Counting Down The Holiday Tasks

It’s 12 Weeks Until Christmas! OMGosh – there are so many things to do between now and then. From Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas, it’s just a never-ending list of tasks to do!

Today I ordered my son’s Halloween costume. In the past I’ve made them, but this year I cant. Due to the local fabric store closing, I just can’t get the fabric I want. So I brokedown and ordered his Mr Incredible costume. (Psst: If you use coupon code GETFIVE at checkout and receive 5% off your order at CostumeCraze.com)

So what’s next on the list? Decorating? Party Planning? Do you even have a list? No – then join me:

The Household Helper’s Holiday Countdown

12 Weeks Of To-Dos and Resources To Help You Enjoy The Events and Celebrations!

I just emailed week 1. Do you want a taste of what my countdown has to offer? Well then here it is – just open or download this pdf: Get Ready For Halloween

If you’d like to receive the weekly task list in your email, simply sign up below!

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New Year’s Resolutions

I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions. I’m more inclined to change something or start something new when I think of it. But this year, I’m doing it – and I’m making it public!

My friend and coach Aurelia Williams says “Telling others will help solidify your commitment to accomplish these goals.” (you can read the whole article from Aurelia over at her blog RealLifeSolutions.net). So I’m coming out with my resolutions for 2009!

My personal resolutions are:
1. Quit Smoking – I’ve already set myself up to succeed this time. I have my supply of lozenges and gum ready and waiting to get me through.
2. Communicate Better With My Husband – or maybe I should rephrase this to Don’t Expect My Husband To Read My Mind and When He Gets It Wrong Lose Patience With Him.
3. Spend More Time With My Friends – while family has always been a priority, my friends seem to have been neglected this past year. I have a few very close friends, and now thanks to Facebook a few long-lost friends that I want to re-connect with.

I have another list of resolutions related to my business and blog, but I won’t list that now. Maybe later…

Are you making any resolutions this coming New Year? Why not share and we can support each other!

Oh, if organizing is on your list this year, I want to help! I’m holding a teleseminar this coming Tuesday. You should join me! Click Here

Thirfty Thursday

Change the temperature in your house. Your thermostat should be set no higher than 68 degrees in the winter and no lower than 78 degrees in the summer. Did you know that every extra degree you raise your heat in the winter can cost you an additional 3% in heating costs? And in summer, each degree cooler that you go can cost you 6% more.

More Christmas Cookies

Last week I shared my recipe for Egg Nog Spritz cookies. Last year was the first time we made them, and right away they became a favorite!

These are a pressed-cookie, and I use an old-school cookie press. This old-fashioned aluminum cookie press is by far the best way to make em!

Because we make more than one kind of pressed-cookie, I use different shapes for different flavors. I had already done the Hazelnut Spritz in the shape of a wreath, so the Egg Nog Spritz are trees.

This is my 2nd cookie press. The first one I bought at a garage sale for $1 and lasted me about 4 years. The turning-handle broke off. (That year, we finished the cookies cranking the press with a vice-grip!) This one was also bought at a garage sale, this time I paid $5 because it came with the original book and disks. I wish there was a date on it!

These Egg Nog Spritz cookies are a bit of work, but they are so worth it! Not only do they turn out pretty, they are super yummy!

Sunday Link Love – Christmas Fun

Tonight, I have a few fun Christmas links for you! I’ve been having some fun browsing and playing!

• I didn’t make a gingerbread house this year, but I decorated one online!
• I had lots of fun playing some games at Santa’s Secret Village.
• We plan on tracking Santa this year online.
• Little Dude and I did some coloring today using these free printables.
• This isn’t free, but I totally want to provide proof that Santa was here!
• I totally got stuck in a time-warp visiting all the homes at the holiday house tour!

Finally, a Christmas LOL!

Christmas Cookies

This weekend was the annual cookie marathon. My sister and I spend time together mixing, baking and decorating cookies. But we didn’t get everything done this year in two-days like usual. Between my three-year-old “helping” and the 7 inches of snow we got, things were delayed to say the least. But fun as always!

As I said, Little Dude was “helping”

Cutting the sugar cookies was serious business…

…and so was the decorating

The finished products

This is just some of what we baked, and I’ll be baking more throughout the week to finish the cookies and make several trays for holiday parties and hubby’s co-workers.

Thirfty Thursday

Wash your clothes in cold water. A surprising amount of a home’s energy bill goes to heating water. In most homes it’s as high as 16%! A great way to reduce this is to wash your clothes in cold water. If you don’t find your current detergent does as good of a job in cold water, look for one of the new formulas created especially for cold water washing.

Silly Survey: Help The Obama Family

What kind of dog should Barack Obama buy for his daughters? I can’t believe how much attention this getting – probably more than the economic crisis or the war in Iraq! Or maybe, it’s getting so much attention because of the crisis and war. We need something fun and positive to focus on.

Anyway, here is a link to a silly survey you can take to help the Obama’s decide – LOL. By participating, you could win a $100 VISA Gift Card. Click Here (sorry Canada – available to US residents only).

P&G Bonus Coupon Book Offer

Purchase $50 worth of ANY P&G products between 12/14/2008 and 1/31/2009 and  receive $120 in coupon savings by mail! Click Here

Your Brownies Can Win You A Kitchen Makeover!

AMERICANS ELECT BROWNIES AS THE COUNTRY’S FAVORITE DESSERT
This season there has been a sweet debate taking place online and in kitchens across the country. Pillsbury® asked Americans to cast votes for their favorite dessert – cake or brownies and brownies were declared America’s Favorite Dessert in the Pillsbury® Campaign for a Sweeter America.  After a national campaign tour with the Pillsbury Doughboy® and an online election, it was Brownies’ undeniable richness that won the hearts (and stomachs) of the nation’s voters.

SWEET CONTEST!!
To celebrate Brownies’ victory, the makers of Pillsbury baking products want to hear how people make things sweeter with their favorite desserts at www.pillsburybaking.com/campaign.  The sweetest entry will receive a kitchen makeover worth $5,000, and Pillsbury will also make a donation to Feeding AmericaTM to help end hunger in this country. (Ends December 31st)

A Holiday Funny

more animals

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