the tree this year, play Secret Santa.  Each family member could have one person they are treating the whole month of December.  The gifts need to be smaller gifts, with set spending limits; they can even be homemade.  In each week of December, you leave your recipient a gift with a note.  Then, the Secret Santas are revealed Christmas Day.  It stretches out the giving and can be a lot of fun.
• Instead of gifts this year, maybe you could have a Christmas cookie/Christmas candy exchange.  This would work well, especially for extended family gatherings.  Each family could bring a large tin or platter of their favorite Christmas cookies/candy, ready to give to another family.  Just giving tins of homemade goodies is also an idea for any gift giver.
• Homemade Ornament exchange: this would work much like the Christmas cookie exchange.
• Maybe you could put together a photo album for your far away family....you could even put together a photo album with journaling inside, just for your kids.  Give one to each of your kids.  It could be a step back into their family history, plus a whole lot of memories.
• Journal Jars are fun and can be easily made.  You fill a jar, decorated by you, with strips of paper that each have a writing/journaling idea.  There should be a strip of paper for each day of the year or each week of the year.  That way, whenever your recipient is in a stump on his journaling or needs a boost, he can pick out an idea, and it just makes it even more fun. 
• Your kids can easily make bird feeders for their grandparents out of cardboard milk cartons and a dowel rod, along with a little bit of wire to hang it with.  Paint can transform any milk carton into a really cute bird feeder.
• Make your own pomander ball out of an orange and a mixture of cinnamon/cloves/other spices.  It's a fun project that has a lasting smell and an attractive look.
• Fill a small basket with homemade bread and homemade jellies/jams made by you.  It doesn't cost a lot to make a whole batch of jelly or jam that could easily make gifts for several people in your family.
• Everyone is getting in the green spirit today, it seems; why not make homemade shopping bags for those green-minded people in your family?  Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace actually shared this link for a pattern.  You could even fill those grocery bags with some hot cocoa, marshmallows, and some cute mugs from the dollar store. 
• Maybe your family likes to read or likes to play games or watch movies together.  Putting together a themed gift exchange wouldn't be so hard, and it would definitely cut down on expenses. 
• Instead of having huge gifts, maybe a spending limit is necessary on the gifts, but go all out on the stockings instead.  The stockings can sometimes be the best part of Christmas morning.

These are just some of the ideas I came up with.  I know there are many, many more out there with just a bit of careful searching and a spark of creativity.  So, let's have an idea swap!  Just leave a comment on this post, sharing your ideas for frugal or creative gift giving.  What ideas do you have?  We'd all love to hear!:)  Merry Christmas!

To read more from Mel, visit her over on Real Heart Prints.

M2M: Simplifying Your Holidays: Christmas Tree Contest with Prizes!

Decorating for Christmas can be such a fun family tradition. It doesn't have to be expensive either. Here are some frugal Christmas decorating ideas:

• Use what you have: do you have old pinecones stashed away?  Do you live in an area where you can go trim some branches off of cedar trees?  (They usually have the blue berries on them this time of year, and they make for beautiful arrangements and garlands).  Do you have all sorts of craft supplies stashed away, but you're just not sure how to use them?  Get them all out, spread them out on the kitchen table, and start thinking creatively.  What can you make snowmen with?  Can you make little trees or ornaments out of those pine cones?  Can you string that popcorn that's been sitting in the cabinet waiting for you to eat it? 
• Get a can of snow for just a little over a dollar, and maybe a snowflake stencil....or just spray the edges of your windows.  It's easy to clean off later on, and it makes for a nice, wintery effect.
• Get to your local dollar store.  We have Dollar Tree here, and I was pleasantly surprised to find some really classy ornaments and decorations there the other night; some ornament packs had 6 or more ornaments.  Some of the ornaments and snowflakes I saw looked the same as things I wouldn't ordinarily be able to afford in a regular store....and everything was $1.  They have tons of great decorations, including snowcloth that you can put down under a village; that saved me $3 right there, since it's $4 in Walmart.
• Just a string of white lights and some simple garland can make a world of difference in your decorating and make any room feel cozy.  Break out the candles as well; there's nothing like sitting down on a cold night with the Christmas tree lit and a candle burning. 
• Most of all, make memories with your kids by making ornaments together; take pictures of your kids, and make them each a special ornament out of them.  Maybe start a holiday journal with your kids that comes out every year to sit on the coffee table.  Each night of the holiday season can be spent just adding in one special memory from that day.  This will give you all something to look back on when it's harder to get together for the holidays, and it's a special keepsake that can be passed down in your family for many years to come. 

I know there are many more frugal decorating tips I could give, but I want to leave with that because we are going to have a Christmas tree contest right here on MamaBuzz!  Yes, and there will be prizes!  We will award prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places!  If you would like to be entered into this contest, all you have to do is take a picture of your tree, and place a post with that picture on your blog by December 8.  Tell a little bit about your tree, and be sure to link back over to MamaBuzz in your post.  Then come sign Mr. Linky below, and you will be entered.  If you don't have a blog, never fear; you can still enter.  Just email us your picture, and we will add you into our queue for the contest. 

From there, Melissa J. and I will pick the finalists, of which there could be 10-20, depending on how many entries there are, and I will post pics of those trees in a separate post right here on MamaBuzz on Tuesday, December 8.  That way you have a whole week to get your trees up, get pictures, and link them up.  We will then give you, our readers, an additional week to cast your votes; the final votes will be up to you, depending on which trees are your favorites.  The winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 15. 

The prizes for this contest will be: 

1st Place-  From The Simple Stencil: a $50 credit or any of the products on the site up to that amount as well as free shipping, a free practice word, and a free professional application tool.  The Simple Stencil offers decorative wall lettering and graphic transfers that you can add to any room to spruce it up and make it your own.  Their designs can really add a beautiful touch to any room.  Just browsing through their site could take hours, as they have so many beautiful designs to choose from for any room in your house, including babies' and children's rooms.

2nd Place: Two 1/2-pound boxes of Bella Toffee, valued at $9 a box.  Bella Toffee specializes in making milk chocolate almond toffee.  They make the toffee out of high quality ingredients and ship it right to your door.  Bella means beautiful in Italian, and that is what Bella Toffee strives for, in both taste and the beauty of each piece of toffee.

3rd Place: This prize is sponsored by Sent From Heaven.  They are offering one winner a set of 4 handsewn Christmas bowl fillers or tree ornaments.  There are a gingerbread man, a star, a snowman, and a Christmas tree included in this set, and they are made out of felt or cotton.  They would make an adorable addition to your holiday decor.  They are valued at $8.00.     

Since I won't be entering the contest, I thought I'd still show a pic of our tree (Mel's) this year....

In all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, sometimes we just need a little bit of fun.  Merry Christmas, everyone!  Post your pics, and link up below! 

M2M: Simplifying Your Holidays: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  This week, just thought I'd post a couple videos for fun.  Just relax this Thanksgiving Day, even if you're cooking for a crowd.  Take time out to truly appreciate and enjoy your family....


This first video is from a Thanksgiving episode of Friends.  I sure miss that show.  Hopefully, this will give you a giggle.


This second video is a dog who's ecstatic to see her soldier when he gets home....this Thanksgiving, truly appreciate what these men and women do for us, for our country, for our freedom!  Thank you to all the soldiers who are serving, and if you're away from home this Thanksgiving, know you are in our hearts.


Be sure to stay tuned next week for instructions on how to enter our Christmas tree contest!:) There will be prizes!  Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!:)

M2M: Simplifying Your Holidays: Recipe Swap

Thanksgiving is almost here!  Can't you just smell the turkey and the homemade rolls baking in the oven?  Oh, and don't forget that pumpkin pie, although I do not care for pumpkin pie.  (Gasp!)  I know!  I do love Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and Pumpkin Roll, though.  Before we get to the recipe swap, I just want to cover a little bit on prepping for the big day. 

You may be having company for Thanksgiving, whether overnight guests or just family coming in for the day.  It's time to figure out sleeping arrangements for overnight guests or even places for your guests to sit, if they are only going to be there for the day.  Trust me, it's no fun to have no room at your table because you didn't prepare.  Maybe you know someone who has longer tables and a few chairs that you can borrow for the occasion.  Now is the time to start asking.  Don't put it off, because then you'll just get yourself overwhelmed, rushed, and harried, which will do neither you nor your family any good.  With all of the likely sales that will be going on in the grocery stores in the next two weeks, it's time to make up your menu; if you're travelling somewhere, it's time to start that packing list; especially make sure that your car is prepped and ready, meaning any maintenance is done, such as oil changes, tire checks, etc. With this time of year, you just never know about the weather either, so make sure you have your emergency kit inside, as well as blankets and water.  Maybe you are just going a few miles down the road.  Then it's time to make up your list of what dishes you are taking.  That way, you can hit the sales and get the items you need without having to run out at the last minute.  Most likely, you'll be doing most of your cooking the day before Thanksgiving....start preparing now, so that your Thanksgiving Eve can go smoothly, and you can have more time to spend with your family.  

Now on to the fun stuff.  Decorating for Thanksgiving can be a lot of fun.  Maybe you're tired of the fall leaves and pumpkins; maybe you'd rather get your Christmas stuff out and have your tree up by the time family arrives.  I'm actually thinking about putting my tree up this weekend.:)  If you like traditional Thanksgiving decor, though, your house can be made beautiful.  Simply put a fall tablecloth on your table.  Fabric stores carry a wide array of holiday fabrics; maybe you could make a set of holiday napkins.  Better yet, visit Goodwill or a local thrift store or even the clearance section of TJ Maxx.  You are likely to find everything you need to make your house look festive.  Sometimes just having real fruit to decorate with can make for beautiful decor, as in Martha Stewart's Pear Place Card.  Here are some great websites to get ideas for Thanksgiving decor and crafts that even your little ones can help with: 
Disney Family Fun- Thanksgiving Decorations
Martha Stewart Holidays- Thanksgiving
Celebrations Thanksgiving 
Better Homes and Gardens- Thanksgiving Decorating: Indoors
HGTV Thanksgiving
Just remember that your house doesn't have to be perfect!  Just get in the holiday spirit, enjoy being with your family, and everything will feel beautiful, no matter what.  This is true!:)

Now for the recipe swap.  I am so excited about this, as it means we'll get to share all sorts of recipes with each other.  Who doesn't love that?  What are your favorite holiday recipes?  What dishes can your family not live without at Thanksgiving or Christmas?  Here are just a few of my family's favorites:

Crisp White Sugar Cookies- This recipe has been in my family for a while; my mom and I used to make these every year when I was younger.  I still make them today.  Enjoy!
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups butter or shortening
1/2 cup sour milk or buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Sift, then measure the flour. Sift again with the baking soda, salt and sugar.  Cut the shortening into the dry ingredients until it is as fine as corn meal.  Combine milk, slightly beaten eggs, and vanilla.  Add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients, beating until smooth.  Cover dough closely with wax paper, and chill in refrigerator overnight or several hours.
 
Turn dough on a lightly floured board, and roll thin.  Cut with a floured cookie cutter.  Garnish.  Keep dough cold as it becomes sticky and hard to handle when warm.  Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  They will crisp as they cool.  Makes 4 dozen large cookies.

I also make a powdered sugar icing for these out of a couple tablespoons of margarine, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and almond flavoring.  Then, I add food coloring for whatever colors we want for our Christmas cookies.

Another sugar cookie recipe that we love is on Taste of Home- Sugar Cookie Cutouts.

Last year, instead of my usual Pumpkin Roll, I made these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies from Martha Stewart, and they were a huge hit!

We used to also make buckeye balls, but I found this recipe for Buckeye Bars from Kraft last year, which makes the whole process just a bit easier and less time-consuming.:)

If you're looking for a great holiday breakfast, this was also a huge hit with our extended family.  It's the Breakfast Bake over at Kraft.  I do have one hint for this, though; I use the Buttery Crescent Rolls for the bottom instead of the regular, and they make a world of difference in taste.

A great appetizer that the whole family loves is Kraft's Creamy Crab and Red Pepper Spread, served with Ritz-type crackers.  You might want to double this recipe, since it seems to disappear pretty quickly.

There are oh so many more recipes I could share with you, but now it's your turn.  Cooking around the holidays can be so much fun, especially if you have new recipes to try....so let's get
swapping.  Simply post your favorite holiday recipe/s on your blog, and come back to sign Mr. Linky below.  Be sure to link back to MamaBuzz in your posts.  Happy cooking, everyone!:)

M2M: Simplifying Your Holidays: Traditions

This has got to be my favorite time of the year....I'm trying to instill that same love for the holidays into my boys; so far, so good.:)  I think it's just the suspense and that feeling of excitement in waiting....and it all leads up to Christmas Day.  Many families have traditions that they keep every year.  Some families might have traditions within the extended family, and then other families may each have their own traditions.  It's sometimes hard, though, to keep traditions when you have families that are all over the country, or you have several different places to be during the holidays.  There are ways, though; you just have to get creative, and get your holiday spirit up and running.  Even if you can't think of something on your own, the internet abounds with all kinds of ideas.  Also, who says you can only have one tradition?  More traditions make for more memories made with your families.:) 

Those traditions are sometimes the things that your kids will carry with them through the rest of their lives; they are likely to have wonderful memories from those special times.  When I was growing up, it was tradition for my mom and me to trudge out to the woods and come back with a Christmas tree ready to decorate and just cherish every handmade ornament that came out of those boxes.  We always put on the old Christmas records while we were decorating.  I think that's why those old Christmas songs still comfort my soul and just fill me with excitement and joy.  Then, we'd always make cutout sugar cookies with icing and watch Christmas movies.  Much to my husband's disdain, I still fill up the DVR with Christmas movies at this time of year.LOL  Fun times!  Of course, on Christmas Eve, we headed to my grandparent's (on my dad's side) for supper and presents, and then Christmas morning, we were off to my Grandma's house (my mom's side). 

When trying to make new traditions with your children, think back to the memories you might have.  Even if you didn't grow up in an ideal situation, there might still be a wonderful memory stuck inside somewhere.  Think of what your children love to do; what do they like?  What is one thing that just lights up their faces?  Maybe there's a Christmas movie they love, like The Polar Express.  Maybe they love to help decorate.  Maybe they love to make things.  Go off of their talents, their likes, and their requests.  You don't just have to stick with one tradition either; make up a few!  The more, the merrier!  Here are some ideas for you to think about:

1) Make a new ornament with each child every single year.  Even if you can't fit them all on the tree every year, it still gives a great assortment of memories, and maybe some day the kids could start their own Christmas ornament collection with the ornaments they have made throughout the years.  The conversations those handmade ornaments will drum up is worth every single creative second.:) 
2) Find a few recipes that your whole family loves, recipes for yummy desserts or snacks for this time of year.  Then, make a new recipe each week right up to Christmas Day.  Some of our favorites are buck-eye balls (chocolate covered peanut butter balls), sugar cookie cutouts, pumpkin cookies with icing, etc.
3) Put up a Christmas tree together; whether you head out to chop down your own, or whether you use the tree that's stuffed in your closet, get it out, and make it a family project.  Even if the kids don't place the ornaments right where you would want them, just let it go.....have fun with it.  This makes having handmade ornaments even more fun because it will lead to great memories and conversations like, "Remember when....?"  Be sure to put that Christmas music on....I've found a great online station that you can play anytime of the year at Live 365- Christmas Broadband.  Maybe go to your local craft store, and pick out a mini tree for your kids' room; Jacob and I just got one for $1.50 the other night.      
4) A fellow bloggy friend, Ruth over at The Stiles Family Blog, wrote in about her family's tradition of getting together with her husband's parents on Christmas Eve.  They actually go and stay the night, and all the kids sleep in one room.  The adults all stay up and play games, and they actually make 8 pies for 10 people!:)  Now, that's a lot of pie....
5) Light some candles on Christmas Eve, slip on your jammies (maybe even buy new jammies for the occasion; Melissa J. actually suggested the new jammies), grab your children's Bible story book (or even your Bible), and read the Christmas story with your children.  Then watch a great video together like one of the Veggie Tales Christmas movies.
6) We actually sit down together on Christmas Eve, with candles flickering, cookies baked and ready to snack on, and we watch The Polar Express together as a family.  My boys love trains, and that movie just captures their attention, even Jaden.  We snuggle up together under the blankets and just enjoy being together.  Of course, we can't forget the hot chocolate with extra marshmallows.  Then, we get up Christmas morning and enjoy all the presents that have suddenly appeared under the tree overnight.:)
7) This great idea comes from Disney Family Fun.  This family prepares all kinds of treats that forest animals would love (i.e., pinecones rolled in peanut butter and birdseed, popcorn and cranberry garlands, orange and apple slices suspended from pipe cleaners) on Christmas Eve, and then they go out into the woods and decorate a specific tree with the treats.  Their idea was actually inspired by the book Night Tree by Eve Bunting. 
8) Get your family together, and go Christmas caroling around your neighborhood or even a different neighborhood.  You never know who you might bless; there could be someone you visit who may be depressed and feeling very alone, but as soon as you knock on their door, it may brighten up their Christmas.  I remember one night when I was a teenager; our little country church always got together to go Christmas caroling, and we went to a local miser's house....he was a bachelor, and he always really just kept to himself.  I remember seeing a tear roll down his face that night just because someone had made the time to come to his house. 
9) An Advent calendar is a great way to ring in the holidays.  You can make your own calendar, or you can buy one.  Then fill each little space with a new treasure for each day.  Your children will love opening up the compartment for that day and seeing what is inside. 
10) Get your children involved in a local ministry, maybe feeding the homeless in a soup kitchen for a day or helping out in a food pantry for a day.  Maybe Thanksgiving morning could be dedicated to just helping to feed the hungry.  They could even make up shoeboxes to send out for Operation Christmas Child.  This is the time of year, especially, that people need our help, if we can possibly give it.  It's a time of year when many volunteer opportunities abound.  Maybe your older teens could visit a local children's hospital to help hand out gifts or just to spend time with the children there, let them know someone cares.  Volunteer opps and ministries for the holidays will be embellished upon later in another post for this series.
11) Take your children shopping for Daddy or for Mama or for Grandma or for Grandpa or whoever else you may have to shop for.  Let them pick out something small to bring home and wrap up. 
12) Pick a family or even a group to play Santa to.  There might be a family in your area who you know is struggling this year.  Get together with your children to brighten up their Christmas.  Maybe make up a few snacks, or set aside a little money to buy presents for that family.  Maybe even get some of your friends to go in with you on this one....then leave the stash of gifts and snacks on their porch on Christmas Eve.  I remember one year when we were particularly struggling (I was in nursing school, and we had just a little money to our names); a lot of the girls in my nursing class got together, and to my surprise, filled up my car with presents for my kids, for myself, and even some cash so we could go shopping for the kids.  I will never forget the look of complete joy on their faces when I opened up that car door, and my mouth dropped to the ground.  Family Fun even had the wonderful idea of surprising some of the public servants who have to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas (i.e., firefighters, police officers, nurses, etc.).  Make a batch of special treats for them, and go drop them off.  Let them know how much you appreciate them.  You could even put together a special package for a soldier serving overseas. 
13) Pick out a special Christmas program to go see, like maybe the Nutcracker or another Christmas play or concert.  Maybe even get involved in your church drama or choir production.  It can make for great times! 
14) Get together with your children, and think of someone new each year who you could invite to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner or on a Christmas outing.  Maybe think of someone who is spending Christmas alone....if you live in a college town, you may find a whole group of college kids who are homesick for family at this time of year; or maybe the older lady who lives next door would love to have Christmas dinner with your family or go to your kids' Christmas play with you.  You just never know!

There are way more ideas that I could list, but I know you and your family can come up with even more to suit your situation.  Disney Family Fun has wonderful ideas.  I especially love the post-holiday button tradition that they tell about.  Now, let's have some fun!  What are your Christmas traditions?  We can get new ideas from each other to make our holidays even more special.  Post up on your blog, making sure to link back to MamaBuzz, and then come sign Mr. Linky below.  The more that participate, the more fun it will be!:) 
Love, Mel

You can read more of Mel's thoughts over on Real Heart Prints.

M2M: Simplifying Your Holidays- Organizing Your Holidays

The holidays can be a stressful time, especially if you're hosting a dinner or a party, or even if you're going out of town.  It can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be.  With some brainpower and a lot of planning, you can be on your way to being able to relax and just enjoy your holidays with your family, as we just never know what tomorrow, or even the next year, brings.  So, Mamas, take heart, and gear up; get ready to get your holiday on!:)

I've found a number of sites with advice, printables, and ways to help you plan for your special times with your family.  A lot goes into Thanksgiving and Christmas, what with meal prep, gift lists, supply lists, pantry needs, events (plays, concerts, etc.), and even volunteer opps your family is interested in helping with.  It's time to get out your notebook and pen, pack your printer with plenty of paper, and start planning. 

The first site I have found to be helpful in times past is Flylady.  Some people just adore Flylady, and others don't, but I have really found her methods to be helpful in my own life.  Now, I don't use every single method, but I do use her basic weekly methods for planning out my housework.  I have certain days I do certain things every week, and I even have her lists of overall top to bottom cleaning that I can choose from each week....it just helps me to think of more things that need tended to, rather than waiting to do it all at once with spring cleaning.  Anyway, I'm getting off track.  She not only has ways to organize your home life, but she has a host of Cruising Through the Holidays missions, printables, and advice.  She even has made videos for this that you can get to from her site or on Youtube.  The main thing that I want to put out there is her Holiday Control Journal, which is completely free and printable.  With sections and lists galore, including topics such as planning out menus, traditions with your family, a baking ingredients shopping list, a holiday gift list organized into sections, etc., this journal is a gem to have; the best part is that it's free to download anytime.  Kelly from Flylady will even send out daily Cruising missions to keep you on track, if you're signed up for Flylady's emails.  The emails can take over your inbox, but you can set them to come in a daily digest. 

List Plan It also has a free gift list that you can print out and use to help you organize all the people who are on your list to buy for.  I know with our family being scattered and with multiple grandparents and parents, it is a must to organize our list, so that we don't miss anyone.  List Plan It has a host of other holiday printables, but it does cost to get to the rest....this site is an organizer's dream come true, though.

Mommy Blessings has actually taken the time to post on how to make your own holiday planner.  She not only takes you through the supplies you'll need, but she has free printables, as well, even including a mailing list for all those cards you have to send out.  She also gives reference to other sites you might find helpful in your holiday organizing needs, such as Christmas Planner. 

Organized Home is another awesome website that is filled to the brim with printable forms, recipes, ideas for gifts and crafts, etc.  They actually have over 200 printable forms that are completely free and ready for use.  They even have a blog that you can get ideas from.  Their sister site actually has a very helpful article with tips on how to divide up your holiday planner, so you can make the best use of it.

I did not know that there was actually a book titled Simplify Your Holidays by Marcia Ramsland, the Organizing Pro.  I found it as I was researching for this post, but she has several articles on her website that will help with gift giving, Thanksgiving, etc.  I even found a video with her that will give you ideas for gift giving and organizing and even ways to keep Jesus at the forefront of your celebrations.

One more resource that will surely grab your attention and get you moving is a free holiday idea book put out by The Old Schoolhouse.  It's their 175-page digital holiday supplement for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  All you have to do is download, and it's yours!:)



It really is only 3 1/2 weeks until Thanksgiving, and  it's only 8 weeks until Christmas.  Wow!  As one friend put it, it's only 4 paychecks away.  It's time to start planning and working out your schedule for Thanksgiving.  Whether you are having people to your house, or you are preparing to go away from home, it will take time to figure out your menus and your packing lists.  I hope that this post has given you some resources to help you get your holiday on....to get you up and running....Have a wonderful day! 

Stay tuned next week for ideas on holiday traditions with your family.

Mom2Mom: Simplifying Your Holidays: Introduction

With the upcoming holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I decided to start a Simplifying Your Holidays series to take us through the holidays in a more simplified, organized, and peaceful way.  I really hope that this will encourage all you Mamas out there to remember the real reasons that we celebrate these joyous seasons together with our families and friends.  As a work at home mom, life can be crazy busy with all of the responsibilities, but sometimes we just need to be reminded of the most important things in life, and nothing can do that more than making new traditions and spending quality time with each other.  This series is designed to help you take a load off, to learn how to plan things out, and to help you just breathe....skating your way through the holidays, enjoying every single minute.

Here is a list of the topics that will be discussed and blogged about in the upcoming weeks, starting next Monday, November 2:

Week 1- Organizing Your Holidays- From forms to schedules to menu plans to gift lists to online resources that will help you and inspire you....you won't want to miss this bucket full of resources, sought out just for you, Mamas.
Week 2- Making Traditions with your own family.
Week 3- Preparation for Thanksgiving- from food to a recipe swap (with you participating) to home decor to preparing for family who might be visiting to activities for your children, I hope this will inspire and be a help to you.
Week 4- Special Thanksgiving post.
Week 5- Frugal Decorating (for Christmas!)  Everyone knows I can't wait to put up the Christmas tree every year; I've already been thinking about it.:)  In fact, I'm considering having a Christmas tree contest right here on MamaBuzz, with prizes involved.  Stay tuned!
Week 6- Less is More- Frugal and creative gift giving; homemade gift ideas; gift ideas swap with you participating!
Week 7- Celebrating the real reason for Christmas.  Alternate opportunities for you and your family to show the true meaning of Christmas.
Week 8- Special Christmas post.

Ok, so there's my little schedule for Simplifying Your Holidays!  I hope you'll come back every week to be inspired and to get your holiday on!:)  Feel free to save our holiday button to your computer and link it back to MamaBuzz on your blogs.    
Love, Mel
Read more thoughts from Mel over at Real Heart Prints.