HGP 2016 - Week 1, Front Porch/List Week

[HouseElf]

:elf: Week One is list Week at the Holiday Grand Plan!

The cleaning focus for this week is the Front Porch

Holiday Prep? (link to Holiday Grand Plan)

 

[HouseElf]

I was so super pumped to start I needed to create a thread a day early

My planner is in almost good working order - just need to find my three hole punch and we are good to go!

I love lists! When life feels crazy a good list will keep you focused on the tasks at hand.

• Gifts: This year I am doing the unthinkable! I am not asking the four men in my life (DH and three sons) what they 'want' for Christmas! I told them that it's a gift, and this year I will give what I think is a good gift. We will see how that works out!
• Cards: I have been cleaning and decluttering and noticed I have a surplus of a few of each card over the years. This year the cards are mailed or repurposed to gift tags.
• Menus: I have revisited my menus and altered several to accommodate some new dietary restrictions (mostly grains/dairy), overall not much to change.
• Visits/Parties: These remain pretty consistent. Not hosting anyone at home this year that we are aware of yet. Will firm up once community events and services announce their schedules.
• Goodies for Sharing/Gifts: This year I requested our work group sponsor a Christmas Hamper or bring unwrapped toys for Angel tree kids (instead of the 'gag' gift thing). I have several items to bake/prepare for home visits over Advent.
• Freezer Meals: This is an area I really need to focus on this year. Reestablishing a working routine for dinner and simplify prep.
• Long-Term shopping list: I have both the needed kitchen items list and the pantry list started.

My goal is to plan smart, not work harder!
And ENJOY the holidays this year.

:tree2:

 

[cmerth]

Yeah!!! Its finally here!!

I need to finish up a few lists in my notebook and touch up my porch over the next few days. Time to evict a few more spider homes.

 

[Christmaslvr]

So excited to hopefully completing this plan this year! I'm going to try and not get overwhelmed!

 

[Lolwlias]

Keeping my fingers crossed that I can 100% complete this plan once & for all!!
Once my timer goes off & I can rinse off the hair color I have sitting on my head I plan to get started!!!

 

[cmerth]

I just worked on my desk (I know... its a HHP thing). My desk was a mess and I needed to find the top of it.

Yesterday, I cleaned off the porch. Today I need to clean off the light fixture on front and back porch.

I misplaced my lists for this week.... I found them in the mess on my desk. I will work on those this afternoon.

 

[AuntJamelle]

It's here! It's here! It's really started!

:gingerbread:

I made pretty good progress on the Front Porch yesterday despite the completely horrible humidity and swarms of mosquitoes - UGH!!!

My running list stands as follows:

[ ] Sweep down cobwebs
[X] Clean outside of windows - I actually did inside and outside of both front windows which means spare room windows are done and I went ahead and did the other two small windows in master bedroom so those are done too. I even dusted the blinds! lol
[ ] Clean porch lights
[ ] Clean front of door, polish, clean inside door frame, etc.
[X] Sweep porch and steps, vacuum rug
[ ] Put up fall wreath
[X] Clean up front flower beds (deadhead, etc.)
[X] Roll up hoses and put away

Holiday Prep:

[/] Gifts to Give (Continuing to work on Christmas Gift list already underway)

[ ] Christmas Card List updated

The next several items crossed off have all been done for a while now. Working on these has kept me occupied until the HGP could start!

[X] Parties to host Planning Documents - Just hosting one dinner party this year!

[X] Menus for all holidays, parties, etc. - May tweak a couple things but all set with plans for everything from Thanksgiving through to New Years.

[X] 2016 Baking List, including food gifts

[X] Make Ahead Meals 2016

[X] Long Term Shopping List divided into Non-Perishable and Perishable

[X] Print calendar pages for rest of year

[/] Craft

[ ] Buy extra grocery items from non-perishable part of Master Grocery List

Will try to make more progress on cleaning Front Porch today!

 

[GrammaDeb]

I am so excited to get started! Yesterday I examined the porches to see what needs to be done. Whew! I'm going to be busy. Mother's house is on a dirt road, so things are super dirty and cluttered. Front and back porches are actually decks which have not been touched for years. Need to replace a board on the hand rail and skirting around the front deck. Need to find a sander for the floors and railings, and then stain or paint. First step will be to clear everything off and clean the wall, window, light fixture, and door.

 

[luludou]

Too early for us to clear everything out before Fall. I will do it but at a later date. So today I'll try to do some paperwork as the HHP plan... this is why I combine the 2 plans.

In maybe 2 weeks I will work outside.

 

[AuntJamelle]

DONE! Whew it's hot today! I hung my fall wreath on the door as though it could summon fall temps!!!

[X] Sweep down cobwebs
[X] Clean outside of windows - I actually did inside and outside of both front windows which means spare room windows are done and I went ahead and did the other two small windows in master bedroom so those are done too. I even dusted the blinds! lol
[X] Clean porch lights
[X] Clean front of door, polish, clean inside door frame, etc.
[X] Sweep porch and steps, vacuum rug
[X] Put up fall wreath
[X] Clean up front flower beds (deadhead, etc.)
[X] Roll up hoses and put away

 

[Lana]

AJ, good job!

I will leave the small reset porch until later. When we put lights up outside ( praying we get to) will clean it then.

 

[AuntJamelle]

The front porch is an easier one for me since there is nothing on it!!!

I also washed the siding down too - other than a little bit at the very top I couldn't reach from the step stool.

I'm excited because DH has started work on wrapping our porch posts - will have stone at the bottom and cedar on top (if we can swing the $) or we may just do regular wood and paint the tops white!

 

[Lolwlias]

I had quite a few spidery webs with dead insects around my outside light.
It is so nice, now, to walk up to the front door & not see those. (I don't know why I waited until now, but at least it is done.)
I began some of my lists. At some point today I may go through my notebook. I have a rather large binder with the ability to hold lots of pages. It's been neglected a time or two. Not this year!!

 

[GrammaDeb]

My sister and I took all the junk and furniture off our covered front deck/porch. Yesterday DH and I scrubbed everything, and I sanded almost all the railings. DH bought paint for the door and stain for the deck. I need to buy the paint for the railings and more sandpaper so I can finish the railings. Today's goal was to paint...wouldn't you know it, it's raining.

 

[Minta]

Our porch has been swept clean. I do however want to repaint the front door and trim but I will wait until later this month. It has been way to hot and humid to tackle that and the next couple weekends are already booked.

 

[HouseElf]

Great job everyone!

Pulled out the deck stain and once it warms up this morning (surprising cooler temperatures the past couple mornings) I will stain the porch in sections. As the fence posts and gate are the same colour - will also touch up any needed areas there

A few items that I ordered earlier have arrived for Christmas and I have wrapped! I did not put the tags on yet as I will wait till I can move them from their 'hiding' spots (and I haven't made them) lol
There is a note "do not open till Christmas".

Looking forward to the next few weeks, really need to clean-up!

 

[MinnieCo]

Getting a late start, but determined to make this work. I ended up helping out a friend pack, clean and more her house in a matter of days (and there was ALOT of stuff..that's an understatement) needless to say, I didn't get my papers printed. I'm entirely to exhausted to do this tonight, but it is on my agenda for tomorrow!! I'm excited!

 

[Eaglesax]

Porch in good shape. Keep lists electronically so good there.

Need to work on my gift closet, logging and better storage. Probably going to start wrapping them.

 

[Skippy1707]

Front porch is done and tidied....

 

[AuntJamelle]

Woo hoo!