Home for the Holidays 
Family, Friends and Chaos! 

The change in season brings along the reminder that the holidays are right around the corner.  The holiday season is my favorite time of year!  It brings with it the feeling of closeness with those who are still with us, and a time to reflex fondly on those who have passed.  It is the season for fires, hot chocolate, warm blankets, family, friends, parties, decorations, and the list goes on.  It also brings a sense of chaos to our already busy lives. It adds items to our expanding to do list, deadlines that are finite, and lots of activities to prepare for and then attend.  With all of this, it is no wonder that some people find holidays to be stressful, instead of being filled with laughter and fun! 


How to Prepare:
First: Set Realistic "To Do Before the Holiday" Goals!  With company coming, many people will start seeing their house as they feel others might see it.  They then start adding lots of things to their to-do list that normally wouldn't be there.  (Does your "Hunny Do" list become a novel before the holidays?) Instead focus on items that you can accomplish.  These items should be in your budget, can take place in one afternoon, and would help your house with or without company coming.  If you are still having trouble with what to put on your list there is a great article from Organized Christmas that talks in depth about how to get your list to what is truly reasonable and can be found at: http://christmas.organizedhome.com/get-organized/holiday-home-spruce-up. If you decided to follow their steps that you accomplish each step before moving onto the next!  (If you accidentally read the whole article first, remember to be honest with yourself and your list when making cuts!) 

Second: Plan your Menu Ahead of Time!  Whether you are having company, or making an elaborate meal for two; plan the menu ahead of time.  There are many reasons to not leave this till last minute.  The first reason would be allergies related to certain recipes.  There are many different version of each recipe, and you need to make sure you know what is in the one you are making for your meal.  Another reason would be the time you have to make the meal.  Some items need to be chilled overnight, cooked a couple days ahead, or defrosted to name a few.  If you do not have the time to accomplish these items before the day of the meal, then you don't want to have these items on your menu.  You also want to have the portion sizes marked down so you know the quantity to purchase while at the store.  The third reason would be cost.  You want to make sure that the budget for your meal fits your pocketbook allowance.  If you are planning a New York Steak dinner for 12, make sure that is realistic for your finances.  Your company will appreciate any meal you cook, do not take on more then you can handle!  Then you can enjoy your meal as well, without worrying about anything except the taste.  

Third: Get the Family Involved!  Christmas cards to send out, groceries to buy, cookies to make, bedrooms to clean?  Have a master list of all your larger items and a date on the calendar that you want them done by.  Then write next to them who is responsible.  This will help your family feel a part of your holiday planning and help take some items off of your to do list.  If you worry that someone can't accomplish something without your help, then this year do it with them and write up the process and your expectations.  Then next year you will have directions to give to the person who will be responsible for that item.  (For instance, your expectations and instructions on how to accomplish "Clean Bedrooms for Guest")

Tips for Success:
First: Keep Your Schedule on Track.  If you normally schedule 3 hours on Thursday afternoons for running errands, try to spread out your holiday errands over 3 different Thursdays.  This way you won't have to feel behind on your weekly errands, nor on your holiday errands.  If you try to cram all your holiday errands onto one Thursday, you will find your house in a more chaotic state throughout the next week.  

Second: Keep Meals Simple.  If the above meal planning still sounds stressful to you then keep meal planning simple. You can have the meal catered, go potluck style and ask everyone bring a dish, buy pre-made items from the grocery store, only have one main dish, or have your get together after dinner so you only need to provide dessert or a few appetizers. 

Third:  Holiday Decorating Tips.  As you decorate your house, look at the decorations that you don't use that are left in the boxes; do you still want these items?  Maybe these items just live there because you have had blinders on when it comes to decorations?  Whatever the case, make sure that you fill your house with decorations that you want to look at and not just fill it with "stuff".  When the holidays are over make sure to pack away the items so they will last another year.  If you separate out the different categories of decor, you will be able to pull out the decorations easier the following year.  For instance, if you have a Christmas Village that takes you all day to set up, make sure to pack this away by itself.  Then when you unpack next year you won't have to worry about what to do with the stockings, the ornaments and whatever else was put away with the village.  You can just worry about one thing at a time! 

Just Remember:
Holiday is about cheer, festivities, and the meaning you hold dear about the season.  Do not feel as if you have to turn into Super-Person for the holidays just to show everyone you can do it!  It is always said to be the season of giving, so give to others the task you need help with.  This will help them feel involved, and know that they really helped you this holiday season.  If you forget something, don't stress... There is always next year! If you need help, please feel free to call!  Thanks and Happy Holidays!  Kristin 541-231-6964