Just to start the ball rolling, I will admit I am already looking at my gift-closet for possible gifts, gift-wrap and decorating ideas. I have some candles I got at a garage sale - a bunch of matching white homemade tapers, that I am thinking of putting in bowls full of pine cones.

I am also thinking of decorating with white, gold and silver this year, instead of traditional green and red and gold.

It is nearly Dec and yes I am starting to get ready. I am already designing my own Christmas cards which I make on the computer plus looking out for bargains to put in my gifts.

As my kids and my nephews have gotten older my sister and I have decided that Amazon.com gift cards are a wonderful idea. Since we live so far apart it is difficult to keep track of changing likes and dislikes and the myriad of toys the kids already have acquired. Also, it allows them to pick and choose and have to keep track of the money as they shop (a nice math lesson) including planning on how much of the money will go towards the shipping.

Finally, the kids use it after christmas and pick up something they did not get that was on their list. =0)

Hah! (Sorry... gut reaction.)

I don't wait until the LAST minute, but I am an "after Thanksgiving" Christmas prep person. It drives me bonkers to see shops with Christmas stuff out when its not even Halloween. I can't even think about presents or wrapping or any of that... not when its still hotter than heck outside.

I actually have a well stocked christmas gift shelf going on. there have been some great sales this summer and fall, plus I see brand new things at goodwill all the time that are nice gifts. so almost everyone is already completely shopped for - and it's september - without any stress. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I am not usually so ahead of the game, but i think it's b/c i like shopping more than being incredibly organized.

by the way, Barnes and Noble is having a great sale on book "kits" right now in the clearance area. I got a bunch of those as gifts and might keep some. the kits include a bonsai book with bonsai tools, an origami book with paper and samples, and a wine stopper with a wine tasting journal and wine glass jewelry. Stuff like that, in pretty boxed sets.

anyway i don't know how long these will be around but they are very nice, fun gifts and on sale.

oh, also if people like cosmetics or frangrances, there are lots of gifts with purchase happening this fall, and the gifts include usually some very nice items that normally cost like $75 or something. usually all you have to do is spent $25 on something from a particular line, and then you get the free gift, all wrapped and pretty, for free.

Thought I'd put this post up toward the top again, since Christmas is already closing in once more. My gift shelf this year is a three-bin plastic shelf unit that lives on the floor of my closset.

Anyone else have things bought yet? What are you using for a gift shelf?

Ha, Ha - I mean Ho, Ho, Ho!

I have my Christmas card list written, cards bought (after Christmas last year) and stamps bought. I live in The Netherlands and have most everyone on my list in America, so I'm mailing out in 2 weeks. Last year I waited to mail till after Thanksgiving and some did not receive their cards for 2 months - yes, the middle of January.

Also, all gifts are being sent by November 1st. My kids in Chicago didn't get their 1st round of gifts mailed Nov. 15th - they had to be repurchased and sent. That's why I'm getting them out the door Nov. 1st. I've already mailed some of my California family their gifts.

I won't decorate, though, till after December 7th - Saint Nicholas Day. Here's a photo I took of St. Nick -
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We went out yesterday and finished almost all of the Birthday (we have 5 birthdays from now till the end of the year) and holiday shopping. The only things we are waiting on are a few small things and candy for the stockings.

I think the biggest disadvantage to shopping early is that more is bought because we don't remember everything already have.

We have most everything stored in a friends garage because we don't have space (where nosey toddlers won't find it) at our house.

I have my cards too, all ready, in a box with addresses, pens....not stamps yet though. I think we are going to print out stamps of photos we have - there are websites that do this. I am not sure yet what photo to use - I have a few in mind. We might pick two and run off a sheet of each.

We keep the cards box in a cubbyhole of the coffee table. The box itself is one of those nice decorated cardboard Ross photo boxes. I bought a bunch of those to contain things in the six cubbys under the coffee table.

Next I have to set aside time to write them up. It's one of those, "do it while watching a movie" things.

Cool St. Nick picture Susan! <img src="/images/graemlins/viking.gif" alt="" />

samten, I know what you mean by over buying becuase you forget what you have. Definately a failure in the system! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm pretty much done with my gifts this year for my family and Dan's family. Still need something for Dan himself.

And my next big step is starting to mail things out, too. Susna, you are right about getting it done early. It just doesn't feel like the holidays yet, does it? <img src="/images/graemlins/angel.gif" alt="" />