Preparing for Christmas... believe it or not it's time!

Why do we need to prepare now, to avoid stress and to save money. OK first steps first. Lets make up a Christmas preparation binder or if you are a computer person, make up an Excel or Word file for the following:

• list of all those you need to send cards/letters/photos to
• list of all those that you need to purchase gifts
• list of all those you need to bake something for
• list of each room in the house and what decorations/themes you want to have
• list of each party/open house or other occasion you will be having/attending

Now you know how many cards you'll be sending... are you making them, buying them or do have have them already (purchased after Christmas last year). How about your Christmas letter, my hubby hates the thing, lol. I have a running list that I edit every few months throughout the year. I keep it to 2-3 sentences on each member of the immediate family, one short paragraph of vacations/special occasions and one paragraph on all the extended family. I keep it short and sweet. Do you have a profession photo taken, now would be a good time to book that appointment so that you have enough time to proof it and all. If you are planning on everyone wearing the same colors/styles then you should also be discussing with the family on what that will be.

How about your gift list? I have a running list that I edit slightly each year. There are always people that are taken off, but people that need to be added. Don't forget to include teachers, coaches and other peripheral people that you want to recognize. Do you know your budget yet? That is important too when planning gifts. If you only have $500 for all gifts, don't plan on getting DS12 a new game system and the latest game... not a good use of money. Start watching sales and begin purchasing as you are able. Find a good spot to store all the gifts so that they stay hidden from the family, but easily accessible by you. I have one paper grocery bag per immediate member of the family... easy to add, easy to look in and easy to store. Thankfully even though everyone in the family is aware of the location of all the gifts, they never peek.

What about gift wrap... did you stock up after Christmas last year? If not, start watching sales on paper that is sort of non-traditional but fun. How about a large roll of butcher paper that you stamp or use stickers on, or a roll of mailing paper (brown stuff). Be creative, it'll save you money. If you have the time, make some reusable bags out of fabric. They often put holiday fabrics on sale as the holidays are approaching... easy wrapping and you can reuse from year to year.

What about the homemade gifts: baked, sewn, crafted or other ways hand made? Have you started them? Have you picked the patterns and have time set aside when these need to be done? How are you packaging them for the gift? Get those plans made, it'll save you lots of aggravations!

What about decorating the house, inside and outside? Do you have a theme that is used year after year? Do you like to do something different each year? Do you decorate just one or 2 rooms or do you do the whole house? How about your tree(s), are they artificial, real or do you not have one? Does the family get together and decorate or do you painstakingly place each ornament in the "perfect" spot?

How about entertaining? Do you have a special event that you always hold at your house? Possibly a evening of caroling door to door, or a cookie exchange?

OK, now that you have some ideas, here is what you need to do. Take each of the above and make a list for each one, using your favorite method (paper and pen/pencil, Excel, Word, whatever works for you). Now you have each list on a separate paper/page. Now:

• Card list: write each name that you want to send a card to, find the address, call/e-mail to make sure it's current. If making mailing labels for them, I'd suggest you plan that now... purchase the blank labels and design the template with graphic so it's ready to merge.
• Gift list: write each person's name then have a space next to their name for some possible ideas that you "know" they want, or begin getting hints from them. I even make a separate list for stocking stuffers for each member... just so I don't forget something for that too!
• Baking/homemade gift list: could be included in the same list, but I find that if it is separate there is a better chance that I get the items made, packed up and ready on time. Don't forget to include the recipes you plan to use or the book/page number or pattern for crafted items. Don't forget to make a "shopping" list of supplies you'll need too.
• Decorating if doing each room: list room by room what you want to do, make sure to include possible photos, patterns or other "hints" to remind yourself. If items need to be made... start now!
• Parties and other entertaining: plan the dates as soon as possible, get the word out no later than one month prior to the event... i know it sounds early but if people need to get sitters, it is next to impossible during those busy holiday weekends. Are you having party favors for every, plan those as well as the menu for them. Don't forget to have some hostess gifts for those event/parties that you attend.

Now that you have each page listed... time to give it all a time-line so that it's done in time. The things that take the longest, shopping, and making gifts should be started soon... be realistic when planning your timing on these. If you have little ones starting back to school in the next month, don't plan to do some really time consuming things until all that hoopla is over. If they play soccer, and you are really involved... maybe have some things that you can stick in a tote to work on while they are practicing or while you are waiting. My goal each year is the following:

November 15 all but a few gifts are purchased

November 30 all cards are addressed and prepared to mail

December 1 all decorations are in the process of being put up - indoors

December 10 tree is purchased, put up and decorated

December 15 all gifts are wrapped and ready to go (sooner if having to mail out of town)

December 20 all baked goods are made and delivered

December 23 all shopping for the big family Christmas dinner is done and some pre-cooking is started

December 24 big family event at the in-laws

December 25 big family dinner at our house

December 26 after Christmas shopping (hubby braves the early morning crowds, I go in the after noon to the local small stores)

December 27 begin taking down decorations, beginning with the tree

December 31 all traces of Christmas are gone

Have a great back to school, fall and Christmas prep season... I'll be writing more on the subject in future postings.