excel spreadsheets? lists? rooms dedicated to wrapping? Sheesh that's far too organized for me. I thought just getting the ornaments organized by tree was a HUGE undertaking! For wrapping I use the desperately rushed, christmas is in 4 hours, need a bottle of wine approach. I spread out the entire mess of crap with a hole in the middle for me and the wine, and begin digging my way out carefully :p I actually am organized when it comes to the decorations though. I have one attic for trees, one for ornaments that go on the trees that are on the 3rd and 4th floor as well as the decoration, and then I store the decorations and ornaments for the first floor and second floor are kept on the second floor. Less hauling down (and up) stairs that way :) I also label the boxes for the appropriate tree which is helpful when distributing boxes around the house. WHile I can obviously see what's vintage and what's traditional as well as all the other themes of a tree through the plastic boxes, I don't know how many vintage go to each tree unless I put them in separate boxes. THat leaves me just enough ornaments for each tree without taxing my little brain. I wish I could apply that kind of organization to presents LOL I do actually wrap all but the Santa ones in advance (so that's the 23rd verses the 24th btw) and those can go out under the main tree. I have been known to buy the same thing more than once...perhaps that list idea is a good one LOL Gad a room dedicated to wrapping and holiday storage...well I'm a bit nutso over christmas (major santa barf is in EVERY room) so that would have to be a big big big room! But it's a lovely fantasy!

Got 4 gift packages in the mail yesterday. They should arrive tomorrow. This was really fun. After looking at the goodies though I decided something from the oven was needed. So, made a quick batch of Palmiers using Pepperidge Farms. I took my time, pinched the ends well & was fussy about spreading the tops evenly. They came out beautiful perfect hearts. It was a last minute thing just before DH left to get them mailed so didn't get pictures. Here's the other gifts though... Preserved Lemons, Citrus Salt, Homemade Vanilla, & Grand Marnier Fig-Walnut Butter I'm so pleased with the Preserved Lemons. They have bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, red chili peppers, whole peppercorns, corriander seeds, whole cloves, & Kosher salt. After 30+ days they smell heavenly. I'm going to preserve blood oranges this way when they're available. "Tamaya Blue" & Blueberry Muffin Mix, World Peace Marinated Olives, & Spicy White Wine Whole-Grain Mustard The "Tamaya Blue" is a special roasted before milling blue cornmeal from Pueblo Santa Ana & I used our food storage freeze-dried blueberries, organic powdered eggs, butter, & milk. They're "Just Add Water". The olives have orange & rosemary plus peppercorns. I'll wait until just before Christmas to put the baskets together that will be given from under our tree. All in all, this was more fun than baking all the cookies, probably because it was different for me. I think I'll start planning next year's gifts soon. /tricia

Justgottabe, the ornaments are wonderful. They would be simply beautiful on their own, but the meaning behind them makes them extraordinary. Priceless treasures. I don't have a lot of the ornaments my mom, grandmother and to some degree my sister and I made when I was young, and the beaded felt tree skirts haven't held up as well, but I treasure what we do have. I am still knitting -- might still be knitting after Christmas, but as long as I have these hats done beofre the boys go back to school, I will be satisfied and I know the boys will be fine with that. They got the matching scarves last year and know these are coming (I can't bring myself to pull out wool and start knitting when it's over 85 degrees outside -- and that wasn't that long ago). I did make a pair of baby alpaca cowls and make do some mitts to go with one. Started a crocheted hat too. We have all the kitchen goodies packed up and will mail 3 packages this weekend or Monday and then distribute the rest next week. Made 16 tins of peanut brittle on top of the ther goodies and will make stroopwaffels Sunday or Monday (have to wait for a front to pass through and the weather to improve for the caramel to behave). Jen -- ETA that I think your scarves look great and they will love them. The yarn for the guy is a great choice. I know what a hard time I had finding something I liked for my sons.

This story really choked me up. Absolutely beautiful, and truly a sign of intervention from above. Something to remember, share and a message to mimic. Thank you for sharing this.