The Christmas book – and why you need it.

Advent is here, and Christmas has officially begun. I’ve been waiting for this a couple of months now, I’m a real Christmas freak! If I had the money and the space, I would be that type of person you would come home to and think: “Who the *beeep* threw up Christmas here??!” Well, as usual I’m on the papery side of things when organizing, and of course when it comes to Christmas too! Here’s the story about my Christmas Book – and why You need one too…

As you all probably have understood by now, – I LOVE to organize!! Organizing is probably my unknown middle name. So add that to my Christmas freakin’, and yes, there you have it – the Christmas Book was born some years ago. I had recipies, ideas and stuff left from last Christmas, that I had to collect in one neat place. So I bought a red binder from Bookbinders Design, it’s as beautiful today as it was then! Even after a couple of incidents with cups of tea. (note to yourself here, buy something lasting…tea and Christmas Book is like two differencies of the same thing, one can’t go without the other!) Ok, so having the binder in place, I had to get a system in it. I had some dividers in black laying around, also from Bookbinders Design, a gold pen and some golden stickers. And there you have it! 

So, down to todays business… My divider from Bookbinders Design had 12 indices, so I found some headings for these. So far I have needed only 9 of them, so find out your need before buying your divider. Also think of what color Christmas really is for you (because this binder is supposed to inspire, and throughout the year at that!!) I’m thinking of switching to creamy white… Well, my indices are: 

Christmas Cards: A numbered overview over who you are going to give Christmas Cards to (because then you can easily see how many stamps you have to buy, and to which country.) To me it is also important to add “make”, “buy” and “other” to each person, because I like to make some of my Christmas cards by hand (and don’t have time to do so to each and everyone of my around 40 recipients..), and also because some get a Christmas letter (“other”)! I have a column at the end of each person with “finished” and “sent”, refering to if the card is written and ready to send, and if I have actually sent it. Well, the last column I am thinking of skipping, because every year I send my Christmas Cards at December the 13th, a little tradition of mine. And of course, I’m saving each years overview so I can see who I’m sending my cards to the year after! I don’t want to forget anyone! And for you who think I’m actually writing an overview like this from scratch every year; No no…it’s all in my Excel Sheet, ready to be printed! 

If you want, you can add ideas for Christmas Cards, texts you find through the year that would be nice to use in next years Christmas Cards…

Advent: An overview over what I give my sister and brother – and now also my son, in their Christmas Calendars each year. This is very helpful throughout, as I am collecting little things for their calendars all year. I also note ideas of what to give. (It would be a spoiler to say what here, mail me if you want some tips!! But I’m strategic when deciding Calendar Gifts – e.g. I’m giving my son – who’s too small to read – a wooden farm for Christmas this year. So some of the Calendar Gifts will relate to this – farm animals, tractors…) I also keep pictures of whatever inspires me when it comes to Advent and the time around it..

Lucia: Here I keep the recipe of “Lussekatter” – which I have to bake every year (the ones you buy are aaaaawful!!!). I also keep Lucia texts, for example for “Natten går tunga fjät”, a famous Lucia song. I’m Swedish, so Lucia is a big deal for me Get up at 7 am to look at the Lucia celebrations all over the country of Sweden is a tradition.

Christmas Gift exchanging: This is the indice which I really don’t need, mainly because I never had to exchange anything I have gotten. (Well, ok…I have switched size on last years baby clothes, but to the same garment.)

Christmaspresents given: Obviously an overview over what Christmas Gifts I have given through the years. Yes, I keep all the lists. Which I am very sure my friend who got Cd’s from me every year is very apriciative for, I’m a bit more creative now a days… (That’s the very best reson about the birth of the Christmas Book actually.) I also note how much money I’ve spent, so I know how much I have to put aside in next years Christmas budgeting.

Christmaspresents gotten: Same as above, but Christmas Gifts I have recieved. Nostalgia at it’s very best, you’ll see!

Written: Christmas poems and quotes. Yes you can Google them every year. Yes you can save time every year by just saving them in your Christmas Book! 

Christmas workshop: Mainly this indice is for ideas for the Christmas Workshop – a tradition amongst my friends. I’m attending several at the end of November / beginning of December. Write down what you would like to make at your Christmas Workshop, and what you have to buy to be fully prepared!

Recipes: Speaks for it self, Christmas recepies! 

Gift Ideas: Throughout the year I fill in what I think my friends and family would want for Christmas. So when the time comes it’s easy for me to make my Christmas shopping list. I also keep pictures and things that inspires me, to help me when I don’t know what to give to someone.

In the back I keep leftovers – to/from stickers, unused Christmas Cards, Christmas stickers, red/gold/silver paper… And that would be it! Something you miss?? Tell me, I’d love to hear your ideas! I’m ready to adopt anything smart and Christmassy  

 What would I do without my Christmas Book….