Oh, the holidays...... The Thanksgiving turkey comes out of the oven golden brown, and it smells so good that the whole house can smell it. All of the china is in perfect shape, and not a single piece is missing from the set. The whole family is together for holiday photos. The kids are standing perfectly, with their hands behind their backs and not a hair out of place. They are all smiling big for the camera. The photographer is about to take the picture when you wake up.
Let's not fool ourselves, ladies. If you don't plan ahead, the holidays will be anything but fun. Just look at the list of things that need to be done: shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, sending holiday mail, and so on.
Let me tell you about a few important questions you should ask yourself to have a stress-free, worry-free holiday season full of fun and laughter:
How do you want to celebrate holidays? For example, do you want to have a holiday party with just your immediate family or with your immediate family, extended family, and a few friends? Once you've thought about everything and decided what kind of holiday party you want, you can start making plans.
Read on if you want to get a head start on organising yourself, your family, and your holiday to-do lists:
Start early with your holiday cards! I have a list of names and addresses from holiday cards my family has received in the past. I use this list to send holiday cards. I made a simple list on the computer that is easy to change and print on labels. Make sure you have enough stamps so that when you're done signing, stuffing, and addressing your cards, you can just put a stamp on them and go to the Post Office all at once.
Holiday Gifts: There's nothing better than getting a HUGE credit card bill at the beginning of the year. When shopping for holiday gifts, many of us tend to want to be kind. Even though your generosity will be appreciated when it's time to give gifts, keep in mind that it's easy to give in to "impulse buying" and spend a lot of money on gifts during the holidays. Even though you may have good intentions, your wallet may tell a different story. If you make a budget and stick to it, your bank account will thank you when the New Year starts.
Wrap it up. As soon as you get your gifts home, wrap them and put nametags on them. Then put the gifts in a safe place. This will cut down on late-night wrapping sessions, which I'm sure we've all done at least once, if not every year.
Baking and cooking: If you are going to cook during the holidays, you should plan your meals in advance. Make sure you have all the non-perishable baking ingredients you need, like flour, sugar, and spices, on hand before you start baking. Make a list of the holiday meals you want to make and the ingredients you will need to make each one. Also, try to think of some dishes that you can make ahead of time and freeze to save even more time.
One of my favourite tips is to delegate. Make sure to ask your family or friends for help. Sit down and talk about what needs to be done, and then ask people to help. If no one raises their hand, just give each of them small tasks. Whether it's getting a babysitter so you can go shopping without your kids, giving your shopping list to a family member or friend so they can get the things you need, or letting your kids decorate your house. Make sure the whole family helps you get ready for the holidays so you don't get too busy.
Enjoy: No matter what you decide to do, remember to take it easy and have fun. You and your family will remember this holiday season much better if you don't spend it pulling out your hair.
