Thursday, December 15, 2011

so much to do... just need to start { *giveaway!}

simply by kristin~mainemomma
simply, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

happy love thursday everyone.
i am feeling out of sorts this holiday season. unable to pinpoint just exactly why. lack of snow on the ground seems to be making me as restless as my kids. "how will santa come if there is no snow?!?!" even i seem to feel anxious about this. yesterday with good intentions and a list, hubby and i ventured out into the crowds to get the gifts on santa's list. i really expected to come home happy and done. silly me. nothing was exactly what i had envisioned to buy, so then i have a hard time committing to any of it since it was not what was in my mind's eye.. maybe i am over thinking it all. maybe this restlessness is just permeating everything, who knows? not me. typically i am the girl who has her holiday cards written and stamped by Dec 1st.... where are my cards this year? by the side of my bed. unaddressed. unsent. today i am making a vow to myself to make my list and just do it! cards first. i love getting cards in the mail. i have them hung all over my home from Christmases past, so i have no excuse to put it off any longer. i just feel a little stuck this year.

to get me more in the mood how about a little gift giveaway for one of you? Have you checked out all the great products at Paper Coterie yet? journals, recipe books, cards, calendars, canvases! so many great ideas to create something all your own with... Today I am offering one $50.00 voucher to be used in their shop on anything your heart desires. perhaps a last minute gift for someone else, or go ahead and indulge in something just for you. you totally deserve it!!! (santa told me you were good this year) ;)
just leave a comment here and i will randomly choose 1 winner and announce the winner here on the blog.

here's to getting in the holiday mood.
what do i want for christmas??? some pretty white snow.... and happy happy kids on christmas morning.

xo~ good luck!

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P.S. I am 58% to my goal... 17 days til THE DIP! (eeeep!) please give if you can. thank you.

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UPDATE: comments are now closed. a winner was chosen this morning. congrats to Lauren "Texas Transplant" the winner of the giveaway!

68 comments:

Amy said...

you in a holiday funk? I find this hard to believe! but... us mommas keep on going! sure love the giveaway and sure could use it! love you!

Unknown said...

I hope the funk clears today.

Anonymous said...

sending you snowflakes and hugs!

beth said...

i get in a funk when i haven't allowed for enough time/planning... (say for presents...) it's usually my fault. nothing that a little cleaning and exercise won't help cure!

sarah jean, said...

the snow will be even more magical when it arrives....perhaps lasting (the magic of it) longer and carrying you through (february even!). sending holiday spirit and funk removal wishes ;) my first few christmases without snow were really weird....may the fluffy white goodness arrive soon. xoxo

Kendra said...

Tell me about it! I feel so behind. I did manage to get 4 batches of cookies baked last night. But the presents are still unwrapped and the house a mess and company is coming Saturday to start the holidays off already! Let's start with a cup of tea, then we'll dive in. Sound good? :)

damiec said...

I'm feeling it too. but determined to shake it off.
xo

barb said...

No snow here either. Maybe we should all move to Vermont. ;) hope the funk finds the exit door.... soon!

lisamac said...

i'm stuck...as my flickr post said today...between happy and sad....run and stay....seeing your blog today made me smile k...i'm a little happier because of you...so, thank you friend x

sweetwyo said...

Merry Christmas and thank you so much for the give away!

Team Sass said...

My holiday to-do list keeps getting longer, especially since I started back at work this week. I tend to opt for sleep these days instead of getting things done!

Jessie said...

I'm with you on the holiday funk. Try as I might, I'm just not all that excited this year. Hoping for an attitude adjustment, ASAP! Much love to you and yours. xox

Meryl said...

I'm actually feeling pretty good this Christmas...could be that I got my knitting done early. Hope you get your snow!

Reflected Light Photography said...

So glad to know I'm not the only one in a holiday funk! Today I'm off to do some shopping for my close friends and my sweetie - gifts of food and locally made art are on my list.

JoHanna said...

Hopefully the closer it gets, the funk will disappear. I know what you mean though.
Have a wonderful Solstice!

Anonymous said...

I think there is a shift in the universe regarding Christmas this year, there definitely is at our house. We still don't have our tree and most of the time I am not even bothered about it, until a wave of panic hits me and I wonder how I could have let this happen: No tree! Less is more. Less of everything this year. Except joy, I am really hoping there will be more joy, and peace, with a simplified season. Last night, we lit one simple tealight and sat in the dark for 5 minutes (which turned into 10) enjoying the flicker, amazed at just how surprisingly bright one little candle can be in a dark room. It was magical. And that was more Christmas than I had hoped for.
Merlin(having google acc't troubles)

annie said...

I totally relate...I am feeling completely overwhelmed and this cold isn't helping anyway...thanks for your inspiration, Kristin!

Emma said...

ah, the funk - i have gifts wrapped, but not actually wrapped - no tags and no embellishments. That's not like me. I have cards, and stamps, but they are sat in a drawer, unwritten. I am blaming work. it makes me too busy!

p.s. found you through shutter sister - defo will be back.

Texas Transplant said...

I'm in Tahoe and we're ALL in a funk! Depressed, glum, angry! It's dreadful in a ski town in winter when you can't ski. Also found you through shutter sisters...will def be following!

Unknown said...

Yep, too many distracting things going on this year. I missed (forgot) two medical appointments, and I've never missed one before!

Life in the Wylde West said...

Oh your heart is so big! I think December can be rough. We haven't even got a tree yet, I'm using our Nov gratitude tree with lights now. Somehow I find comfort in many of you also struggling with the season.

Amy @ Lucky Number 13 said...

i am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed and i promised myself this year i just wanted to enjoy. have fun. not stress. i am trying to get everything done this weekend so i can bake and spend lots of time in the kitchen next week. hope you get your snow kristen, and hope we get ours, too! : )

Anonymous said...

I love Paper Coterie calendar because it's a way of sharing some of my photos in a way that it will last all year. I hope inspiration comes back to you when you pick up your first postcard.
xxo

chris said...

I would love to send some of our colder weather your way to help you along with the snow!...SoCal should not be this cold - 35 this a.m.

Unknown said...

Totally know how you feel! Hosting a big party on Saturday, setting up a first photo showing (eek!!) on Sunday, and that stack of cards that keeps getting shoved off. So it goes :) Hope the funk moves off soon!

Louise said...

hope the holiday spirit grabs you soon xxx

Linda Silva Palleschi (sidemtess) said...

I'm a bit in a funk myself-- for once I actually know what to get my husband and I haven't even ordered it!!! A ukulele!!!! Here's hoping that the wonder of Christmas embraces us soon!!!!

Lola said...

Hmmm...that deep blue funk must be going around...I too am feeling less-than-in-the-Spirit this year. I think all I need is some real down time. I'll be hoping for snow for you (unfortunately that won't do it for me her in rainy California) and some down time for me. take care.

Marcie said...

What a beautiful thing to offer it up and give it away. Hopefully it will uplift your spirits!

Jen M said...

Holiday hugs to you, Kristin. I gave myself permission to not attempt Christmas cards this year. It was one thing I could take off my evergrowing to-do list. I feel a little guilty still, but maybe I'll tackle New Year's cards instead when I have more time to breathe. Hope you're able to find more of that magic spirit of Christmas in the days ahead.

Lelainia N. Lloyd said...

To list your spirits, I pffer you my blog post yesterday. It's here: http://tatterededge.blogspot.com

Kathy said...

This generous give-away should get rid of that funk. A wonderful gesture.

Stef said...

I know what you mean about the holiday funk...me too :) xx

Diane said...

I think we all feel the holiday funk on occasion. I've been dragging my heels too. But now we're headed to California for Christmas, and I really need to kick it into high gear. Finishing my list has become 1st priority. Wishing you and your family many many snowflakes this Christmas!

jag said...

Oh yes, I *have* been a good girl this year! ;-)

One of my fave sayings:
"If you understand, things are as they are. If you do not understand, things are as they are." (Chinese Proverb)

As one who is constantly trying to understand WHY things are as they are, I am learning that efforts to pinpoint the reason take me away from just sitting in the discomfort and accepting reality.

The reality is that you are LOVED!
xox

beth said...

It's images like these that keep me going. No snow here, so we're getting inspired any way we can. Thanks for showing us the way...

emily said...

all i want is some snow, too. i have everything else i truly need. family, love, a warm home, and a camera.

sparkysteph50 said...

My young adult kids are all on board for having a super low-stress/low-cost holiday. After years of trying to pull it all together, I'm finally giving myself a break! I'd rather be out taking photographs than shopping. I hope everyone finds time to just have simple fun.

Lynn said...

I am in a funk too. There is no snow and too many pushy people shopping this year!

Melinda said...

Uh, I must be the only one who doesn't care for snow, we normally have snow this time of the year, but I'm not and won't be complaining. But I hope you feel better soon! Christmas will soon be here!

UmberDove said...

Well then miss, I am wishing you ALL the light and stars and SNOW that December can muster. Know how much your words, work and images are loved!

atpeacewithcrazy said...

oh my gravy, we are in the same boat! still waiting for that holiday cheer to show up in my doorstep. maybe the grandparents arrival today will help? i'm thinking this giveaway will be a great start too! now i must go accomplish something on my to-do list...6 hrs until family arrives! eek!!

Robin T said...

love paper coterie! did all my teacher gifts there this year!

melissa said...

Hmmm. I'm in a weird place this season as well. Peace to you as you find your groove. And thank you for the opportunity to win this generous gift!

Melissa

Rebecca W said...

Most of my gifts this year are from Paper Coterie. Love their stuff!

Kelley said...

Sharing your holiday funkiness, but mailing out our cards did help- now I'm receiving some in my mailbox in return! wishing all the snow to Maine :)

Debbie Ealer said...

YEAH love their stuff,everyone in my family got a gift from me,which I bought,from them!!! for x mas Merry Ho HO HO!!!

Andrea said...

I hope you get some snow. I think snow makes the holiday season so much more magical. :)

Mary Jo said...

I thought I was doing so good to stay ahead of the game when we took our holiday photo in last year's snow!! And then I got them printed in November ---- yeah, I'm good, I told myself. HA! Now, my cards sit on my desk.....waiting...... I guess that is what Advent is all about, though --- waiting! ;)

Siobhan Wolf said...

That same can't get into the holidays feeling is going on here. It's not unusual for us to have no snow, but temps in the mid to upper 50s are odd. I just can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that it is mid-December. How did that happen?

Hope getting cards done leaves you feeling a bit better!

(Assure the kids that if Santa can manage Ohio with no snow, he'll be fine in a snow-less Maine, too. ;-D)

p.s. Coming to your blog feels like coming into your home. Thanks for the wonderful, homey, welcome!

Melissa M. said...

Great giveaway!

Tela said...

i am snowless as well, and trying to figure a way out of this funk.

Jen Smith said...

I am loving Picture the Holidays this season. I am reminded daily to search for the small joys of holiday time (baking, cards from friends, pj days with my kids)!

Retro Home said...

The holiday season is all about dance and the Nutcracker for us. Crazy busy time of the year.

allison mcd said...

i hear ya! if i had the magic answer, i'd pass it along ... but alas, funkity funk funk ;)

leaca said...

I just can't wait for there to be kids in my house and then it will feel like Christmas. xo

truly blessed said...

you always make me smile. even on tough days. xo

Beverly said...

Im kind of feeling the same here. didnt even order cards this year to mail out. sigh...
what a great giveaway!
Hoping you get snow for Christmas, that is what I want too :)

Stephanie said...

It's a strange year - Very few people seem to be in the holiday mood. My big excuse is returning from a month in Kathmandu. Very few signs of Christmas so I have no momentum. And the weather is cold and dry.... Where's the snow?
There is still time - just looking at those packages tied up with string on your post today helps w/ the mood! Just keep going... it will happen!

Krista said...

It has been a tough Christmas season this year... The lack of snow here makes soooo unfestive.

Anonymous said...

I'm using the prompts from Paper Coterie for a visual December daily. I'm way behind but they help me slow down and stress less!

simple girl said...

hi'ya sweet k.
I'm a funky monkey this holiday...hoping your spirits lift, and that we both find the sweetness of this beautiful season. (and snow!) xoxo

The Three of Us said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Three of Us said...

We don't have snow either and it's weird for Dec! Hope the next few weeks brings lot of fun snow for all of us who are missing it!! Let's hear it for a White Christmas!!

latanya t said...

I love their products!

Laura said...

What lovely little packages! I am also in a little bit of a holiday funk. I sent out packages today to family members, but it still just doesn't "feel" like Christmastime right now... Good luck! I hope you get some snow soon! :)

Olivia said...

I would love a little snow for Christmas, as well! Also, a clean house. I think Santa needs to send me a sleigh full of elves to help with that one though!

Justine said...

i love their products, hope you get out of your fug soon.