Countdown to Christmas

Week 8

TO DO

• Make a master list of everything you have to do before the holidays: gift and grocery shopping, wrapping, cleaning and so on. Leave plenty of room so the list can be expanded as the holiday nears.
• If you haven't done so, decide where to spend Christmas
• Make or confirm any travel arrangements, including plane tickets, hotel reservations and car rentals.
• Decide which friends or relatives will be house guests for the holidays.
• Make gift list: Ask friends & family for suggestions
• Now is the time to start germinating amaryllis bulbs.

TO BUY

• If you plan to give holiday plants as gifts, buy the bulbs now.
• Buy cards, stamps, wrappings.

Week 7

TO DO

• Plan a budget for this year's entertaining and gift-giving.
• Start planning holiday parties.
• Make guest lists for parties as well as family get-togethers. Send invitations or start phoning people now.
• Reserve babysitters to be sure they'll be available.
• Decide which holiday meals you'd like to have at your house.
• Start making any projects you plan to give as gifts.
• Make arrangements for any holiday catering or equipment rental you may need.
• Put together a holiday calendar. Write down all important events, concerts, plays, nights out, kids' vacations, arrival and departure dates of houseguests. Post it in a central location.
• Start looking at magazines and holiday books for decorating and recipe ideas.

TO BUY

• Materials for homemade gifts.
• A file or notebook to keep track of holiday cards. ( I use a FileMaker Pro database instead.)
• Invitations for holiday parties.

Week 6

TO DO

• Devise a manageable plan for getting out the Christmas Cards.
  • Divide the number of cards on your list by 14, then complete that number every night for the next two weeks.
  • Or schedule a card party for the family. Set up an assembly line with Dad or older children addressing the cards, you signing them and younger kids sealing envelopes.
• Go through boxes of decorations and tree trimmings and see what you need to replenish.
• Inspect last year's Christmas lights and discard any that are frayed or have loose, cracked or broken sockets.
• Plan your Thanksgiving menu and make shopping list.
• Order fresh turkey, if it's on your Thanksgiving menu.
• Take out any linens, plates and glassware you plan to use during the holidays. If anything needs to be mended, polished or washed, do it now.

TO BUY

• Candles and holders.
• Any additional napkins, glassware or linens for entertaining.
• Pantry staples for Thanksgiving.
• Buy frozen turkey, if it's on your Thanksgiving menu.

Week 5

TO DO

• Give the house a preholiday cleaning if you're hosting Thanksgiving.
• Decorate your front door.
• Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and make sure everyone helps with cleanup.
• When you see family and friends at Thanksgiving, ask for gift suggestions.
• Firm up your gift list. Check storage areas for anything you might have bought during the year but have since forgotten about. (I made a FileMaker Pro file to keep track of, hidden among other things, where gifts are -- password protected, of course.)
• If you're ordering gifts from catalogs, do it now for best selection.
• Start filing holiday cards. Write down any changed addresses in your notebook or file, and toss the return envelopes.

TO BUY

• Holiday wreath for the front door.
• Anything remaining on your Christmas gift list.
• A small supply of generic gifts to keep on hand for emergencies

Week 4

TO DO

• Plan all holiday dinner menus. Make a list of perishable and nonperishable items, plus any necessary supplies such as paper products, napkins, liquor, etc.
• Make a "Holiday Helpers" chart and divide chores among family members.
• Decide who's bringing what to potluck dinners so guests can plan their shopping in advance.
• Clean out the freezer to make space for holiday cookies and the makings for last-minute hors d'oeuvres.

TO BUY

• An Advent Calendar to start using on December 1.
• Additional string of lights for the tree and for outside.

Week 3

TO DO

• Set up a gift-wrapping corner with gifts, tissue, paper, fabric, ribbons, scissors, tape and tags. Try to wrap a few gifts each day, and have kids wrap smaller ones.
• Plan special shopping days when Mom takes the kids to buy Dad's present, and Dad takes them to buy Mom's gift.
• Start decorating the inside of the house. Let kids hang a decoration on their bedroom doors.
• Get family members to give holiday outfits a once-over. See what has to be mended or cleaned.
• Trim an outdoor tree with goodies for the birds.

TO BUY

• Empty tins and containers for giving holiday baked goods.
• Christmas tree and garlands. Cut off about 1/4 inch of the tree stump and place in a bucket of water in the garage. (The tree absorbs about a gallon of water the first day, so keep the water level up.)
• Place order for fresh turkey or any special roast.

Week 2

TO DO

• Finalize the Christmas menu.
• Take the family on a drive at night to view the Christmas lights.
• Record a special holiday message on your answering machine.
• Schedule a family baking day. Be sure to select some simple recipes that kids can mix and decorate.
• Put up the tree. (Be sure to keep the tree stand full of water.)
• Have a family tree-trimming party
• Cook special dishes for big dinners, place in containers, label and freeze.
• Give any special holiday tips to babysitters, housekeepers, etc. (I put cookies in our mailbox for our mail carrier.)

TO BUY

• Buy and pick up frozen turkey.
• Nonperishable groceries, and any ingredients for dishes you plan to make ahead and freeze.
• Stock the pantry with snack supplies for unexpected guests or impromptu get-togethers.
• Film and any necessary batteries. Don't forget film for the kids' cameras.

Week 1

TO DO

• Finish wrapping family gifts and put them under the tree.
• Check the guest room. Make the beds and put clean towels in the room along with a basket of soap, extra shampoo, magazines.
• Do a final check on table linens, china and glasses.
• Clear space in the refrigerator for leftovers and extra food.
• Put together any unassembled presents and store them in an out-of-the-way (and locked) place.
• Give the house a final cleanup.
• Take time to destress. Go to a movie, have your nails done, take a hot bath.

TO BUY

• Perishable groceries.
• Rent or buy videos to watch on Christmas Eve or Day.

CHRISTMAS EVE

• Remove any frozen dishes from the freezer and defrost in the refrigerator.
• Prepare cold dishes and refrigerate.
• Set the dinner table, put out extra chairs.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!