STRATEGIES
Planning and preparing for a special celebration should be part of the fun. Use the guidance here to help you navigate (and appreciate) the journey from start to finish.
1. TAKE STEPS TO ENJOY ALL YOUR CELEBRATIONS
Each holiday has its own rituals that make it so memorable (especially for little ones). Here are ways to observe those and create traditions all your own.
- Make holiday to-do lists with a targeted deadline for each task (gift buying, crafting, decorating, menu planning)—see pages 244 and 247 for two examples.
- Take inventory of what you have before buying kitchen equipment or gift-wrapping supplies or even gifts. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget what you already own.
- Invite friends and family over to help decorate—it’s a good excuse to spend time together in a low-key way, without all the formalities (and just have some simple drinks and snacks).
- As you unpack decorations (be they skeletons or snowflakes), weed out anything you no longer need—offer them to a local school or other group that could use some cheer.
- Once you’ve decorated your home, take photos of everything so you can replicate it next year (or make changes).
- When choosing a menu for holiday meals, consider making it a potluck or buffet to alleviate the effort. Otherwise, front-load it with make-aheads (aim for only two hours of cooking on the day of, Thanksgiving being the exception).
2. PLAN ahead FOR GIFTS AND CARDS
Last-minute shopping is not ideal, especially during the crowded holiday season. Instead, take time at the beginning of each year to map out your annual gift-giving.
Make gift lists (and check Them twice)
- Note all birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions in your calendar (setting phone alerts a week ahead helps)—and keep a list of these so you can have gifts wrapped and ready.
- Make a separate list for end-of-year holiday gifts. To make shopping more efficient, organize the list by recipient, connection (family, neighbor, coworker), or interest (cook, decorator, gardener) and keep it in your phone—use the notes feature—so you can quickly glance and see what’s left to buy while out and about.
- It’s entirely appropriate to give just one gift to couples, neighbors, and family friends—rather than buying individual ones. Choose all-age items such as lawn games or board games; waffle irons, ice-cream makers, or popcorn poppers; or a hammock or fully stocked picnic hamper.
- Last-minute invitations are practically inevitable—as are unexpected gift exchanges. Keep a few neutral gifts—coasters, journals, candles, winter accessories, or homemade jams—in reserve to prevent splurging on something in a hurry.
Kraft paper and blank newsprint are recyclable alternatives to traditional wrapping paper—and blank canvases for your own designs.
- Soft gifts can be wrapped in attractive tea towels, cloth napkins, or even fabric remnants—and you can raid your knitting and sewing baskets for yarn, rickrack, or other scraps to use as ribbons.
- Turn pieces of wrapping paper that are ripped or too small for gifts into packing material: Run them through a paper shredder, then use (in place of Styrofoam) to protect the presents you mail. It’s a great way to reduce waste.
- Save last year’s holiday cards to use in making gift cards, cutting or punching them into festive shapes.