Can you believe it? We’re only 3 weeks away from Christmas! This week is our final push to get everything we want done completed. It’s a chance to go back and look at those things we didn’t get completed and determine if it’s an essential task or if it can wait until after the holidays. Some things may be deemed critical; others, your family and/or houseguests may not notice the difference. For me, it’s critical that I iron my dining room tablecloth this week. But, I’ll pass on cleaning the drawers and under-sink storage in the guest bathroom. The only thing an overnight guest may go into there for is to grab a new roll of TP, and those are right up front.
Do you have all of your shopping for gifts done? Double check your lists to make sure you have everything you need, including hostess-type gifts and extra cookie plates / serving bowls for items you may contribute to a holiday event at someone else's home. I find that it's good to have some available that I don't care if they get lost -- Goodwill or other thrift store cut glass bowls, red plates, or other holiday-themed platers that you don’t need to worry if it’s not reurned.
It's also the last push for getting Christmas cards and packages ready for shipping. Yes, the Post Office may give you another week, but do you want to chance it? Try to get what needs to be mailed sent out by the end of this week.
Lastly, finalize your Christmas meals and create your grocery list. Check the sales flyers for what’s a good buy this week and make any adjustments to your meal plan to take advantage of any savings. Remember to include any ingredients for holiday baking. You don’t want to be mid-recipe and realize you’re short a stick of butter or 2 eggs! After you’ve shopped, create a separate list of items you took a pass on this week, due to cost, that will are needed for holiday meals, and also note what perishables you’ll need to purchase shortly before the big day. If you haven’t already done so, extend personal invites to friends and extended family, and be sure to include date and time – some events may be Christmas Eve, others on Christmas day, so be specific.
Breathe in, breathe out. You can do it! And don’t forget about those donation bags for the food pantry and/or toy drives. Make sure they, too, are dropped off toward the end of the week, after you’ve completed your shopping.
Remember to take care of you. If you can, do something to pamper yourself. Schedule a nail appointment or pre-holiday haircut. Perhaps have coffee with a long-time friend you haven’t seen in awhile, or breakfast or lunch with a relative you may not see over Christmas. Or, just a plain old fashioned bubble bath soak with some soft holiday music in the background.
Ready? Let's do this!
Do you have all of your shopping for gifts done? Double check your lists to make sure you have everything you need, including hostess-type gifts and extra cookie plates / serving bowls for items you may contribute to a holiday event at someone else's home. I find that it's good to have some available that I don't care if they get lost -- Goodwill or other thrift store cut glass bowls, red plates, or other holiday-themed platers that you don’t need to worry if it’s not reurned.
It's also the last push for getting Christmas cards and packages ready for shipping. Yes, the Post Office may give you another week, but do you want to chance it? Try to get what needs to be mailed sent out by the end of this week.
Lastly, finalize your Christmas meals and create your grocery list. Check the sales flyers for what’s a good buy this week and make any adjustments to your meal plan to take advantage of any savings. Remember to include any ingredients for holiday baking. You don’t want to be mid-recipe and realize you’re short a stick of butter or 2 eggs! After you’ve shopped, create a separate list of items you took a pass on this week, due to cost, that will are needed for holiday meals, and also note what perishables you’ll need to purchase shortly before the big day. If you haven’t already done so, extend personal invites to friends and extended family, and be sure to include date and time – some events may be Christmas Eve, others on Christmas day, so be specific.
Breathe in, breathe out. You can do it! And don’t forget about those donation bags for the food pantry and/or toy drives. Make sure they, too, are dropped off toward the end of the week, after you’ve completed your shopping.
Remember to take care of you. If you can, do something to pamper yourself. Schedule a nail appointment or pre-holiday haircut. Perhaps have coffee with a long-time friend you haven’t seen in awhile, or breakfast or lunch with a relative you may not see over Christmas. Or, just a plain old fashioned bubble bath soak with some soft holiday music in the background.
Ready? Let's do this!
