The Halfway Point

I know it seems hard to believe, but today we are officially halfway to Christmas! Yay!!

One Hundred Days to Christmas will be gearing up for the countdown beginning on September 16, 2009 (exactly 100 days to Christmas) so be on the lookout for more information coming soon.

To get started saving money, preparing for summer holidays, or getting ready extra-early for Christmas, check out the brand new ListPlanIt for over 400 printable lists and planning pages to put your world in order!

Merry Christmas to All!

Warmest wishes for a family-filled Christmas day. May you enjoy good food and lots of fun.

Thank you all for participating in 100 Days to Christmas! It has been a pleasure working with you to make this the best Christmas yet!! I hope you will all be back on September 16, 2009 to start once again the journey of 100 Days to Christmas. Until then, check in now and again to read timely reminders of upcoming holidays. Merry Christmas!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

We started at 100 and have counted our way down to the very day before Christmas. Today is the final day to do what needs to be done, but above all, to enjoy the beautiful and meaningful moments of this holiday.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to sit around the Christmas tree as a family and read your favorite Christmas story, whether that be the story from Luke about the birth of baby Jesus or "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Feel the magic of Christmas. Absorb it. Commit it to memory. And finally, don't forget to leave out cookies & milk for Santa (and a carrot for Rudolph, too)!

If you have found a way to put the day's post into action, then join us in our efforts to prepare for the holidays season. You may have followed the post of the day, or maybe you followed your own ritual or tradition. Whatever the case, show your holiday spirit (or attempt at holiday spirit) by posting the banner above on your blog, writing a post to let everyone know how you took up the challenge that day, and letting us know about it.

Christmas Eve Eve

If you're planning for your Christmas Eve or Christmas day dinner and have pie or bread on the menu, locate your recipes and break out the flour because today is a great day for baking.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to finish the task of baking so that tomorrow can be saved for the busyness that accompanies the day before Christmas. Do whatever can be done today. For a little extra fun, camp out under your Christmas tree tonight in your sleeping bags. Savor the tree and its beautiful decorations and also the chance to create new Christmas traditions for your family.

If you have found a way to put the day's post into action, then join us in our efforts to prepare for the holidays season. You may have followed the post of the day, or maybe you followed your own ritual or tradition. Whatever the case, show your holiday spirit (or attempt at holiday spirit) by posting the banner above on your blog, writing a post to let everyone know how you took up the challenge that day, and letting us know about it.

Commence Dinner Preparations

Christmas dinner, whether enjoyed on Christmas Eve or on Christmas day, is a time to gather together as family and friends to put aside all of the distractions of the holidays and concentrate on what is important. Good food just happens to be an excellent way to do just that.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to begin preparations of the side dishes in order to save time on the day of the dinner. Cut all the onions, carrots, and celery that you need. Prepare your cranberry salad today and allow it to properly setup. Assemble that vegetable casserole and then refrigerate until the time is right.

If you have found a way to put the day's post into action, then join us in our efforts to prepare for the holidays season. You may have followed the post of the day, or maybe you followed your own ritual or tradition. Whatever the case, show your holiday spirit (or attempt at holiday spirit) by posting the banner above on your blog, writing a post to let everyone know how you took up the challenge that day, and letting us know about it.

Shortest Day & After Sunset

Today is an extra special day for 2 reasons: 1) Winter Solstice (the shortest day of the year) and 2) Hanukkah begins today at sunset.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to commemorate the shortest day of the year by gathering around a fire or lighting some candles to call back the sun. And while you have some candles lit, tell the story of the victory of the Maccabees over 2,500 years ago. Finally, prepare some potato pancakes or latkes (a traditional Hanukkah food) for dinner.

The winners of our last Giveaway for 2 Quarterly Memberships to ListPlanIt.com are Andrea of Under Grace & Over Coffee and Ashley of Baby Cakes.

If you have found a way to put the day's post into action, then join us in our efforts to prepare for the holidays season. You may have followed the post of the day, or maybe you followed your own ritual or tradition. Whatever the case, show your holiday spirit (or attempt at holiday spirit) by posting the banner above on your blog, writing a post to let everyone know how you took up the challenge that day, and letting us know about it.

Last Chance

The goal should always be to have a cushion. With only 5 days to Christmas, today should be a day to tie up any loose ends.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to make one last trip to the grocery store or mall. Finish wrapping up those presents. Take your gifts and Christmas cards to the post office to mail. Spend the morning baking cookies and breads for last-minute gifts and treats for Santa. Make up for a cleaning task that you missed during the week.

This week's Giveaway is the last Giveaway being offered this year on 100 Days to Christmas. Christmas is nearly here and then we will all feel compelled to begin the straightening up process after months of concentration and focus on the holidays. This week we will be giving away 2 Quarterly Memberships to ListPlanIt.com, where members have access to over 350 printable lists and planning pages to organize your life and put your world in order! This Giveaway ends Saturday, December 20 at 6 p.m EST.

You have several ways to enter to win 1 of 2 memberships to ListPlanIt.com:
1) leave a comment here,
2) tweet about 100 Days to Christmas on Twitter and leave a comment here linking to your home page,
3) post to a message board or social network about 100 Days to Christmas and leave a comment here linking to the post,
4) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas' RSS feed and leave a comment here,
5) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post,
6) email this post to friends you know would benefit from some Christmas inspiration & motivation.
One of each of these per day please.

If you have found a way to put the day's post into action, then join us in our efforts to prepare for the holidays season. You may have followed the post of the day, or maybe you followed your own ritual or tradition. Whatever the case, show your holiday spirit (or attempt at holiday spirit) by posting the banner above on your blog, writing a post to let everyone know how you took up the challenge that day, and letting us know about it.