I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me ...
And, so the season begins ... Are you ready to begin readying your home for your holiday guests? Week 1 of the HGP begins with plenty of list-making and planning and a little bit of end-of-season cleaning.
If you’re building a HGP planner or need forms to replace ones you’ve already used, a printable calendar for 2026 or other lists, they can be found at https://holidaygrandplan.com/calendar-checklists/. There are also many additional forms you may find helpful, here on our site in the Christmas Notebooks forum, at (5) MHH Christmas Planner Pages 2025 | Magical Holiday Home.
On the LIST front, there are many areas to think about this week --
Start by removing and stowing all the portable items from the porch – patio furniture, toys, gardening tools, etc. – items that will not be used until next year. If you'll still use some of it in the coming weeks, at least remove it for cleaning purposes. Give your porch a good sweeping and/or washdown, top to bottom and every corner where cobwebs may have formed.
Next, start on the exterior windows and doors, cleaning both sides of the storm door glass. Remember to check for any streaks. Make sure to use extra elbow grease to get all the puppy nose prints removed. While you’re at it, be sure to wipe down the door itself, any trim, and your doorknobs/handles and the doorbell push button. Are there any places where the paint needs a touch-up? Now's the time to tackle it. Once your door is done, update your seasonal door wreath and any porch decor. If your doorbell is battery operated, check to make sure that it’s working and replace the battery, if needed. For me, new this year, I can change my doorbell's ring tone -- and they included several Christmas tunes. Not sure if I'll actually change the tune before Halloween, but I may select which one I'll use for Christmas!
Take a good look at your garden areas, too, for any trimming or weeding that’s needed and think about any Fall plants you may want to add. Break out the hedge trimmer, clippers, and rakes, as needed. If you need to add any bulbs, make note of what you want and start watching for sales on things like tulip, daffodil, or other bulbs that require Fall planting.
Once your Front Porch is clean, you may want to check the condition of your holiday door mat, if you use one on your front porch. Is it still good for another year, or do you need to replace it. If so, start a list of holiday décor/items you need to purchase and put this at the top of your list. And, consider adding a calendar note as a reminder to Set out holiday door mat.
Shall we begin? Gather your lists and a cup of coffee, or your window cleaner, towels, and broom. It's time! HGP Week 1 -- let’s GO!!!!
You can plan on me ...
And, so the season begins ... Are you ready to begin readying your home for your holiday guests? Week 1 of the HGP begins with plenty of list-making and planning and a little bit of end-of-season cleaning.
If you’re building a HGP planner or need forms to replace ones you’ve already used, a printable calendar for 2026 or other lists, they can be found at https://holidaygrandplan.com/calendar-checklists/. There are also many additional forms you may find helpful, here on our site in the Christmas Notebooks forum, at (5) MHH Christmas Planner Pages 2025 | Magical Holiday Home.
On the LIST front, there are many areas to think about this week --
- EVENT CALENDAR: How will you spend your holidays? Do you host or attend family Christmas parties? Are there work-related gatherings? Now is the time to start your holiday event calendar, penciling in dates that you’ll need to remember as the holidays get closer. Remember to get the MHH Holiday Wrapping Party dates on the schedule (see the Christmas Countdown forum), and don't forget to add things like cookie exchanges or your book or garden club holiday luncheon. That way, you’ve got a calendar set up to jot the date. Remember to add school classroom party dates and band and choir performances for each of your kids or grandchildren. If you have church festivities or volunteering, log them into the calendar. The goal is to make sure to limit conflicts before we over-commit. If you’re doing special self-care dates, block off those dates/times, too.
- HOLIDAY BUDGET and GIFT GIVING: If you haven’t already done so, determine your budget for the holidays and start preparing your gift lists; if you’ve been stashing gifts, begin double-checking what you’ve purchased and what remains, and calculate where are you are in terms of staying within your holiday budget.
- CHRISTMAS CARDS and STAMPS: Begin updating your Christmas card list and start looking for your holiday cards. Get a rough count of the number of stamps you’ll need to purchase when Christmas stamps become available. If you need to buy stamps, make a note on your calendar for new holiday stamps – Sept. 18th (International Global Wreath); Sept. 19th (Christmas Cookies) and Oct. 2 (Madonna and Child); Sept. 29th (Hanukkah).
- HOLIDAY GATHERINGS AND PARTIES: For events that you will be hosting or assisting with, now is the time to begin planning. Will you host Thanksgiving Day? Christmas Eve? Christmas Day? A neighborhood holiday party? Or will you attend elsewhere and bring a dish to pass? Start a list for each event. If you’re hosting, jot some notes about your tablescape, come up with a tentative menu, prepare your guest list, and start putting word out, so friends and family can “save the date”. If you’re sending invitations, start the process of deciding on the date/time and selecting or designing the invitations and add the “send” date to your Calendar.
- HOLIDAY MENU PLANS: If you haven't already started, begin thinking about the holiday meals you’ll host and dishes to pass that you expect to contribute to meals at others' homes. Use a menu planner form, if that works for you. Also, make a note of any food-related gifts you intend to give, and double-check the required ingredients you’ll need.
- GROCERIES: Begin making your holiday grocery lists, based on your menu(s) and baking plans. What can you purchase ahead, especially when there are good sales? Perhaps make a separate list of perishables you will need as the holiday / event gets closer. Are there any special ingredients you’ll need for baking? Cross things off your list as you purchase them in the coming weeks.
- BLESSING OTHERS: This is the time of year to count your blessings and consider those who are less fortunate. If you are able to do so, select your favorite charitable organization and make note of what they collect and distribute to the less fortunate. Consider setting up a donation station you can add to as you work through the HGP – a box for lightly used clothing, coats or boots that your children have outgrown or that are no longer being worn, toys that have gone unused, household items you no longer need, and/or grocery items you see for a great price or a BOGO-- “one for me and one for the donation box”. Or check your local food pantry to see if they have a list for giving. If you are financially able to do so, consider having one box or bag for October, for gifting in early Nov. for the Thanksgiving food drive; one for collecting items in November to gift on Dec. 1 for the Christmas drive; and one to add to throughout December to gift on New Years Eve or New Years Day, to kick off 2027 with a giving heart. If you can't give financially or with donated items, perhaps consider giving an hour or two of your time this year.
Start by removing and stowing all the portable items from the porch – patio furniture, toys, gardening tools, etc. – items that will not be used until next year. If you'll still use some of it in the coming weeks, at least remove it for cleaning purposes. Give your porch a good sweeping and/or washdown, top to bottom and every corner where cobwebs may have formed.
Next, start on the exterior windows and doors, cleaning both sides of the storm door glass. Remember to check for any streaks. Make sure to use extra elbow grease to get all the puppy nose prints removed. While you’re at it, be sure to wipe down the door itself, any trim, and your doorknobs/handles and the doorbell push button. Are there any places where the paint needs a touch-up? Now's the time to tackle it. Once your door is done, update your seasonal door wreath and any porch decor. If your doorbell is battery operated, check to make sure that it’s working and replace the battery, if needed. For me, new this year, I can change my doorbell's ring tone -- and they included several Christmas tunes. Not sure if I'll actually change the tune before Halloween, but I may select which one I'll use for Christmas!
Take a good look at your garden areas, too, for any trimming or weeding that’s needed and think about any Fall plants you may want to add. Break out the hedge trimmer, clippers, and rakes, as needed. If you need to add any bulbs, make note of what you want and start watching for sales on things like tulip, daffodil, or other bulbs that require Fall planting.
Once your Front Porch is clean, you may want to check the condition of your holiday door mat, if you use one on your front porch. Is it still good for another year, or do you need to replace it. If so, start a list of holiday décor/items you need to purchase and put this at the top of your list. And, consider adding a calendar note as a reminder to Set out holiday door mat.
Shall we begin? Gather your lists and a cup of coffee, or your window cleaner, towels, and broom. It's time! HGP Week 1 -- let’s GO!!!!
