Member Reviews
I love to be organized! If you are frazzled during the holidays, this book may help you. There are several categories designed to keep you relaxed and stress free. I would definitely recommend buying the actual book (not an ebook) so you can add notes.
I tried reading this before the holidays last year, but I couldn't get through it. Most of the ideas were very basic, nothing new that I haven't thought of or done myself. I read a digital ARC, so maybe the final book is nicer? It just wasn't for me.
This didn't add any value to my holiday season. I would have preferred a standard notebook or a day timer.
Don't waste your money on this.
A great guide on how to organise the perfect Christmas. It's so easy to get caught up in the stress of Christmas, rather than the fun and Kathi helps to give an even balance. It's about not being perfect, but finding happiness in the simplest of methods.
The Christmas Project Planner by Kathi Lipp is perfect for families at Christmas time. Ms Lipp gets right for the heart of the matter and explains how to determine what is most important to your family, focus on those things, and create a Christmas all will enjoy as a result. This book is a gem and I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
I found The Christmas Project Planner: Super Simple Steps to Organize the Holidays to be quite useful through the season. I plan to keep it handy for every Christmas season in the future. Five stars.
I was disappointed in this planner, it was not what I thought it would be. It was probably my fault, I didn't read the description close enough.
Unfortunately for me, I think this book would be much more useful as a real book and does not come across as handy as an ebook. As an ebook, it's a good pep talk to not feel guilty about lessening your load at Christmas.
This is a well designed book with a variety of elements for the holidays including crafting and helpful details. This is not just a book to start reading in December. It is something to start reading and using ahead of time to help with preparation. Some of us enjoy planning far in advance and others not so much. Whatever your preference this book provides helpful planning details. If you have trouble in the planning department and dread the holidays because of it this is a wonderful book for you. If you have a handle on the holidays and planning you can still enjoy this book, but it might just be a way to help improve upon what you already have a feeling you know. I recommend it for you too if you want to expand upon your holiday planning and celebrating because she does give some interesting ideas and projects.
It is a nice planning book that helps keep the joy of planning by working to take out the stress with the goal of simplifying it and creating more organization with less of an overwhelming feeling. There are also some great tips included such as for decluttering and she provides various helpful methods to assist you throughout December with 21 projects included such as featuring creating a budget and gathering supplies. This is an interesting planning book with recipes, ideas, tips and much more.
I really liked the approach the author took in this book. I loved the language, it was witty, but also real. She made her points without going into excessive details. Who has time for that when you're in a mad Christmas rush? Exactly, she nailed it.
Christmas is the most stressful and overwhelming sessions that seems to consume us where we forget to even have fun at times. Ms. Lipp project planning strategy helps simplify and make it less painful. I have owned many Christmas planners over the years, but they were so detailed it became overwhelming and i would just give up. What sets this apart from other planners is the simplicity of things. Ms Lipp gives you permission to not be perfect and how to find perfection and happiness in what you do with the simplest methods. I love the idea of a Christmas station and some of her "stitch in time, saves nine" tips. But my favourite are all the decluttering Christmas tips.
The best way to describe this project planner is that it just simplifies the holidays for you. You can apply these methods to other areas of your life as well. Although there are "21" days of tasks, I feel that some of them are so simplified , that even if you started part way through December you can still achieve stress free planning. This planner if definitely going into my Christmas file.
The only thing i would change/add is a Cliff's notes calendar of what to do each of the 21 days.
Thank you to Harvest House Publishing and Netgalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you're like me, December can get so busy with shopping, baking, events, that it's hard to focus on what Christmas is really about. So last year, I decided to try to get my shopping done before December and I put off my Christmas letter until after Christmas. It was so nice to be less busy in December that I decided to expand on that this year. This book has 21 projects that break down all the moving pieces of Christmas prep. It is very practical, which I love. I didn't feel there was anything earth-shatteringly new. However, I did find some good tips that I want to implement. The author is quick to say that not all projects will apply and gives you the freedom to pick and choose what you will find most helpful.
One insight I really appreciated was to ask my family members what they really love about Christmas....whether that be a food, a tradition, an event. Things we did when my kids were young aren't as meaningful now so it was good to hear their thoughts. Now we can focus on what we most enjoy about Christmas and let some other things slide.
Another section I enjoyed talked about stocking stuffers. She had ideas on how to collect little things year round and know exactly what you have for each person at a glance. She included a list of great stocking stuffers that spurred my own thoughts.
I find books like this helpful and motivational. It made me excited to break out my Christmas music and start planning. Thank you to Harvest House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
#TheChristmasProjectPlanner #Netgalley
I am so glad this book has been released! As a frazzled mom of 4, the holidays are not exactly what I would describe relaxing. This book has a step by step method and plan for busy families to not only organize and maintain Christmas traditions, routines, lists, and decorations, but has the goal for you to embrace and enjoy the holidays! Are you an Elf or Grinch? You get to choose!
Project Headings include Pick your Christmas Card Picture, Creating a Christmas Budget, Help Someone Special Get into the Holiday Spirit, Get your Recipes Together, Décor Day and more.
Some of the great content includes the section, "Do I Love You Enough to Actually go to The Post Office?" include gift ideas that are mailable and easy for out of town friends/relatives. She includes tips on stalking friends/family on social media to get gift and charity ideas for their gifts. Great info! You need this book!
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lovely festive read. It was a heart warming romance. It was a wonderful book to read. It was well written and flowed well.
Facing Christmas Overwhelm? Get This Planner
I am definitely a person who enjoys the holidays. I love that time between Thanksgiving and New Year's. When I think back on the first Thanksgiving meal that I prepared myself for my husband and me, I remember how stressful it was to try to pull together the perfect meal while working and without much help. Over the years I developed a plan (and ditched the husband) with particular timing for certain things, and it did make it so much easier. Even if I would still collapse into a heap at the end of the big days. This book is aimed at helping you tame the overwhelm that the Christmas season can be so that you can create the holiday that will mean the most for you, your family, and your friends. This is a book that is quite enjoyable to read as well as act upon. The author comes across as very caring and understanding. She knows exactly where you're at with all the holiday hubbub and sincerely wants to help you create a special day or season while still maintaining your sanity.
The book has 21 projects. Even the author admits she doesn't do all of them every year. But these projects are the things that you would typically do during the holiday season anyway, like trying to sort out which recipes you might use for the big days and figuring out your Christmas cards. But what I really appreciated was her guiding principles for the Christmas season (and which you do see echoed throughout the rest of the book): Namely, this should be about creating the holiday that you and others in your life want, and you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help. Just because you are the parent or the head of the household doesn't mean it all has to be your responsibility for the big days. The author states quite firmly that you shouldn't just do “holiday” things because they are expected; you should do them because you want to, and they will bring you and others the joy that is meant to be a part of the season. I just love that.
The projects are pretty straightforward, and she also has mini-essays that go along with each project as well, where she continually urges you to do what is best for you and your family and to ask for help. Just because you have a tradition does it mean to follow it if it thinking about or doing it doesn't bring you happiness. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the holidays and need kind advice, as well as practical plans, this book may be your ticket for a better holiday season.
If you are like me and used to love the Christmas season until you became too busy preparing and now it seems you too exhausted to enjoy it, this is the book for you. Kathi Lipp is known for her organization skills and in this book she lays out a goal orientation system and then all the projects for the holidays and helps you pace them through the month. It will be a huge help to me this season. I did receive a copy of The Christmas Project Planner complimentary from Net Galley, but all opinions are my own. I also looked at the paper copy of this book and it is beautiful and a great size for carrying while working on Christmas projects.
I'm a huge fan of planning and Christmas (duh) so this one was right up my alley. This is the best guidance to survive the madness and I'm so glad this exist!
I feel that I’m already pretty organized for Christmas, but this really appealed to the organizational nerd inside me. I only had an online review copy of this book, but I love the idea of pretty folders and dividers to store my ideas! I look forward to checking this out when it’s in the shops
Kathi provides 21 simple projects you can do to organize your holiday from creating your Christmas prep space to organizing your special recipes.
Some of the ideas that I like and want to try:
Choosing what traditions are important to your family and ditch what isn’t. This is a huge problem for me—I have too many ideas of what Christmas ‘should be’ that I try to do too much and ending up spending too much money and running out of energy. This year I will pick the most important to us and let myself put the others on hold.
Decorative gift tags. I love a bit of craftiness and like the idea of using my vast craft stash to make pretty gift tags as opposed to buying store-bought ones. I may even branch out into using brown paper gift wrap and decorating that too.
Asking for help and having a list of suggestions. Oh, I like this. I always need help and never seem to ask. Making a quick list of simple things that others can do at meals or parties is easy to do. I will make one for the kids and one for the adults.
Reading this has definitely got me in the Christmas spirit and I’m ready to start planning. Roll on Christmas!
Thank you for the ARC! Love all the ideas in this book! Can’t wait to start implementing them for the upcoming holidays. There are so many things I never thought of! This is a must read for anyone looking for new themes and ideas! This book helped me focus and plan all my upcoming events/projects for the holiday season!
Ready or Not, Christmas Is Coming
Christmas—whether you really love it, secretly dread it, or fall somewhere in between—shows up the same time every year, as unavoidable as your aunt’s fruitcake.
But next season, don’t stress your “elf” out. Be ready with this amazing planner designed to help you get a handle on the holidays. Stay organized (and sane) when you put expectations aside and choose to focus on the things you truly want to do during Christmas.
You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish with just a little more organization and less obligation. The simple projects in this book will help you stay on schedule so you can spend more time enjoying your friends and family instead of frantically trying to cobble Christmas together at the last minute (again).
Very informative and fun read on how to stay organized and how to focus on things that really matter during holidays.
This is great for those that may have to plan Christmas for a large gathering and many people to buy for. I can see it as a great organizing tool. For those that have gone through many many years of planning for Christmas, it may not be as great a help.
Thanks for NetGalley and Harvest House Publishing for access to the book in exchange for an honest review