A MUST HAVE, Your very own Elf!

Last year I joined the wwww.100daystochristmas.com community. An amazing website that helps you plan for not just Christmas but Halloween and Thanksgiving. It is really amazing, and simple. Countdown to Christmas takes you thru the Fall Holidays and Christmas, with a daily task that prepares you and allows you to do all that you want, accomplish what you want and ENJOY! Can you imagine? Well this year it is even better, the creator of 100daystochristmas and listplanit.com (that is a whole other post, hmmm I will have to think about that) anyway, she; Jennifer Tankersley has created an ebook that is interactive with her sites. I had the wonderful opportunity to review her e-book. First let me tell you, you MUST check it out.

"A Daily Dose of Inspiration & Motivation for a Meaningful Holiday Season Based on previous years here at 100 Days to Christmas,this eBook is a journey that begins on September 16,and leads you step-by-step and day-by-day toward a peaceful and meaningful holiday season."

Now, let me tell you why this is brilliant.
The ebook is like having Jennifer, aka your own ELF, with you, giving you a little nudge in the right direction. The breakdown is an assignment 6 days of the week and then my favorite part is the Weekly Workshop, which is a chance to catch up on something you want to do, or maybe one of the daily countdown tasks. That weekly workshop I love, and if you didn't get a task done, you can get back on the countdown track. Seriously, it's like having your very own Elf. She has thought of EVERYTHING, this doesn't just get you ready for Christmas, but Halloween, Thanksgiving, even a reminder for voting. All of it. It really is brilliant. Most of us love Christmas, and want it just so. We want the Holidays to have meaning, we want our children to have memories that are meaningful, or carry on Family Traditions, or create our own. However, life happens, we don't get this done, or we forget until the last minute and then its hustle rush and panic. Why do we do that to ourselves? The daily tasks are broken down to make getting things done into a step by step process that do not require the entire day to do. Even better right? Like I said, your own Elf. Who would not love to have an elf to assist you. You can and the price is one fast food lunch, and trust me on this, you will enjoy it more, not to mention 0 calories. $4.99 will put it on your Kindle, Nook or PDF for your computer. Then sit back and realize that getting ready for the Holidays can be simple and you can enjoy it also!
Finally, thank you Jennifer for the chance to review your ebook. You are amazing. Also, thank you for creating 100daystochristmas, last year was so much easier than past years. I enjoyed the Holidays more and the preparation was enjoyable. Can you imagine? Yes I can, and I am excited for this year!
www.100daystochristmas.com/100-days-to-christmas-2011-ebook/

Halfway thru January

Okay, Christmas is over and pretty much packed up. One lone tote, for the last things you find, that you have been looking at for weeks, not recognize as Christmas. You know how that goes, you look up one day and go, wait thats Christmas stuff, shouldn't that be put away. Oh well, happens every year. So I guess it could be called tradition. Besides at this time of year, I've been shopping the clearance sales, so things have to be put away for Christmas. I have the neighbors gifts, co-workers gifts, etc. already. That is a great feeling. I can pick up something really fun and CHEAP, but no one realizes how little money I spent. I like a bargain!!! I am done with that also. Now its just packing up and putting away, and then adding the new things for the house that we got for Christmas or on clearance after. FUN. I enjoy that.
We still need to finish our kitchen remodel. All the difficult stuff is done, now its the detail stuff. Why that is taking so long I really don't know. I want it done, but the backsplash, and the final touchup painting. So strange that it is not getting done, it annoys me, but still does not motivate me. Maybe now that the Holiday are over, I'll focus again.
The New Year also brings out the notion of all the stuff I want to accomplish this year. Too many projects that did not get done last year already start the list. Maybe the list needs to be banned, and just accomplish what comes up. That might be a better approach.
Then add to that, Cait's grades are bad. 3rd grade shouldn't have bad grades. 3rd grade should still be A's. We have a chatter, socialite, flitterbug. So now she has to buckle down and get serious and her social activities have to be curtailed. 3rd grade should not be this way. It's not like she cannot do the work, she just wont focus and do it right away, then she has to rush to finish and doesn't even read the directions! So frustrating to get her to understand that homework alone will not do it. Then she argues that she knows what the Teacher wants. Too much of my personality coming thru. SCARY. Trying to figure out the best way to move forward.
Love my life. Never the norm of what I think will happen.
I do love my life. Love it. My husband is awesome, and works so hard for us. He is struggling with some health issues and really hates making changes. I agree I have a problem with that also. We both need to work on changes, eating and exercising. Don't we all. My daughter is a blessing like you would not believe. She is so amazing and so strong willed that it scares the daylights out of me. We live in a beautiful area, little house on 2 tiny acres. It's tiny acreage cuz there are 10 cows, 4 horses, 1 burro, 3 dogs and 2 cats sharing the place.
Anyway life is good. Frustrating, trying, but so good. Just trying to enjoy.