Here is a plan to help your 2019 “don’t want to go crazy” self. Check out these 5 steps for an organized Christmas season next year!
As the kids get older and our routines change, I have found that I like less and less clutter in my holiday decorating. Are you the same way? I like things simple and I find that those few special items really shine when items are kept to a minimum.
Start Now for an organized decorating holiday season
- Take 15 minutes right now, while your brain is still fresh with memories of the holiday season, and write down what goodies were baked for friends/neighbors/loved ones this season.
- Put all the decorations/lights/advent calendars/kitchen Christmas towels, etc. that were lovingly used this Christmas in ONE box in your garage. Label it! Something like, “What We Used in 2018” works.
- Journal what was celebrated, laughed at by your loved ones. Those memories are so very special and you’ll look back on them lovingly when they are no longer little. Use your phone’s notebook or use a real journal but write your memories down!
- Make a list of what gifts were given to teachers/friends by your kiddos. Eliminates the chance for duplication and it helps you remember what you loved working on with your kiddos.
- Add to your Oct/Nov 2019 calendar those gifts that need to be ordered for your vet/mechanic/neighbor. I order the same tin of trail mix for our vet, Dr. Hammer, every year because she’s a very healthy lady and I know she appreciates receiving a thoughtful gift. Easy, peasy.
5 Tips that will save your sanity!
If you implement the steps outlined above, I promise you will be able to decorate your tree in a timely (but more fun) fashion. You’ll be able to enjoy rather than dread the “work” that goes into gifting tins of cookies to loved ones. You won’t spend hours hunting down where your favorite recipe is because you’ll already know what works and what you’re happy gifting! I know that neighbors look forward to my toffee, Better Make for Christmas cookies and Pistachio Shortbread (recipe here). If you settle on a few recipes that you become known for, your stress level will be nearly eliminated and you won’t be searching and testing hundreds of recipes when you could be relaxing!
With your sanity preserved, you’ll be able to spend an hour or two on Pinterest without guilt while you search for one or two new recipes to try or crafts to attempt. Hey, you might even have time to create a quilt as a gift. I have plenty of FREE patterns you might want to check out. Click here to see them.
Next Christmas I plan on visiting these sites and adding them to my season:
Download the Advent Hymn Study by Our Grace Filled Journey
Try this hot chocolate by The Petite Cook
Decide how to decorate my porch like Ribbons & Glue
