Will your holidays be filled with friends and family, home-cooked meals, twinkling lights and festive gifts? Or will it be like last year, with you scrambling to get presents bought and wrapped, throwing together a meal just before the guests arrive and barely mailing cards before New Year's Eve?
Unfortunately, joyful holidays can become stressful ones in the blink of Rudolph's red nose. I've discovered how to help you put the jolly back into your holiday season with these 12 practical holiday organizing and planning hints.
1. Making your list and checking it twice
Creating a holiday binder is the perfect way to keep all your notes, plans and paperwork in one place. Grab a three-ring binder (you probably have one already) and fill it with lined paper, clear plastic sheet protectors, tabbed dividers and a pencil pouch. Label the binder and put pens and a calculator in the pouch, and you've got a home for all your gift ideas, receipts, menus, guest lists, recipes and more. Store the binder with your fall decorations so it's unpacked in time for the next holiday season.
2. Sending greetings before the new year
Determine how many cards you'll need, then buy them and stamps aplenty. (Check out USPS.com.) Divide the number of cards by the days you have left to mail them, and that's how many you'll need to write each day. Keep the cards with you so you can write them during the time you spend waiting around: in a doctor's office, at school pickup, on hold with the cable company...
3. Shopping for that special something
Online and mail-order shopping can be done at your convenience, and many stores have free shipping at this time of year. If you prefer browsing in person, go in the morning or early afternoon to beat the crowds, and leave the little ones at home. Have a detailed list of gift recipients, ideas and price limits. If you're going for something specific, call ahead and ask that it be set aside for you.