A Time To Reflect

New Year’s Eve – a time to reflect back on the year, to celebrate its passing, and all you’ve accomplished [or not].  A time to resolve to do better, to make the new year a better one, to do things differently.  That’s what this post is about.

So, in that spirit, how did your gift giving go this year?  Were your gifts from the heart, finished on time, without stress?  Were they stitched up and wrapped up with plenty of time for relaxing in front of the tree with your loved ones?  Or were you like me......stitching up to the very last minute, frantically trying to remember who you forgot, and surfing for ideas at the 11th hour.  If so, you might be interested in joining me in 2011!

Let's think about Christmas all year long.  Starting January 5^th, I’ll be doing a post every month.  Except for January, it will be on the first of the month.  I figure you need time to recuperate in January – I know I do.  I’ll do a blog post every month, with links to gift idea tutorials, and a Christmas movie suggestion [to get you in the mood, you know].  I’ll add Mr. Linky to the post [and if anyone can help here, it would be appreciated] so you can add your blog name if you’d like to play along.  We’ll be making ONE gift per month – if you make more, that’s excellent!  Then, at the end of the year, if you play along every month, you’ll have at least 12 gifts completed.

There will be small give-aways each month.  I can’t afford to buy for my give-aways, so it will be something I’ve made – and this is an open invitation to anyone who’d like to play along, if you’d like to do the give-away in any month that would be wonderful!  But I will never pressure you to do that.  Like I said, it will be small – maybe a fat quarter or a mug rug.

At the end of the month, you’ll have to post a picture of your gift you’ve made on your blog.  So be careful who you make them for!  By posting your finished gift, and letting me know, you’ll be entered into the give-away.

This bloggy club will remain open all year – if you want to do it that month, you’re in.  If you skip a month, no problem.  I’m doing this to help myself stay on track – so I have gifts on hand – instead of waiting until October or November or even December to start making gifts.  In January, the year stretches out ahead of me, with plenty of time until next Christmas – but somehow, it shrinks and speeds by until I find myself at the last minute, giving up because I waited too long.  By posting, perhaps we can help each other get more accomplished, and stay in the giving spirit all year long.

So come on back January 5^th, and let’s see if we can’t get some things done in 2011 – and have some good fun along the way!

*If you'd like to add the button to your blog, just right-click the picture, save, and use the "add a gadget" on your dashboard.  Choose "picture", then add the link to my blog.  I don't know how to make a "real" button! *