be more

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

For FIVE years Nesting Place has partnered with its friend DaySpring in bringing you the exact same post right before the Christmas rush. Five years is pretty much forever in internet years. But we all agree it needs to be said. Every year.

The other day at The Art of Simple Kat talked about her life motto: Do as little as possible as well as possible

do less

Sometimes I feel like my motto is the opposite: Do as much as possible as imperfectly as possible so I can just get by. That’s the worst. Don’t be me.

Instead I want to Do Less & Be More. It’s cliche but true.

Right now, right before the crazy of the holidays is the perfect time for me to regroup and to remind myself that I don’t want to just get through Christmas and Thanksgiving distracted. I want to slow them down. I want to enjoy them. I want to BE.

gratefultray & memo board

One of the ways I do that is to write a Not To Do List. If writing a To Do list makes you feel like you need to get to work getting things done, the Not To Do List is a freeing gift you give to yourself.

1. I am choosing not to send out Christmas Cards and I will not have guilt

2. I am choosing not to automatically say YES to anything on my schedule, I’ll take a few hours, talk it over with Chad and THEN decide if I can actually commit to whatever it is.

3. I refuse to go into a life-sucking crowded mall (said the introvert and also Ron Swanson) the little shopping I need to do will be online. Or early in the morning at Target. Amen.

4. I will not try to do everything myself. We are hopefully hosting Thanksgiving (pending our kitchen sink installation) and two Christmas gatherings. When people ask ‘what can I bring?’ I’ll tell them and thank them profusely.

chevron stockings

And in honor of doing less and being more DaySpring is giving away a $500 gift card to one reader. One of you will have a Christmas shopping spree (without the mall! YES!) and $500 is more than enough to cross a lot of names off your list and then, “if you got any money left over buy yourself something REAL nice, Clark”  (name that Christmas movie).

spree

If I won the shopping spree here’s what I’d get–multiples of some (maybe something for me, but most as fantastic gifts for anyone from your mother-in-law to your niece!)

dayspring gifts

row 1:

Lisa Leonard Gold Chevron Necklace (I’ve given this to Caroline & other friends & my sister-in-law)

Black & White Stocking (I have these!!)

(in)mercy Kenya Poster (seen here, great for that pre-teen you know)

row 2:

Daily Grace Platter (deliver cookies on it and leave it as a gift)

As For Me & My House Canvas (I’ve given this as a wedding gift, great for first Christmas for new married couple)

Jesus Calling (in)courage edition  (I’ve given Jesus calling to almost everyone I know, we buy them by the stacks)

row 3:

Dough Bowl  (my mom and mother-in-law both received one of these)

The Greatest Gift (order one for yourself now, the perfect advent companion!)

Daily Grace Pitcher (you write on it!)

 

30%

And since only one person can win. And since I have a feeling you are like me and want to give meaningful beauty this season without having to be a mall slave, and since wouldn’t it be wonderful to have some things marked off your list… here’s a super early, Super Sale code good thru Cyber Monday, on all you order from DaySpring, even Clearance items, with the exception of the Super Deals which are already crazy discounted.

Use code: 30SPECIAL

for 30% off your ENTIRE ORDER

This deal even works on BOOKS!  Remember how I told you that Chad and I often give away books at Christmas and graduation and birthdays? This is how, we buy them by the stack, now, during the big Super Sale with the discount. Now is the time to get any books that you want to give away any time this year.

books

Leave a comment telling us what’s on your NOT To Do List to be entered to win the $500 gift card from DaySpring. Then click over here armed with your 30% off code: 30special to show your Christmas list who’s boss.

WINNER ANNOUNCED HERE