The “Holidays” are Coming!
It’s a little like the battle cry we’ve heard in movies, “The British are coming!” When we heard that cry in the movies, it carried so many emotions–excitement, terror, joy, despair, hope, and anguish! Someone screaming, “The holidays are coming!” does the same. Every mom alive is wondering how they will get it all done and still enjoy the season for the reason it exists. Am I right?
I know it’s still relatively early in the holiday game, but there are a few things you can do NOW to make those days run a little more smoothly. Here are some of my holiday hints:
- Right now, on your next trip to WalMart, Tuesday Morning, or Books a million, determine to buy any gifts you need to co-workers, favorite aunts, teachers, or the neighbors. Those gifts that are more about meaning than anything. Pick up a cute mug or a sweet book, write a note of love and appreciation, and you’re done. For many of those special people in my life who live close to me, I pick up a Christmas door mat and run it by their house, so it’s there to greet them when they get home from work or whatever. I leave a note that says, “Merry Christmas! You are loved!” They love the surprise, and their door is decorated too!
- If you have littles that you buy for that are not your own, do the same. While you are grocery shopping, determine to buy all the “extra” children’s gifts at the same time. If you grocery shop online, you might have to go to another site, but do it while buying things anyway.
- Find a corner in your house that is the “Christmas Corner”. Get a bin that is not see-through and start placing things in that bin. If you can wrap or put in a cute sack as you go, all the better. Just be sure you put a sticky note on the bottom to remind you what you bought.
- Also, start NOW with the holiday cards if you are a card giver. Even if you do an ecard, create it now and let it sit for another month before sending it out. Even though you are busy now, you’re not as busy as you will be, so squeeze in a few minutes to find your pic and order those cards. At night while you’re watching TV with the family, place an order for your cards. If you are someone who likes to include a yearly letter, write that early as well. That can be done while on a lunch break. Most of the things we procrastinate on are really just things we don’t think about until it’s too late. So, start thinking about these things early and free up your calendar as it gets closer to Christmas for more fun things, like cookie decorating.
- If your family plays games for the holidays, go ahead and look for the newest games out or just check your game cabinet to be sure you have all the cards and games you will need. Check that off your list.
- Food is always an issue. On the next few Saturdays and Sundays, take an hour or two and make something to put in the freezer. A quick google search turns up so many make and freeze recipes, you’ll be ready to start your own restaurant! I’m going to start this soon!
- Decorating is the next big job, so take it down a notch. Enjoy that we’re in a simple-is-better season of decorating. For fall this year, I put some pumpkins and mums by the backdoor and a string of fabric leaves from WalMart in the kitchen and that’s it. Done! Now if you enjoy decorating, go for it, but if you’ve got too much on your plate, relax. Keep it simple and no one will care. My Christmas decorating day is the day after Thanksgiving. I always do it all that day. Whatever I can done is it. No looking back.
- One more thing—I always say don’t be afraid to delegate, but I’m actually terrified at it most of the time. I cannot trust my husband to buy a gift for anyone. Not happening! But I can trust him to deliver things to the post office or pick up the groceries or deliver gifts I have already wrapped. Let your hubby help you where he can.
I hope these little hints help you get the Christmas ball rolling!
Hugs, Chrys
