So you decided one fine December that it would be super swell to make photo books as holiday gifts for the grandparents, siblings, and aunts. And it was . . . but it was so much work. So. Much. Work.

But they loved them, and they fawned over you, and now it’s your thing. Your stressful, time-sucking thing. But you know in your heart it doesn’t have to be that hard. If you just knocked them out earlier in the year it wouldn’t be so bad. Right? RIGHT?! New Year’s resolution time: jump on Shutterfly in January and BOOM, Christmas shopping will be done before the calendar even flips a page.

But things come up, time gets away from you, and then suddenly . . .

1. It’s dawn on December 5th when you realize the 50% discount–THE BEST OFFER OF THE YEAR–ends at midnight.
2. Procrastination be damned and with Shutterfly as your witness, you will get the photo books done today!
3. But first Facebook.
4. NO! FOCUS! Must start culling through 30 bajillion photos. Because digital.
5. Declare Part B of your new New Year’s resolution is to delete bad photos as you go along.
6. (No, you won’t.)
7. Figure out that NOT ONE of the 50 pictures you shot on burst for the family portrait has everyone looking good (or at least looking at the camera) at the same time.
8. Spend an hour on PicMonkey frankensteining a photo that is album cover worthy.
9. Hell, while you’re at it, touch up your roots and whiten your teeth in that one fab picture of yourself in front of the tree.
10. Crap, you need to get the kids to school.
11. Okay, focus. Just pick some pictures so a book can actually happen.
12. Start upload of 331 photos.
13. Celebrate with your 4th cup of coffee before 10:00 AM because now you can begin the fun stuff of designing your book.
14. Come back with your 5th mug of coffee and realize not all of the photos are on the site  because your internet connection glitched in the middle of your upload.
15. Go through the tiny thumbnails and figure out what’s missing.
16. Schedule an appointment with the eye doctor to see if you need glasses.
17. Start another upload.
18. Swear you’ll upload your pictures immediately after Christmas this year.
19. (No you won’t.)
20. While upload is completing (you won’t dare walk away this time because your broken spirit is too heavy to drag along), pick out the perfect theme.
21. Treat yourself to a 6th cup of coffee because you picked out the perfect theme in three minutes.
22. Oh nardbolts, it is one that costs extra.
23. Go back and settle on a different theme. Convince yourself that your basic family will like the basic theme.
24. Check on the upload.
25. Accidentally pause upload because your hands are shaking.
26. Make yourself a sandwich to soak up the caffeine.
27. Start the book.
28. Forty minutes later panic–because while they are PERFECTLY placed–you only have three pictures in your album and it’s now time to pick the kids up from school.
29. Grind on the homework/dinner/practice/bedtime hamster wheel.
30. Grab a latte to get you through.
31. Four hours later get back on Shutterfly.
32. Add a shot of Bailey’s to your coffee because you realize you only have 45% of one page created.
33. Pass out on the keyboard because you are EXHAUSTED.
34. Wake up at 4:00 AM. Succumb to gnashing of teeth and rending of garments BECAUSE YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE!
35. Start Google search  to see how much you could get for a kidney to pay for full price photo books.
36. Check email and see–can it be true??–the 50% deal has been extended by ONE DAY.
37. Fall to your knees weeping the praises of Shutterfly and promising to use this second chance to end your procrastinating ways once and for all.
38. (No you won’t.)
39. Get the kids to school and crank up that Keurig because momma’s got a photo book to complete.
40. Bust through 30 pages like a woman possessed by ignoring your family and squashing all semblances of holiday cheer. Hit submit at 11:52 PM.
41. Revel in those eight minutes to spare.
42. Be stricken with complete amnesia when those glorious orange boxes show up on your doorstep.
43. Bask in your praises on Christmas morning.
44. Repeat steps 1 through 43 next year.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Ellen 

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Check out our books, “I Just Want to Be Alone” and “You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth.”