advent!

it starts in 19 days.
so i really meant to post weekly on christmas ideas.  i also meant to THINKweekly about christmas ideas, but that sort of didn't happen.
well, it happened a LITTLE bit.  i spent one afternoon a few weeks ago coming up with an advent calendar idea based one from inchmark.  i'll show you pics of mine later (read: when i get the time to take some), but i thought i'd go ahead & show you this great idea because it's so great & now i'm wondering if we might need TWO advent calendars this year (i mean, no problem - i just won't sleep until december 1.).

what i love about this calendar& the inchmark one is that they're ways to celebrate the season without getting more presents (or spending more $$).

from ali edwards...

oh my good gracious, the cuteness!  the idea is that each day your kiddos (or YOU) would pull a card & have a little christmas-y activity to do!  the ideas range from small, simple ones:   light a candle & say a prayer for a loved one, or read a christmas book to your sister,  to bigger activities: create some thank you cards before you need them, or bake some treats for neighbors.  you can even include going to get your christmas tree.

 i was a little concerned about the organization of it all (exactly what date would be good for tackling making thank you cards??!), but then it hit me - you can move those little cards around to suit your schedule!  oh the power we moms wield.

AWESOME idea, ali!!!  see here tutorial HERE.