I’ve Made a List No Need to Check it Twice

This time of year I always experience a wide range of emotions. I love this time of year because of the time with family, hanging out with my kids, eating rich and not so good food, sending out Christmas cards, decorating, cooking, baking and I love creating this time of year. In past years I have given my family and friends gifts I have made. I’m a firm believer in giving gifts that mean something (yes, gift cards are acceptable 😉 but that is just my opinion.  However, pulling all of this together can be a little bit stressful and anxiety ridden for me. So, I sat down with my lovely mother and asked her for some tips to help ease the stress of the holiday season along with how to be done with most shopping early. Janet Reese (my mother) learned from the best at this whole holiday thing from her mother (we called her Murphy) my grandmother. 

I always wondered how my mom and Murphy were invariably so prepared for the holidays, I learned much later they planned ahead.  This was all done strategically and on a budget, nothing was ever really fancy. My grandmother was so poor when she was growing up, there was a Christmas that came and went without Santa paying a visit.  It was then, that she made a vow to never miss another Christmas. From that experience as a child her love for the holidays, especially became a small part of who she was. She loved all holidays, for her It was about spending time, stories, crafting and with sharing a good meal together. I can remember it like it was yesterday, all of the special times I had with my grandparents during the holidays I miss and cherish those times profoundly. 

So, for the procrastinators out there (myself included) here are some holiday tips and tricks, from my mother Janet, aka Kitty, along with myself to help you handle this time of year and the future like a boss. 

• Think ahead and start preparing at least 6 months in advance. 
• Ask people what they need, what they like and build off that information.
• Listen to everyday conversations. People will say things that will give you clues on what they are into. If you are not around them everyday, ask others about their interests.
• Take advantage of after christmas sales.
• Make a list of all the gifts you need and set dates for completion (I do this in the google spreadsheet). 
• Create a list for christmas card distribution, that way it is easy to update every year (I use a spreadsheet for this as well).
• I enjoy old fashioned written list as well, so for items I need to purchase for gift assembly and creating I make a handwritten list. Doing it this way it is much easier for me to keep track. 
• If you love making things, make gifts for people. Most people I know love receiving gifts that have been made. Going this route you can get super creative and make the perfect gift.
• Buy items all year long and put them away for Christmas
• In terms of kiddos, I believe in buying them items they will actually use. I try to stay away from toys and trinkets that will be lost as soon as they open them. For example; both of my kids love to color and draw, they will be getting coloring books, markers, sketchbooks, etc. 
• If you shop all year, you don’t have to put things on a credit card or try and do all the shopping in December. 
• If you need to, utilize layaway (for some this is a lifesaver) My parents never spent more than they could afford and they never used credit cards.
• Good gift ideas include:
• Baked goods
• Food baskets 
• Snack baskets 
• Pamper baskets 
• Take advantage of free shipping deals and other coupon deals
• If you have a game plan you can be done with shopping by Sept-Nov
• Plan your dinner ahead of time and shop a week or two ahead of schedule. 

Last but not least, chill and enjoy this time of year however you celebrate if something doesn’t get done it is not the end of the world. I think this time of year brings on stress regardless, but there are always ways to adjust and overcome the stress. Besides following some of these tips,  I will be working out more and watching cheesy holiday movies, those movies consistently put me in a good mood and make me feel light-hearted. 

Check out my festive playlist Santa Baby on Spotify

Leave a comment below and share what you do to survive the holidays.