Winner of the Christmas Planner Giveaway!

A big thanks to those of you who entered our Christmas Planner giveaway :)

I must confess I had a secret hidden agenda... I'm always looking for new things I can start with my two small kidlets...so will be pilfering one or two of those to try out with them this year!

Congratulations to Ros Penson - winner of the My Beautifully Organised Christmas Planner 2011! Marissa will send it to you directly.

Make sure you visit the www.beautifullyorganised.com site to find out more ways to take away the stress by getting more organised!

Here's a compilation of the responses we recieved for Christmas traditions. I love them all!

My mum always bought us a Christmas stocking - the one with the choccies in them (yum) Well one year (when I was about 30 and my youngest brother was 18) she decided that we were too old for them!! The groans of anguish could be heard from miles away and she didn't live it down all day with our constant whinging about the lack of chocolate.. Needless to say she has not forgotten them since and I am 43 and still love getting my choccie stocking lol

We buy plaster ornaments and each paint one every Christmas. I love seeing the progression of my boys' painting skill over the years. The first ones are muddy messes, this year should be good, my oldest is now 8 and can paint "in the lines" I really need help getting organized! My youngest loves Star Wars so I'm always picking things up for him (too much stuff!). My oldest son is much harder and much more picky so I have a hard time evening their gifts out!

My favourite tradition started when our daughter was little. Every Christmas eve we go out for dinner, then drive around the neighbourhood and look at all the beautiful Christmas lights. Then it's home to put out the gingerbread and milk (and a carrot for Rudolph). I hope this continues as Bella gets older, it's so lovely to do something together as a family in these fast-paced times :) 

My favourite Christmas tradition is making the pudding! We always did this with my dad :) Since he passed away in 2009 it is now Mum and I. We buy the fruit and soak it in a container with brandy for 2-3 weeks. The day of the pudding making we listen to Carols and make a day of it. Then we wrap it up in a cloth and tie it up with cooking string. It then hangs on a hook downstairs until Christmas :) 

My favourite Xmas tradition started with Dylan's first christmas. He was given as a gift a hallmark 1st Xmas ornament. Every since, and now including my daughter, everyone gets a hallmark keepsake ornament. The first five years for both kids were the 1st, 2nd etc through to 5th Christmas. After that has been something they are into, so dylans have included toy story, nemo, Ben 10, and many more. Some years we even get two each. They are not cheap, but I look forward to 15-20 years from now still putting them up with the kids (might need a second tree by then!!!) 

My fave chrissie tradition is a champagne brekkie! I was Pregnant with my first last year so I couldnt indulge, and this year I am hosting chrissie for the first time so I really need the organiser! lol!


And here's the original review :)

So we all know that Christmas is the season of JOY right?! A time for celebrating, family, food and fun. But it can also be a time for STRESS!!!  It's easy to forget the JOY when the 'silly' part of the season takes over. That's why I was happy to be asked to review this fantastic Christmas Planner from Beautifully Organised!

 I'm no stranger to Christmas chaos. With the best of intentions I write lists and plan my shopping...but inevitably the lists go missing, the shopping trips with kids get a little out of hand and before we know it, someone's missed out on their socks and jocks!

And who knows that when we're disorganised, things get expensive. How many of you have gone back to the shops over and over for the forgotten items, and then pick up ten more things you probably don't need while you're there?

 The Beautifully Organised Christmas Planner 2011 covers EVERYTHING. From the gift list to the groceries, from the menu to the day planner and loads more. It even takes care of the post Christmas pack away stress with decorations labels for packing away the lights in boxes... pre-empting the stress of finding the decorations next year - LOVE it! Presented beautifully (funny that!) and simply, it ensures nothing is left out. Ooooh I can feel the JOY coming back already! 

My favourite part is the letter to Santa. My little darlings are just getting to the age where the leaving out of cookies & milk....or in our case beer & chips... is becoming a 'thing'. You know, when they actually understand it a little more. So i can't wait to sit down with Miss E1 and write our letter to Santa. It will be interesting to see what she asks for!