I just got done wrapping Christmas presents...

[Cindy B]

Buck--

I 'm not the prettiest wrapper either, but these gifts were for kids... its never noticed when kids are around...

Im just organized about Christmas, if I'm not, I go crazy and feel like a chicken with its head cut off, so I do it NOW.

As for the presents being current, I know my neices and nephews. Disney Princess things are good for anyone aged 3, 4, 5.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Cindy I am not worthy!!!
I did buy 3 gifts so far which is not like me. But I do want to be done.
Now I have to hunt down a "Fur Real Friends Cat". That will definetly get me started.
As a bonafide procrastinater, you are inspiring.
Or maybe I should smack you!

 

[snoopy]

I'm extremely anal about the actual wrapping of gifts, everything has to be perfect with the bows and ribbons, but not so anal about when they are wrapped. I sort of procrastinate with things, but once I sit down to do it stay out of my way.......

 

[Spinning]

Cindy I think I am headed over your way and switch all of the tags! LOL!
I can not wrap anything until my tree is up, lights are twinkling and a fire is burning in the fire place! Add a little Nat King Cole and I will wrap the night away!

 

[amid chaos]

One year I saved all the wrapping until Christmas Eve after the kids were in bed and DH was home from work.. I had this vision of DH and I in the candle light, sipping wine, enjoying wrapping and talking.

Well, let me tell you...we were fighting by the end and those gifts looked like they had been thru the garbage disposal. Never again....and heed this warning.

 

[CarolG]

So many choices -- I don't know which line to get in!

I haven't started shopping yet -- it's more fun for me when the decorations are up in the stores, and when the outside temperature is staying below 70 degrees.

I usually stack everything in a corner of our bonus room, and wrap four or five when I have a couple of minutes.

I'm going to have to get started on my extended family, though. We usually get together for a family gift exchange the weekend before Christmas, but this year we're doing it early (Dec. 7) at my neice's house -- she and her husband are expecting their first child December 22.

 

[Cindy B]

Amid--
so true, that scene of wine/fireplace, etc... wouldn't work in our house either.. we would be fighting as well.. I had to laugh.


And if I didn't wrap them I have two expert snoopers, and they know every nook and cranny in this house.. I had some present s hid, (in a TV cabinet, which the TV is broken, who would go in there)..my son found it!

 

[TINKTWINS]

I have to admit I have already wrapped what ive bought as well, BUT only because we will be in Disney the week before Christmas and I just dont want to listen to DH telling me I shouldnt of planned it this way!! And the whole hsband/wife wrapping thing DOES not work here either.

PS Not a spotless house here.

 

[Cindy B]

It's also easy to shop since Christmas decorations have been out since SEPTEMBER here.. yes mid-September!


So at my local Kmart, they had back to school, Halloween, and Christmas going on at the same time.

The mall is decorated for Christmas already as well. Was just there yesterday, and didn't see the Santa chair, but did see the lights, and the inside of the mall done.

No, I don't have a spotless house, so there!

 

[WendyZ]

Ooooh! I hope you're ok from all those smacks!!! hehehe I wish I was as organized as you. My goal every year is to be done buying by Thanksgiving. So far I've only done it one year...last year. My incentive was we left for WDW Dec. 1st. So I didn't want to deal with it after I returned. I'm about 1/2 - 3/4 done for this year. I just need to get out there. I've done some off the internet this year, boy that's nice. Comes right to your door. Then I'll set down and wrap everything...it will probably take me two different days. I only like to wrap while the kids are in school!

 

[Saffron]

Amid - your response made me LOL! I did the same thing one year, wine and everything. We didn't fight, but it was a struggle to keep going after the 2nd and 3rd glass of wine. LOL!! This was after midnight service!

Good for you Cindy! I've started shopping, but I've not wrapped anything. I like to go shopping on Halloween! The malls are almost empty, but this year because of other things going on, I was unable to. I have to admit, I am a Saturday night, "It's a Wonderful Life" "A Chirstmas Carrol" VSH marathon wrapper. I pop in the videos, relax (no wine! ) and wrap everything at once. I wish I could do it the other way around, but I think I'm stuck in my ways!

 

[Lucky4me]

I replied and it never went through...hmmm...weird.

Well, I was asking for tips from Cindy. Christmas shopping and organizing the Holidays tips. It sounds like you and your sister could give us a lot. If you do, I won't smack either one of you!

 

[Buckalew]

Amid's answer made me LOL! Nothing in life seems to go the way it is imagined! LOL

Snoopy's answer made me because I sent her an ornament last year. She knows too well what a bad wrapper I am. I have a client who wraps the prettiest things. Everything always has a bow. Always. I never use bows... Ugh! Sometimes I feel like Charlie Brown!
Really, I think I am inspired to do better this year.

 

[Cindy B]

Buck--

I must be a Charlie Brown wrapper as well, I don't do bows either...

As for organization this is what I do/am doing right now.


First we exchange names for DH's side of the family, with five siblings, and everyone has a SO, and everyone has kids... so it got out of hand..

So now each adult has a name ($35-50 range)
And each kid has a name ($15-25 range)

Now that we picked our names I am doing this..
I have it sketched out, but not actually input yet into Excel.


I make a spreadsheet.

ONe column with the name, one column with bought (checked or not), another column with the gift, and another column with the cost.

I also keep all the receipts together in a envelope and staple the gift receipts with the receipts as well.

Sometimes I can't find the envelope,so thats a challenge...

 

[Cindy B]

My sister is very very organized about everything... she could make the Flylady a laughingstock...she is so organized.


She is career military, so she is very regimented/disciplined.

She is organized about everything. She has a housework/cleaning schedule on her fridge.

Daily chores

Weekly chores

Monthly chores

Semi annual chores...


And of course checkmarks... I am NOT that organized.

I am very organized with Christmas though. I figure its a big expense for everyone this time of the year, so I like to be prepared.

All I know for her she goes to the stores December 26, with a list, and buys everything for next Christmas. She never buys clothes, its usually toys... like she told me she got a military Lego set for my son...you make tanks and stuff like that, he will like that. She got my daughter something Barbie, and thats fine with me as well.


I do make my lists for Black Friday. That is after I see all the sale papers, make cost comparisons (and check to see if the stores price match), then I go to TOWN

I bring only CASH, (so I don't overspend), and put the cash in separate envelopes. Money for my sons gifts is separate from the money in my daughters envelopes.

Joint gifts (like games that they can both play, or X Box stuff) will be for both of them, and equal money will be taken out of each envelope.

 

[snoopy]

Amid, ROFL! Funny how those little visions of lovliness never quite materialize. Have had my share of those too.