Tips To Help You Manage The Holidays With Ease!

These are just a few things I thought I would share to help you really be prepared… I hope you’re all done with the shopping and this last week before Christmas you can relax and just wait for the holiday to stroll in…

This time of year, most of us love to host get togethers and parties, but with all the other stuff we need to do (not to mention WORK!) we can find it overwhelming. And doesn’t that take all the fun out of it?

The point of having friends come over is to enjoy their company, share stories, and connect on a personal level.

To minimize the stress of entertaining, instead of going all out and doing all the work yourself, hold a Potluck gathering.  Trust me, no one think less of you.  Most people want to help one another, and by having everyone prepare and bring a dish you’ll get to enjoy the event much more.

Every year during this time we are obviously shopping more and buying gifts and preparing for parties… and…. And…And…

But just a little reminder to you of the things you want to have on your list so that you’re not out making last minute trips to the mall and getting caught up in bumper to bumper traffic because you “forgot something”!

So, pull out your list right now and make sure these things are listed:

• Please, please, please remember to stock up on the scotch tape
• Buy stocking stuffers
• Hostess Gifts
• Extra snacks and cocktails on hand for unannounced guests
• Gifts for your favorite service professionals
  • Waste removal tech
  • Postal worker
  • Cleaning personnel
  • Hair dresser
  • Teachers
  • Bus drivers

Do you have any others to add to the list?

Every year during the holidays as we open our homes to relatives and friends we inevitably get bombarded with material gifts. Hey, I’m not poo-pooing receiving, but sometimes I want to put a bigSTOP sign on my front door.

If you’re anything like me, you have in laws and extended family who want to shower you and your children with gifts. And I know you are cringing from the thought of it.

So in my home we have instituted “Operation Clean Sweep”.

This is where we go through all the closets, toy boxes, and hidden under the bed stashes for straying toys and items that no longer have a purpose in our lives.

Use this checklist as a guide:

• Give each member of the house a box for donations and a trash bag and send them to accomplish their “mission”
• Allow them to each fill the box with unwanted gifts, games, clothes
• Immediately call and schedule a pick up for donations from your favorite charity ( remember to save the receipt for tax purposes)
• Throw away all broken toys, games and such
• Sweep and vacuum the bottoms of all the closets and bookshelves and unleash all the dust bunnies

This will make “putting away” after the holidays a much easier task!

This year instead of purchasing and giving a material item, consider creating and giving an experience to your loved ones. 

In 2011, the National Retail Federation (NRF) stated they expected $46 billion of merchandise to be returned after Christmas.

So this year think of a way in which you can give your loved one or yourself the gift of time together.  Schedule a trip to a museum or afternoon tea complete with doilies and china. Think outside the box! 

May these tips allow you to manage and actually ENJOY the Holidays!

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