Short but sweet (sweet meat that is!!)

Hi everybody

I have been absent for a while, but have been busy.    I am in the process of setting up some templates for some of the filofax pages that I use for Christmas planning, I am hoping to get them up and running and available for downloading from etsy.   In the mean time I thought I would mention Mince Meat for your mince pies, it’s very often on sale at a reduced price at this time of year, due to its nature it keeps very well so buying ahead can save money and later on when you fancy mince pies you are ready to go I got some this week, in fact I bought 3 big jars cause I use it most of the year round!

Crackers!!!!

Hi…….just to let you know I did a bit more yesterday, you might be able to find some stuff yourself if you have a scout around.   I got a lovely box of Marks & Spencers Crackers (£2.49 for 12 Bargain!!!!!), then lo and behold I was grabbing a few bits in the supermarket when I went past the party stuff, packs of Christmas paper plates 38p for 20, matching napkins 50p for a pack of 100, napkin rings (cardboard ones that match – never seen those before) 20p for 20 and a matching table runner on a roll 70p!! Not bad for the money, that is the table sorted for the annual family tea time get together anyway, and some lovely Crackers for the main Christmas Dinner, as sad as it may be I love to be able to cross things off the planner this early in the year!!!

It's over and only just beginning!!

Hello and happy new year to you and yours.

So Christmas 2014 has sadly passed, but hey Christmas 2015 planning and organising is under way!!

Yesterday I started taking the decorations down and packing them away for next time, always a sad time for me as I think a house looks so loved decked in all its Christmas finery.   I have a large box for each area of the house and I always have a pad and pencil handy for this process so that I can make a note of things I really liked or disliked, things that I need to buy and replace and things that I have seen that I would like to do for next year, for instance I have a wreath that I put up on one of our internal doors that is now looking a little sad it needs some attention before next year I have made a note and will write it in my planner for about the beginning of November to get it down and get to work (I also have a massive collection of pins on Pintrest for Christmas idea’s) This years notes will go in my planners Christmas section to be referred to as and when needed.   When I get to the stage of putting the boxes back in the loft I also use this as an opportunity to have a rifle through everything, throwing out any rubbish, or donating for re-sale if things are still in good condition but not to my liking any more. I take great care packing things away carefully and putting the boxes and bags away in some sort of sensible order so that come next year I can do a bit at a time.

If you have read my previous post about cards…………yes I have bought cards, wrapping, boxes and bags in the sales, done the label templates and printed them off and have packed them all in a super-size Christmas gift bag so that I can grab and go come November.

So roll on Christmas!!!

Christmas card get ahead stratergy

I am afraid I have to admit to thinking about Christmas virtually 365 days a year, however it has it's advantages, by the time I get to the week before I am able to do the fun stuff whilst waiting for the whole thing to happen.   I have been thinking I should do a Christmas blog for a while now, who knows some of my planning and plotting could help others too, so welcome to my plan for Christmas (as in next year's not next weeks!!)

Christmas Cards.........a dying fashion I fear (shame, but that is the way of the world), Now they can absolutely be a right royal pain in the butt if you don't get your head in gear early - here is how I handle that headache!! Yes I admit I am one of those people that buys them in the sales, though I do make quite a lot of mine too.

• Buy next years in this years sales, or start making a few every month from January.
• Buy the postage stamps  for them through next year.
• Set up label a template on your PC for addresses and names.

The third of the points above is a real winner, take the time this year to set up a definitive card list, then get yourself some labels for your printer (or if you are a technophobe, still get some labels and write them after this Christmas) set up a label template, and print a set out, put it away with the cards for next year and half the job is done!! I put addresses on one and just names if they are being hand delivered on another (don't forget to alter your template if anybody moves house etc) as an added bonus I print an extra set of addresses to keep in my admin file for birthday cards etc through the year.

So Cards sorted - see you next time