Buy your own gift! Flylady Christmas holiday planning!

[@gilliancooke9525]

At 67 yrs old, I finally got this! I started a little list on my phone and gave family and friends specific low-cost ideas for what I'd really appreciate. I also actually bought myself some nice things, wrapped them for myself! Trying to forget what I bought is tricky whilst remembering so that I don't buy it again!! These ideas have really improved my Xmas experience. x

[@theresaduplessis4742]

Anticipation. What a wonderful gift to give yourself. 💖

[@iwant2stayhome]

This video really hit home for me. I dreaded the holidays

[@acrobaticanna]

Great idea. I had gone years without getting gifts. When I started doing it 2 years ago Christmas was wonderful again! I got new clothes and a beautiful new bag!!

[@emmawatson9593]

This a good advice on a very important topic. You are right, we forget ourselves too quickly.

[@sonomazin3422]

Diane, you are a lady with wonderful ideas...especially, on ways to be kind to ourselves! I usually buy myself Christmas presents, as I shop for others during the holidays. Now, I'm thinking I like your idea better... buying those special little gifts for ourselves throughout the year, wrapping them up right away & making a note where I hid them. So, of course, by the time Christmas rolls around, I'll be surprised by what I bought for myself!! ;D

[@emmahoward-jones1753]

Thank you for another great video! I crocheted my mum a shawl on Friday and Saturday. I bought a few toys for my children last week. I don't plan on going over the top with presents this year but I'd like to feel more in control and less against the clock. I plan to use brown paper to wrap the present and just use pretty ribbon to jazz it up! 😄

[@DianeinDenmark]

Great idea!

[@magsadams20]

I’ll be “cruising through the holidays” with you 🎄🎉🎅🏽😆

[@madziam7893]

Thank u for remipnding to start preparation. A great idea about the gift for myself. I have been doing it for years and it really works .. I am happy and my I ds and hubby too. It is great as no one is disappointed and I can enjoy my gift. Thanks Diane

[@jimjim1692]

I love your videos. They really calm me down. I'm trying hard to get my routines going. Results for me so far (day 12) are good. You're doing a great job. You have a gentle, encouraging influence. Thank you.

[@ReneLewis64]

This video is so timely, Diane. My children have grown and live on opposite sides of the States so I often spend Christmas by myself, but don't misunderstand, I love the holiday season and enjoy it fully. I am going to start buying myself little items to wrap and put under my Christmas tree to make it look more festive, and so that I have more things to open on Christmas morning. I also liked the idea of letting family know what you'd like. My boys live in areas with a Trader Joe's grocery store (the closest one to me is a 6 hour drive away) and they have some of my most favorite chocolates ever. I am going to ask them to pick up some of my favorites this year for my gifts. Thank you again!!

[@zuyingovea757]

Thank you so much Diane for getting us all revved up and looking forward to a fun and organized Holiday/Christmas season.

[@DianeinDenmark]

You are welcome...and we are getting closer by the day, woo hoo!

[@sofievilhelmssonlindvall5110]

I love the holiday but find it stressful working fulltime and not planning enough so I really looking forward to your coming holidayserie! 🌲

[@anndowns5267]

My kids all live within 20 miles from my house, so they all come here for brunch Christmas morning bringing my 9 grandchildren with them! Last year I finally got smart and started wrapping each family's presents in the same paper. Makes sorting out gifts so much easier and the kids to young to read just have to look for their families paper. Now I'm off to print the Christmas control journal! Happy Holidays to everyone!

[@monet1047]

I can't wait to hear about Danish holiday traditions. I found a little book just this weekend on hygge by Meik Wiking and after watching your video today, I'll wrap it up for a Christmas gift to ME! Our winters aren't terribly cold, but they are gloomy and rainy starting in December. We'll be in need of some hygge around Christmas. I look forward to your videos each day.

[@DianeinDenmark]

Yay, yes - we love our hygge! I'll be doing a series on that very soon...

[@monet1047]

I'll look forward to that!

[@dmbmeister0]

Your video was inspiring; I'll definitely do some of what you suggested. Thank you.

[@gabit.7148]

Years ago I was late with buying all my christmas presents and I said to myself "never again". I start looking for presents/buy presents during our summerholidays in Danmark. If I don't buy something, I write it down - there's always an idea for a good gift! Many people laugh about that - but in the end it's me who's laughing - because all others have that christmas-stress. In german we say "Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am besten". And I have the jule-hygge!

[@DianeinDenmark]

Hi Gabi! I say the same thing! You may be laughing at me now...but come December I will have the last laugh! Yes, planning ahead means we can really enjoy the season when it arrives :-)

[@steviereybok1472]

Once I bought myself a gift that I had been eyeing for months. I wrapped it up and labeled it "To Mom from the kiddos" (I had young kids). Christmas morning it was given to my mom to unwrap while I was doing something in the kitchen. So I missed out on my gift. Years later she still doesn't believe it was for me! 😂 Lesson learned be specific about who it's for when you have multiple mom's and dad's or grandparents at a holiday .

[@DianeinDenmark]

LOL!

[@tonpap]

You look stunning, Diane, in this vibrant red dress!!! I really enjoy your idea of early present shopping: if I wrap them the same day I buy them, by the time it is Christmas I will have forgotten what I have actually bought... It will be a surprise after all!!! Plus the secret joy of Christmas shopping and the fact that I m going to receive more presents than any member of my family!!!! Childish, I know...

[@DianeinDenmark]

LOL! But yes!

[@maggieswentik4991]

In my Holiday binder I keep a log of all the presents we receive and who they came from but also the presents we make or buy for our family and friends. I started buying right after Christmas last year and then in January I started sewing a little project for 13 ladies in the family, and finished them in April. I love to shop year round for presents!

[@fleurmp3820]

Thank you x

[@estreetangel]

We all know it's the thought that counts and we aren't really greedy but we're only human and can feel neglected on Christmas day if our kids and spouses don't seem to have made much effort with our gifts like we have done along with all the shopping, cooking, decorating, etc. so this is a great idea to get ourselves some treats for Christmas. I fully understand how hard it can be for my family to think of gift ideas for me so I keep an Amazon wishlist going all year and I email it to them about a month before Christmas. This makes it easy and almost effortless for them to shop for me.

[@DianeinDenmark]

Yay, well done with the Amazon list!

[@nosebirdy]

Oh my, I bought myself a cute scarf in glorious fall colors a few weeks ago. I love the idea of wrapping it, but it's so perfect for fall that I don't want to wait that long. I think I may give myself the "present" the day after American Thanksgiving... such a fun idea!Also, this might make you laugh. There are things that my husband would laugh at, but he doesn't want as a gift... I came across one of those things and DIDN'T buy it for him, but told him about it. The gift was to tell him I was thinking about him but didn't buy him clutter, LOL. Thought you'd appreciate that ;)

[@DianeinDenmark]

Ha ha! Well they do say that it's the "thought" that counts..!

[@cv7357]

Generic gift wrap --- what a concept! Bip myself on the forehead and exclaim "Why didn't I think of that!" Anyway, thanks again for another great idea. Also, love the Holiday CJ, been using for yrs! Looking forward to cruising with you :-)

[@emmahoward-jones1753]

We're having a family holiday to Norway this Christmas. We're so excited to be spending the holidays there. We're going to the the north so hoping for snow and northern lights 😁😁

[@DianeinDenmark]

Ooooooo, Northern Lights?! They are on my wish list, Emma - I am jealous!

[@emmahoward-jones1753]

Diane in Denmark knowing my luck I won't see them 😂 I've got everything crossed though 😂

[@HG-gr8sl]

Dear Diane. You have hit the nail on the head.. so true... we lose track of who we are especially when we have a family that takes priority..where do our interests go? Where does our individual personality disappear to? I sometimes think how sad it will be to get to retirement and not know what to do with myself, or how to find joy again. OOOOOoooooo... shock- horror! I have been trying to plan out a small amount of time per week for me - even if it's to browse in a local gallery.. Not always successful though cos we keep putting ourselves last.. but at least trying :) Please tell us more about Camilleri's work?? Is she a murder mystery writer.. love those :) And do so enjoy the random bits of Danish culture and language you casually mention. By the way.. looking incredibly svelte in the dashing red dress.. Go you :) Helen

[@DianeinDenmark]

Hi Helen! Andrea Camilleri is an Italian author (he's 92!) who writes excellent murder mysteries, the Inspector Montalbano series, set in Sicily - lots of sun, heat, romance and last, but not least, fantatic Italian food! Lots of Mafia involvement and a lot of humour - which is right up my street. The books have been televised - I love the TV version too!

[@flybaby54]

For Christmas, I want pretty dresses, tops, and jackets like yours, Diane! LOL but I can't find them. Thank you for this!

[@mmedujard]

Thank you so much for this videos! I hope I will keep track with all this missions, because I have always dreamt of a stress free christmas! What I deffinitly want to do very early is to bake "Linzertorte" this is a traditional cake from southern Germany /Austria which gets better the longer you store it. So I'll put the ingredience on the shopping list for my hubby (he does the shopping) right now, this minute!

[@DianeinDenmark]

Hooray! I will be making my Christmas fruit cake in October...so we can make them together!

[@regisztralniakinemakar8678]

Oh, I've fallen off the waggon. School started and sucked me in. :((( I miss your videos. I'll go and shine my sink at least. At last... I've even lost my timer... Gosh...

[@MsOLWYNN]

This is a sad post..at least that is how I felt. Not a big fan of Christmas season. I usually go and volunteer at the soup kitchen, or hang out with another lost soul. -otherwise, I feel sorry for myself. Will be nice watching you enjoy the holiday preparations.

[@DianeinDenmark]

You are such a kind soul, Olwyn! Start putting together a Christmas stocking for *you*. I may even do a little virtual party where we can open our stockings together! Hugs!

[@darkbluematter1753]

I hear you. You aren’t alone in feeling down or lost during the holidays. There are lots of us who, for many different reasons, are quietly dreading the season everyone else seems to enjoy so much. Volunteering is a great way to turn sadness into positive action. Good for you! I hope you can find some happiness this season. Hugs!

[@jofisher9524]

There is no greater gift than kindness ....and being at the soup kitchen is an amazing "gift" ...xx

[@MsOLWYNN]

Hello Cheryl Lynne, Thank you for taking the time to write to me. Yes I miss those carefree times with the daughters. I might just do that on one of the christmas holidays. Thanks for the suggestion, I forgot how decadent that feels.

[@MsOLWYNN]

Thank you Dark Blue Matter. It is a tough time oy year along with Mothers Day, Fathers Dsy etc. Volunteering always works for me. I come home exhausted, but at least I have made a small diffeence for a few hours.