Holiday Planning Countown

Are you ready for the holidays?  We have found a great Holiday countdown checklist.  Over the next two blogs, we will go over what you need to have done to prepare for the big holiday.  This week we will learn about what needs to be in done in the first and second week of December.  You can learn more at Real Simple.

Three Weeks Before (First Week of December)

• Mail cards.
  If you’re too busy to get them addressed and mailed during the first week of December, consider putting them off until after the holiday rush. People generally enjoy getting a card a few days late, when things have slowed down and they actually notice the mail.
• Buy a live tree.
  This is a good time to get your tree, if you want it to stay fresh and retain its needles through Christmas. Same goes for fresh greenery or garlands.
• Decorate!
  You may be one who decks the halls as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey carcass has been tossed. That’s fine, too, but by the first week of December, it’s time to get the house looking festive. Find holiday decorating ideas here.
• Finalize menus.
  If you’ll be serving the holiday meal make sure you know what you’ll be cooking and what family members will be bringing. Start a master grocery list.
• Order a turkey or ham.
  Or whatever else is the centerpeice of your holiday meal—you don’t want to get caught short.

Two Weeks Before (Second Week of December)

• Make sure out-of-town presents are mailed.
  Try to have gifts in the mail by December 10.
• Shop for nonperishable items.
  Buy alcohol and any canned goods or pantry staples you’ll need.