Testimonials

Christmas Organizing would like to thank the members of our community who graciously have written in throughout the years with their stories and below you will see just a few of them “ it would be impossible to put them all up but I personally read and treasure each letter of thanks I have gotten throughout the years.

Krisann Blair
Christmas Organizing

For the first time ever . . .

I am actually going to be able to send out Christmas Cards, because of this site. Usually I think about them, never do them, and then I'm totally disappointed in myself. This year, I already have all of my addresses gathered, and as soon as the cards are in this one particular store, where I can find nice cards in my price range, I will be ready to start addressing, and have nice little personal things to say in each. I will then be ready to mail them in the first week of December. I've always pushed it off in order to do, heck, I don't know what I procrastinated for. I could probably name several reasons, but this website and Krisann have been instrumental in having me ready to do everything that I want to do. And this website is FUN. And I deliberately put the FUN in caps, because I have been having a blast talking to other people who are as nuts about Christmas as I am. :) Thanks Krisann, for providing a place for me to not feel like I'm weird, because I enjoy Christmas so much. :)

Cathie Nowicki

It is through Christmas Organizing . . .

It is through Christmas Organizing that I have been able to get the holiday better organized and more in hand. I find that I have more time to spend with the family and less time having to race around getting things done. I have gotten some wonderful ideas from the other participants on the list. There has also been a great exchange of websites for additional ideas and information. Krisann, you have done a beautiful job of keeping this going and having it be fun. Continued success now and in the future.

Linda LaFond

Dear Krisann,

This year my Mom was in the hospital from the day before Thanksgiving until the Monday before Christmas. At that point she was sent in the evening to a nursing home. It was horrible-she went on a vent the night she went into the hospital. We thought we would lose her. The nursing home was terrible too and on Saturday they sent her back to the hospital where we still are and they are making mistakes there in her care also-I am ready to move her to a larger city hospital even though it will be a logistics nightmare.

But, one thing I learned from the Christmas Organizing site is to not get too hung up on having the perfect Christmas. I only had up one tree this year-(NOT 9 as usual)-which I DID NOT put up and did not have any other decorations out except for outside deer and a garland. I hated it-but there was not time to decorate when you are at the hospital all day.

I had only a small wooden snowman head and a snowman sweatshirt that was really mine and I had only worn once to give to Mom. I had no time for shopping. I had done my shopping for my daughters and grandson earlier and had them wrapped while I had a few minutes during Mom's hospital stay. No pretty tags, no bows, just paper-plain red that I had intended to decorate but of course there was no time. I doubt that they cared about the wrapping paper...I don't really know...but I DID care.

My biggest problem was cards. I had gotten two beautiful ones for my daughters, my father and a card for my husband but had none for Mom. I was very, very upset over this as my Mom was really into cards. She is very sick and really didn't know who gave her a card-she had gotten some from the nursing home and some had come to their house when she was in the hospital from her angels and also family. But, it made me realize that the holiday is about doing what you can to make it magical for someone else and for ME. I was so sad about Mom's card. It was bad enough not to be able to shop with her and for her, but to not have something that is so important to her made it hard for me-I was so angry at myself and so sick to my stomach. She always hung them up on the doorframe and I did tne same for her at the nursing home (she hated it there and will not be going back there as they do not have the ability to care for her and I slept only 2 hours a night the entire time she was there). Mom made our Christmas's magical for us when we were children and as adults. I will be striving to do the same-not by spending more and more every year as I have been, but by carefully considering each person and doing what will make the holiday magical for them. Next year I will have a carefully thought out cap on spending. I realized that I spent over $600 on gifts for each my daughters and over $150 on my 7 month grandson. That was way too much-around $1400! And my dh has not worked since October due to a fall from a tree with only $200 a week income.

Next year I will be making a list of what would make Christmas special for each person on my list instead of trying to strive for all of it. Son in laws will be hard. And I will start early and do that thing so it is ready for them. Then there will be some small gifts as I love to wrap beautiful gifts-Mom did that for us. I MUST spend less. My amount I spent was way too much this year. This list is for simplifing and I need to do that.

Of course, Mom's health care is still first. So, I need a list and may be able to do bits and pieces even if we remain in the hospital for a while.

Debbe
Christmas Organizing Community Member

Thank you Krisann . . .

I think I joined Christmas Organizing back in '99. I was struggling with depression and my entire life was unorganized. I was looking for help to get organized when I came across Christmas Organizing. Thinking, talking, and sharing about Christmas, and planning for Christmas all year long sure sounded like fun to me, so i joined, and have never been disappointed. I tried other organizing groups, and other Christmas groups, but they were so rigid and non-interactive. CO has always been so friendly and like a family; all members ready to help with any request. And the basic concept presented that broke down big jobs into handleable tasks was also easily applied to the rest of my life. Nobody's perfect, but I have certainly come a long way with Christmas Organizing. Each year the tasks become a little easier, I'm a little more organized, and I get done a little sooner. This in turn allows me time to make things even better, and to relax.

In closing, I'd like to ask....have you ever wished you had some of Santa's elves to help you get ready for Christmas? Well friends, I have found my elves. They are: the Christmas Organizing group and site, my Christmas Organizing notebook, all the helpful members of our group, and our selfless leader, Krisann. This group has truly been a blessing for me.

Carol Anderson

I just wanted you to know what an impact you have had on my Christmas preparations!

In fact it has been a groundswell around here. I started out on the busywomen.com site that referred me to your site and WOW what an impact on me.

I have taken control of my holidays this year. I have sent an email to my family and friends stating my intentions for parties and get togethers from Halloween through new years. I have always been like a willow tree branch getting together at the will of others (who usually steam rolled me). I sent the note out the end of August and now have followed up with all the stated activities.

I have planned to get wish lists out to all my friends and family so they can advise me of their wishes for the holidays. It was accompanied by a cute note stating that Santa checked his lists and found he was missing some wishes so he enlisted me to help him. I sent the note, the stocking/Santa face wish lists with a self addressed stamped envelope with a dead line of November 1st. I further asked each person to enclose sizes of clothes, favorite colors and what their all time top 3 gifts were.

I have arranged the date of a gathering with a family friend (we do this every year). I called her and stressed that I was planning my holiday calendar and she had the first pick of dates for a limited time only. The date was set and secured by Sept 15th.

I have arranged to have a craft day and holiday decorating party in the same day. This allows parents to have a free afternoon while the kids are with me making crafts for their parents. Then the parents arrive; the kids play and parents party and decorate. Those invitations are going out by Halloween. Save the date calls were made by Oct. 1st.

I have started my list of homemade crafts that need to be made. I actually have two gifts completed. I made my mom a gallery glass lampshade. It was my first project with gallery glass. I also made gallery glass for my mother-in-laws skylight in her kitchen. All done!!!!!!!!. I have my sister's gift purchased and wrapped.

The list for Christmas cards has been reviewed and updated, cards purchased and I am starting November 1st with the addressing and signing. I have to complete the newsletter that will go with the cards, but I am on my way.

You are a God send to me and I just wanted you to know it. I know you have been through a rough time and wanted you to know you work is not with out rewards - it is just that I got the reward this time.

All the best to you and yours.

Monica Shilay