Rudolph Day Defined

The History of Rudolph Day For Me

I first discovered Rudolph Day when I became a forum member at Organized Christmas several years ago. Each month we would discuss and prepare for Christmas on the 25th of the month which we called Rudolph Day. There are still monthly postings and assignments on the homepage of Organized Christmas each month. These small steps were the beginnings of my year round holiday preparation and have saved me many hours of worry. Preparing early means enjoying the holiday season more!

Over time I developed a three part approach to Rudolph Day which involves: "Plan, Do, and Fun." This means that every Rudolph Day I like to have something that is "Planning" such as updating lists or making lists, working on my notebook, looking at menus or new recipes, etc. I also including something that is "Doing." This can involve actually buying a gift or stocking stuffer, working on a craft, organizing my storage or gift closet, etc. I added this because I am a BIG planner but not always a BIG doer! The third part of my approach is "Fun." I believe Rudolph Day should be fun so its looked forward to each month. So I include things like watching a Christmas movie, listening to Christmas music, drinking hot chocolate, or buying myself a small Rudolph Day gift.

Rudolph Day is a fun, easy way to prepare for Christmas year round while allowing a lot of flexibility. I hope you will join me on my Rudolph Day adventures. I will provide a list and ideas from my own personal Rudolph Day lists and journal, as well as ideas from others. Getting ready for Christmas has never been more fun!

The History of Rudolph Day (for me)
I first discovered Rudolph Day when I became a member of the boards of Organized Christmas several years ago. Each month we would discuss and prepare for Christmas on the 25th of the month which we called Rudolph Day. There are still monthly postings and assignments on the homepage of Organized Christmas each month. These small steps were the beginnings of my year round holiday prep and have saved me many hours of worry. Preparing early means enjoying the holiday season more!

Over time I developed a three part approach to Rudolph Day which involves: Planning, Doing, and Fun. This means that every Rudolph Day I like to have something that is "Planning" such as updating lists or making lists, working on my notebook, looking at menus or new recipes, etc. I also including something that is Doing. This can involve actually buying a gift or stocking stuffer, working on a craft, organizing my storage or gift closet etc. I added this because I am a BIG planner but not always a BIG doer!!! The third part of my approach is Fun. I believe Rudolph Day should be fun so its looked forward to each month. So I include things like watching a Christmas movie, listening to Christmas music, drinking hot chocolate, or buying myself a small Rudolph Day gift!

Rudolph Day is a fun, easy way to prepare for Christmas year round while allowing a lot of flexibility. I hope you will join me on my Rudolph Day adventures. I will provide a list and ideas from my own personal Rudolph Day lists and journal, as well as ideas from others. Getting ready for Christmas has never been more fun!!!

Christmas Connection #2

Start to get an idea(s) to what you need. Look at your budget. Do you need ideas for presents? Do you need ideas for cards and tags or do you have the perfect one ready to make?

Write up the gift list. Write every family, friend, colleague, group you purchase for. This includes your children, spouse, children's class mates, swaps, etc.

Write down any ideas you have for gifts. If you have already bought gifts get them written down in your notebook now.

If creating your own wrapping paper, get the all the supplies bought such as ribbon/twine, Kraft paper, stamps, stickers, etc.

If creating your own cards and tags, get all the supplies bought such as cardstock, stickers, embellishments, stamps, ink, etc.

Next week there will be another challenge/assignment so we can all get planning for Christmas. This is to help us make things easier in our lives.

If you altered your book/binder that you got last week, please share what you did.

Christmas Graphics - Gift for You!

Thanks for stopping by. To thank you for you time, please snag and save these graphics. To save a graphic, right click on the image and save to your computer.

The Ultimate Blog Party 2009

Welcome to 365 Days of Christmas!

My Brief Introduction

I am: a single mother, a foster mother, a college graduate, a Master's of Education candidate, a feminist, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a niece, a heterosexual, a lover and owner of Chihuahuas, a lover and previous owner of Cocker Spaniels, eclectic, sassy, unique, allergic to milk, an Internet addict, a Christian, a friend, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a counselor, a teacher, a kid at heart, an adult, a woman, a female, a sexual assault survivor, someone working to prevent sexual assault, a chocoholic, a book lover, a scrapbook artist, a photographer, German, Welsh, American, 5'1", a blog junkie, a Christmas fanatic, an advocate for children, supporter of education, a crime show watcher, a hopeful writer . . . I am ME.

To learn more about me, go to my main blog, All Things Cherished.
To learn more about my love of scrapbooking, 365 Days of Memories.
To learn more about getting organized, go to 365 Days of Organization.

Giveaways

Here, at 365 Days of Christmas, the prize is a lovely, hardcover book titled The Heart & Home of Christmas by Karla Dornacher. Artist Karla Dornacher celebrates the Christmas season with her first holiday title. Page after cozy page features her signature artwork with its warm and home-style feel, along with her gentle words of inspiration. I love this book and am so excited to be able to share it with one lucky winner.

If you are interested in this book, please a comment as to why you are interested in receiving this prize and what your favorite part of Christmas is.

At All Things Cherished, the prize is an awesome journal you share with your child. Pillow Talk is a creative way to communicate with your child. Got a secret to share, some admiration to express, or a word of thanks for a job well done? Why not put it in writing? On the pages of Pillow Talk, you'll find 100 relationship building questions for you and your child to answer. In today's world of virtual communication, give your kids the real deal. Something tangible they can see and touch and look at again and again, whenever they want to feel connected with you. The journal is an awesome way to bond with your child(ren) and I am so happy to be able to give one to a lucky winner.

At 365 Days of Memories, the prize is a four-pack of handmade cards (see below). I love scrapbooking and paper-crafting. Recently, I have gotten some very nice compliments on my cards. I am excited to give one lucky winner a pack of four cards for various occasions and holidays.

At 365 Days of Organization, the prize is a high-quality, full-color planner. You have a choice of one planner from primary age through high-school aged children or adults. The dates are from July 2009 through June 2010 so, of course, they are current calendars. There are quotes and other misc. information included. I am happy to be able to share two planners with two lucky winners.

Thanks for stopping by.

12 Ways to Make Christmas Cards

Everyone loves to get cards on Christmas, be it a child or a teenager or even an aged person. Christmas cards have a certain emotional aspect attached to them which makes us feel special. The attractiveness of Christmas cards goes much further the moment we come to know that the sender of the card had made it himself/herself. Handmade Christmas cards add a much more personal touch to the wishes written within.

1. How to Make Christmas Tree Pop-up Card
2. Homemade Christmas Cards
3. How to Make Christmas Cards
4. Card Making Tips
5. Make Your Own Paper Christmas Cards
6. How to Make a Christmas Photo Card
7. How to Make Your Own Greeting Cards Using a Computer
8. Homemade Christmas Tree Card (video)
9. Greeting Cards for All Occasions (scroll half way down page for how-to's)
10. Christmas Card Gallery from About.com
11. Christmas Card Ideas
12. How to Make Christmas Greeting Cards

More fun things to make with the cards you receive each Christmas:

• How to Make a Christmas Card Basket from Recycled Christmas Cards
• How to Make Christmas Cards into Christmas Ornaments

If you start now, you can have your handmade Christmas cards finished early. Do a few a week or on the 25th of each month.

Open the Door to Christmas

When sleigh bells tinkle in the lane
And warm-clad carollers make their rounds,
Open your door to Christmas,
Welcome its happy sounds.
When Yule logs blaze upon the hearth
And kitchens scent the air with spice
And holly hangs on your festive door,
Christmas smells so nice.
Outside your door is a Christmas wreath
And colored lights twinkle on every tree,
People are smiling and pleasant,
Christmas is lovely to see.
Open your door to this Christmas,
To its colour, its goodness, its tone,
Take Christmas into your home and heart
And make it your very own.

~~ Mabel Jones Gabbott ~~

Christmas Thought of the Day - 3/17/09

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.
~~ Peg Bracken ~~

Your Christmas Scrapbook - Journaling #2

Journaling

When December rolls around, do you excitedly break out boxes of holiday decorations? What Christmas decor do you collect . . . village houses, snow globes, snowmen, or nativities? What is your most cherished holiday heirloom? Which item have you acquired this past Christmas season?

Christmas Thought of the Day - 3/16/09

Home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.
~~ Emily Matthews ~~

Christmas Connection

Instead of waiting until fall to get started, let's get started early this year. Just imagine how organized you will be, how much more can be done, how relaxed you will fill when Christmas time gets here.

These challenges are posted help us get ready for Christmas (or whatever holiday(s) you celebrate). We will be planning, getting presents picked out, gifts made, cards made, tags made, things to help you get ready for that fun, special day.

Your First Assignment
Get a notebook/binder. You can alter it, if you wish. You might want to find something you can use for dividers too. This notebook will fill up fast so find something that will hold enough paper to write all your stuff down. Go find a special pen just for this notebook.

Make your dividers. Your list may look like this. Make the dividers to fit YOUR needs.

Gifts - include bought and handmade
Cards - store bought or hand made
Tags & wrapping stuff - buying or making
Decorations - how are you going to decorate
Parties - attending or planning
Baking - buying or making
Shopping List
Inventory - where are all the decorations stored

Christmas Thought of the Day - 3/12/09

If you don't have Christmas in your heart you won't find it under the tree.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 3/10/09

It is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one s fellow man that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit.
~~ Isabel Currier ~~

Your Christmas Scrapbook - Creative Concept #3

Creative Concept

Add texture to pages by crumpling and smoothing cardstock before using it to create photo mats, embellishments, journaling blocks or backgrounds.

You can use fine-grain sandpaper to rough up the edges of the cardstock or accents for a distressed look.

Your Christmas Scrapbook - Creative Concept #2

Creative Concept

Ribbon, fibers, and floss are ideal accents to add dimension and texture without a lot of bulk. Use them as borders, decorative trim, or to hang charms, tags, etc.

Your Christmas Scrapbook - Creative Concept #1

Creative Concept

Not all layouts require photos. Your journaling is just as important as photos when recording family memories. From time to time, make a dressed-up journaling block the focal point of your page.

Your Christmas Scrapbook - Journaling #1

Journaling

Define what Christmas means and what makes it important to you. Is it faith? Family? Festivities? Traditions? Giving and receiving? What is "your reason for the season?"

Your Chistmas Scrapbook

A new column, titled Your Christmas Scrapbook, will take place here at 365 Days of Christmas.

We will work on the pages throughout the year so by Christmas time you will have a beloved keepsake or gift.

Whether you consider yourself creative or doubt your artistic ability, you'll soon discover that being innovative is easy with a bit of assistance. Add a few basic tools, a little time, and a handful of photographs and you've got all the components to build a scrapbook chronicling your fondest Christmas memories.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 3/2/09

Trimming the trees with happy hearts, that's the way the holiday starts.

12 Days of Christmas

Pictured below are patterns you can use for personal use to make ornaments based on the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

























If you do create ornaments using these patterns, please come back and share the link in the comments section.

Happy Christmas Blogoversary!

After 365 days and 385 posts, the anniversary of 365 Days of Christmas has arrived.

It is good to see you visiting and commenting. It is good to know there are other Christmas fanatics out there.

In honor of the 1 year anniversary of 365 Day of Christmas we are having a contest. Whoever has the most comments posted here at 365 Days of Christmas for the next week will win a Book of Christmas Carols.

The rules:
Starting today, March 1, 2009, through March 8, 2009, the person who visits the most posts and leaves the most comments at each post will win.

The prize:
Hardback copy of (The Real Mother Goose) Book of Christmas Carols, copyright 1993. With each song, the history and the music is shared as well.

Please tell others about the contest and visit my many posts from the past year.