I'm very aware of how annoying I am probably going to sound in this post, so let me preface it with saying I have had MANY years when I haven't put away my flip flops until the end of October, when I haven't shopped for Christmas until after 12/20, and when I have only checked off about 1/2 the people on my list. I get it, sometimes you just can't even wrap your head around it.
However, I've also lived the flip side. Which is the über prepared fall where you nest like crazy, linens are pressed and packed away by 9/15, and enjoyed the "I'm done early" holidays where I'm drinking whisky by the fire on 12/20 with all my wrapping done.
So what I'm saying is that there is no judgment, you are where you are any given year, and in the end the only thing that matters is that you try not to drive yourself nutty. This year however, I'm feeling especially "nesty". I think it's because I also feel easily overwhelmed. I'll blame that on the covid year (because let's face it, we blame everything on covid so it feels appropriate). School started this week, and it's a lot of commotion. I'm very glad the kids get to go back, but I'm also hyper aware of the intensity of the energy of a "regular" schedule. My first thought was, "wow, did I really use to do this?" All the driving and all the coordinating--it's a lot.
So to combat my sense of overwhelmed-mania, I tend to get all crazy OCD, I nest, and I organize. I need the next 4 months to NOT feel out of control, so I project manage like an insane person.
Which all leads me to the question of thinking gifts in September. Truth is, and prepared to be annoyed, I've already started collecting gifts for the fall and holidays (and yes, I actually started in July). I have 3 kids with late fall birthdays (horrible time--it's the worst thing ever to have to do a birthday and then Christmas a month later). Then of course Christmas, which this year will include my inlaws so I want it to be extra special. My father-in-law has been battling cancer and I'm very keenly aware of the brevity of these family holidays together, and I want this one to be extra special.
So my strategy has been simple. I'm thinking about it early. When I see something, I get it. I picked up the BKR water bottle when it was on special last week (this will make a great tutor gift--who doesn't love a cool water bottle?) I've grabbed socks as stocking stuffers, a vibe necklace that i know one of my girls will love. It feels good to start thinking about it early because I love giving gifts, but I hate the pressure of giving gifts when I don't have enough time to do it right. If you start thinking early it's so easy to get things done without even noticing it.
I know I sound ancient saying this, but you really can't beat a well stocked gift drawer (darn it mother, you were right), and you can't beat spreading the joy of gift giving over several months instead of a fevered one month. Amanda agrees, and she decided to do a Gifting Saturday section, with everything 40% off so it kind of makes it SO easy to grab a few things and tuck them away. Here's the link (if you are one of "those" people like me who wants to get on it this year :-) ..... GIFTING SATURDAY section!
Here's to a low stress gift giving season!
Signed, ME {lv}
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