Clump #74:  Start “Project Enjoy Christmas” by ordering cards.

Announcing the start of another 30-day challenge:  No-Sweat November for a Dread-free December — Project Enjoy Christmas!

My history with preparing for Christmas is pretty dismal.  Despite consistent vows to do better, my procrastination habit always gets the better of me.  As a result, I get stressed-out, which leads to bad moods, which drive myself and my family crazy; I end up too tired to fully enjoy the holiday, which (oh, how sad to admit) leads me to feel that I just can’t wait for it to be over.  Every year.  Except for one year.  When I was pregnant with my younger daughter, her due date was right around the 25th of December, so I knew I HAD TO get all my preparations finished early.  For that one gleaming year, I proved to myself that I could do it.

This is an experiment in putting another artificial deadline upon myself, in the hope that when I turn the calendar page to December this year, I will not start to hyperventilate as I have in Decembers of yore. Join me, if you dare!  Here is a little green and red (actually a fall photo) to set the mood:

Today I did the unthinkable … the unbelievable.  I ordered our photo Christmas cards early!  What?!  It’s true.  I already had the photo I wanted to use (a great advantage), one taken when all three kids were together for our son’s college graduation.

Instead of racing into Target with wild eyes and foaming mouth at the eleventh hour, I calmly googled “cards that benefit charity” (or something to that effect) and found that The American Cancer Society offers photo cards, and “100% of the net proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer.”  If I didn’t have my heart set on personalized photo cards, I would have been tempted by other ones they offer featuring artwork by Tony Bennett.

Whoo-Hoo!!  This is a really big deal for me!  November 1st!  The Mexican Day of the Dead.  In the spirit of the day, here are some photos that celebrate the actual holiday.

Pumpkins in Strasburg, PA …

having a grand old time.

I love the faces pumpkins make when they begin to rot, like the one in the center:

Very creative people and pumpkins in Strasburg.

Happy Day of the Dead!