CHRISTMAS

my Christmas to do list

So like I said I have been surfing the REAL SIMPLE website, I haven’t been on it for a while so I am finding lots of really good stuff. Like I just stumbled over this Ultimate Checklist, and I LOVE LISTS! I find nothing more satisfying that crossing things off them… it’s scary but I am short of writing a list to keep track of my lists!

Here is where I am at with this one:

GREEN: DONE

RED: TO DO

Three to Six Months Before (Before Mid-October)

Make a family plan. Are you heading to your in-laws’ house? Hosting everyone at yours? Sit down with family members and decide where you’ll be spending the holidays.

JULIE: This one was decided months ago! I will be back in South Africa in just a few days! And we will be spending Christmas with my family!

Buy plane tickets. If you’ll be flying somewhere, get your plane tickets as soon as possible.

JULIE: Done. But that reminds me I wonder if Liam has booked his ticket yet?

Two Months Before (Mid-October)

Put activities on a calendar. As you find out when parties and school pageants are scheduled, write them on a master calendar. Keep it next to the phone, so if someone calls to ask if you’re free for an event, you’ll know the answer immediately.

JULIE: This is such a brilliant idea! I MUST DO this. I have made like 101 plans of things to do… so I had better start making sure that I know when is what.

Start baking things you can freeze. Un-iced cookies, bars, and nut breads are good bets to make ahead. All will keep in the freezer if they are well wrapped, and you can have a few extra things on hand for the friend who stops by unexpectedly with a gift.

JULIE: Okay, I don’t bake. Well that is not entirely true, I try, but definitely not the stuff worth giving away as gift, in fact I wouldn’t give it away period. So I have reworded this to: Make sure Mom makes her Christmas Cake and buy cookies from Woolies.

Update your holiday card list. Determine how many cards you need, and make sure you have updated addresses.

Shop for cards and wrapping paper. Some stores put holiday goods out by Halloween. You’ll get the best selection if you start early. And if you’re ordering cards online, you’ll want to have plenty of time for them to arrive.

JULIE: This year, I am actually do you all a favour, at the Christmas Shopping Weekend, we are having a professional photographer on both the Friday night and Saturday morning for you to come and have Christmas Photos taken for free. Then all you need to do is print/email them out. But I have to still get my mailing list in order AND think of a brilliant fun theme for our card.

Make plans for overnight guests. Think about who will be showing up and spending the night. Do you need to replace some old sheets? Buy more towels? Now’s the time to get your house in shape for visitors.

JULIE: This one is a problem. We are having Liam’s Aunt and Uncle and cousins come and stay in our house in Switzerland while we are in SA, so that they can enjoy their first White Christmas. The only thing is I forgot that would mean my house actually would have to do be in some sort of order! I am just to embarrassed to actually tell you how much laundry I still have to do!

Six Weeks Before (Beginning of November)

Make a master gift list. You may not have every detail filled in, but at least make sure you list everyone you’ll need to buy for, and think about what they’d like. That way you can pick up things as you see them, rather than running to the mall at the last minute. Have your children give you their wish lists.

JULIE: This is done! While I was sourcing all of IN GOOD COMPANY’s Christmas line, I kept all my family and friends in mind and what would they like – so I have bought some really beautiful things for them I know they will love!

Make a budget. Set a ballpark figure for how much you can spend on gifts—it will help you stay grounded when the shopping gets frenzied.

JULIE: Oh! That was blown long ago…

Start shopping in earnest. Yes, you may already be picking things up here and there, but the more you buy ahead, the better—especially if you’ll be mailing gifts.

JULIE: Actually I had better start remembering what I got for everyone and set these aside – just now you go in store and buy it!

Well 5 out of 10 – not that bad! Well, I better get a move on, as the list goes onto the end of Nov and Dec…