Have a Smooth Flowing Christmas Day

For as long as I can remember, there have been stories of parents staying up all night finishing up last minute details for Christmas Day.   In our home we typically attend our Christmas Eve church service, have a nice family dinner, and read Twas the Night Before Christmas to the kids.   Then we get the cookies, milk and reindeer food laid out by the fire place.  Needless to say, we are busy.  The kids are up later than we want (have you tried to put your kids to bed early on Christmas Eve?) which means the last details for You Know Whoto have come need to wait until it is truly a Silent Night!   Trying to wrap all your gifts, build toys and bikes, get things ready for breakfast the next morning, and all the other details you put into your day can really make a to-do list as long as Santa’s.

A few ways to make your Christmas filled with special memories of peace and calm instead of exhaustion and stress is to prepare as early as you can. 

1. Wrap gifts and have them labeled in advance.  I will say that I don’t do this for all the gifts because I like to use gift bags.  If I make the gifts bags in advance they don’t work into my hiding spots and will get crushed.  I will wrap the gifts from the North Pole in special paper and hide those.  The gift bags are easy to throw together at the last minute.  You will be able to put these gifts under the tree in record time.
2. Outsource when you can.  Do you have grandparent who can put the bike together ahead of time?  Do you have a neighbor who can help you store your gifts?  Do you have a babysitter looking for extra money who can wrap gifts for you?  Are others coming to breakfast or dinner?  You can ask others to help contribute to your feast with a potluck format.
3. Check to see what gifts need batteries and have the stock of batteries there when you open the gifts.  You never know what toy or electronic will need a fresh set. 
4. Have your camera and video camera ready for action.  If you still you a 35 mm camera, have plenty of film available.  If you are digital, make sure that your memory card is empty and available to fill up with fun Christmas memories.  Also, make sure your batteries are charged or that you have spare batteries available.  There is nothing worse than getting the camera out at the last minute and it won’t work.
5. Have a scissors, screw drivers (both flat and Phillip’s), and a box cutter to open packages and install the batteries.  I have found a new gadget that is so helpful in opening the plastic packages that are a struggle to open.  You know the ones that are formed around the package and are impossible to open?  The gadget is called the iSlice.  I found mine at the check out of Michael’s craft store.  You can find it at www.islice.com. 
6. Have trash bags on hand.  This will keep the mess down and have room for playing with all the new gifts.  Also, have a container to put gift bags, bows, or any other reusable wrapping for another time. 
7. Have paper and pen available to take notes on who gave you what gifts.  You will have a much easier time writing thank yous when you have the list available.  The kids can power through gifts faster than the speed of light and it is very hard to keep track of who gave what gifts. 
8. Prepare your breakfast items the day before.  Sausage and egg souffle casseroles, coffee cake, donuts and other yummy favorites are easy to make ahead and heat in the morning.  Trying to make pancakes and waffles may be more of a mess than you want amongst the other activities.  But if this is a must for your family, make the batter in advance (store it in the refrigerator) and have the pans or waffle iron laid out and ready to go.  Have the serving pieces laid out and the table set the day before to make coming to the table to eat a breeze.
9. If you are having a Christmas dinner, do the same as above and try and get as much done in advance as you can.  Rethink what you serve on Christmas.  I know many who have lasagna instead of turkey.  Just because your family did the same meal every year doesn’t mean you need to do the same.   You can create a fabulous meal in advance and not spend the day in the kitchen after the gifts are open. 

The whole point of Christmas is to spend time together.  It is not about the gifts, it is not about the elaborate display, and it is not about spending the day in the kitchen.  Plan ahead so you will be able to enjoy this special day with your family.  If you are up late the night before, you will be exhausted and cranky.  If you are running around during the day unorganized and unprepared, everyone will feel the tension which makes for a stressed out family day. 

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.  For those who celebrate other religious celebrations at this time of year, I wish you a wonderful holiday season.  Next week I will be writing on New Year’s resolutions.  I look forward to hearing comments on any thing you and your family do to help keep your Christmas and holiday season Merry and Bright!!!

For more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips.  Also, you can subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start” . Subscribe Now 

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Holiday greetings have become a fun tradition.  As I was working on my Christmas card this weekend, I was interested in who started the whole card exchange craze.   According to Wikipedia:

The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London, 1843, and featured an illustration by John Callcott Horsley. The picture, of a family with a small child drinking wine together, proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. Two batches totaling 2050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each

“Official” Christmas cards began with Queen Victoria in the 1840s. The British royal family’s cards are generally portraits reflecting significant personal events of the year. In 1953, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first official White House card. The cards usually depict White House scenes as rendered by prominent American artists. The number of recipients has snowballed over the decades, from just 2000 in 1961 to 1.4 million in 2005.

I love getting Holiday cards each year.  I love that those who do not celebrate Christmas will send cards.  For those friends far and near, the picture card is a great way to see how children have grown.  To see how creative people were in their choice is exciting for me.

The down side to sending cards is the time and money it takes to send them.  If you are sending a photo card, deciding what picture to use can be a challenge in itself.  Also, getting the children to cooperate for a picture can sometimes be downright miserable.  If you are using a professional photographer for family shots, coordinating schedules can be frustrating.  Early planning is the best way to go.   You can even pick a fun photo from a family vacation or event and save the frustration.

This year in looking for photo cards, I have found that there are beautiful choices available at reasonable prices.  Four sites I like are:

www.kodakgallery.com

www.shutterfly.com

www.snapfish.com

and www.americangreetings.com/photogifts

Once you have chosen your favorite picture, you can upload your picture, create a card and place your order in a snap.  I took my kids picture, created a card, personalized the greeting, and ordered the cards in less than an hour.  Photo cards have come a long way and the selection is incredible.  The prices are affordable and currently most are offering great coupons for savings on shipping and larger orders.  The ease, efficiency and savings will allow you to send a fabulous card with out losing time with your family or breaking the bank.

If you would like more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips.  Also, you can subscribe to my newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start” . Subscribe Now