Holidays are over now--what will you do differently next year? - The DIS Discussion Forums

JerseyJanice · 01-02-2005, 08:03 AM

That is, what lessons did you learn from this year's holidays?

I learned that it's much easier to shop for gifts if you don't stick to a set amount for the gift. For example, I used to say, "I have to spend $40 on my sister's gift." If I found something I thought she'd like for $30, I'd get it, but then find something else to buy for $10.

This year, I didn't do that. I just bought everyone items I thought they'd like and wound up coming in just little under my entire gift buying budget.

Also, I'm going to cut out the pasta course from my Christmas Eve menu. Everyone was too full from antipasto to eat much lasagne. It was a lot of work to make it. Next year, I'll add a couple more appetizers and another dish to the antipasto and not bother with baked ziti or lasagne.

So what are your lessons learned? How will your holidays be brighter or easier next year?

gina2000 · 01-02-2005, 08:14 AM

Truthfully, we had a great time this year. Just ate too much. So if I do anything, I'm going to try not to overindulge in the food category next year.

I did a ton of shopping in early December and I wrapped then also. I think that helped make my holidays alot more manageable and enjoyable. Those are two tasks I'm not enamored with.

ez · 01-02-2005, 09:04 AM

I will try to do that next year as well. I got some great gifts, for example, my dad graduated from John Jay college, well I went to their website and to the college online bookstore and got him a hooded sweatshirt with the bloodhounds mascot on back, and John Jay in big letters, he loves it and he hasn't stropped thanking me for it since. What I will do differently, if DD still believes in Santa next year, is to give her the good gifts from us, and a little one from santa.

Skywalker · 01-02-2005, 09:13 AM

For me, the only thing I would do differently is shop earlier. I refuse to ever enter a mall in December again. So, shopping completed by November at the latest and I think my Christmas would pretty much be stress-free.

ericamanda01 · 01-02-2005, 09:15 AM

I did pretty good as far as timely shopping, but I could have finished a lot sooner had I made out a list of all the people I needed to get gifts for, ie. Neighbors, little sister. I just forgot a few key people. So this year before we put away all the decorations I am going to make a list of all the people I have to buy for, as well as a list of all those who sent us christmas cards along with their address. I'll put it in with the cards I am using for next year.

DiznEeyore · 01-02-2005, 09:40 AM

We spent the summer and fall putting an addition on the house (it's *almost* finished) so I was completely unpreprepared for Christmas. Thankfully I'd done some shopping throughout the year so I saved a bit of time that way, but Christmas just wasn't as festive as I would've liked.

Next year all this home improvement stuff will be done so I'll have time to get ready and really enjoy the holidays!

kayeandjim00 · 01-02-2005, 09:45 AM

I think I'm going to cut down on the amount and the variety of cookies I make. I go way overboard every year so I spend lots of time baking and end up with so much extra. I realized this year I could cut that in half and have more time for other things and still have plenty of sweets.

gr8tpanther · 01-02-2005, 09:45 AM

I learned that next year I am buying a fiber optic tree!!!!

KarenB · 01-02-2005, 10:09 AM

We had our kitchen and bathroom remodeled around the 21st of December. (new floors, cabinets, toilet, appliances, etc). We are still waiting for one cabinet and the bathroom vanity that "should" be here this week. So the dishes, etc are sitting here in the spare room all over the floor.

Although our house looks great, I feel like I spent my entire holiday vacation cleaning, painting, moving funiture, hauling out garbage, etc. School starts again tomorrow and I feel even more tired than when it got out!

Next year, I hope to relax more.

Karen

newholidayx2 · 01-02-2005, 11:03 AM

prelit artificial tree
we always argue over the "perfect" live tree which we have never found
and this yr DH cut the lights off the tree w/pliers!

nope - next yr its a prelit artificial tree

JessetheCowgirl · 01-02-2005, 11:17 AM

I plan to pay someone to wrap gifts for me. I always put it off, and it is such a mess.

Keli · 01-02-2005, 11:35 AM

I'm going to try to do my shopping much earlier in the year and get all the presents bought and wrapped before Thanksgiving. That will make my christmas much easier. If I direct a pageant again next year I want to be ready for christmas long before it happens so that it doesn't prevent me from getting my preparations completed in time like it did this year.

poohandwendy · 01-02-2005, 11:38 AM

Get my shopping done earlier...although, I tell myself this EVERY year and haven't followed through yet....what can I say? I am an overly optimistic procrastinator....

Kitty 34 · 01-02-2005, 11:57 AM

My hope by next year is our kitten gets over her chewing habits so we can enjoy lights LIT up on the tree. A tree isn't as fun when the lights aren't working.

piratesmate · 01-02-2005, 12:01 PM

1. Give DH breakfast in bed! He gets really, really cranky waiting for breakfast and I like to wait for DS & DDIL to get here.

2. I'm packing the ornaments that go on the garlands in the box with the garlands! The tree never goes up when I want & I'm either left with naked garlands for 2 weeks or decorating for 3 days straight!

3. Going with DH & DD to get the tree! This year they cut a blue spruce. Do you have any idea how picky they are? Ouch!

4. If I'm making gifts, I need to start in Sept or Oct! I thought starting Nov 10th was early enough...I was wrong!

01-02-2005, 08:03 AM	#1
JerseyJanice We'll miss our Maxi-dog forever, but now we have a Roxy-girl to love. Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Beautiful Bergen County Posts: 9,481	Holidays are over now--what will you do differently next year? That is, what lessons did you learn from this year's holidays? I learned that it's much easier to shop for gifts if you don't stick to a set amount for the gift. For example, I used to say, "I have to spend $40 on my sister's gift." If I found something I thought she'd like for $30, I'd get it, but then find something else to buy for $10. This year, I didn't do that. I just bought everyone items I thought they'd like and wound up coming in just little under my entire gift buying budget. Also, I'm going to cut out the pasta course from my Christmas Eve menu. Everyone was too full from antipasto to eat much lasagne. It was a lot of work to make it. Next year, I'll add a couple more appetizers and another dish to the antipasto and not bother with baked ziti or lasagne. So what are your lessons learned? How will your holidays be brighter or easier next year? __________________ 1972, 1974, 1976 Childhood WDW Trips Offsite 2/99 Coronado Springs Resort 9/00 Contemporary Resort/French Quarter 6/02 Wilderness Lodge 2/08 PO Riverside/Dolphin 8/08, 8/09, 8/10 Pop Century 10/10 All-Stars Music (FWF) 9/11 Coronado Springs Resort (FWF) 6/12 Wilderness Lodge (With Deluxe Dining!)

01-02-2005, 09:04 AM	#3
ez Yoshi Lover Alas, I have been a dvc and concierge snob (but I'll stay in a moderate if I must) Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Ormond Beach, Florida, U.S.A Posts: 1,432	I did most of my shopping online.... I will try to do that next year as well. I got some great gifts, for example, my dad graduated from John Jay college, well I went to their website and to the college online bookstore and got him a hooded sweatshirt with the bloodhounds mascot on back, and John Jay in big letters, he loves it and he hasn't stropped thanking me for it since. What I will do differently, if DD still believes in Santa next year, is to give her the good gifts from us, and a little one from santa.

01-02-2005, 09:13 AM	#4
Skywalker Finds good homes for stray tags Elevators freak me out Have you seen my coolness? If hell exists, it will be filled with spiders Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,168	For me, the only thing I would do differently is shop earlier. I refuse to ever enter a mall in December again. So, shopping completed by November at the latest and I think my Christmas would pretty much be stress-free. __________________ There is no charge for awesomeness.

01-02-2005, 09:15 AM	#5
ericamanda01 Some people dream in black and white, I dream in Disney! Noodles for Poodles!! Just think how boring the world would be if we were all the same! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR 3057.81 miles from the magic! Posts: 5,957	I did pretty good as far as timely shopping, but I could have finished a lot sooner had I made out a list of all the people I needed to get gifts for, ie. Neighbors, little sister. I just forgot a few key people. So this year before we put away all the decorations I am going to make a list of all the people I have to buy for, as well as a list of all those who sent us christmas cards along with their address. I'll put it in with the cards I am using for next year. __________________ 1st WDW trip April 01 1st DCL Wonder April 01 Honeymoon WDW Sept. 04 Honeymoon cruise Wonder 04 1st DVC Trip Home BWV/SSR 06 1st 7 day Magic cruise Sept 06 Surprise Girls Only BWV/OKW Oct F&W & MNSSHP 07 Ultimate Vacation 08 Aug 14-17 First Disneyland trip Aug 17-Sept 1 DCL Panama cruise BCV Sept1-Sept 6 WDW! Girls only WDW & Cruise Sept 14-19 09 BWV Sept 09 7 day Western April 09 Girls 14 day EBTA DCL cruise WDW OKW April 25-29 ME DVC Member 2006 DH

01-02-2005, 09:40 AM	#6
DiznEeyore Donkey-Huggin' DVC Member Dedicated Disney Scrapbooker Thanks for un-confusing me Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 5,139	We spent the summer and fall putting an addition on the house (it's almost finished) so I was completely unpreprepared for Christmas. Thankfully I'd done some shopping throughout the year so I saved a bit of time that way, but Christmas just wasn't as festive as I would've liked. Next year all this home improvement stuff will be done so I'll have time to get ready and really enjoy the holidays! __________________ Amy

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01-02-2005, 08:14 AM	#2
gina2000 anonymous Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: USA Posts: 11,400	Truthfully, we had a great time this year. Just ate too much. So if I do anything, I'm going to try not to overindulge in the food category next year. I did a ton of shopping in early December and I wrapped then also. I think that helped make my holidays alot more manageable and enjoyable. Those are two tasks I'm not enamored with.

01-02-2005, 09:45 AM	#7
kayeandjim00 Now living in Onderland! Moving in the right direction I take tons of pictures but they are priceless to me Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Pleasantville Posts: 2,101	I think I'm going to cut down on the amount and the variety of cookies I make. I go way overboard every year so I spend lots of time baking and end up with so much extra. I realized this year I could cut that in half and have more time for other things and still have plenty of sweets.

01-02-2005, 09:45 AM	#8
gr8tpanther Likes pretty words No touchie, No touchie!!!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chambersburg, PA Posts: 9,198	I learned that next year I am buying a fiber optic tree!!!! __________________ Lynn's World

01-02-2005, 10:09 AM	#9
KarenB Goes to the mall and sniffs Yankee Candles Don't let me be the thread killer on this one! Sometimes even a good nights sleep does wonders! Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Too far from the sea Posts: 5,313	We had our kitchen and bathroom remodeled around the 21st of December. (new floors, cabinets, toilet, appliances, etc). We are still waiting for one cabinet and the bathroom vanity that "should" be here this week. So the dishes, etc are sitting here in the spare room all over the floor. Although our house looks great, I feel like I spent my entire holiday vacation cleaning, painting, moving funiture, hauling out garbage, etc. School starts again tomorrow and I feel even more tired than when it got out! Next year, I hope to relax more. Karen __________________

01-02-2005, 11:03 AM	#10
newholidayx2 Searching for the perfect tree Do you get bunny kisses? Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: working with cars and fish for the mouse Posts: 7,879	prelit artificial tree we always argue over the "perfect" live tree which we have never found and this yr DH cut the lights off the tree w/pliers! nope - next yr its a prelit artificial tree __________________ Im Going To Disney (again!) Nov 2009 - employed by Disney Dec 27 2008 - relocated to FL

01-02-2005, 11:17 AM	#11
JessetheCowgirl DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: central texas Posts: 2,776	I plan to pay someone to wrap gifts for me. I always put it off, and it is such a mess. __________________ Well behaved women rarely make history. - Laura Thatcher Ulrich

01-02-2005, 11:35 AM	#12
Keli We're smarter than the average bear! I would scrap everyday if I could What do you think? You were raised in a barn? Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Kentucky Posts: 7,594	I'm going to try to do my shopping much earlier in the year and get all the presents bought and wrapped before Thanksgiving. That will make my christmas much easier. If I direct a pageant again next year I want to be ready for christmas long before it happens so that it doesn't prevent me from getting my preparations completed in time like it did this year. __________________ 1981-The early years. 2011-The not-so-early years

01-02-2005, 11:38 AM	#13
poohandwendy DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: South Park, Pa (Steeler Country!!) Posts: 19,117	Get my shopping done earlier...although, I tell myself this EVERY year and haven't followed through yet....what can I say? I am an overly optimistic procrastinator....

01-02-2005, 11:57 AM	#14
Kitty 34 Hums in her sleep, but never when she's awake I only raise tomatos for those cute caterpillars... but I won't go near a tomato Never underestimate the TF!!! Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 95,488	My hope by next year is our kitten gets over her chewing habits so we can enjoy lights LIT up on the tree. A tree isn't as fun when the lights aren't working. __________________

01-02-2005, 12:01 PM	#15
piratesmate Drah-gun! I don't do that tongue thing! I actually used to be smart...before I had kids & brain damage Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Defeating the Huns! Posts: 8,590	1. Give DH breakfast in bed! He gets really, really cranky waiting for breakfast and I like to wait for DS & DDIL to get here. 2. I'm packing the ornaments that go on the garlands *in the box with* the garlands!** The tree never goes up when I want & I'm either left with naked garlands for 2 weeks or decorating for 3 days straight! 3. Going with DH & DD to get the tree! This year they cut a blue spruce. Do you have any idea how picky they are? Ouch! 4. If I'm making gifts, I need to start in Sept or Oct! I thought starting Nov 10th was early enough...I was wrong! __________________ Deb, Proud Mom to a member of the Bronze Medal winners at the Tae Kwon-Do World Championship 2007 (DS is the redhead)

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