It is summertime as I write this, and how often do we think of Christmas in the dog days of summer? Not often. Unless, you are a crafter who likes to prepare homemade gifts or an organizational maven who is shopping smart all through the year for people on the gift list. So, it is actually a very savvy consideration, while soaking up sun and sipping lemonade, to start thinking about Christmas. Every year I vow to get my Christmas shopping done without the frantic, mindless buying that can come about when you wait until December (preferably with a light snowfall to "get in the mood").

But with all the online help, tips, and shopping opportunities, does that make sense anymore? So I am now an advocate of using the more relaxed attitudes of summer to leisurely plan a cozy Christmas. Join me? I've reopened the site for the year, and in the spirit of this new and smarter approach to creating a loving family Christmas, I'll update with tips to plan and create holiday peace and joy.

Maybe this will be the best Christmas yet.