Happy New Year!

Wow it's been along time since my last post. My holidays were splendid! I had a great time with my family at our annual Christmas Eve dinner. Actually we had to do it after Christmas as many of my family members - including myself - had either some type of stomach virus or the flu.

I'm really getting this blogging business. I've already created two more blogs - "Celebrating Aggy" and "Hey Rudolph!" Plus I just learned today how to add a counter so that I can see how many people visit my blogs. Such fun!!! The next blog I plan to create is all about Fall. Second to Christmas, Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. There's so much to do in the Fall...decorate, Halloween, Thanksgiving.

Last time, I mentioned that at work there was a friendly wager between the bailiffs and the court clerks on whose decorations were the best. Well the winners were the bailiffs. The clerks were a little upset because they felt that since their office was much bigger and they had more decorations, they should have won. After the competition, everyone enjoyed the big luncheon. I was hoping to post the pictures today and put up a poll so that people here can tell me which they like better but I don't have the pictures on this computer to show you. I have to get them from my computer at home. Now I'm sorry I erased the memory card. I thought I put them on this computer.

Anyway, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this year's upcoming Christmas. So far I've made of list of homemade gifts I want to do for family members.

• Advent calender made using small gift boxes for my 9 year old niece
• Glass ornaments for the ladies in the accounting office
• Homemade greeting cards
• Holiday handbags made using felt
• New holiday pillows for my livingroom
• A photo calender of all the grandkids for my mom

I've written and rewritten my menu three times...finally got that done. My gift list is 97% done. I never know what to give my mom and stepdad. I have my master shopping listed started and am adding to it regularly as needed. I'm nearly finished shopping for stocking stuffers for my nieces and nephews. It's still early in the year so I'm bound to pick up more stuff. LOL Last year I printed some holiday stories good for reading and will be putting them in a binder. I would like to decorate the front cover of the book with something festive but not sure what. I may even do several books to give to the kids this year for Christmas. Over at Magical Holiday Home, 'May's Monthly Magic' is posted, so I'll be doing some of things listed there as well.

April Rudy Day

One of the things I have planned was to start my holiday craft list. I'm not really crafty so I look for easy, simple projects but that I know my family will love to receive. So I went through my tearfiles and decided that here's what I want to make this year.

I bought lots of Christmas cards after the holidays on clearance but I wanted to make some special cards for people like my mom, grandmother - other close family members. I found this ribbon card project that will be nice to do with my nieces and nephews. They can give them to their parents and grandparents. Plus it will be special because it was made by loving little hands. I love these Merry Christmas and JOY holiday cards. I've added the supplies need to my master shopping list.

A few years ago I made a calendar with pictures of all the grandkids, myself and my brother for my mom which she loved. She still has that calendar up in her office so I'm going to make her another one with updated pictures of everyone. I will also make one for my grandmother but will add all her grandkids, great grandkids, and great-great grandkids.

For a few of my co-workers I am going to make them nice ornaments. I already purchased several packs of clear glass ornaments which I found in Dollar Tree stores. I will fill them with potpourri and glue miniature poinsettias and greenery around the cap then tie with some pretty satin ribbon - ready to hang on the tree.

Baby Blanket for baby's first Christmas

For my 9 year old niece, an advent calendar made out of gift boxes.

For myself and my best friend, this lovely purse will be soooo cute to carry to a holiday party.

My livingroom sofa and chairs are white, so I thought these festive red and white pillows would look really nice on them.

I had planned to go out today to start shopping from my master shopping list but my foot is aching a little from too much walking today (mending from a bad fall) so I'll put it off for Sunday.

Tonight I'll finish my 24 Days of Christmas Activities list and try to start setting up my gift closet. I've made several purchases since the beginning of the year and they have been sitting in my livingroom in a corner in bags. Every time someone comes to visit they head straight toward them - being nosey. I have to head them off and tell them to keep out. LOL I need to get them out of site quickly.

Happy Rudy Day!

This morning I arrived to work half an hour early before anyone else so that I could have some quiet time. In my haste to get here early I forgot to grab my holiday planner. No worry, I remembered what I have planned to do. I brought in one of my Christmas cds and blast it through my computer while I ate some cereal. Once my co-workers started arriving, I turned the music off.

What's Going On So Far

Here's what I've done so far:

1. modified holiday planner
2. created master gift list (Ginger's Challenge)
3. purchased Christmas cards
4. started master shopping list
5. created a budget


For April :

1. plan holiday craft projects
2. create a gift closet
3. make 24 days of Christmas activity list
4. shop from master shopping list (stocking stuffers)

Rudy Day List

On the 25th of each month I will spend the day doing one or more of these things:

1. Create/modify holiday planner
2. Create/modify holiday budget
3. Update address book
4. Create/purchase greeting cards
5. Sign/address greeting cards
6. Plan holiday family dinner party
7. Create/buy party invitations
8. Plan holiday menus/grocery lists
9. Make trips to store for non-perishable foods
10. Gather Christmas decorating ideas
11. Inventory/purchase holiday decorations
12. Calendar-in activities with friends/family/myself
13. Plan easy-to-make weekly meals
14. Update holiday movies/music collection
15. Try a new holiday recipe
16. Create a list of homemade gift/decor ideas
17. Work on a homemade craft project
18. Create/update gift list
19. Shop from master shopping list
20. Set-up/inventory gift closet
21. Inventory/purchase gift wrap supplies
22. Decorate for the holidays
23. Chat with friends at Magical Holiday Home
24. Visit fellow Rudy Day bloggers
25. Make a 24 Days of Christmas activity list

Greetings!

Each month for Rudy Day I will share my plans and ideas in preparing for Christmas. For those of you who aren't familiar with the day, my friends at Organized Christmas and Magical Holiday Home started this monthly ritual to help people like me (procrastinator/last minute person) plan for Christmas. Let me tell you it has really made my Christmases easier to enjoy.