Preparing For The Holidays

Published by Susie

Are You Getting Your Ducks In A Row

For The Holidays?

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a……….SCRATCH……..there went that scene. ~~”Do you hear what I hear?”~~ It’s you frantically stirring around wrapping presents, cleaning the house, checking your list to make sure nobody was forgotten, making last minute runs to the corner market which is fixing to close, and baking cookies while wishing you had prepared more in advance. You want everything to be picture perfect for those who are sleeping with sugar plumbs dancing in their heads. Sound familiar?

How about this year, “YOU” get to relax and enjoy every minute of the holidays with them? You have to admit it’s a delicious thought.

NOW is the time to get started! Here is a check list that is my gift to you: (I am using the same list as well)

1. Get Over Yourself: Because we want everything to be perfect for the holidays, we put things off hoping we will find time later to make it perfect. It is okay if it’s not perfect, it got done! YOU ARE FORGIVEN IN ADVANCE!!!!!

2. Set A Budget: Setting a budget for the holidays will prevent you from lining up for a room at the poor house in January. Things you need a budget for:

Gifts. Establish how much you will spend on each person and stick to it.
Food. This is usually a big expense and we must budget for it.
Holiday Decor
Donations to charities (money or service)
Activities (traveling)
Clothing. Holiday pajamas, sweaters, socks, etc

3. Make Lists: If you start checking things off your lists now, you will buy yourself quality time later with the ones you love. What kind of lists should we make?

Who are you buying for? Your children, spouse, grandchildren, secret pal at church, office party, boss, friends, etc.
Menu for the holidays. If you are like me and make the same things during the holidays, save this list on your computer for next year.
Detailed grocery list. Here again save this list.
Paper goods: Girl, don’t break out the china this year that has to be hand washed! Use paper plates, cups and napkins. You’re forgiven!
Who’s bringing what? If you and your family do pot-luck, make a list of who’s bringing what.
Christmas card recipients (Save this list to be edited for next year)
Pinterest decor projects that you want to complete. I have a ton on my list!
Decor that you want to purchase.
Supplies such as wrapping paper, bows, tags & boxes.
Foods that can be prepared in advance and frozen.
Homemade gifts.
Christmas gift wrapping supplies
Gifts to be mailed.
Mailing and packing materials needed.

4. Set Up Your Calendar: Give yourself a goal date for each project to be completed and mark it on your calendar. By doing this, you are now able to pencil yourself in for the holidays. What a novel idea, huh?

Also, if you are mailing packages, make sure you give yourself plenty of time for them to arrive.

Are you having overnight quest for the holidays?

Make sure you plan in advance of their arrival. Whether they are staying for one night or the entire week, you want them to feel welcomed and as comfortable as possible.

Make sure the guest bath is clean and fresh
Plenty of fresh bath and hand towels. Consider placing festive Christmas Towels on display.
Stock your guest bath with necessities just in case they forget something. Suggestions would be: Razors, extra toothbrushes still in the package, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, soap/body wash, feminine products, blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron. These simple suggestions will make their stay so much more comfortable, especially if they don’t have to ask to borrow something from you.
Fresh linens on the bed.
Display some type of holiday decor (just a little) in the space they will be using. (Candles, decorative pillows, flowers, candy, ect.)
Clear out some extra drawers for them to unpack while they are there.
Place a few holiday magazines on the nightstand.
Provide plenty of light for them to read in bed.
Alarm clock.
Make sure they will have enough warm blankets that have been freshly washed. Nothing worse for me than to sleep with a quilt that has been in someone’s cedar chest. You may like that scent, but not everybody does. Be considerate.

Plan ahead for the use of your kitchen for the holidays

Organize your cabinets, pantry and drawers. Let’s face it; there are horror stories every year, of someone discovering someone else’s dirty little secrets. Don’t let that happen to you. Be ready to represent! See:

Put things up that could get in the way, if you are not going to use them during the holidays. Example: Seldom used appliances taking up space on the counters and other things that can be temporarily removed.

And Finally, The Decorating

Don’t try to get it all done at one time. A little a day keeps the stress away.

I hope this will help you be prepared and ready to enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.

Stay tuned for my “Home for the Holidays” post that will be published on November 1st.

Susie

2 Comments

Susie says:

October 6, 2012 at 9:22 pm

Ha, I have been there too with the adult child living with me. Good luck on her getting her act together until she moves out! 🙁 At least that is what my kids did. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. As far as the grandchildren thing, I cheated and received 4 bonus grands when my son married his wife. Together they have 7. Whew God Bless them! Eli, of course is one of my natural grands. Again thanks for coming and I hope you stop in often.
Becky L says:

October 6, 2012 at 8:31 pm

Thanks for the holiday ideas. I just read your post on Laura’s–
Org Junkie==blog. Am sending it on to my adult daughter that lives with us and needs to get her act together! Sigh! We are probably going to have quite a few people here for Thanksgiving. So my act is to clean up a space for a bigger table for people to sit at and enjoy everybody instead of some of us locals sitting by ourselves in the living room. It happened a few years ago and we weren’t happy campers. Nuf said….I’m a grandma too. But only have two adorable grandchildren. Gotta start somewhere! Thanks for your tips! Take care.

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