Giveaway: Signed Copy of Prudent Advice!
I've got a copy of Prudent Advice
Yes, that's my baby daughter! Isn't she the cutest? Maybe she can sign it too.
To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post with your best piece of holiday advice. Mine is for those of us who can't be with our families on the holidays:
#213 Create a sense of family wherever you are.
Find people to love, and love them unconditionally.
But I still firmly believe in this, this, this piece of advice from Jacinda, and especially this. We are looking forward to your advice, whether it be about preparing a meal, buying gifts, the holiday spirit, or just staying sane.
Leave your comment anytime between now and midnight next Tuesday, December 21st. Tweet, stumble, or facebook the giveaway and leave us another comment letting us know each time for an additional entry. Become a fan of Prudent Advice on Facebook here and leave a comment letting us know for another entry. Come back every day for new entries. I will send the book anywhere in the world so international readers, this one is for you too! We will select a winner via random.org and announce next week here on PB.
XOXO!
Labels: Book Reviews, Giveaways
posted by Jaime @ 11:57 AM
151 Comments:
Start family traditions as soon as possible. One day, you'll be the grandparents with a hundred fabulous ideas!
Get over old problems. Don't carry out past issues from year to year, enjoy every time that you spend with family. You never know when it you could be your last and its a terrible feeling to leave on a bad note
mommypants13@gmail.com
Remember that it is all about love, and not "stuff." Make sure your children know this too, not just by words, but by deeds. =)
In the whirlwind of busy holiday shoppers, finishing up last minute gifts, remember to stop and "count it all joy" (JAMES 1:2). Count your family, your friends and all loved ones as joy.
Don't stress so much! Slow down and enjoy the season. Take the time to ride around looking at Christmas lights, sit by a bonfire with a mug of hot chocolate talking, watch your favorite holiday movies under huge comforters and mountains of pillows! The memories are what last and what truly matter. Not the "stuff".
In the midst of dealing with the holiday traffic, shoppers and also buying the last minute gift, remember to "count it all joy" (JAMES 1:2). Count your family, friends and loved ones as joy.
Remember that it's really not about you or me- it's the baby that was born into poverty that changed our world.
Sorry, my comment posted twice.
Enjoy the little things, don't let the chaos of the holidays get in the way of what really matters and what Christmas is all about!
Meg
Even if you don't have the money to get those expensive gifts. The homemade ones are from the heart. They mean more than anything to the person you are giving them to.
I shared this on facebook!
We make a paper chain counting down to Christmas. Inside each link is a Christmasy activity for the whole family. Makes me stop and spend QT with my girls each day during this busy time of year.
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Never let someone you know spend the Holidays alone.
Don't make it all about the gifts. Make the holidays about spending time with the people you love, family and friends. And make sure you make it clear to your children it isn't about the gifts.
ashleypelaski at gmail d0t com
Don't gift something from your house without making sure to rid all of the "this is an old ______ that I don't use" evidence. I received a charging station from my uncle and discovered anvils check book of his when opening one of the drawers!
Find a quiet place away from everyone where you can get away, if you need to, later. (No, this is NOT from experience why do you ask?!)
Treasure time with family.
Cuddle as much as possible with loved ones. And, if you don't have a fireplace, snuggle up in front of your TV + fireplace DVD like we do! *wink*
Simplify! Enough said :)
Be thankful for the good things you have, there is always someone out there worse of than you/me!
Remember and honor the true reason for Christmas, Jesus!
I like Prudent Advice on FB!
We love watching Christmas movies on Christmas Eve after attending Mass. So much wisdom can be found by watching them: Leg Lamps and official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle guns do NOT make great gifts, always check the tree for squirrels and have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Kaye.
I shared this on FB =)
I just "liked" you on Facebook, too!
And I just shared a link to your give away on Facebook! Can you tell how bad I want a personalized copy of your book!? :)
and finally, I just retweeted your give away tweet on Twitter. Thanks for allowing so many entries! :)
Exercise regularly...not just to stay fit but for mental health. (I find as a mom, the days/weeks when I don't exercise are by far the most frustrating/crazy and mentally chaotic.)
I'd love to have your daughter's autograph. :) My best piece of advice is to take time to enjoy the season. It's so easy to get way too busy and too overcommited.
My advice would be to relax and enjoy.
Last Christmas was my husband's and my first Christmas as a married couple and we also had our son a month before Christmas, so it was a first and very important Christmas for all of us! Due to some medical issues that came up I was in the hospital on Christmas.. I was really bummed about it because I wanted to start traditions. But looking back now, it's just part of our story and it makes me smile =)
So don't let the unexpected ruin your Christmas spirit =)
Also - I liked you on Facebook! I'm the Kate with a Halloween speed bump;baby bump costume in my photo.
Keep it simple :) and smile.
I'm a facebook fan!
Start your own holiday traditions, as well as honouring the ones you grew up with.
Oh, and if you want to make all your Christmas gifts, start in July.
Liked Prudent Advice on Facebook!
Enjoy every minute of the season. Watch the Christmas movies, listen to Christmas songs, and eat Christmas foods. It only comes around once a year.
It's easy to get caught up in spending money, and trying to buy the biggest best present you can. Don't lose sight of what Christmas is really all about, whether you are Christian or not. It's about family and love, and no amount of spending will ever equal a genuine, heartfelt gift and a specially cooked meal shared with your loved ones.
Yes, try to enjoy the holidays, but it's OK to feel sad, too. Sometimes this time of year is hard, especially if you've lost someone. Don't feel compelled to be cheery ALL the time. Relish your tears, then bake some cookies.
Plan something for a day or two after the holidays. Just a little something to look forward to. A play date, a real date (gosh can you imagine?), a drink with a friend. After the build-up and business of the Christmas season, sometimes I develop a bit of post-Christmas pout after the big day. It's great to have something else fun to look forward to to bring me out of the funk. Oh, and "Joy to the World" by Mariah Carey is energizing, seasonal and will absolutely help if you're starting to feel a bit overwhelmed!
When in doubt, go with a handmade gift. Not only is it usually more cost effective, it is without a doubt a labour of love. (My labours of love are made with blood, sweat and tears as I'm a beginner seamstress!)
I became a fan on facebook as well--my advice for the holiday is in comment #41.
Simplicity and gratefulness are key to truly having a blessed Christmas. Charlie Brown had it right...commericalism ruins the meaning of Christmas. Family and love and being together are all we need...
Liked on Facebook
my parents divorced when i was 23 so there were many 'traditions' that i couldn't bare continue with because of the heart break. But the one thing that my family did do often was travel particularly during Christmas.
So now that I'm married my husband and I travel somewhere in the world during the christmas holiday so i feel that we are continuing a 'family tradition'. We meet so many great people and create so many lasting memories that is fills our void of family during that time. We don't have children yet but I plan to continue this 'tradition' with them so that one day when I'm not with them they will not be sad during the holidays thinking about "mom used to do this ..." because they will hopefully continue traveling and meeting new people and seeing the world!
I had a miscarriage 5 days ago at 9 weeks pregnant. I would say to create a sense of family with whomever is around you. Try not to waste this holiday season living in a "what if" world. Treasure everything you have in this moment that you have it. There are no guarentees for tomorrow...so truly hold dear what you have today.
like on FB.
If you haven't gotten all your Christmas shopping done yet, it's ok. They will forgive you.
Love, Laugh, Give and Forgive.
Love someone who feels dispare.
Laugh a belly laugh, it is contagious.
Give of yourself in some way everyday.
Forgive others and yourself it is very healing.
You can try your hardest to create magical christmas traditions but in the end they will probably remember the silly things you didn't even realize you did.
I work in retail and my most prudent piece of advice for this time of year (or anytime of year for that matter) is to treat people the way you want to be treated. Have patience, kindness, consideration and forgiveness at the top of your list.
The best gifts are those that are either made by your hand or by someone else. Anyone can hit the big box store and get the same old gizmo and doodad that are being sold by the 100s. Making a gift or choosing a handmade gift with your loved one in mind has that much more meaning.
My word of advise would be . . . be thankful for what you currently have, because it can be gone quicker than you received it. And always treat others better than you want to be treated.
Set aside your differences for the holidays. There will come a day where they will seem petty and you will realize all the time you wasted.
- Danielle
other-option AT hotmail DOT com
Don't get stressed out, we all need to practice that more.
Get out and sweat. Exercise is the best stress reliever. Use it!
burn a great smelling candle to help fill your home with joy. even if your candle smells like the beach and not like a pine tree, your home will make you smile because it has brought you joy.
start Christmas in September! At least that's my advice to me for next year. . .9 days left REALLY????
take the time to ENJOY being with your family on christmas eve/day... we tend to get so caught up in everything we have to do that we forget the importance of just being with the ones we love.
I liked you on FB, too!
My Christmas advice would be to pay attention to the people (adults and children) and what they are saying rather than getting wrapped up in the parties.
I always remind my children (and hopefully it will sink in someday) that gifts we receive aren't what make us the happiest - what makes us the happiest are the gifts we give.
Giving a home made gift is a wonderful thing to do - it shows thought, time, creativity and love that just can't be given through a store bought gift.
Start early! And create traditions that you love, not ones that you'll feel obligated to continue!
Look at it through your child's eyes. Makes it all worth it!
I just "liked" you on facebook!
My advice, give thanks in everything!
Make memories with your family and friends to cherish. Be kind and gracious to all and thankful for all blessings.
Definitely don't wait until a week before to start making your gifts. :)
I liked you on facebook.
Don't drive during a blizzard!
Spend your money on creating memories and moments. The stuff breaks, goes out of style, and loses value. We forget who it is from and why we wanted it. Memories patina and grow more valuable with age. They can also be shared, and are enjoyed not only by those who were in the moment, but by those with whom the moment is shared through countless retellings.
Also, make homemade marshmallows at least once a season. They are worth it!
Experience something new with your family!
Everyone in the family takes turn each year to do the thing he/she want to do and do it together.
Make this a family tradition to spend family time together. It’s also something for everybody in the family to look forward to each year.
Remember to just breathe and that it may not go perfectly but that's perfectly fine.
I don't know if my advice will be earth shattering but if you are traveling, don't put on the bows/ribbons until you get where you are going. Especially with a child who needs a pack and play and stroller, etc., you need all the room you can get in your trunk!
just relax, try to enjoy yourself at least a little bit
hanibee8@hotmail.com
i tweeted!
hanibee8@hotmail.com
i stumbled!
hanibee8@hotmail.com
and I shared on FB
hanibee8@hotmail.com
i became a fan on FB
hanibee8@hotmail.com
It's taken me 5 years but this year my son will just be getting a few gifts (7-8). Every year I would load up on Christmas gifts buying things that I thought were cool and hoped he would play with but really knew...chances are they would be thrown in the closet. Christmas isn't about making sure you have lots of gifts to open!!
Amanda
amandaandandy@yahoo.com
With the birth of our first daughter this past July, my husband and I are excited to begin building family traditions that our children will remember, we hope, with fondness and love in years to come. I glow with joy at making Christmas meaningful and full of the message of God's love for us; I'm so grateful to be a mommy and a wife.
make time for good food with good company :) *sigh* I love this time of year!
If you don't finish everything on your to do list, it is okay, just stop and spend time with your loved ones, that is what you are going to remember
It's the time you spend together with loved one that matters most!
Really enjoy the time that you've been given. REALLY...stop and smell the flowers. It's easy to get caught up in the typical family drama and gossip without appreciating the fact that (HEY) at least you've got Aunt Helen's ghetto wig to gossip about.
During the holidays you can never have enough pie, so indulge!
Enjoy the Holidays! Have fun buying or making presents for the people you love, admire the pretty decorations, listen to fun holiday music, eat lots of yummy food and most importantly don't let yourself get stressed!
Crafting holiday gifts is the best way to de-stress during the holidays and a great money-saver. Come to think of it, that's good advice for the rest of the year too. :)
My one piece of advice is K.I.S. KEEP IT SIMPLE :-) Remember what the season is really about and cherish the little things that make it wonderful!
Happy Holidays!
Make traditions as a couple pre-babies that can be your special "adult" traditions. My husband and I crack a bottle of champagne (sparkling wine this year with the little one on the way) and make an event out of tree decorating.
I facebooked the giveaway
I liked prudent advice on facebook.
start shopping in july so you can be crafty in november and december.
if i win, will you trace scarlet's hand on the inside, too? :)
My advice is forget all the pressure of the gifts and decor and embrace the expressions on your kids faces. The joy and excitement is wonderful and warms the heart.
Take care,
Lisa
Never ever peek at an unwrapped gift, but shaking (gently) and guessing is the best fun to be had around the tree. :)
Every year video your kids making a holiday project, these videos are so precious to watch later!
Take a moment each day during the season to find something new to cherish. Last year was our first Christmas together as a married couple, and we spent our Christmas Eve snuggled on the couch, wrapped in fluffy blankets, watching a Christmas movie. It was my favorite memory of the season.
Enjoy Christmas music with your family and friends. If you can't play instruments or sing, at least listen some great Christmas music. It's the soundtrack to your memories!
Remember for those of us who want a "perfect" Christmas there is no such thing and to just relax and enjoy your holiday!!
Lower the bar. That's the best advice I can offer. Don't let friends and family expect "perfect". Let them expect "good enough" and if you luck into perfect, great. If not, no problem, the bar was set fairly low.
Besides, people who set the bar really high make it hard for the rest of us "normal" people.
Happy Holidays
to quote Christmas Vacation (a must watch movie of the season along with Elf): "i dont' know what to tell you, Aubrey. It's Christmas and we are all miserable!"
but seriously, its family. they will drive you nuts, make you cry, make you laugh, and be there for you whenever you need them. Cherish them. And go for a walk when that feeling fades and hopefully that helps :) Nothing will ever go as planned, so be OK with that, too.
And cookies. lots and lots of cookies to eat :) (and maybe wine, too)
My advice is to not only to be generous and loving during the holiday season, but to remember what Jesus Christ did for us every single day, and to try to be more like Him in every way, and to make sure we teach this to our children. :)
Sleep in when you can and listen to and sing along with Christmas music. It'll do wonders for your approach to the holidays. :)
Also, I liked it on FB!
Prepare as much in advance so that you may actually have time to spend with your family enjoying the holiday.
we love to decorate and shop as a family. our girls need to learn the importance of giving!
i liked you on facebook too!!
Christmas shop throughout the year, instead of just in December. By the time Christmas rolls around, all that's left is the wrapping, baking and eggnog sipping.
One year, I will heed this advice :)
I liked you a whole lot on FB!
My holiday advice: At some point, between the baking, shopping, wrapping and stress, lay down in the snow, forget about it all for a moment and make a killer snow angel.
Take time to breathe and enjoy each magical moment. No matter where you are, or what you are doing, each moment is special.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
I became a fam on FB too: Lisa Holmes Garrett
lag110 at mchsi dot com
If the mess brings stress, skip the mess and don't feel guilty if you buy cakes, pies, or dinners already made...if you love baking and cooking, go for it...if it's just too much, your family will still love you if you buy foods from the store. Promise. :) It's more important to love the time you spend with your family, not cleaning all the time.
To moms: Whatever decision you made today, it was the right one.
Liked PB on FB.
Technology has made things better in some ways for those who are separated from their loved ones. Use it to your advantage, and be creative!
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com
facebook fan of prudent advice
ruthhill74
The best advise I can give...don't get wrapped up in the details of the holidays. Your guests (unless they are my mother, haha) won't notice if you bleach every counter in your kitchen, or if every corner was swabbed for webs. Also, for those young parents out there...your child is likely not to remember every toy or gift they got on the Christmas that they were 6...yet, they will remember the time you donned on matching aprons and made some perfect or sometimes not so perfect Christmas cookies, forgetting the growing mound of laundry in the laundry room and grabbed a sled on the first snow day of the year, making hot cocoa and reading your favorite Christmas story (or snuggling up to watch a classic Christmas movie)...they'll remember the times you spent much longer than they'll remember what was wrapped under the tree!
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Embrace the season and everything that goes with it - the stress, the family occasions, the expensive photos with Santa, the mess, the last minute shopping, the raw cookie dough, the late night projects, the looks on your children's faces on Christmas morning, the traditions, and the memories. You can sleep in January.
If you are a last minute crafter and can't quite finish, then make pretty 'IOU' cards with or without a hint. I think I'm in favor of New Year's presents this year! :)
Enjoy the simple things that go along with the holiday season: Snuggle by the fire with the ones you love. Eat LOTS of sweets and don't worry about the excess calories. Watch the snow fall from the window while snuggled up in a blanket. Write next to the beautifully lit Christmas tree. Share your favorite Christmas songs with friends and family.
it doesn't matter what you buy, or get it's the family and the memories that you make.
I became a fan on FB
Your attitude affects your children's perception of events. If you're stressed or grouchy, then they will be, too. If you relax and enjoy the holidays, and laugh when things go wrong, then everyone will have fun.
Take an example from the classics: "It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?" Enjoy the love, this season!
My advice to my children: The holidays are a time for family, love, and keeping up tradition. When possible take the day off, stay home with your family, and instead of stressing out about shopping, prepping, and decorating; enjoy the people who love you the most. They won't be around forever, but, if you are lucky, their impact on you and future generations will be. Happy Holidays!
I also tweeted this giveaway! :)
It is never to late to make up for mistakes. The holidays are the perfect time to remember that. I try to do something extra special for a person whom I didn't give the best of myself to throughout the year. I don't necessarily buy something. More often I try to make something that would really mean something to them alone and enclose a note about friendship, God, and the reason for the season!
Oh! I need this book...as much more myself as for my baby daughter (13 months)! I love the tips and advice you have shared here on the blog, and I really want to read all of it.
See everything through the eyes of your child. It makes it all so much more exciting and spectacular.
place a family picture on your window sill, anytime the season overwhelms..look at it and remember why you try so hard
We are not doing gifts this year, just good food and family. And thats what it is really about!
My best advice for this time of year is to Relax and try to remember what is really important in life. Love your blog...so happy I stumbled upon it awhile back. It inspires me!
Find a moment to hug everyone in your family that you see this Christmas. Make a moment for everyone, just you and them, and let them know how special they are. That's such a special gift. :) Merry Christmas everyone!
Don't waste the time you get to spend with those you love.
My mom, who is the saintliest person ever gave me this advice when I was a sophomore in high school, "Get involved in something and you will have more fun"
I have stuck with that advice ever since and it is so true. You can't depend on other people to involve you and it certainly isn't fun watching others have fun from afar. In high school I joined student council. As an adult and mother I make sure to introduce myself to new people at church, attend weekly play groups, compliment everyone I see.
Getting involved gives you a feeling of self worth and accomplishment. I will be forever grateful to my mother who is so wise
I also liked this on facebook
This is my first time on this site, and I feel alive again. I have been on disability for 9 to 10 years and X-mas has been up because we learned family is the most important thing. This year I have been feeling better, therefore x-mas is going to be the best in a long time. I know I shouldn't feel this way, cause it's not about the gift but when you haven't been able to get your kids gifts for years, It feel damn goooooood to make gifts and be able the decorate again. X-mas has always been about birthdays in our house, the birth of Christ and one of my boys. Yes god let me have one on this day. Anyway when I wish good health and happy family, I REALLY MEAN IT. So best wishes to you and yours. Happy Holidays
Lana
The best holiday advice I've ever gotten was from my aunt Lori. She said, Isabella when you grow up NEVER volunteer to cook the turkey. lol She was a very smart lady. ;) Happy Holidays!
Enjoy every moment of your holiday!
Relax and enjoy the moment!
Teach your children to be thankful for all they have in their lives, even the peas they have to eat for dinner!
this book looks great and I have 2 girls
tweeted gidgetnfroggi
i SHARED ON FACEBOOK
I would rather something made from the heart then any expensive gifts, some times it is too much to handle the gifts!
I am already a fan on facebook and I liked this post!
Meg
Be the family for those around you who may not have one! This simple gesture can make all the difference in someone's holiday.
bake Jesus a birthday cake/cupcake :o)
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