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How I’m Using This Week’s Bonus Time

christmas countdown calendar

christmas countdown calendarI don’t know about you, but I am loving the nice long space between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my parents on Thursday, we decorated the tree (earliest ever) on Friday, and we spent the rest of the weekend at my inlaws celebrating Thanksgiving with them. And despite that whirlwind of a festive weekend, today is only November 26.

I love it.

Thanksgiving wasn’t hurried at all, but I still have several days to prepare for December. I have time to order a silly Advent calendar and a serious (but fun) one, wrap all our books for our storytime Christmas countdown, and think thoughtfully about what memories I want to make this holiday season before it begins in earnest (more on that on Wednesday).

There’s more I can do with my extra time (and that you can, too):

I spent our travel time this weekend thinking about my hopes for this holiday season–and what I need to do now in order to make that happen. I’m not always a great planner, but the extra few days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year is giving me the boost I need.

What about you?

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If you need a boost to get you started on Christmas-y things, I have a wonderful giveaway for you today from Scoggin’s Noggins! Sarah Scoggin makes amazing knit goods for grown-ups and for little ones. Take a look:

Sarah is giving a $20 credit to one lucky Modern Mrs Darcy reader! Head over to the Scoggin’s Noggins facebook page–the hub of Sarah’s knitting business–to see all her gorgeous knits. (Sarah’s running a handmade business, and they always appreciate “likes.”) If you keep scrolling down, you’ll see a picture of yours truly in a Scoggin’s Noggins hat from last year.

Sarah guarantees Christmas delivery for all items ordered before November 30–so you still have time! (And $20 goes a long way in Sarah’s shop.)

The giveaway winner can order something for herself, something for a gift, or can even gift the Scoggin’s Noggins shop credit as a gift.

UPDATE: The winner has been selected and notified by email.

Here’s How To Enter:
Leave a comment on this post. That’s it!

This promotion is open until Tuesday, November 27, at 11:59 pm EST and is limited to US residents, 18 years or older. The winner will be chosen randomly and notified via email. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. This post will be updated with the beginning of the winner’s email addresses. The prize for this promotion is provided by and shipped by Scoggin’s Noggins. Anne Bogel and Modern Mrs Darcy will not be held responsible for unclaimed or undelivered prizes.

Are you enjoying the bonus time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year? How are you using it?

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41 comments

  1. Dawn says:

    We had a (mostly) restful Thanksgiving too. I was ready for a long weekend and looking forward to getting ready for Christmas too. Love Scoggin’s Noggins. Thanks for the giveaway & love your site Anne.

  2. Z Parks says:

    I’d love the entry! But I’d also love to say that having a few extra days has proved wonderful for us – it means we have a full 3 week break between school semesters! I’m ULTRA thankful for that – especially since we’re having a baby (any day now…I was “due” 5 days ago) and it will be so nice to have some simple time together before my hubby has to head back to school.

  3. Jennifer H says:

    I wrapped our Christmas books one year. I don’t think I’ll do it again, but it was fun the year we did it. We might be one of the only families I know who have not put up the tree and decorations yet. Mostly, I have just been shopping from home and looking for fun things to do the week before Christmas since S gets out of school on the 13th!

    I figure if I get all my shopping and some of the wrapping finished before then, we can focus on family activities leading up to Christmas Day. We may even bake cookies this year!

  4. Erin says:

    I got my tree up on Friday too! It was wonderful to get it done while I have lots of time to enjoy it instead of at the last minute when I just have to take it down again in a few weeks!

    • Anne says:

      I was thinking the same thing about putting ours up early this year! It’s more fun to decorate when I know I’ll be enjoying it for a long while.

  5. Whitney says:

    My husband and I have a tradition of putting our tree up before Thanksgiving … last year, we had it up the first of October! (It was our first Christmas married, so we were a little overzealous on the decorating timeline). It’s always nice to use as an extra light fixture, too! 😉
    Love the hats!

  6. Teresa says:

    Those knits look amazing!
    I’m trying to use this time before Christmas to earn money so I actually can get some gifts together. I don’t care if I blow an entire paycheck on other people, I love giving gifts 😀
    I can’t wait until we finally get all our decorations up too.

  7. Katie says:

    Do we have extra days this year? I guess we do. I’ve lost track of when I am. 🙂 I’m torn between hoping to use my extra time at home to accomplish a nice enjoyable Christmas, and trying not to aim too high in this season with a newborn. But it’s nice to have a few extra days either way!

    Also? So much adorableness going on at Scroggins Noggins. I want that credit! 😉

  8. Elizabeth Kane says:

    I gotta say, as much as I’ve complained about Thanksgiving coming too early this year (seriously, WHERE did November go?!), I’m enjoying the running start before the hustle and bustle too. I want to do so much next month, so I’m using this time to do some planning.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  9. Sarah says:

    Love her stuff and would love to have something for myself (since I ordered my lucky daughter something from her last year…which was super cute!!!).

    As for this extra time, I’m trying to take advantage too by getting my shopping done earlier this year. Especially since for me, part of the joy of the season is admiring the beautifully packaged gifts under the Christmas tree lights! Love it!

  10. Kristin says:

    We’re using this “extra” week to get the germs out of here before the craziness of December. 🙁 Seriously, though, I’m trying to get a head start on wrapping so I can enjoy the season without feeling pressured by my to-do list!

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