What do you really want for Christmas? Our ideas may differ in the details, but most of us want much the same thing: a seasonal celebration focused on faith, family and friends.

We want the excitement of the season without the disruption that too often comes with it. We want to draw closer to those around us, not to be thrust apart by hectic schedules. We want to enjoy as well as prepare, and to keep the Christmas season in a manner that is joyous and spiritually centered.

to do today ... focus family values

Planning for Christmas, it’s easy to get caught up in the seasonal whirlwind. Tradition, the media, family expectations and the economy lean on our decision-making, each with a different agenda. Unconscious forces can distort our celebration for reasons that have nothing to do with what we truly want from the holiday.

Looking for a simple one-page BOO poem for a last-minute Halloween BOO?

Enter BeenBooed.com! This tiny site offers three different Halloween BOO-ing printables (in color, black-and-white and outline versions) which feature the BOO poem on one side, a BOO sign on the other.

Even though the creator didn't find our BOO printables attractive (sniff, sniff), hey--simplicity works, too!

Ready, set ... BOO!

You've Been BOOed Read more »

What's the number-one way to cut Christmas stress? Watch the calendar!

Keeping track of commitments, events and activities keeps the season real. If you know where the family must go, it's easier to get there--and to say "No!" to too many obligations.

Does a family calendar guide your holiday plans? We make it easy to keep track of celebrations, events and obligations with free printable calendar forms.

to do today ... create a holiday calendar

Seldom acknowledged but often felt, time pressure creates a unique stressor during the holiday season. Take back your time--and find calm amidst the chaos--with a family holiday calendar.

The eyes have it! Find or make pretty calendar pages for the months of November and December, or print free calendars from the Organized Christmas forms library.

Keeping the calendar in view is the first step to scheduling sanity, so post pages publicly, near the telephone. You’ll be armed with a clear view of your schedule before the room mother rings up. Read more »

Creating a pumpkin masterpiece is as easy as "Ready, set, print!" with these free printable pumpkin carving templates from RD.com.

Scroll through the Halloween slide show to find a pumpkin design you like, then click the link to print a free carving template.

Taped over your pumpkin, it's easy to outline the carving using a small pin or skewer. Remove the template, then carve on the dotted line. Result: Halloween pumpkin pride! Read more »

As we get ready for Christmas, we'll be making lists (and checking them a lot more than twice!), holding discussions with spouses, children and parents, and drawing up a holiday budget.

Too often, we record our plans piecemeal, consigning them to a confused clutter of scrawled envelopes, jotted notes and cryptic calendar entries--none of which make it to the shopping center with us when it's time to buy gifts.

The solution? Create a Christmas planner notebook--your personal guide to relaxed and happy holidays.

to do today ...

Create a Christmas notebook.

Easy to make and easier to use, a Christmas planner notebook cuts through holiday clutter and keeps planning on track. Home to lists and recipes, calendars and gift ideas, this simple tool is the architect and source of a serene celebration.