Christmas in July

We are half way to CHRISTMAS!

Only 152 days!!!! So HORRAY for a celebratory Christmas post in July!

I. Cannot. Wait. For Elf. 

The purpose of this post is to serve as kind of a "to do list" for this December..

Let's see how "organized" it turns out... 

1)  Have all shopping done by the 1st week of December

Ok let's be honest. This isn't a realistic goal BUT I am at LEAST going to try!

See my problem is that I typically set myself a Christmas budget- and when 

I finish buying for everyone on my list and am still

under that budget, I kind of continue buying- right up until the day before =/ 

Hellloooo shopping problem!

2) Unique Gift Wrapping

I have been going caarraazzzyy on Pinterest, finding the

cutest ideas for wrapping presents. However, I always come back to

"Who has time for that??"

I'm obviously into details. My mom always says I "obsess over

the way things look." Better said- into details :)

I'm usually the gift bag type because its simple-

bag, tissue paper, done, boom. 

This year I want to try something a little different!

3) Have a killer Christmas tree

This one I am particularly excited about.

Bryan is more about picking out the biggest Christmas tree

but I'm content with a small tree as long as its pretty!

I really like the whimsical look!

4) Bake Christmas cookies with Grandma

Christmas is definitely a hectic time of year. I use to bake Christmas treats with

my Mom and Grandma almost every year but everyone just started getting 

waaayy too busy. Grandma makes some SERIOUS fudge and toffee bars!

Ultimately, I would like for all the girls- me, Mom, Grandma, Aunt

Sherry, Mara and Ashley to do kind of a cookie exchange but

let's not get crazy. I've been trying to nail Grandma down to a baking day anyway

for a "family" baking book. This is another project I'm working on... 

5) Bake in general!
Aside from the Grandma/Corin baking day, there were SO
many things that I saw on Pinterest last year that I wanted to try but
never got around to, starting with those super cute little
Santa sugar cookies above- actually VERY easy!!
Here are a some other festive treats that I want to try: 

There really are so many reasons to bake during Christmas time. 

Christmas parties, office Christmas parties, gifts for coworkers/family, cookie exchanges..

..which reminds me!

Last year we had a super successful Cookie Exchange 

between my girlfriends and I!

leading me to my next point.. 

6) Host another Cookie Exchange

Cookie exchanges are such an easy way to get a variety 

of different sweets! Not to mention a blast with a big group of girls

and a few bottles of wine.

7) Christmas parade with my Niece and Nephew

Last Christmas was kind of a blur between

Claire being diagnosed with cancer and my Nana passing away.

There really was no time for Christmas spirit. Every year Ocala

has a huge Christmas parade. I have gone every year except for last year.

I am ssoooo looking forward to bringing Claire baby to her first Christmas parade!

Now that you're in the Christmas spirit, 

set this as your homepage so you can keep a live countdown

until Christmas 2012. YAY!! 

http://www.xmasclock.com/