Two months from today is Christmas Eve. I love the Holiday's and all the activities that go with making a wonderful setting in my home and sharing enjoyable times with family and friends. By implementing at least a few of tips I have shared during this year, you should be able to have a very calm and enjoyable holiday season this year.
This week I will share some more practical ideas so that by the time Thanksgiving Day arrives you can find yourself sitting on the sofa watching the Macy's Parade while the turkey is baking instead of working in the kitchen while the rest of the family enjoys the festivities.
As I have stressed on many occasions, lists are your friend. If you have not made your shopping or to-do lists yet, take the time to do so today.
Food Shopping Lists:
Using your calendar start by planning the meals and occasions you will need to prepare food for during the season.
Include occasions like the night before Thanksgiving, when you will have guests overnight, or will be busy preparing for the following day.
Don't forget to include New Year's Eve and Day.
Include special events you will be a part of and need to take a dish to share.
Decide on all of the baking you would like to do during this time.
Once you have completed a menu for the season, you can put together a shopping list.
Purchase as much as you can in advance to save the little trips to the store that will rob you of time for other activities.
To-Do Lists:
Using your calendar plan all of the "things" you need and want to accomplish in the coming weeks. By actually putting the "to-do" on the calendar you are more likely to accomplish it.
Include everything you can think of, baking, shopping, cleaning, decorating, events to attend, events to host, addressing Christmas cards, purchasing stamps, wrapping gifts, mailing gifts.
Gift Shopping List:
If you have already started shopping, which I hope you have, start by listing all of the gifts you have already purchased. By marking these off the list it will help you not to be tempted to purchase more for those people. This is a big budget blower.
If you have not started shopping yet, PLEASE do so now.
List every person you would like to give a gift to including hostess gifts for events you will attend.
Divide by groups, each family, all children, etc. whichever grouping will help you most as you shop.
Think of a theme for gift purchasing and look for something in that theme for everyone on the list.
I will be sharing gift themes tomorrow.
Assign a day on you calendar to shop for each family or group.
Additional lists could include acts of kindness you would like to perform, people you would like to see, movies to watch, activities to participate in, to name a few.
Remember those lists are your friends and you will feel much more in control if you follow the lists and can check off each thing you accomplish.
Let's get started today making a great Holiday Season.
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