With three children ( not to mention a huge extended family, much of which lives in our area ) I start thinking about Christmas at the end of September - making mental notes on gift ideas, scribbling tentative budgets, scheduling in the little red book that lives in my purse, and eying the house for what needs deep cleaning.
My initial gift ideas for Lola Moon look like this :
My initial gift ideas for Lola Moon look like this :
This tent canopy is from Pottery Barn Kids and would be so fun for her in our sunroom over her art table, or over her kitchen set as shown here
Lola is huge into art of all kinds and could do a ton with these stamps from Magic Cabin
Magic Cabin rocks! The purses are so sweet and the fairy furniture below would be perfect for the fairy area I'm creating for Lola in the front outside of our home.
I'm thinking of setting up the canopy with her toys underneath it by the Christmas tree. She wants a cupcake maker so I'm looking into that, and thinking about Barbies, wooden food for her kitchen, a new tea set, and art supplies. Mr. Curry always gets Lola a special jewelry piece every year- not expensive, just special :) I'm going to do another post on the boys. This helps me stay organized too! ;)
MEANWHILE<
Meanwhile, I have to figure out how to also budget in almost 300$ for Dakota's two cavities, 100$ to spay our cat Hermione before she gets in the family way again, 50$ to deworm our wormy cats (ewwwwww), 50$ car smog, 50$ DMV fee, 200$ for some personal necessity, $100 for the jackets and shoes the kids need and! keep up with all bills and payments.
NOT TO MENTION<
Not to mention, Lola apparently needs 800$ worth of 'eye therapy'.
!
That will have to wait until January.
MEANWHILE<
Meanwhile, I have to figure out how to also budget in almost 300$ for Dakota's two cavities, 100$ to spay our cat Hermione before she gets in the family way again, 50$ to deworm our wormy cats (ewwwwww), 50$ car smog, 50$ DMV fee, 200$ for some personal necessity, $100 for the jackets and shoes the kids need and! keep up with all bills and payments.
NOT TO MENTION<
Not to mention, Lola apparently needs 800$ worth of 'eye therapy'.
!
That will have to wait until January.
You are very organized. I guess it's time...
I found a canopy similar to the one pictured at Goodwill for $10 and I see them there all the time, if you aren't picky about brand you could check it out...all cute little ideas. I've been wishing that we could afford to go out and just buy all the cute little things we want for our kids, but they are happy kids, so a sign that even without all those special little things that would make us feel good to buy them, they are fine. Still, I wish I could splurge when I want to or find the perfect thing.
What is "eye therapy" ?
'eye therapy' is visual therapy..she has a weaker left eye and sees double when she tries to focus and read, and has tracking problems.
i go to thrift stores all the time- once a week- and never have seen a canopy! the ones at PB are on sale
is it weird that i want all those things for myself?
You're a thoughtful mama!
I love those little purses.
I think she will definitely feel the magic when she wakes up... I started to say "3 months from now," and realized, "Yikes! Next month!"
Thanks for the gentle nudge.
I am all over Christmas already too! Glad I'm not the only one. Those things for Lola are lovely, the purses especially (I need that owl one for me!).
And our budget is tight too, and have you seen how much Lego costs these days?! Yikes. But whatev. Can't wait. It's going to be awesome... somehow. It always is.
Yay Kris-mussss!
I wish you were my mom, just because those gifts are AMAZING!
Well, you're certainly on the ball! I'm a bit of a scrooge, apparently... My oldest would LOVE that stamp set, too, though!
Happy shopping! (this is the best part - planning, budgets, window shopping, negotiating)
The fairy furniture...to die!
It's so nice to see that you're excited about Christmas coming soon, although I know the budgetary constraints can put a damper on it all. I, too, love organizing and thinking about what each of my children will receive. There's something really healing about making the day magical for my children. I've given my son Oliver that fairy stuff from Magic Cabin -- the boy version. He still plays with it, and he's eight years old!
Those are the cutest things! Did I tell you that I love your blog? It's one of my favorites!!!
I am almost done with my holiday shopping because I like to take the month of December and really celebrate the meaning of the season without having to run all over the place. We actually celebrate Advent, make an Advent wreath, light candles every evening, clean our shoes for St. Nicholas's arrival in the early morning hours of December 6th, and place them in the window alongside a candle to guide him to our house. I grew up with these traditions and pass them on to my children. One of the best things I can do for them is give them happy memories of childhood.
Oh, before I forget, come along to my www.angiemuresan.com blog. I'm having two giveaways to celebrate my first year of blogging. You never know...
Coolest Mom ever!
Yep, time to start plotting:)
LOVE the stamps and the faries!
you are organized! I havent even thought about it all yet.
your bills sound like mine....I hate money!
Lovely things! I need to get thinking.
Love the little purses. Love the canopy. When my oldest was 6, we got her a new bed with flowy canopy "curtains" (she calls them). We put her to sleep in our bed. Then stayed up half the night putting the thing together, then carried her asleep and put her in her bed so she woke up IN the surprise. It was a little anticlimatic though, because I was in the shower when she woke up, so I missed the whole thing. Still, one of my favorite Christmas memories.
I want the gnomes for me.
I got my daughter one of those canopies once and she loved it for about a day. I don't know why, but the magic wore off quickly.
But you are a sweet mama.
I love all the things you've picked out for her. It makes me so excited to be having a girl.
But man, I do understand being broke as a joke. Julian asked me if I had gotten him any Christmas presents yet (what the eff kind of question is that for a five year old to ask?) and I had to honestly tell him no. Regular life is expensive enough without having to think about buying presents.
When my girls were Lola's age I got them tea sets at second hand stores. A platter with teapot and cups and saucers and little plates ( for the cupcakes she will be making) Anyway, they were full size and the girls use them still.
(They are now in their 30's)
You are great at thinking of presents! I want to be on your list!!
Super selections, and I'd love those stamps even today. :)
what a sweet life this kid has with you. i don't know any other way to say this except to say it. you're a brilliant read - i hope you get a big fat publishing deal with a publishing co. that adores the ground you walk on.
modaspia thank you so much, i dream of it, i hope it happens.
Love all the kid picks!
Well, I know there are all kinds of therapists who want to buy links on blogs...maybe you could find one who would offer free services in exchange for a shout out? You ARE pretty popular these days!
love the little fairies!
I gave those stamps to my daughter for her recent birthday. They are really fun, and the typeface is gorgeous.
This post has been a much needed kick up the butt to get my Christmas organized!
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