This Christmas Eve will mark my 10th year of hosting a family holiday celebration. Over the years, I have developed a plan of attack that makes this time of year much more jolly. I hope that you will take away at least one or two tips from this post.
Once the Halloween decorations have been put away, it is time for me to plan the holiday season. Here's what I did this past weekend:
- Found the dates of area activities that I want to attend. I included concerts, plays, parades, light displays, craft fairs, parties, etc.
- Wrote these date specific events on a calendar. I printed off a blank December calendar and wrote down the events with red and green ink. Simple but festive.
- Made a "bucket" list of activities that I want to do this year, but aren't date specific. I included movies to watch, books to read, decorating, baking, viewing light displays, etc.
- Posted the list and calendar for my family to see.
This really started to get me excited for the holidays. It motivated me to then:
- Make a list of the people that I'd like to give gifts to. If you have ideas on what to get them and/or already purchased them a gift, write that down.
- Make a wish list for myself. My family wants ideas on what to get me, and I want ideas on what to get them. It prevents me from buying stuff on the list and allows me to give them ideas when they ask.
- View my Christmas ideas board(s) on Pinterest.
- Design and order this year's holiday card.
- Sketch my outdoor decorating plan.
I already feel like I have a head start. My feelings about the holidays are of excitement and anticipation. I am not feeling stressed about it...yet.
There are several things that I need to accomplish before Thanksgiving. (I have tried waiting until after turkey day, but I have been way too stressed cramming shopping, decorating, baking, partying, mailing cards, meal planning, etc. into about 4 weeks.)
- Draft my holiday form letter.
- Decorate the outside of my house. (In Wisconsin, waiting until after Thanksgiving results in bitter cold, snow, and frozen pumpkins.) I will wait to turn the lights on, but I will have them ready to go.
- Complete my in-store Christmas shopping. I avoid stores between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shoppers tend to be stressed out and workers seem annoyed. Plus finding a parking place is difficult. After Thanksgiving, I shop online and order from direct sale companies. I check to see if Black Friday deals are available online. I look up coupon codes and often get free shipping. I think that I spend less money, since I don't keep adding the "good deals" to loved ones gifts and then needing to buy more for others to keep the gift giving "even".
- Create invitations for our family celebration. I include a menu on it with suggestions of what people can bring.
- Purchase two frozen pumpkin pies and one frozen Dutch apple pie to bake on Thanksgiving day. People love that it is "fresh baked", and it so much easier than messing up my kitchen to make pies that may or may not turn out. I may also find a Pinterest recipe to share with my family.
- Add a Christmas music playlist to my iPod.
Please notice that I do not host both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am extremely thankful that my mom still hosts the feasting.
My nieces, nephews, and I have developed a tradition of decorating the inside of my home and wrapping presents on Black Friday. They are all such great elves! My oldest niece loves to wrap presents and has gotten to be an expert at it over the years. My nephews are great at going to the back of the closet and getting out the decorations. Every one pitches in and it is done in a couple of hours. They also help me address, stamp, and stuff my holiday cards to be placed in the mail.
After Thanksgiving is when I work on completing the items on the "bucket" list and attend events that I have on my calendar and enjoy them. I will also need to:
- Personalize ornaments.
- Have a baking and candy making weekend at my house.
- Purchase ingredients from the grocery store to prepare the menu items for our holiday celebration.
- Prepare the holiday menu.
- Complete other odds and ends as they arise.
I have a lot to accomplish before Thanksgiving, so I better get busy. Season's Greeting!
Until next time,
Aimee
