where do I begin again

It is officially just 52 weeks till Christmas again and once again I am declaring again that I will do everything in my power to have a delightful Christmas next year. ( Well, unless the Mayans were correct, in which case this is a totally moot point.) I hope I will do better this year and will at least do one little Christmasy thing each week until the after Halloween get really serious thing starts.

So here goes my personal diary again of what I am accomplishing on a week by week basis.

Immediately after Christmas, I bought wrapping paper and ribbons, so I should be well stocked for next year, plus my little neighbor will be around in September selling wrapping paper and I always buy a couple of rolls from her.

My favorite gift shop was having its annual Christmas sale and I picked up a few things I had been eyeing. It is almost sad to find beautiful things only to pack them away immediately, but next November when I unpack I will be most delighted. ( Actually I will probably have forgotten all about them) In the next couple of weeks I will check out Christmas clearance wherever I go. ( Including New Orleans next week) Maybe I will find something or maybe not, but I won't quit looking just in case something is out there.

When I was packing Christmas I went through each box and put anything I will never use again in the Goodwill box. I am tired of sorting through the same stuff each year and not using it to decorate. It is all very nice cast offs, but things that don't reflect my way of decorating or phase of life anymore. Since Son3 will be leaving for college in the fall I am sure we don't have any need for the juvenile Christmas decorations anymore.

This week I am mostly making lists for next year.

I have a list of things I want to collect throughout the coming year.

Tropicana Juice plastic bottles. ( Individual serving size)...homemade sugar scrub

Starbucks coffee bottles ( Individual serving size from the multi pack container)...serving

container for neighborhood cookie party

Steaz beverage bottles...great size for homemade liqueurs

Bright pieces of wool ( Can be reclaimed from old clothes or can be purchased)...wool flower pins

Inexpensive plain clutch bags ( 2 dollars or under)...altered clutches

Pretty ribbon and colored tulle...just because

Altoid tins...altered container with ear buds inside

Tic Tac containers... Grinch pills/ Cheer pills

Pretty soft fabrics...Possible scarfs

Old bright colored Tee shirts...grocery produce bags

I am sure I will add to this as I think of things or as I see ideas on Pinterest.

Party Idea List

Neighborhood Cookie/ Coffee/Milk evening

Pre Christmas Soup Dinner Party

Cousins Party/ Both Families

Christmas Goodies list

Praline Fudge

Peanut Butter Fudge

Cracker Toffee

Brandy Wreath Cookies

Spiced Cookies

Chex Mix

Spiced Peanuts

Nutmeg Noel Cookies

Nanaimos

Will add to the lists as I think of things.

Merry Christmas!