Getting Ready for the Holidays
Entertaining
Helping Yourself Get It All Done
One sure-fire way to help yourself get everything done and make it to all your events on time this holiday season is to write things down. If you like your notes and schedules on paper, there are a few printables included here that you’re going to love!
Calendars
*Begin with using a calendar, either on paper or on your device, to record everything. Seriously, write down every event you’ve been invited to as soon as you receive the invitation, as well as whether you’ve RSVP’d in the affirmative or negative. This is also a good time and place to record whether you’re required to bring anything, such as a dish to a potluck or a hostess gift, and what you’re going to bring.
*If you’ve got kids that are old enough to attend events without you, but will require your transport, be sure to talk regularly with them about any plans they are making. If they receive a tangible invitation to an event, make sure you copy the information into your calendar as soon as you see it so you can check for conflicts, determine the particulars of the event, and make sure you’ve got the other parents’ contact information.
Lists
Next, you’re going to want to make a few lists. Trust me, lists are your friend. Even if you have a memory like an elephant, during the holiday rush there are bound to be things that are just forgotten.
*Some lists that will come in handy are: the names and personal info of the people you need to buy gifts for (like clothing sizes, favorites and allergies), dishes you’ve promised to prepare for potlucks and other events, names and addresses of people to whom you’ll be sending cards and/or invitations; shopping lists for major meals that you’re cooking for; itemized list of clothes and accessories that you and each of your family members will be wearing for holiday photos and special events (including anything you need to purchase).
*Families with small children may want to write a list of activities that they’d like to do together as a means to start some family traditions. There are many ways to spin this activity, from a calendar with a different activity assigned to each day, to a printed list hanging on the fridge, or a bowl containing each idea printed on a scrap of paper to be drawn daily or weekly as a fun family surprise. Don’t forget to check out the December Family Fun Calendar!
*And, of course, the one list that no one can forget: the wish list for Santa! A fun family activity, each person writes their wishes in a letter to the jolly old elf himself, and what fun it is to see those wishes come true on Christmas morning!
Timelines, Outlines and Master Plans
If you find yourself as the hostess more often than the guest, you probably have a pretty good routine down for how you get your home ready, as well as for getting all the food prepared. But in case you are new to hostessing, or your method could use a little less madness, using a timeline or outline can help you get prepared and keep things flowing without stressing you out or delaying your dinner party.
*Decorating is something that most people do for the holidays, and a detailed list or diagram of which decorations get used when and where can save a lot of time, particularly when you’ve got helpers who may not know or remember from previous years. Adding a little note to pieces as you tuck them away at the end of the season will also be a great help when they get pulled out again next year.
*When hostessing a number of different events over a short span of time, as is often the case during the holidays, it is often useful to have a few different party concepts on hand to make each party distinctive and memorable. Not only thematic concepts, but also style and level of formality can be used to create differences that your repeat guests will notice and appreciate.
*Creating a menu ahead of time is always helpful in taking stress out of meal times, but is especially important for large family gatherings when you’re preparing a larger number of dishes and a higher quantity of food per dish. The menu, complete with recipes and ingredient shopping lists, will ensure that you don’t need to run back to the grocery store a hundred times in the midst of food prep. Following a timeline will also ensure that you aren’t calling neighbors to find out if you can borrow some oven space an hour before company arrives.
*When you’re expecting company over the holidays, whether just for a meal or for an extended stay, you will inevitably find yourself in the position of needing to clean and tidy up the place a little more thoroughly than you may usually do. In an effort to keep your time spent in rubber gloves to a minimum, a cleaning list will prove to be a great ally, tackling the most important, or most highly trafficked areas first and leaving closet organization for spring.
*When your company will be staying overnight or longer, it is essential to make them feel welcome and at home in your space. Having a cheat sheet tucked away to help you get your guest space in order quickly will make even surprise guests feel like you’ve been expecting them.
*One last sort of list that you’ll want to keep handy during all of the merry-making is your budget. Now, I know that a lot of people don’t like to use a budget, especially during the holidays because they think it takes the fun out of it. But, the reality is that a budget will help you enjoy the holidays more because it will take away the stress of overspending and debt. Make a plan, stick to it, and don’t overcommit or overspend! (Find budget tools at www.daveramsey.com.)There is so much to be thankful for and there’s more than enough joy to be found in the presence of family and friends, and those most important things are free.
RH
Everyone knows that the holidays are the happiest time of the year as well as the busiest. We love the whirlwind of shopping and parties, events and occasions, but without a plan it can get overwhelming and quickly turn our favorite time of the year into a grueling and stressful string of weeks we wish would end. There are a few tricks that can save you time and keep stress to a minimum this year. Whether you like to plan it all out in advance, or wing it with a little guidance, you’re sure to find something in this Holiday Edition to help you make it from the beginning of November to the middle of January without throwing in the towel.
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