- HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN
- Remember last year, The Nightmare Before Christmas? You crammed three weeks'
- worth of work into four frenzied days. This time, do yourself and your loved
- ones a favor by starting early and tackling one thing at a time.
- November 28-December 4
- * Make a master list of holiday tasks--shopping, wrapping and anything else
- you can't afford to forget--and keep it handy.
- * Fill in your December calendars with the dates and times of important
- events.
- * Make guest lists for parties and family get-togethers. Send invitations
- right away or phone people by the end of the week.
- * Reserve baby-sitters.
- * Divide the number of Christmas cards you're sending by 14, then do that many
- each night for the next two weeks.
- * Make a master shopping list for holiday menus, and start buying
- nonperishables now.
- * Go over your gift list. Fill in any gaps by ordering from catalogs now for
- on-time arrival.
- December 5-December 11
- * Buy plenty of film and batteries and stock up on candles.
- * Set a date for a family house-decorating session.
- * Finish gift buying, including a few extras for unexpected guests.
- * Assemble gift-wrapping materials in one place and start wrapping a few
- presents each day.
- * Stock the pantry with snack supplies for drop-in guests.
- December 12-December 18
- * Buy evergreens and Christmas tree. Leave them in the garage in a bucket of
- water until you're ready to decorate.
- * Start cooking dishes that can be made ahead and frozen. Label everything
- clearly.
- * Put up outdoor decorations.
- * Schedule a cookie-baking day for the family.
- December 19-December 22
- * Trim the tree.
- * Fine-tune your menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and make sure
- you've bought everything you need.
- * Wash stemware, polish silver and make sure table linen is clean. Borrow
- extra chairs if necessary.
- December 23
- * Clear space in the refrigerator for all that extra food.
- * Put together "assembly-required" toys and store in the attic or with a
- neighbor.
- Give the house a final cleanup.
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