Destressing Christmas, Part 3 - Smart Gift-Giving

My brother loves the crowds and the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. I don’t know many others who do, though! I am stressed if I have to elbow my way through a store or not be able to find what I want because I waited too late. If you are smart, you can make holiday gift-giving less stressful. Here are a few ideas:

- Make a master list of gifts you need to buy or make along with a budget for the amount you want to spend. Stick to your budget and don't buy impulsively. Don't compete with family and friends - spend what you can afford.

- Set a deadline for finishing your shopping in order to avoid crowds, the last-minute rush, and poor selection. Remember those gifts for teachers, religious teachers, extra-curricular instructors, and stocking stuffers. Buy the same gift for several people on your list, if appropriate. Take advantage of the sales after Christmas to shop for next year's list.

- Plan your shopping trips. What stores might have most of your gifts? What is the most efficient route to the stores on your list? A little planning avoids backtracking, saving time and gas.

- Consider gift certificates that can be sent to the recipients via email or U.S. mail. Or shop online and have your purchases sent directly to the recipients. You don’t have to wrap either of these gifts!

- If you're into making your own Christmas gifts, mass produce a gift and give it to as many people on your list as possible. To reduce stress, choose a gift that doesn't have to be made at the last minute. Create deadlines for each stage of production, if applicable, so you’re finished in plenty of time.

- As you buy or make gifts, wrap them so you don't have a massive pile to do at one time. Use TV time or other mindless time to wrap. How efficient - you're doubling your time!

- Your children will be bombarded with commercial after commercial during the holiday season, and they may want it all! Have a conversation with them about realistic expectations, so they won't be disappointed. Make gift suggestions to relatives who are shopping for your children.


If you want to get away from expensive or excessive gifts, consider alternative ideas:

- Instead of exchanging gifts, experience an event together: a day trip, a service project, a holiday event, etc.

- Take the money you would have spent on gifts for each other and donate it to a cause or your favorite charity or a needy family. My parents live in Oklahoma and the year of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, they asked us to donate to The Salvation Army in their names, as that organization was so instrumental in helping during the aftermath.

- Consider drawing names or doing a "nice" white elephant game with a dollar limit on the gift.

- Give gift certificates of your time or service: babysitting, cleaning, meal preparation, handyman work, running errands, etc.

- Consider a “buy nothing” Christmas. This site gives scores of ideas from people who want to leave no footprint on the earth. Last year we gave home-grown herbs from our garden to some of our family and friends.

- With some friends or family, you may want to call a moratorium on gifts, especially when you get to the point of not needing anything. If it’s the thought that counts, try writing your thoughts down and giving them a note or letter expressing your gratitude for their friendship or love.

The holidays can be a stressful time. With a little planning, you can reduce the stress of holiday shopping and enjoy blessing your friends - without straining your budget or your temper!

What are your creative ideas for gift-giving?


Related Posts: Destressing Christmas, Part 1 - Think Through Your Expectations, Destressing Christmas, Part 2 - Thinking Through the Needs of Your Family and Friends Posts from 2007: Destressing Christmas, Part 1 - Think through your expectations, Destressing Christmas, Part 2 - Think through your family/friendship needs and commitments, Destressing Christmas, Part 3 - Think through gifts, Destressing Christmas, Part 4 - Think through cleaning/decorating/entertaining, Destressing Christmas, Part 5 - Think through your health, Destressing Christmas, Part 6 - Think through your calendar, Organizing Your Holiday Meals

My National Preparedness Kit Saved the Day!

Remember that land line phone we talked about in our National Preparedness Kit? Well, mine came in handy today. Yesterday my regular phone in my office started acting strange so my husband went out to get replacement batteries ($24 ugh!). And the phone had to charge for 24 hours.

Today when I got a call, the phone was still malfunctioning. So I grabbed my land line phone out of my emergency drawer, and voila! - all set up. Except for the fact that I can't tell who is calling. But we'll deal with that another day. At least I have a phone!

When Should You Take Your Vitamins?

Real Simple Magazine had an article on the best time of days to do certain activities. I’ll be featuring some of these suggestions over the next few weeks.

When is the best time of day to take a multivitamin? The answer: breakfast. I think I have vaguely heard something like this, but here are some convincing reasons why:

“Taking your supplements with a meal is important because ‘vitamins are components of food, and whether water soluble or fat soluble, they are absorbed better with food,’ says Shari Lieberman, Ph.D., a New York City and Hillsboro Beach, Florida, nutrition scientist and a coauthor of The Real Vitamin & Mineral Book (Avery Publishing, $13, www.amazon.com). ‘Also, as with many other pills, you’re more likely to get queasy if you take multivitamins on an empty stomach.’

Breakfast is the meal of choice. Because most people have it at home (whereas lunch and dinner are often eaten elsewhere), making the morning meal your time for vitamin-popping will help you stick with the habit. Another reason dinnertime may not be a good option, Lieberman adds, is that certain nutrients, including vitamin B, may keep you awake. “

Isn't that good to know?

Interview by Get Green Baby

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Jamie Ussher over at Baby Get Green recently. You can find the interview on her new blog where her logo is "striving to live a simple and peaceful life...here you'll find tips, ideas, and stories of our efforts". Stop by and check out her great ideas!

Destressing Christmas, Part 2 - Thinking Through the Needs of Your Family and Friends

If I calculate correctly, we are 89 days away from Christmas. So let's look at another way to destress Christmas: thinking about the needs of your family and friends. By using this as a filter, you can reduce some holiday stress. As I said last week, I'm updating my blogs on this subject from last year. Here are some thoughts I had:

Choose whom you want to spend time with over the holidays - friends or family who refresh, encourage, and cheer you. Take the initiative to make that happen.

Do you have friends who might be alone whom you could include in your holiday plans? Have you included a healthy amount of giving to others who might otherwise be neglected? Your heart will overflow with joy as you reach out to others!

If getting together with your relatives is too painful or unhealthy, give yourself permission not to attend. If you, your spouse, or your children might be subjected to verbal, emotional or physical abuse, don't put yourselves in this unsafe place. Even if it hurts others' feelings, you cannot condone unhealthy or painful treatment by attending.

Consider family problems when planning gatherings. Be proactive in order to minimize Uncle John's drinking problem by having a brunch rather than a dinner. If Cousin Sally's conversation is predominantly negative or a never-ending flow, plan some conversation starters or games to reduce her dominance.

If it's just too difficult for you to travel during the holidays, don't let others guilt-trip you into travelling anyway. Be honest and stick to your guns for your own benefit and that of your family. Invite your relatives to visit you (if that is better for you) or suggest another time of year for a visit when life is less hectic.

Consider the needs of your family. If you have small children who need naps and a consistent bedtime (who doesn’t qualify for that one?!!), don’t overschedule. Make sure the events you plan to attend are age appropriate for your children. Don’t have an unrealistic idea of what they can grasp and endure.

Study your family. Know what delights each one and what stresses each one, including yourself. Plan accordingly. When our girls were small, one of our daughters would respond to an overplanned schedule by vomitting - a pretty clear message! (Sorry to be graphic.) So I had to be careful not to pack our schedule too tightly.

By anticipating your needs and those of your family and friends, you can be intentional about your holidays. You’ll be able to weed out those items that don’t fit, plan around potential hazards, and create memorable experiences for those you love.

What are your family's delights and stresses?


Related Posts: Destressing Christmas, Part 1 - Think Through Your Expectations, Posts from 2007: Destressing Christmas, Part 1 - Think through your expectations, Destressing Christmas, Part 2 - Think through your family/friendship needs and commitments, Destressing Christmas, Part 3 - Think through gifts, Destressing Christmas, Part 4 - Think through cleaning/decorating/entertaining, Destressing Christmas, Part 5 - Think through your health, Destressing Christmas, Part 6 - Think through your calendar, Organizing Your Holiday Meals

Review by Photo Bug Baby

Photo Bug Baby has reviewed two of my books, Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student and Three Steps to Planning Your Child's Parties. If you're a photo bug, you must enter one of their numerous photo contests! What a fun place!

National Preparedness Month - Wrapping It Up: Surge Protectors, Utilities, and More

National Preparedness Month – Wrapping it Up: Surge Protectors, Utilities, and More

Today we’ll wrap up National Preparedness Month with a few more important pieces that need to be in place.

Surge Protectors

There is a lot of advice out there on what to look for in surge protectors: about clamping voltages, response nanoseconds, and joule levels. WorldStart.com offers this advice:

“The easiest way to tell if you're getting a quality surge protector is to look at the "connected equipment" warranty. I like the ones that cover connected equipment for up to $15,000 or more. I figure it they are willing to risk 15K +, they're probably selling a good piece of equipment. If it doesn't have a connected equipment warranty, set it back on the shelf and keep a-walkin' .”

They also encourage you to find a surge protector with a phone line pass through. “Telephone wires can deliver a potent surge into your computer. I've repaired (and seen) more than a few computers that were damaged due to telephone line power surges.”

Utilities

Homeland Security suggests that you learn how and when to turn off your utilities. If your home sustains damage, they instruct you to turn off your utilities:
- “Locate the electric, gas and water shut-off valves.
- Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves.
- Teach family members how to turn off utilities.
- If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn it back on. Do not attempt to do this yourself.”

More Information

Homeland Security also provides information for specific emergencies and disasters: biological threat, blackouts, chemical threat, earthquakes, explosions, extreme heat, fires, floods, hurricanes, influenza pandemic, landslide and debris flow (mudslide), nuclear threat, radiation threat, thunderstorms, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanoes, wildfires, winter storms and extreme cold. Go to the above link to find the information you need for your location, print it out, digest it, and put it with your emergency kit.

A Couple More Things

I thought of a couple more things I think are necessary to protect your important documents: a fireproof safe, a safe deposit box at the bank, and a shredder.

There are some papers and other items you want to have on hand but want to be protected from theft or fire, hence the safe. For those items that need long-term safe keeping, a safe deposit box is valuable. And a shredder protects your identity – shredding those documents that contain sensitive information prevents others from obtaining that information.

Whew! This has been quite a journey, hasn’t it? It eases my mind to know that all these emergency preparations are in place should an emergency occur. I still have a few documents I need to copy, but for the most part, I think I’m ready. What about you?

Related Posts: National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan, National Preparedness Month - Determining Potential Emergencies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #2: Landline Phone, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #3 - Water, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #4 - First Aid Kit, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #5 - Additional Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #6 - Food, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #7 - Medications and Medical Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #8 - Emergency Documents, National Preparedness Month - Evacuation Plan, National Preparedness Month – Evacuation from Work, School, Daycare, and Neighborhood Communities

Source: National Preparedness Month

Local Crime Prevention Classes - Today and Tomorrow

Another opportunity to prepare for your own safety!


"Refuse to be a Victim" taught by Jim Orndorf, is being offered by the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Department.

Participants will learn:
- strategies that will help avoid situations where self defense is required
- how to be proactive rather than reactive
- how to create a personalized safety plan
- safety strategies
- how to use your internet service provider's parental control options.

Today's class (September 24) is from 6 to 10 pm and tomorrow's class (September 25) is from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. Registration is $2 for residents and $4 for nonresidents. Classes are held at the Quirk Center.

National Preparedness Month – Evacuation from Work, School, Daycare, and Neighborhood Communities

Yesterday we talked about creating evacuation plans from home. Today we’re going to look at evacuating from places you and family members frequent: work, school, daycare, adult daycare, and living communities (apartments, neighborhoods, etc.).

Consider volunteering to set up evacuation plans if none exist. As at home, having an evacuation plan for other locations will help you and family members reunite with the least amount of chaos. These plans should be communicated clearly and practiced.

Homeland Security suggests “if you are a parent, or guardian of an elderly or disabled adult, make sure schools and daycare providers have emergency response plans.

- Ask how they will communicate with families during a crisis.
- Ask if they store adequate food, water and other basic supplies.
- Find out if they are prepared to "shelter-in-place" if need be, and where they plan to go if they must get away.”

Visit http://www.ed.gov/emergencyplan for school emergency plans.

Visit Ready Kids for kid-friendly emergency information.

If you are an employer, visit Ready Business to make sure you are prepared for an evacuation, sheltering your employees, and related topics.

Visit Homeland Security’s Neighborhoods and Apartments section and Citizen Corps for community plans.

Related Posts: National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan, National Preparedness Month - Determining Potential Emergencies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #2: Landline Phone, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #3 - Water, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #4 - First Aid Kit, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #5 - Additional Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #6 - Food, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #7 - Medications and Medical Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #8 - Emergency Documents, National Preparedness Month - Evacuation Plan

Source: National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month - Evacuation Plan

Earlier in this series we talked about creating a plan. Today we are going to talk specifically about a plan for evacuation. Hurricane Ike is certainly a vivid example of how practical all these preparations are to millions of people!

Homeland Security suggests the following steps to take: -

"Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.
- If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it at all times in case you need to evacuate.
- Become familiar with alternate routes and other means of transportation out of your area.
- If you do not have a car, plan how you will leave if you have to.
- Take your emergency supply kit unless you have reason to believe it has been contaminated.
- Lock the door behind you.
- Take your pets with you, but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency.

If time allows:
- Call or email the "out-of-state" contact in your family communications plan.
- Tell them where you are going.
- If there is damage to your home and you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving.
- Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
- Check with neighbors who may need a ride."

You may want to print out this list and keep it with your emergency kit. By having a list, you won't need to think in a time of emergency. I wrote down all my credit card, bank an other important information in a spiral notebook that I put in my emergency drawer. I also added my "what to grab list" to it - those things I use every day that I would want with me: contacts/glasses, meds, etc. I'll print the above list and stick it in my notebook so I'll be ready.

We keep a car phone charger for our cell phones in each car at all times, so we always have phone capabilities. And we have a car adapter for our laptop. I have added that to our list of things to take in an emergency.

Related Posts: National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan, National Preparedness Month - Determining Potential Emergencies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #2: Landline Phone, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #3 - Water, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #4 - First Aid Kit, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #5 - Additional Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #6 - Food, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #7 - Medications and Medical Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #8 - Emergency Documents

Source: National Preparedness Month

Another Local Opportunity to Get Prepared - CPR Anytime Class

CPR techniques will be offered by The American Heart Association on September 30 from 6 - 7:30 pm at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium. The City of Cuyahoga Falls, MC Hair Consultants, and Valley Savings Bank are co-sponsoring this free event.

Participants will receive a CPR Anytime Kit including a practice DVD, a personal inflatible CPR mannequin, and a CPR booklet. They will also hear from people who have been saved by CPR and AED.

Free Local Paper Shredding

Have some sensitive documents you need to shred? The Summit/Akron Solid Waste Management Authority and Neoshred Inc. are partnering to offer free confidential paper shredding for Summit County communities through September 26.

Shredding will be available by appointment only from 9 am to 3 pm at Neoshred, located at 621 Tallmadge Avenue, Akron. Call 330-253-8260 to schedule your appointment.

You are asked to remove binder clips, rubber bands, hanging file folders, binders, paperclips, and report covers. Shredded material will be recycled into tissue paper and paperboard.

What a wonderful way to get rid of your excess paper!

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #8 - Emergency Documents

Are you ready to get back to National Preparedness Month? When I actually looked back over my blogs, I wasn't that far behind, but it was nice to take a break.

Today's topic is rather time consuming, so prepare yourself! It helps if you have a printer that is a copier, as a lot of our work will be copying documents.

I keep thinking about the Ike victims and how life must be upside down for them! Today's topic is very applicable to such disasters - having copies of important documents at your fingertips. Doing this and the things we've been talking about would make having to go through such a time a tiny bit easier, I think.

When we plan for an emergency, we need to plan for the worst. That would include loss of property and God forbid, loss of life of a loved one. To prepare for recovery following an emergency, it is important to have documents that will facilitate that recovery.

Homeland Security suggests copying the following documents, placing them in a waterproof container, and storing them in your emergency kit:
- family records
- medical records
- wills
- deeds
- social security number and contact information
- charge account numbers, expiration dates, and contact information
- bank account numbers and contact information
- tax records for the last five years
- medical insurance information
- Medicare cards and contact information
- the style and serial number of medical devices or other life-sustaining devices (include operating information and instructions)
- contact information of your medical providers
- the names and contact information of your support network (we’ll talk about your support network soon)
- if you have a communication disability, make sure your emergency information notes the best way to communicate with you.
- my addition: the name and phone number of your insurance carriers, lawyer

I would suggest keeping another copy in your safe deposit box, one in your safe, and giving a copy to a family member.

Any documentation we're missing?


Related Posts: National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan, National Preparedness Month - Determining Potential Emergencies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #2: Landline Phone, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #3 - Water, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #4 - First Aid Kit, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #5 - Additional Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #6 - Food, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #7 - Medications and Medical Supplies

Source: National Preparedness Month

Interview by Mommy's Idea

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Mommy's Idea, a brand new blog created for moms. To help them kick off the new site, I donated a couple of my books for giveaways: Three Steps to Clever Cleaning and Three Steps to Planning Your Child's Parties. Stop by to give Mommy's Idea a vote of encouragement and sign up for the giveaways!

Review by Just a Mom's Take on Things

Deb over at Just a Mom's Take on Things has reviewed a couple of my books: Three Steps to Decluttering and Three Steps to Time Management for the Working Mom.

Deb was very thorough (and kind). Why don't you stop by and check it out. While you're there, spend some time browsing through her fabulous site! She even has some giveaways!