posted on December 16, 2004 05:28:33 AM new
Not going to list for the next several days! Now I can get down to the business of Christmas!
I haven't decorated the tree, bought a SINGLE present (and I have to send to both coasts), sent a single card, baked a single cookie...ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH! BAH HUMBUG!
I shipped out 200+ items last Saturday and another 50 on Monday. I AM FRIED! I thought the postcard biz was supposed to be QUIET between Thanksgiving and Christmas! I hate to stop the momentum, but my kids are thinking I am an unfit mother and ready to report me for neglect! (the youngest is 18).
I just put the Halloween pumpkins in the garbage (never got around to carving them) and took the Thanksgiving "welcome" wreath off the front door. I think I can toss the now-dead hanging basket planters while I am at it.
Of course hubbie is on another of his biz trips. I look up at that 7'+ tall tree we cut the day after Thanksgiving and wonder how the heck I am going to get that star on the tippy top (I am 5'3" with too short arms)!! Kids are coming home from college on Saturday and want Christmas when they get here.
Clock is ticking and here I sit....and sit! I just can't get in the Christmas mood this year - anyone else having the same problem?
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on December 16, 2004 07:17:36 AM new
No, no problem. Get the "kids" to help you with the tree or find a ladder..lol. Try to enjoy the time and do not work yourself to death.
Have fun!
posted on December 16, 2004 07:55:35 AM new
I put up my little 3 foot tree with all my dated Hallmark ornaments on it so I could enjoy it while I did my final for Christmas listings but that's all I have done. Plan to stop today and do my Christmas stuff.
250 items - OMG you must be fried (guess I'm lucky that my stuff isn't selling right now - lol)
Christmas is a time to be with and enjoy family - so don't stress - just enjoy. Have a tree decorating party on Sunday and have the kids invite their friend to help with the tree. You may be surprised how much you will enjoy that too!!!
posted on December 16, 2004 08:02:27 AM new It's okay you're typing here instead of getting busy, Neglus!! ... you deserve to put your feet up for just a while and relax and take some time for YOU! ...
I at least put our tree up a couple weeks ago, but now I'm slave to computer again, whilst the hubby is out doing the outside chores and errands and shopping ... but that's okay with me, because it's really COLD out there! lol ... I love looking out at this weather, but not being out in it.
posted on December 16, 2004 08:04:22 AM new
I am right there with you! No money in the house even though things have sold on ebay. Never seem to make more than 2-300 a month though. Need more, expecially for sitting here 5-8 hours a day. We found a small tree that held some of the girls homemade ornaments. That's all that will fit, so the rest are packed away. I babysit my niece to pay for groceries(that's all it covers) she fights with my daughter most of the day. Finally gotten most of the shopping done for Christmas. Thank goodness for clearance racks! I collect things throughout the year, then I feel like I'm jipping them because I haven't spent much on them. No baking here. Kids get out of school Wed. Hoping to hang onto some money to do things for 2 weeks. Asked for movie gift certificates so we can go see some movies. Keep remembering how blessed I am with 4 beautiful girls and food on the table, and Jesus was born for me.
posted on December 16, 2004 08:09:44 AM new
Here's my confession: We don't make a big deal out of Christmas, decorating-wise. A wreath at the front door, a tiny tree on a table (our living room is small and awkwardly sized), maybe some special candles on the dining table. For about 30 years my rule has been no "entertaining" at Christmas. We have friends over occasionally during the year, but we don't give a Christmas party at all. Our grown children all give to the grandkids but the grownups draw names. I know this sounds stark and barren, but we actually enjoy the month of December, go to events and concerts, hang out, without feeling we should be shopping more or baking more. We visit our grown kids, taking turns on where to go.
We do send out cards to friends in other places, and I make a cookies or banana bread for my pals at the post office. Tips for the gal who cuts my hair and our cleaning lady.
I'm not a Bah, Humbug person, but I do feel that the commercial aspects of the holidays are way out of control.
posted on December 16, 2004 08:35:05 AM new
UPDATE: Got the star on the tippy top with a ladder (and a prayer I didn't fall INTO the tree!) Lights on the top 1/3...now my kitten/cat thinks it's fun to play with the light strings as they go 'round and 'round! LOL Have to take a break so she forgets about it!
You are right estatesalestuff - I AM going to pace myself today! If I have to pay extra to express mail to my family SO BE IT!!
ROAD - as soon as my kids are all the way grown (as in out of college) we too are going to simplify this whole Christmas thing.
I guess the crux of the matter is that I have been having a hard time since September, when youngest went off to college, finding a balance between personal time and ebay time. Having a kid at home kept me somewhat grounded. My husband travels at least 50% of the work week, so I am alone a lot of the time. College tuition and too much time alone kept me motivated to work a LOT of hours - now I find it hard to stop! Can you spell a-d-d-i-c-t-i-o-n???? Better than booze, drugs or gambling I guess. OK - back offline to finish the lights at least. And Trai & lady jewels, I think I am going to make the kids hang the ornaments!
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on December 16, 2004 08:38:07 AM new
I usually confine my HOLIDAY DECORATING to sticking a pair of reindeer antlers on Ralphie's head & then whistling "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" while the poor kid dances up a storm...
posted on December 16, 2004 08:48:44 AM new
Ditto Roadsmith!
I refuse to be bullied into the mass commercialism of Christmas. Been that way for years. Christmas in my family used to be exhausting for the women and high stress for the men.
Now that all the chidren are grown and relatives are scattered from coast to coast, we prefer to enjoy Christmas by making it a sacred day with friends and family.
By now, I think most of my family and friends know that if I put up a tree it is because I like to see the lights. If I bake, it was because I felt like it.
I give small gifts through out the year when I find something that makes me think of someone. And I much prefer receiving surprises through out the year. It is a nicer way of showing others how you feel about them without all the holiday stress.
I find Christmas much more enjoyable when I celebrate the season quietly. We usually have dinner with family, but don't have to experience the big Christmas morning break-down anymore.
IMHO, if we get back to teaching the kids and grandkids that Christmas is about family and sharing, there would be much more joy for everyone during the season.
posted on December 16, 2004 10:06:23 AM new
Whew. I'm relieved that others here feel as I do about the whole Christmas thing. Sometimes I feel like a misanthrope--or I fear people would think that, if they only knew how little we do in December. We have everything we need here, and what we don't have we buy during the year. I'm not into furs and jewels, either. A bottle of my favorite perfume lasts me a lonnng time.
Selling on Ebay, and seeing All the Stuff people put out for yard sales, just reminds me that I don't need more stuff. It has really turned me off on buying odds and ends.
Clean Sweep, the TV show, has also taught me a lot. If we have a collection and don't display it, we're not honoring it. If we have things from parents and grandparents and the items are kept in a box in the garage, we're not honoring their memory.
posted on December 16, 2004 10:47:53 AM new
No tree yet...no cookies...no decorations...no Christmas cards sent.
I was unlucky enough to be born 10 days before Christmas and then passed this curse to two of my three children. The youngest 16 shares my birthday and my oldest (21 today) born the day after.
It's tradition that the tree and decoration and baking don't begin until after the birthdays are over. It takes the pressure off, but man will I be busy tomorrow. I may even wait until Monday as the kids are coming over for a big "birthday" dinner on Sunday night.
Then the tree comes down sometime in the week following Christmas.
posted on December 16, 2004 10:54:57 AM new
For some reason, Christmas is not in the "air" here either. Sales are way down, in the income department and everyone here just got their gas bill and fainted! Very few people decorating outside this year, me included. (No money for extras) As far as decorating, not really in the mood so... I think its going to be the small fiber optic tree only this year. I'm sure the dogs won't mind. Oh well, off to more fun.
Kevin
posted on December 16, 2004 11:09:09 AM new
I thought I was done. I really did. Last night I cleaned everything up and got the majority of supplies out of the way and then it happened..... I opened that damn box on the bottom shelf simply marked "Stuff". Well, it turns out that "Stuff" is my speak for "That box of misc. pieces but I'm just not sure I want to invest time and effort into dealing with it right now" items. At least 300 and some of them. All of which I now need to sort, inventory, photograph and describe for FLD listings. I don't care what anyone says, cleaning is not always a good thing
I guess I am not done.
Oh well, the plan for the day was baking and creating and that plan must not be derailed and so I am off to create my own style of Christmas spirit by way of Chocolate Rum Balls & Orange Bourban Balls. If nothing else it should help with the originality of descriptions I write up this evening. Probably won't do much for the focus on pictures though... Guess I'll save those for the weekend.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Dec 16, 2004 11:10 AM ]
posted on December 16, 2004 11:18:36 AM new
" usually confine my HOLIDAY DECORATING to sticking a pair of reindeer antlers on Ralphie's head & then whistling "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" while the poor kid dances up a storm.."
LOL Tom, and I assume you will post pics of that here??
posted on December 16, 2004 04:51:27 PM new
I might put a Santa Hat and beard on the cat,other than that I quit decorating years ago. Now that I got my FP listings done I might bake Christmas Cookies and talk the hubby into making me some fudge. Looks like we might have some foul weather tomorrow so I guess we stay home.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on December 16, 2004 05:38:12 PM new
Several years ago I decided to decorate every room in the house. Even the bathrooms had little candle trees on the counters.
I was fine putting it all up - but taking it down was exhausting. It was all very pretty, if I do say so myself, but I'll never do it again.
posted on December 16, 2004 05:43:50 PM new
cherish-you're right-I used to have alot of decorations-I used to put up lights outside,but a real pain to take them down.Most people on our street dont put up decorations outside anymore either
posted on December 16, 2004 08:07:38 PM new
Got our tree up last night and put lights on it. We have four cats and two are barely over a year old. I had to "test" them to see if the tree was still standing by this morning. Luckily it was. (The trash can didn't fare so well}. They didn't knock it down until before we got home this evening. We walked in and the tree was leaning against our entertainment center. I risked putting ornaments on the tree anyway. I didn't put any breakable, collectible or glass balls on it. Maybe next year. One of the younger cats has already tried to play with one of the lower ornaments.
A couple of years ago with one of our other cats (he was just a few months old), we couldn't get past keeping the tree up. I didn't even have a chance to decorate it. He kept knocking it down so I gave up and put it back in the box. Last year we didn't even bother with the tree.
posted on December 16, 2004 10:48:39 PM new
Well I got the lights on the tree and some of the decorations - I'll save the rest so the kids can share in the fun . I powershopped and got all of my out-of-town presents bought and am wrapping now. I thought I had to mail by tomorrow to make it by Christmas but my sister told me it was YESTERDAY! Always a day late and a dollar short!
I wish we had two buck chuck here in mpls!! Might have to open a bottle of Emil's special Australian wine to celebrate all the things I got done today! Still not in a ho-ho-ho mood though.
**********************************
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on December 17, 2004 06:47:36 AM new
I had my parents and my brother and his kids over last night. My Dad put up the tree, as he's done at his own house for centuries, and then my brother and his kids decorated the tree- they loved it, cause I have no glass ornaments.
My oldest niece is almost four years old, so the bottom half of the tree is COVERED in ornaments, while the top half looks normal.
My Nephew is 15 months. I spent most of the evening baby-chasing (it's not baby-sitting if you don't get to sit).
Overall everyone had a good time, and it only cost me a couple of pizzas.
But guess who gets to cleanup the mess today and the tree in a couple of weeks
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Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web!
posted on December 18, 2004 03:10:38 AM new
fenix-
Care to share those candy recipes? I'm always looking for new ones. (I figure if someone else is making them, they must be good!) My mother makes the very best peanut butter balls/logs. The filling is so-o-o creamy!
I have a few cheesecakes I need to make. (Jazz took some to work, so I got a few orders. She's a good girl, she shares..lol!)
We did put a real tree up this year. Since it's just Mark and I, last year we couldn't get in the spirit. This year we felt the need. (If that makes sense.)
Got to finish up a little shopping. I cannot believe I still haven't gotten anything for MY mom! I, too, buy throughout the year at art shows and such. But we gave up ALOT of shows this year (3 weddings and 2 graduations). Whew!
Mix cake mix, egg and margarine, Press into the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch pan. Mix remaining ingredients and pour on top of the first layer. Bake at 355 degrees F for 45 minutes.
posted on December 18, 2004 07:56:42 PM new
Anyone have a good recipe for bourbon balls? Classic...I know what you're thinking, so go ahead and take your best shot
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
