16 days!

Thanks to those of you who commented (I think only one on here, but a few on facebook and a few in person) on my last post, I love hearing your feedback!!

Only 16 days until Christmas, we're getting closer! :)

Aren't you excited?

Have you started your shopping yet? I know that I had all the intentions of getting out early and getting it done early, but there's something to be said for shopping in the spirit. When you shop early and all online, you miss out on the "Christmas chaos." And though it truly is chaos, there's just something about it that makes the the whole experience worth it.

But how to get started? How do you not fall for the over-priced gimicks? How to not blow your whole year's budget in a few weeks?

Put it on paper and stick to it!

Today's Christmas post has been inspired from my love of Dave Ramsey...

(shameless plug: if you don't know who the guy is, please please please go here)

Just as you should with any budget (a whole other post...), you should spend all your Christmas money on paper before you buy a single gift. What does that mean?

1. You need to set a budget.

That's right. Decide how much you want to spend on everyone and make it your goal to not go over. I know, I know, but it's hard to keep everyone to the same limit and the same number of gifts, etc, but don't worry about that yet. Just set a whole number that you don't want to go over.

2. You need to then decide how much you want to spend on each person.

Note: You don't have to spend that much! If you say you are spending 40.00 on mom, and you find something awesome for 26, then great!!! 2 things to do with the extra: Put it in an "overage fund" where all extra goes in and then when you find that perfect gift for dad that is $10 over budget, you can use the extra from mom's gift. Another idea would be to put all the overage into a giving fund and when all gifts are bought, any excess you didn't use is given to a charity of choice.

3. Shop the deals :)

Don't just go to one store and decide to get everything in one day. Think of what people may like and search for the best price. There are tons of sites online that make this easy. Try out PriceGrabber, NexTag, or even google shopping. Also, look for coupons: RetailMeNot and CouponCabin are places I usually check first. Yet another thing is to look for is site who give percentages back on purchases through their site. Bing Shopping gives cashback at online stores like Macy's, footlocker, and bestbuy. Don't just buy off the shelf before you check prices/deals!!

4. Get Creative!**

Don't have a large budget? No worries! Check stores like TJMaxx and consignment shops. There are great antique stores and resale stores all over the area that sell things for much less than department stores. Or how about making gifts? A mason jar of cookies to your coworkers can mean more than the obligatory bottle of lotion or candle (and costs only pennies). Try wrapping your gifts in newspaper.

**Come back for more creative christmas ideas soon, I don't wanna give away all my tricks just yet :)

5. Plan ahead :)

It's hard in a season of giving to not let yourself go a little crazy (I'm the first to fall for this trap). But if we plan ahead we can really save a lot. It never fails that I am running out on Christmas eve to get that last gift or 2 and I always spend more than I ever should have on a pair of socks or a board game. You don't have to plan months and months ahead, but you can make sure you have everything planned out and bought before Christmas eve!

There's so much that can be done to save a little money this season. It's not about having a small budget or a large budget, it's more about simply setting your budget and sticking to it!

So, please share! How do you save money on Christmas?

Soak It up!

17 days!

My tip for today is simple and sweet.

Soak it up while you can!

There are a few things that only come around once a year, don't miss out!

A few things I look forward to all year:

Holiday Candles from Bath and Body works (Frosted Cranberry)

Christmas Blend Coffee from Starbucks

Listening to Christmas Music all day long!

Ginger Citrus Scented Items from Arbonne

Hearing the Salvation Army bells :)

Wassail! (Or Peppermint Hot Chocolate)

What do you wait all year for?

18 days!

Yes, I know I didn't post yesterday. I miscounted. :) Today is 18 days until Christmas, for real.

Let's get past that...

...and move on to the fact that here in central Illinois we all experienced something this morning. The first snowfall. Waking up this morning to the winter wonderland took me to a place I wasn't expecting. Took me back to a snowy night...

Two Winters ago, I was living in Bloomington, IL. (maybe I lived in Normal. I lived right on the line between the two and can never remember which one I actually lived in...anyways...) It was a weeknight, and Bryan was coming over for dinner and to hang out, as he normally did. This night I actually think that we went out to dinner (a rare and nice occasion for us). This was one of the first days of snow*. It had been cold and winter for a while, but no snow. That is until this night.

* For those unaware, I am not a huge snow fan. Really, it's not so much the snow, I think snow is pretty. I think it can be fun, but only if I'm prepared. It's that snow is wet, and there is nothing more bothersome than being wet when you weren't prepared to be wet. I just don't like it. And the cold doesn't make it any better.

(Moving on...)

So, we are walking up to my apartment and before I know what hit me (something that kinda felt like a mac truck) I was face down in the snow. Nope, I didn't trip. No, I didn't get hit by a mac truck. I got hit by Bryan. There he is, laughing it up like we just got done riding the best roller coaster of our lives. He is pushing me around, covering me in snow, thoroughly enjoying every second like a giddy school kid at recess. He looked at me and his expression changed. He noticed I wasn't playing along. He notice that the look on my face was not one of enjoyment, but rather of horror. How could he not understand? We had been dating for almost 4 years! He knew this about me. He knew I hated snow, and to be thrown down into wet muddy snow was the last thing in the world that was acceptable to me. The thoughts raced through my head. So, I did what any other sane person would do in this catastrophic situation.

I ripped him a new one.

That's right. I freaked out. I pretty much treated him like he just killed my cat. (I don't have a cat, nor do I like them, but I guess that's an expression people use for really bad things...) I yelled and screamed and yelled some more. "Don't you understand? Why in the world would you do that to me??" "I'm wet and cold and frustrated now, did you really think that was a good idea?!????" I even pulled out the "we were having such a good night and you pull something like this?!!" I'm pretty sure the neighbors were about to call 911.

Man, was I perturbed.

Perturbed was quite an understatement.

What did Bryan do? He looked at me like I was insane. Of course before he could say a word I responded to his glare..."Me, you think I'm crazy??? You just threw me in the snow!!!!!! You just seriously covered me in cold, wet snow....and you think I'm the insane one?!?"

We just looked at each other in silence for what seemed like an eternity (a very wet eternity).

Then it hit me. I was insane. Did I really just freak out about being a little wet? Did I really just yell at my fiance because he was trying to be playful and enjoy a flirtatious moment with me. Did I really just verbally attack him for such an innocent, loving act?

But I was past the point of return.

I will be the first to admit that I'm terrible with apologies. I am working on it. I'm still not good. But back then, I wasn't even working on it. There was no way that after I freaked out I was about to back down and apologize. That would be admitting defeat.

Defeat is as bad as being wet.

Now I am wet and defeated. Embarrassed and cold.

The night was ruined. All my fault. I think Bryan even left right then and there, possibly without a goodbye. I don't remember exactly, but I remember it wasn't good.

So, what's the point? Why in the world did I just tell you all about how big of a jerk I was, over a little bit of wet snow?

Well, a few reasons. It helps me to see how ridiculous I was. It helps me to realize how far I've come. But most importantly, it helps me more than anything to remember to enjoy the moment.

Something about Christmas time can really stress a person out. All the shopping, and family, and getting everything done before the new year. It's just a little more than I can handle at times. But it's not supposed to be that way. It's the time of the year that you spend with family. It's the time of year for traditions and memories. It's about laughing and lovingly playing in the snow.

I would take it all back if I could. But we all know I can't do that. So instead, I will choose not to make that mistake again, and instead to remember to choose joy.

So, my Christmas thought of the day is this...

If there is anything I can do right this year it's that I will enjoy the moment. Even when my family is arguing. Even when I can't find that perfect gift for someone. Even when there is not enough time and I don't think I will ever catch up. Even when I am pushed to the ground by my husband and covered in wet, cold snow.

Especially when I am pushed to the ground by my husband and covered in wet, cold snow.

Enjoy this season, enjoy the moments, enjoy the cold, wet snow...

Christmas wishing...

19 days till Christmas!

Shopping around, I just happened to run into a few things

I wouldn't mind finding under my tree :)

Square FiestaWare Plates

Anything Frosted Cranberry from Bath and Body Works

though I really have my eye on this soap and lotion duo to replace the old one in our bathroom!

I've always wanted an old sewing machine table that I could refinish...someday...

Toms Shoes, Toms Shoes, and more Toms Shoes :)

Not only are they amazingly comfy and trendy, but for each pair you buy, they send a pair to a child in africa, what more could you ask?

Patchwork Bag from EPOH

(100% of profit goes right back into creating consistent incomes in Uganda.)

What do you want for Christmas?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

At least it is in the Throckmorton home :)

Since we are moving for the 2nd year in a row the week of Christmas (I know, crazy) we had previously decided against doing any decorating. We didn't want to go through the hassle of putting it all up just to take it down and redo at the new place.

But, we just couldn't stand it.

We gave in.

We spent this past Sunday afternoon decorating, drinking hot coffee, and just enjoying the holiday spirit together. Even Stanley got in on the magic :)

There's just something about a Christmas tree, or a holiday ornament, or even a simple wintery decoration that gives the cold weather a rush of warmth.

So, instead of skipping the holiday decor this year, we went all out! We now have 4 Christmas trees (don't worry, they are mini) in our 700 sq ft apartment, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

We officially are down to 20 days until Christmas. That's it folks, only 20 days!

I want to share some Christmas tips throughout the next couple of weeks and I figure I will start day 1 with some decorating tips! :)

Tip # 1 - If you are going to do it, do it right.

A little here and there will just stress you out. Plan a whole day, or at least an afternoon where you have no other plans. Get everything out, make a mess, then decorate, decorate, decorate. When you are done, put everything back away. Don't get halfway through a project or you will never finish! Let it be messy and fun, but get it done! :)

Tip # 2 - You don't have to spend a lot of money.

Bryan and I decorated our entire apartment for under 15 dollars. You don't have to have all new stuff or even all "christmas" stuff. Gather up what you have and get creative! We used 2 old vases from our wedding and filled them with white rock and ribbon to look festive. We used a throw blanket as a tree skirt. We used old scrabble tiles to spell out merry christmas on our bookshelf. We used some marble rock on our bookcases/desktops under our mini trees to look like snow. Start looking around and don't be scared to try new things!

Tip # 3 - A little goes a long way!

A friend told me once that she puts a little something "christmasy" in every room. This means that you don't have to change your entire decor to make it look good. You can use a red washcloth in the bath room. You can switch out your candles with cheap white walmart candles in the living room. We changed out our regular placemats and coasters with red and green ones. Adding a little here and there can really make it look like you overhauled your entire house without doing much at all!

Tip # 4 - Use meaningful things.

Just because the ornament grandma gave you is so 1950, doesn't mean you shouldn't put it on your modern tree. Christmas is about so much more than having the perfect tree. Showcase those mismatched ornaments, or use them in a modern way. Bryan and I were given some ornaments from his parents' first Christmas...we didn't want to get them all mixed up with ours and they are getting pretty brittle, so we placed them in a vase on our bookshelf and they look awesome! Don't get so picky on what you can and can't use that you miss out on the memories.

Tip # 5 - Have fun!

Make it a day to remember. Take pictures. Laugh. And do it together. I didn't veto Bryan decorating the tree even though he didn't do it exactly how I would have. I didn't get upset that Stanley thought it was more fun to lay on our decorations than on the couch. We enjoyed it. And did it together. And that's the best part.

I am so glad that we decided to decorate this year :)

Now I just gotta get shopping!