Twelve easy steps for the last 12 days of Christmas.
Hi and welcome back, it’s good to see you again.
Well, it’s that time of year, just a handful of days until Christmas, and chaos reigns! Or does it?
Christmas (or any other Holiday) does not have to be stressful if you choose not to let it. It all comes down to choice and planning.
Here are twelve easy steps for the last 12 days before Christmas and not a partridge or a pear tree in sight:
12 Check that all your present buying (follow your budget here) and wrapping is done, no last-minute rushing around panicking over a gift for great aunt Mae or uncle Fred. If money is a problem focus on homemade/handmade gifts. Can you sew, knit, crochet, cook, make herbal oils or salves? People will be happy and excited to receive a special gift from you. Have everything wrapped and labelled and ready to go under the tree. And speaking of trees …
11 Decorate your tree early and let the kids have fun with this. Get them started making their own decorations – it will save you money (always a good thing) and will add a very personal touch to your tree. Your decision to have a natural or ‘fake’ tree is personal to you but remember that a ‘fake’ one saves trees and is way easier to clean up afterwards.
10 Plan your menu. This will give you plenty of time to find that ‘special’ item that you absolutely must have to go with …insert your favourite food here! This will also help you to know when to take out the turkey or the ham or the goose to defrost (but no partridges please), or in the southern hemisphere, how many BBQ patties to make.
9 Know how many people you are expecting and then make provision for a couple extra. There is always someone (or two)who seem to turn up just at meal time. Be prepared not surprised, and have a little gift for them as well, (it doesn’t have to be huge, a box of chocolates will do or maybe a scented candle). Bake some cookies!
8 Clean house! Give everything a real good clean, yes this does mean moving the couch, because you can be sure that someone will want to ’pull up the sofa’ and you don’t want to be left staring at dust bunnies.
7 Check the drinks supply and remember the non-alcoholic drinks, juices, soda etc. Don’t forget to make ‘ice’ to save on the cost of buying it.
6 Plan for children’s activities; summer or winter children will be crazy excited for Christmas Day and if you can have planned activities that will help them burn off some of that excess energy on Christmas Eve – BONUS!
5 Shopping day – non perishables only. Time to stock up on all the ‘stuff’ you will need to cater for the additional people in your home, especially if any are staying for a few days. You do not want to run out of toilet paper or, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, gas for the barbie!
3 Rest Day! Take the food out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw and the go put your feet up today and just chill, you’ve earned it!
2 Prep Day – time to shop for the perishable items and then get all your food prep done; veges peeled, meats prepared for the oven. Check that your crockery is good to go and that the glasses are clean. Give surfaces a final wipe down in the kitchen and bathroom then go out and play with the kids or take this afternoon or evening to visit relatives or friends, especially if they are going to be alone. Take along a small gift, cookies or their favorite chutney or jam and make their day.
1 Christmas Day – don’t forget to put the meat in the oven and the veges on to cook and then sit back and enjoy. I hope Santa is good to you! Merry Christmas.
