Takin' Care of Christmas

Every year I try to start Christmas shopping a little bit early. We have a child, parents, grandparents, 7 nieces and nephews, and 6 siblings that need gifts, not to mention friends and teachers. I feel like every year on December 20th I am still wrapping gifts and stressing about people. As you can imagine, this just doesn't really put me in the Christmas spirit.

Back in October, I bought 2-3 gifts. It helps to start early because you aren't paying for everyone's gifts on one paycheck. It doesn't sting as much when it is spaced out over 3-4 checks. However, I just couldn't get my groove going this year. I bought a few more in November, but by Saturday I had probably only purchased 6 gifts.

Yesterday, as we pulled into the driveway after church, I started thinking about gifts again.. and then I decided I had had it. I LOVE Christmas, I love giving gifts, I love picking them, but I wanted it to be done. Today. I wanted it to be done so I could enjoy the season and I could enjoy giving my family the gifts I have chosen for them.

So, yesterday, I put my sweet little Ellie down for a nap, then I settled onto the couch with a blanket, a Diet Coke, my laptop, a pen and paper, and I GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS, Y'ALL.

My secret weapons:

Target
Amazon (Prime shipping, of course) (also check for deals)
Etsy
Zulily (double check when you're on Zulily that it will ship by Christmas. I love Zulily but sometimes they send things out 6 weeks later.)

Y'all, I was kicking butt and taking names. Not to mention, I purchased 19 gifts yesterday for under $400. Bada-bing Bada-boom.

So, today, I am going to finish eating my lunch (leftovers from dinner last night) and I am going to sit down and wrap the gifts I already have here in the house. I'm wrapping them so I can be done. Because this week the UPS man is going to become my best friend. And the last thing I want is to open the guest room door 2 weeks before Christmas and see 35 unwrapped presents stacked high and get overwhelmed by the thought of drowning in Amazon boxes and then just shut the door and have a panic attack and be like:

I'm getting it done early. I'm spacing it out. I'm takin' care of Christmas.

I. AM. DONE.