Christmas Cards

Do you send Christmas cards?

I have mailed Christmas cards once, maybe twice.

One year, we got some great family pictures taken at Target and went ahead and ordered cards to send on the spot.

Another year, we had pictures taken near the holidays, and were given a couple of sample cards that we then mailed to grandparents.

One year, I sent out an email update with a few pictures attached.

My biggest reason for not sending Christmas cards is money. It doesn't seem like much, but this time of year is so expensive that it is hard to justify spending another $50+ on portraits, cards and postage. I know that makes me sound like a cheapskate, but non-essentials are hard to work in sometimes.

But I love Christmas cards. I look forward to receiving them in the mail. Photo cards are my favorite, but I've received some really pretty traditional cards as well.

I keep all the cards that I receive. I used to stick them on the fridge or let them pile up on the counters, but a few years ago, I found a way to display them.

I got crafty and made myself a card wreath. (Thanks Pinterest!)

I spent a windy day spray-painting a bunch of clothespins green, and this is what my efforts yielded:

It's my favorite thing that I've made, aside from my children.

Each December, I hang it up and anxiously await the cards that will fill it.

Each year, I get nervous when it is mid-December and I only have two cards. But then my busy friends and family come through and it inevitably gets filled up with smiling faces and beautiful designs.

Then Christmas comes and goes and I am ready to tear down all the decorations.

But I can't bring myself to throw away those beautiful cards.

So I hole punch them and stick them on a binder ring.





Yep. I'm a pack rat.

If you have sent me a card since 2011, I still have it.

It's fun to flip through and see how much everyone has grown and changed. It's interesting to notice families come and go as time passes and friendships change.

Will I be sending cards this year?

...Are you serious? It's Christmas Eve. I'm totally out of time.

But perhaps I will put together an online card, in the form of a blog post, sometime within the next week.

And perhaps I will set aside money for cards to send next year. I could take my own pictures to lower the cost.

I doubt I'm the only one who loves them so.

Six Useful Things I Really Want for Christmas

The holidays season is at hand and I've decided to dream big this year. I'm thinking useful gifts. Practical. Problem solving. We don't need any more candles or stuff for our kitchens, do we? The items on this wish list solve actual problems and would help all of us to enjoy the holiday season more. These magical gifts would make the holidays brighter.

1. A new date for Christmas

Ideally, Christmas would relocate to the end of January. Right now, Christmas falls right at the beginning of winter, leaving us with months of cold crummy weather and nothing to look forward to.  The long winter days wouldn't be so bad if we knew Christmas was on its way. Plus, Thanksgiving could get the time it deserves instead of being lost in the shuffle between jack-o-lanterns and stockings.  Let's spread these great holidays out. January 25th would probably be the easiest. This would increase the chance of getting snow on Christmas, which, in my opinion, is the only time snow is magical rather than a giant hassle.

2. Santa Goggles

Slip these goggles on and look at the nearest child. Green? They don't believe in Santa anymore. No need to censor yourself. Red? The kid's a believer. Don't ruin it for them on accident. These can help you spot those awkward getting-older kids who are right on the brink of having their magical dreams crushed but haven't crossed over yet. You don't want to be the one who drops that bombshell. Kids who are of the scroogey, non-believer type bent on ruining the fun for others (yes, these kids exist, my cousin was one of them) would flash neon colors so you could steer your innocent little believers away. 

3. Revamped Elf on the Shelf

Instead of just spying on your kid all day, give that Elf a useful job.  The new Elf on the Shelf takes away one toy your kids don't play with every night leading up to Christmas and donates it to a child in need. Not only would that make it easier to find space for new toys, but it would also spread the holiday joy to kids who might not receive anything. We don't currently use the Elf (just another thing for me to forget) but if he helped me convince my kids to give away their old things, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. 

4. Master Holiday Calendar

This magical calendar system automatically coordinates family gatherings. It takes tricky work schedules and out of town in-laws into account and selects a date for everyone to get together. It also keeps track of which side of the family got to celebrate with you on actual Christmas last year so there are no more hurt feelings if someone's gathering gets moved to the Sunday after. Say good-bye to rushing from house to house on the holidays and hello to more relaxed, enjoyable visits. 

5. Calorie Deferment System

Between Halloween candy and those magnificent Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts, calories should not count at all in the last few months of the year. This system allows you to take all the calories you consume around the holidays and spread them out evenly over the next calendar year. 

6. Pneumatic tubing between my house and Amazon

This would take all the crazy out of holiday shopping. No more fist fights on Black Friday or that awful realization that you are out of time for online ordering and have to brace the stores. Simply order your items online and they arrive instantly through the tubes. This gift keeps on giving. After Christmas, Just send your duplicates and unwanted gifts up the tube and replacements arrive automatically. No need to wait in long return lines at the store. Amazon needs to get on this.  

If these ideas don't pan out, I'll take a couple of coffee shop gift cards and some new jeans in the next size up.  It'll be a long winter.

What do you want for Christmas?

Which of these gifts make your life easier?

This post is part of the 30 Day Challenge