No, I'm not mad.

Last year I joined a site called organizedchristmas.com that helps people get ready for christmas from cleaning to baking to gifts. They have forums for support, recipes, cleaning lists and printable forms to make a holiday planner. They even have a week by week Holiday Grand Plan that will have you cleaning, buying gifts and freezing meals for December.

Since I know a lot of us find Christmas stressful I thought I'd reccomend the site. It's helped me a LOT last year even though I started the plan a bit late.

By Tonya on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 08:12 am:

I put my first layaway in last weekend with Christmas gifts. So I am already getting ready.

Good luck ladies.

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 08:38 am:

Ready to hate me? I have my shopping done already I finished last week.
Organized Christmas is one of my favorite sites. I have always shopped year round but it offers other great advice. I will never understand people who shop last minute. I keep a shopping closet where I store everything I buy during the year. I list the gifts on a spreadsheet (so I do not forget who I bought for). No stress on the holidays---except for dreading seeing the in-laws. LOL.

By Kate on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:06 am:

I think it's fun to shop last minute. After I had children I needed to shop a little earlier so the 'special' toys weren't all gone, but I still enjoy leaving other gifts until the end. If I'm all done ahead of time then Christmas isn't fun for me...it's not enough for me to be ready and just 'enjoy' the season. For me part of enjoying it is shopping for it. And I never wrap until December 22nd and 23rd. I like the 'hustle and bustle'.

By Tonya on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:07 am:

Yvonne I don't hate you I envy you!! I wish I was that ahead of the game. I am the queen of layaway. I try to have everything bought or at least in layaway by the end of Sept to the middle of Oct. I always have a few things to get at the end of I want the majority done early.

By Hlgmom on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:11 am:

I am with you Kate!!!!
I love the fun "chaos" of the season! I think I would miss it if I was so together! LOL
Great job for you guys though- I am sure it must be calming to know that you are finished.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:23 am:

Done already? I do have one present bought, though. I got my mom a neat pot, that was signed by the artist, when we were in South Dakota. I think I got a little moose thingie, for my SIL, too.

By Reds9298 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:48 am:

I'm with you, too, Kate! It's fun to shop in December I think, but I will buy things a few months before if I see something really neat or on sale or something. With kids, it seems like what *they* like is always changing so I don't think I could shop early yet for Natalie.

By Imamommyx4 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 10:02 am:

I haven't even thought about a list yet. Wish I could be more organized though. Thanks for the reminder. Maybe I'll get started.

By Sandysmom on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 10:35 am:

I don't even want to think of Christmas yet, but it really is not too far off. Thanks for the website.

By Tonya on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 11:08 am:

167 more days to go until Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

By Jackie on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 11:15 am:

Its so hard for me to think about the holidays. We are still trying to get through 2 more birthdays, and a party, and then a vacation next week. Plus, spending around $1500 on my dogs surgery and all, really put us in a bind in the money department.Lucky the cruise and excursions have been paid for. I also have money saved in a special account for our trip(dog money)...So it will be awhile before I start buying or even thinking about Christmas presents.

By Cat on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 12:10 pm:

We already know what we're getting the kids for Christmas, but don't want to buy yet because we don't want to shorten the warrenty (1yr--we're getting them iPods). The smaller stuff we'll probably get in November or so. I think it's great you're prepared! I don't hate you.

By Dandjmom on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 12:11 pm:

I'm one of those ones that shop all year raround also, but so far I have all wrapping supplies, form paper, tape, boxes,cards, etc. ( buy those itemsin january where I got $4 rolls of rwrapping paper for .30) and I usually have my colors fo rthe year decided tso I buy paper for thsoe colors. I already have my decorations also for m house, tree, and pacakges. I have about 3 of my baby cousins out of the way totally. I have a few adults out of the way. But the coupon on the coupon board for Lane bryant , will finish that out this weekend. And i'm going to kmarts tonight to pick up my sons and three of ym god childrens' layaway( bicycles and skates) and I'll put oen in fro my daughter and two girl cousins that I buy for. I usually finish in September and I use Halloween( someone usually takes my kids to a Halloween party) to wrap my gifts. The chrsitmas tree goes up the day after Thanks giving and If I'm in a really festive move it goes up Thanks Giving dinner is cleaned up.

By Reds9298 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 12:15 pm:

I forgot to say thanks for the website!

By Breann on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 01:09 pm:

I'm showing 136 days till CHristmas.

By Debbie on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 03:45 pm:

Christmas?? Did somebody say, Christmas?? LOL. I guess I am one of those people that can't imagine christmas shopping when it is 100 degress outside. I wait until Fall. I usually shop in October and November. I try and get done by Thanksgiving. So, for those of you that shop early, do you shop early for your dks? I usually don't even know what they want until a few months before. We usually sit down in October, and they make up their christmas list.

By Tonya on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 03:52 pm:

I shop early for most things but get the things they talk about towards the end. Jade is only 2 so she enjoys everything right now and for other family members gifts (young kids) they get the same things every year and outfit and a book.

And yes Reds sorry I am 167 days away from our trip next year!!!

By Bellajoe on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 04:14 pm:

I don't hate you, i envy you. But i can't imagine thinking about Christmas shopping in August. Thats just me. I actually enjoy Christmas shopping during the holidays. The decorations and Christmas music in the stores help me get in the mood (for shopping, that is )

I will check out that website though!

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 04:36 pm:

"So, for those of you that shop early, do you shop early for your dks?"
Yes--I shop for everyone on my list. My kids are only allowed to ask for three things. They generally know what they are after their birthdays (mid year). They get more than 3 but this gives me a place to start. This year they are getting a lot of things they "need". Example: baseball bat, helmet, dance jacket, etc. The big gift we are surprising them with is annual passes to Disney. I have the pass info wrapped in a box inside 8 other boxes. So it will take them 9 unwrappings to get to them. Tricky huh?
I like browsing during the holidays but having my shopping all done gives me time to bake and go to parties. I do not have to worry about getting everything done. I watch my sister stress out over the shopping and the cooking and I know my way works much better (for ME anyway).

By Kaye on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 04:38 pm:

My kids don't even know what they want for Christmas! The new cool toys haven't hit the shelves yet!

I do a little shopping year round, I tend to take care of adult family members earlier rather than later. BUT life has happened to us more than once and it really is hard on me to have a gift for someone who died after I bought it.

I also like the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I get most of my shopping done on the day after thanksgiving, I tend to go back out on the 20th to finish up.

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 04:40 pm:

I'm envious of you too. I can never get that organized. I *do* love to shop Thanksgiving weekend, because I like the chaos too - it really puts me in the spirit. But I have to admit, I hate not having my gifts bought when December rolls around.

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 05:11 pm:

You couldn't pay me to shop on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving). I can't stand crowds!

By Reds9298 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:03 pm:

Me either...No way to Black Friday.

By Jackie on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 09:57 pm:

I love Black Friday. I acutally dont know why, because I hate crowds. I guess it is a tradition for me. I love reading the ads the night before, and figuring out what store I want to go too. Normally I go to only one.

By Imamommyx4 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 10:34 pm:

I don't like crowds and I don't like to shop particularly. But I love the day after Christmas.

By Tink on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 10:58 pm:

I start gathering ideas for gifts about now (just asked for gift lists from relatives this weekend) but most of my shopping gets done around the end of November or beginning of December. I enjoy autumn too much to not try to enjoy each season as it comes. I don't like to shop on Black Friday or when I know stores will be too busy. Shopping during off-peak hours is one of the perks of being a SAHM.

By Karen~admin on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 07:59 am:

Yvonne, I don't actually usually ever *buy* anything on that day, I just love to go to the mall on that day! Strange, I know.......

I also love to be in the mall the day after Christmas. My friend and I did that for a number of years, and we have some fond/hysterical/shocking memories that we laugh about frequently, of some idiots actually FIGHTING in the stores over items. ROFL

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 08:31 am:

I tend to shop, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but not on Black Friday! LOL! I usually brave the stores, on the day after Christmas, though, if I need more wrapping paper.

By Eve on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 08:53 am:

Wow, good for all of you thinking about it so soon! I wish I could get going earlier, especially when my Amex bill rolls in around the Holidays. I should at least do the kids now! I'm going to have to check out that website. Thanks.

By Wandilu on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 06:24 pm:

I am sending out my Christmas cards TOMMORROW !!!No joke! Actually,I always but cards and forget to send them.And I also am a big prankster,and I love to make people laugh.So,I thought I would send them out now and give everyone a laugh.Then I won't have to try and remember them at Christmas!!

By Reds9298 on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 06:49 pm:

That's funny! I have an ex sister-in-law that sends out a New Year's card and not a Christmas one. I had never heard of that!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 07:15 pm:

I should really start working on the Christmas letter. It would be nice to have cards ready, by Thanksgiving! 2 years ago, I actually got them out by mid-December. It was actually before my sister, who's johnny-on-the-spot, with that stuff. Last year, was after Christmas again. Bummer.

By Kaye on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 09:38 pm:

I bought a Christmas gift today..woo hoo! I was at target and found a game on the clearance rack that one of my nieces will just adore. So I picked it up. Who knows I may shop early this year!

By Bea on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 10:44 pm:

We plan to skip Christmas this year. We are driving to New York and getting on a ship going to the Caribbean. We'll get back in time to join our son and his family in Pittsburgh for the New Year.

By Mrsheidi on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 10:51 pm:

Are you guys high?

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 11:32 pm:

I've been on 2 vacations, over Christmas! The first time, was when I was 15, and went to Mexico, with my girl scout troop and the second time was when I went to Florida, with my family, when I was 19! LOL! When we went to Florida, we opened presents before we went. I think we got stuff related to Florida, or it was our plane tickets, or something. I can't quite remember anymore.

By Paulas on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - 01:16 am:

I bought and wrapped some Christmas presents while on holidays so I wouldn't have to pay for shipping. My sister, the brat , already opened her gift though. So much for shopping early.

By Unschoolmom on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - 07:45 am:

>>Are you guys high?>>

Why yes Heidi, high on the spirit of Christmas!

heeheehee.

I did however fall into one of the 'buying early' traps last night. I was so exited about a bundle of computer straategy games I bought for my husband for christmas that I actually gave it to him...Only 4 months early.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - 10:22 am:

See, right there is my problem!!! When I find a gift I'm really excited about, it is SO difficult for me to wait to gift it to the person! I LOVE shopping for the perfect gifts, and I love giving them!