Advent Planning and Sharing
Good morning all! It’s a cold morning here on the day after Thanksgiving – the perfect morning for a warm fire and hot chocolate! I’m sitting here with my planner open and checking off tasks that were completed this week…and adding a few extra, and I realized I hadn’t shared our Advent plans here yet!
Advent will be here in just a couple of days and I’m putting the finishing touches on our preparations! I have a few things left to do:
- Organize Advent book baskets
- Set up Advent wreath
- Hang Advent calendars {In case you’re looking for Beeswax Advent candles, I highly recommend the Advent set from Big Dipper Wax Works! We’ve used them for several years, and they burn clean, are beautiful, rich colors, and drip very little.}
- Finish Advent menu {remember, we have the Wintertide Ember days on December 18, 20, 21.}
- Make final decisions on St. Nicholas stocking treasures
- Look ahead to Christmas – check everyone’s closet for Christmas Mass clothes and fill in any missing items.
- Wrap up all my list-making and final organization checks. 🙂 Speaking of list making and getting organized for Advent, I have a question for you – how do you organize for Advent? Paper or digital? Lists or spreadsheets? Baskets or Shelf?
{For those of you that just CANNOT wait for a crazy-lengthy-gut-spilling-multi-pen-colored-embellished-gazillions-of-pictures-of-my-planner-post {{LOL!!!}}…I’ve spent the last month setting up my new Erin Condren {customizable} Life Planner. Before you choke at the price, do consider that if you break the price down monthly, this planner will cost you $4.16/month to stay organized. However…fair warning – the planner is pricey! Even considering the price, I’m finding it to be a fantastic and helpful planner for me. More later on this important topic, friends! 🙂 Because…surely the web needs yet ANOTHER Erin Condren Life Planner review?? Seriously – go google it!}
So, how are your Advent plans coming along? Have you gathered your Advent books and are you gathering the final things necessary for this season of quiet and preparation?
Below, I’m linking a free pdf to this year’s Advent plans, keyed to the Liturgical Calendar {1962 calendar for the Extraordinary Form} with Advent prompts for following along with the Feasts and days of the season. I’ve included a list of books at the end of the plans, and only mention specific books if the book addresses a Feast specifically. There are lots of blanks for you to fill in the books from your own book baskets on the plans! I hope they’re helpful to you!
Here are a few links from past Advent plans {many contain links to fantastic Advent reading}, some background on Ember Days, and more free, printable Advent resources to help you along with your Advent planning:
- Preparing Our Hearts and Nesting With Mary
- A Garden Enclosed – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Craft Idea
- Advent Plans ~ 2008
- A Blessed First Sunday of Advent
- Free {printable} Issue of Mater et Magistra – this issue is still available to download and print and the entire issue is centered around Advent.
- Toward Living Advent and Christmas – 2010
- Toward Living Advent and Christmas – 2011
And now…the disclaimer. I’m borrowing a favorite phrase from Tasha Tudor. You all know that some seasons – some Advents – are to be lived out more simply and quietly than others, right? Last year was an extremely simple Advent for our family since I was pregnant. And that was great! Other Advents in our family have been that simple…or even more so! This year, I get to add to the things we’re doing because of my energy level and the help I have. 🙂 So…pray about your season of life. Choose simply and wisely. Do not compare your family, your needs, organizational skills, abilities, or your crafting skills to others, but rather, take joy in choosing ideas that work for you and your family.
And this year ours will be a simply joyful Advent. Hugs, Jen! This is as always, so lovely and inspiring!
How exciting to see a post from you pop up in my feedly:)
I used to use to a blank paper to scribble, the best favour I ever did was to write several organisational posts on my blog a few years back and I just re-refer to them now.
http://sevenlittleaustralians.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/o-come-o-come-emmanuel.html
and whilst I'm inspired by a few blog posts on organising my book lists into what on what day, at this stage we just tend to pull books from the pile and read
Great to hear from you Jen! Definitely Paper, Paper, Paper! There is something about a lovely page that I am just not ready to give up. My Advent plans are in a binder that is kept in a prominent place, always ready for a quick reference.
I find that I refer to my plans frequently and I really don't want my children to think of me as “always” glancing at a screen as we move through our days. Paper works for me, and it allows anyone else in my family to check our notes at any time as well.
I am almost ready for Advent. Just a few final plans to make and
I need to finalize our picture book choices~always a pleasant task.
Calm and quiet~, that is my hope for this Advent season~with a liberal amount of JOY mixed in.
Thank you again for sharing,
~lisa
There's my friend! Oh, Jen, you know you run circles around me…and I'm so, so glad! I'll be back to read and enjoy but for now, we're putting up our tree with purple twinkle lights 🙂
Love, Angie <3
LOVE LOVE LOVE the compilation document, Jen! It's awesome! I second Lisa's comment about “glancing at paper” instead of “the screen.”
I tend to look at “all the possibilities” for a feast day on Sunday and then put them on my planner for that day.
Lovely to see a post from you! Your organization is always inspiring ; ) As for me…good old fashion notebook (Cath Kidston, of course)to plan my Advent season and booklist.
I typically have one notebook for each school year so its nice to see all that we do/read for that particular year in one place. It helps me tremendously as a reference point moving forward.
Blessings to you and the family this season, lol!
I was just thinking the other day, “I wish Jen would update her blog, always such an inspiration!” I checked, and here you are! Hey, the only thing missing is an updated pic of that precious girl! I can NOT believe she is six months old!!!
Thanks for all of the links, off to do some library ordering.
So glad you are blogging again! Thanks so much for sharing your Advent plans. I can't imagine how much time that must take you and you are always so generous to share! Thanks! God bless, trish
Could you tell us how you use the materials, and how a typical day during advent looks like for your family? Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy days to blog!
I use a mix of paper and technology. For gift purchases, I use an app called NoMoreSocks. It's been great for keeping track of purchases and making sure I stay in budget! I also use an app called Errands, which I love for everyday “to do” tasks. It isn't as useful for advent planning, so I use a paper planner that I created for the Advent season.
This will (hopefully) be a simpler, quieter Advent for us. I just don't feel like getting too elaborate this year.
You have some wonderful plans and ideas!
Thanks for sharing, Jen! I've been waiting for this post. I've decided to blog about our Advent plans this year.
What a wonderful post!! I am going to re-read it after we finish our school day as I enjoy a cup of tea. Thank you! Advent has begun and I am still putting together this year's plan–yikes!!
Peace & Raw Health,
Elizabeth
I had to come back and say that I'm looking forward to the new planner post! I love my current planner, but I need more room for other things because I'm tired of trying to organize in a few different things.
Does the Advent planner end on jan 6th?
The Advent planner ends on January 13, after the Baptism of Our Lord.