2025 - HHP - Week 14 - Storage Space

[Holiday_Mom]

This Week's Focus: Storage Space

With decorations the focus of this week, we'll give our storage spaces a good overhaul as we pull out boxed holiday decorations.

And now that December's just about here, we'll begin to consider family traditions and service projects.

This Week's Household Checklist

• Organize storage areas. Ransacking a crowded attic is nobody's idea of a good holiday time. This week, organize household storage areas as you bring forth holiday decorations. Whether it's an attic, garage, closet or shed, take time to tidy up household storage.
• Assess decor storage needs. Getting out holiday decorations, it's easy to see where the household is falling short. Make note of any needed storage containers, and add them to the shopping list. When you see them on sale, buy! Inexpensive storage organizers can help keep clutter from creeping into corners--and a neat storage area will make it easier to return decorations to their year-round home at the season's end.

This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist

• Shop Cyber-Monday sales. "Black Friday" has exploded into a five-day shopping event--and all those sales can be confusing! Keep track with a printable holiday sales planner to complete your holiday shopping at bargain prices.
• Status check. This week, review where you stand with holiday prep. Crafts projects and homemade gifts should be finished soon; check for any missing catalog or online orders. Will everything arrive in time?
• Begin family Advent observances. Advent begins today, Sunday; begin family observances now.
• Invite a Magic Elf to visit. Will a magic elf visit your home this year? Check out this simple, sweet family tradition.
• Continue holiday decorating. Take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving lull to bring out holiday decor and artificial Christmas trees. Families who prefer a live tree will want to wait a bit, to ensure that the tree will be fresh and green for Christmas.
• Finish gift shopping. It's time! Complete gift shopping this week.
• Wrap gifts as they are purchased. Every little bit helps, so wrap ahead where possible--you'll avoid a long, rushed session of "get-it-done" gift wrapping!
• Package send-away gifts for mailing. Mail deadlines loom! Be ready to mail send-away gifts by the end of the week.
• Mail domestic gifts. Just say "no!" to lines at the post office; visit USPS.Com to purchase postage, print shipping labels and arrange for carrier pick-up with the Click-n-Ship program--all from the convenience of home!
• Order the Christmas ham, roast or poultry. Your meat market will thank you for ordering before the rush!

What are you going to do this week?

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Whew! This year seems to be a lot of juggling and balancing of time than I expected. I will have some time to myself (or at least it appears to be the case on my calendar) that I should be able to get through a lot of this. I started yesterday with organizing the Christmas totes. It was a mess and disorganized with moves and floods.

I have to head out soon so I will give everything else some more thought and post later.

Household Checklist

• Organize storage areas.
• Assess decor storage needs.

Holiday Prep Checklist

• Shop Cyber-Monday sales.
• Status check.
• Begin family Advent observances.
• Continue holiday decorating.
• Finish gift shopping.
• Wrap gifts as they are purchased.
• Decide on Christmas dinner.

 

[jampss]

This week, will be taking out the Christmas decor from the closet! Woot!

We need to get ready DD's Christmas box and mail it. We go to the nearby Office Depot store to mail. Waaaaaaay better than the P.O.

 

[halimer]

Starting to put fall away!

By Monday I hope to have my winter mantle up - first it will be for Hanukkah and then for Christmas.

 

[Myron's Mom]

Will order our ham Monday. Our butcher, the last few years, does not have hams, turkeys or standing rib roasts available for walk ins the week before Christmas.

 

[luludou]

Slowly getting there... but now I have to decide if I want to do the 31st (evening) or not....

 

[Cindylouwho]

Storage areas were all over the floor this morning.... BUT as of now things are picked up and clean. Not put away because I'm purging and some work still needs to be finished on a couple of spaces. Feeling really good about this! It's kinda like a controlled Marie Kondo.... Smaller piles (since I Kondo'ed some years back) but still purging. The house feels very clean and I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Christmas Tree went up with the kids help over the weekend -- still putting some finishing touches on it. Pulling kids rooms apart also, but that's 30 minutes at a time so I don't get overwhelmed. Need to finish the other areas first.
Also need to sort my purchases and return things later this week so they don't get forgotten.

The cold weather is really settling in. Need to get this all wrapped up!

Storage Space Week – Week 14​

HOUSE:
Clear and declutter storage Areas.
Complete Holiday decorating and put away boxes. - Thanksgiving is away.
Clear Santa’s Workshop -- need this space painted and DONE. Almost there!

HOLIDAY:
Advent begins on Sunday: ponder our family's traditions. - Got the calendars.
Order Christmas roast beast.
Finish gift shopping. Wrap as you go to save time on Xmas Eve. - Shopping on track. Black Friday sales caught me up.
Mail domestic gifts. -- Have to check this deadline.
Make an under-tree "emergency box".

 

[Cindylouwho]

This week, will be taking out the Christmas decor from the closet! Woot!

We need to get ready DD's Christmas box and mail it. We go to the nearby Office Depot store to mail. Waaaaaaay better than the P.O.

You can mail at Office Depot?

 

[jampss]

Yes! No upcharge.

 

[halimer]

Straightened a bit of the storaage room, closed some boxes and swapped out wreaths. Got my fall decor into its box and got the box into the basement. Working on bringing Hanukkah upstairs.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Pulling kids rooms apart also, but that's 30 minutes at a time so I don't get overwhelmed. Need to finish the other areas first.

I find no more than 30 minutes at a time is the way to go. Otherwise, I resent the mess and clutter and lack of time to do other things.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Yes! No upcharge.

I learn something new here today!

 

[happy2bme]

I am running behind this week, but am hoping to catch up this weekend.

HOUSEHOLD CHECKLIST:
Laundry room: wash walls, light fixture, window & curtains, vacuum & wash floors, clean back door, clean behind washer & dryer done

HOLIDAY PREP CHECKLIST:
Status Check done
Complete unfinished tasks

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Status Check: I'm getting there. I got all the wrapping done of items in the house. A number of items are ordered and some will be last minute pick ups. Some are also back ordered. I have a plan though. Having a plan gives me the illusion of having control.

 

[happy2bme]

I'm still behind from last week, but now that there is no more overtime at work, I can get those tasks done after work.

 

[Cindylouwho]

Well was doing great - got the drywall guys out of here and then there was a ceiling leak from a pipe upstairs in a whole different room. Crazy! Everything has ben fine for years and years and then it all fails at once. We can't figure out why it leaked- we aren't even upset. At this point we are just resigned. - and determined. Sheetrockers come back tomorrow. Better now while we already have our sleeve's rolled up! Another ceiling to paint once they are gone. We got this.

HOUSE:
Clear and declutter storage Areas. / Pantry and Attic are DONE. Putting things away.
Complete Holiday decorating and put away boxes. - Half done.
Clear Santa’s Workshop -- DONE! As of today!

HOLIDAY:
Advent begins on Sunday: ponder our family's traditions. - Got the calendars.
Order Christmas roast beast. / It's on my list.
Finish gift shopping. Wrap as you go to save time on Xmas Eve. - Lining up the boxes. Orders still coming.
Mail domestic gifts. -- By 12/18.
Make an under-tree "emergency box". / It's sitting there. Need to look in it.

 

[luludou]

Well, as of this morning have invited my family and dh's family for the 31st. I know I am late and most already have other things scheduled but both my kids are available, so it is what it is. Have ALWAYS done NY's eve since I have been with dh, but stopped after covid. Was tired of always hosting and nobody seemed to want to do it after me. dd took up Christmas eve after my mom couldn't and she will be doing it this year too (she has a big house and we can all sleep over me, my brothers, sis and their children). I remember going to sis' last year for NY's eve (parents left early) and bil sleeping part of the evening and how I had said this year I'll be doing it again... so now I have to prep but I don't expect a big party like we used to have , should be low-key and relaxing (hopefully!)

• Prep basement rooms for guests
• Make some freezer-friendly casseroles
• Make a list of groceries needed

Also have to make a list of things to bring to dd's house. Since my parents won't be there this year we get the basement bedroom but will still bring the airmattress with some bedding for the other guests. PJ's for all the girls, bath shower steamer tablets to add to this. Weird chips and beers for a tasting game. Found an easy game on FB that I'll write down and we can do too.

At home: maintenance mostly and finding more spots to declutter after the holidays In wreath-making workshop the young lady uses ribbons and said she needs to find some... I have tons (will offer them to dniece 1st) and after the holidays will go through them and gift them to her.

Need to find a place to hang the nature-wreath I made. It needs to stay outside so it doesn't dry up too quickly.

Missing 1 gift for Xavier, waiting on delivery ... if I don't get it in time I did find an unopened lego box from my son's which I can give until he gets the REAL gift. Missing 1 gift for my sis' granddaughter but that should be easy. just need to contact the young lady (corner of our street, dh's cousin's daughter) and buy a small soft toy she makes.