Yep.  It's time.  Get it done now & November & December become much more enjoyable, allowing you to enjoy the Peace, Joy & Love of this special time of year.

Now's the time you can think, be intentional about each gift & budget. 

As a mom of three, my list always starts with my kids.  Several years ago, Matt & I were given the great advice to just do three gifts per kid (just as Jesus received three from the Wise Men).  This has been monumental for us in our giving to them & helpful for their receiving as well.  Our goal is that each of their gifts fit into the three categories:  Active/Sport-related, Educational/Creativity, & Something they love.  It has helped us be much more intentional & creative ourselves.  As you can imagine, it's also curved that last minute spending frenzy so many parents fall subject to in those last days before the big day.

Moving down the list to Matt, parents, in-laws, & friends the same mentality works.  Taking just a few extra moments to think of that one person & thinking outside the scarf, slippers, candle box can add much joy to your giving.  If handmade is your desire, you still have time for that if you start now. Etsy is a great place to find handmade items if you're not able to handcraft gifts yourself.  If creating photo memories with books or calendars is your plan, start now & you'll have plenty of time.  Two great sites for that are Shutterfly and Mixbook.

Organizing my list has become much easier over the years after I found this super simple little notebook to keep my current list, receipts, & lists from previous years in.  It was designed by Pepperpot & has served me well for about 5 years now.  Your smartphone is also another option, but I love having the previous lists & receipts all in one place.

And if you're a local here in Knoxville, Help You Dwell is making it even easier to Holiday shop by offering a Pop-Up Market on Nov. 8 with all kinds of delightful items for lots of folks on your list.

We'd love to hear some of your unique & fun ideas for taking the stress out of holiday shopping.  Give us a quick comment below & help us enjoy the upcoming season just a bit more with your clever ideas.  Thanks friends!