| CHRISTMAS PLAN |
| FIRST GET YOURSELF A NOTEBOOK WITH 3 RINGS SO YOU CAN ADD PAGES. There are charts online for recording cards sent and received food budget, gift budget, housecleaning system. (Links below) Decide to do at least one chore a week and when Christmas arrives you will be free to enjoy. The Christmas Dinner: This can be alot of work but there are ways to avoid being tied to the kitchen while everyone els eis enjoying festivities with the family. I make my Christmas Day dinner on Christmas Eve. It always helped my kids with the long wait till Christmas morning and it was something special for it was a special meal. Then Christmas Day when someone says "I'm Hungry", you can say, "Its' in the fridge and there's the microwave. Keep your dinner simple but yet special. Do not prepare more than two meats. Like Turkey but hate picking off the carcaus, well if family doesn't miss dark meat then just have Turkey breast, so much easier. Do the mashed potatoes early and keep them warm in a crock pot. Have your vegetable cooking in another crockpot (our favorite is green bean casserole) Desserts: It's time for pumpkin pie and other goodies. Easy is the dough you buy and unroll, really can tell the difference and it's so much easier. Remember, don't overdue the desserts, sometimes people enjoy a nice fruit salad more than the pies, etc. Cookies: These should be done in November. Or at least have the dough made up and in the freezer. Tip: do as I and have the grandchildren help make rolled sugar cookies, have the dough all made up before they arrive, then have them roll it out and cut with cookie cutters,they love this part and it's not as messy. Caution when allowing children to use sprinkles for decorations, you will find them all over your floor for weeks. Decorating: I do the outside of my house when the is still mild. It doesn't matter when but I do not turn on the lights until the day after Thanksgiving. Keep it simple but elegant. Remember you will have take it all down after Christmas. Also, take advantage of mild weather to give the outside of the windows a quick cleaning. Winter is a very dirty time and it can be very hard to clean certain areas that's why it's important to do it on mild days before the bitter cold arrives and it will arrive in the and other areas. The Tree: I put my tree up usually the weekend after Thanksgiving. It takes more than one day since I put up more than one tree, so I start early so I can enjoy them longer .Make sure your artificial tree still holds it shape and if it doesn't it may be time to replace it. Christmas shopping: This should take place early to avoid the crowds and frustration. I make a list and start with the people who are the easiest , then I make a master list of what I have bought. This can be done on a form in your notebook or youcan use your computer to save your copy. I hope these tips help to make the Christmas season less stressful and more enjoyable.Most of all keep your focus on the reasonfor the season and that's our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! |
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