Happy December! Can you believe it’s already here and we’re talking about Christmas?! I feel like winter in general just snuck up on me! Every day I’m shocked that it’s cold outside LOL. Luckily, I’m a prepper and a planner so I’m not caught flat-footed and unprepared!
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Three weeks to Christmas
- Set up and decorate a Christmas tree. If you’re Team Live Tree, find a nearby tree farm and cut your own tree or buy one pre-cut. If you’re Team Faux, unpack and set up your tree. Make decorating a family event; play festive music and take your time marveling over each ornament.
- Decorate your home! I love Christmas decor and really enjoy unpacking and setting up our collection. We traditionally decorate on Black Friday.
- Put up your outdoor decorations, or sit inside and sip some cocoa while your other half does it LOL!
- If you are hosting guests, plan some activities and send them a loose itinerary so they know what to pack and prepare for.
- Prepare your menus and order the main dish for Christmas dinner if you’re having a turkey or ham.
- Make a shopping list from the recipes on your menus.
- Take inventory of your wrapping supplies. I was surprised to see we are woefully low on Christmas and birthday wrapping paper!
- Mail your Christmas cards! If you followed my fall preparation to-do list, you booked your family photos in early fall and ordered your cards as soon as your gallery came in ..right? Bonus points if you had your addresses printed directly on the envelopes. Huge time saver! We use Shutterfly and have been happy with the results.
- Finish online gift shopping to allow ample delivery time.
- Put out snacks and waters for the hard-working delivery personnel bringing your gifts!
Two weeks to Christmas
- Mail any presents you may need to send. The USPS deadline for Christmas arrival is December 15th (or later for some faster speeds) but to avoid frantically tracking packages, mail them ASAP.
- Shop for the nonperishable items on your list.
- Wrap gifts as they arrive, making sure to add gift tags so you don’t forget who gets what! If you are traveling with gifts, avoid wrapping until you reach your destination, if possible.
- Start deep-cleaning the house for guests so you won’t be crunched for time later. Most importantly, clean your fridge! There’s nothing worse than coming home with a ham and having no where to put it LOL!
- If you’re hosting a big meal, do yourself a favor and grab these disposable leftover containers! It’ll make packing leftovers to send home with your guests super easy and you’ll look so prepared!
- While you’re browsing, grab a battery assortment pack to be prepared for any toys that might need powering once they’re unwrapped.
One week to go!
- Grab your ingredients list and head to the store! Pick up anything else that you might need to feed guests.
- If you’re traveling for Christmas, start putting aside outfits and pack!
- Start your baking!
- If you’re hosting overnight guests, make sure your guest room is straightened, clean linens are on the bed, and the guest bath is stocked.
- Put out gifts for your trash collectors and mail carriers, send your kids to school with teacher and bus driver gifts, etc.
The week-of!
- Prep any dishes ahead of time. Assemble and refrigerate casseroles, thaw turkey, make vegetables.
- Do any last-minute housekeeping and make sure entertaining areas are tidy.
- Iron or steam table linens and set table.
- Make sure guest bathrooms are stocked with paper products.
- Make sure you have cookies and milk for Santa and a carrot for his reindeer!
- Finish any last-minute wrapping and round up presents from your hiding places.
- Relax and join your family for the holiday fun!
Megan says
This is a well organized way to get to Christmas! I definitely some better plan. Right now I do whatever I’m thinking of at the moment!
Caroline says
Thanks, Megan! I’m a planner by nature but it’s so easy to get sidetracked by other household tasks!
Charity says
This is such a great Christmas count down list to keep you nice and organized. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Caroline says
Thank you, Charity! Happy holidays!
Dee Dee says
Great list! Thank you. I love the idea of putting out goodies for delivery people!
Caroline says
Thanks, Dee Dee! We get literally everything delivered– even diapers and groceries! So I like to show my appreciation!
Marianne says
Great list! Good way to stay organized when things start to get chaotic!
Caroline says
Thanks, Marianne! The holidays can get chaotic quickly!
Sabrina DeWalt says
Oops! I missed the shipping deadline. I hope my cookies get to the kids in time with Priority Mail.
Caroline says
I’ve been having great luck with shipping times, hope your cookies make it!!
Cindy Moore says
This is a great list for making Christmas less stressful and more merry!
Caroline says
Thank you, Cindy!
Chelsea says
Wow I love it! Great plan! That was my plan until kids got sick. Now I’m so behind! But trying to roll with it. Merry Christmas!
Caroline says
Merry Christmas to you too, Chelsea! I hope everyone is healthy in time for the big day!
Pat Mills says
I am late reading your post but I am so thankful for the “Week of” Christmas list…. LOL…
I am trying my best to keep my list in front of me for this week and your list has helped me with a couple of things that I didn’t think about.
Merry Christmas!
Caroline says
Merry Christmas to you, too, Pat!