Get Ahead for the Holidays
October - December 2009

Don’t let the holidays get the best of you! Get ahead of the season with these tips.

To Do... Or Not? Decide with your family on the holiday traditions which are most meaningful. Now combine this list and a month at a glance calendar to get it all in writing. Seeing conflicts on dates or other tasks? Right away decide which is going to take priority and eliminate what won’t work.

Order Stamps from usps.com. Tired of waiting in line at the post office? Order your stamps online this year. New holiday stamps are already on sale.

Save the Date. Planning a holiday gathering for family or friends? There are few Friday and Saturday nights in December. Send a quick e-mail to friends, and follow up later with real invitations or by evite. Perhaps a Sunday afternoon is an alternative party time?

Collate a Holiday Notebook. Choose a notebook with holiday theme colors, add tabbed dividers with labels for recipes you make each year, gift lists and catalog pages of gift ideas, a slash pocket for receipts and printouts of online orders and perhaps some pictures of each room fully decorated (so you know what goes where each year.)

Get the Decorations Out Early. It’s never too early to decorate! Check the lights, get extra hooks and decide what you will decorate this year. Donate all the rest to bless others who need holiday trim.

Plan a Playlist. We all want the holiday spirit to have a sound track! Personalize your ipod with holiday CDs and music. Have the music ready for your auto or in your home.

Start your Holiday Cards Early. Most families enjoy family photos that are shared in holiday cards. Take your picture in early October! Save time by sending photo postcards from one of the online sites, such as Snapfish (www.snapfish.com) or DropShots (www.dropshots.com). Upload your digital pictures and create a card.

Need a List to Keep you on Track? Here is a Printable Master Christmas List from Real Simple! http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/christmas/ultimate-christmas-countdown-checklist-00000000002153/index.html »

Happy Organizing and Happy Holidays!

For more tips on organizing, visit the Tips Archive (left column). Please call or email me if I can be of assistance!

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