Quick tips for a Holly Jolly Holiday Season

Apr 2
09:40

2009

Colette Robicheau

Colette Robicheau

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

It’s the holiday season. Time for buying gifts, throwing parties and decorating your home. All that work can leave little time for enjoying what should be the most wonderful time of the year. So here are some quick tips to help make your holiday season merry and bright.

mediaimage

Buying gifts- Make a list of all the people you plan to shop for with gift ideas that match their tastes.  Consider gift certificates,Quick tips for a Holly Jolly Holiday Season Articles which are easy to wrap and create less clutter.  Be sure to set a gift budget for everyone on your list.  Check weekly flyers for sales to plan your trip to the mall.  The best times to shop are weekday mornings when there are fewer people shopping.  Some stores have personal shoppers who can assist you in finding the right gift.  And many stores have websites that allow you to save time by shopping from home online.  Finally, set yourself a deadline to complete your gift buying so you have more time to enjoy the holiday season. 

Throwing a party- Planning a successful holiday party is much like planning any party.  Start by selecting a date, preferably one that doesn’t conflict with other holiday gatherings.  Once done, determine where you want to host your party – at home, the office or at a favourite spot – and make reservations if necessary.  Now you’re ready to draw up your guest list.  For a formal party, prepare and mail out invitations.  For an informal gathering, email or phone invitations will do.  If you decide to hold your party at home, develop a festive menu to serve your guests.  If you choose a restaurant or club, ask them to suggest a menu based on the number of guests invited and their tastes.  Some seasonal music and a few carefully chosen decorations, table settings and centrepieces will help create a festive atmosphere. 

Decorating your home – Before you drag out boxes of lights and tinsel, visualize how you want your home to look and make a plan.  A good plan covers everything from your theme (such as ‘An Old-fashioned Christmas’) and colour scheme to the decorations you want to use and where you’ll place them.  Now you can pull out the décor you want to use.  Sift through it and donate or purge any outdated or unwanted items.  Be sure to test your decorations to make sure they work properly.  Replace all burnt-out bulbs and frayed cords.  If you need to buy new outdoor lights, consider strings with built-in timers.  They’ll save you time and energy costs.  Here’s another idea that will save you time: Make a party of it.  Invite family and friends to help you decorate, with the promise of eggnog and other holiday treats.  You could even purchase some craft supplies and have your friends over to create some memorable tree decorations. (And a few holiday season memories!)

.

If you enjoyed this article, please pass it along to others who would find it useful and sign up for our Organize Anything newsletter on our homepage at www.organizeanything.com.

Permission to reuse or redistribute these materials is hereby granted provided they are reproduced or redistributed in their entirety with full attribution. (c) 2008 Colette Robicheau

Article "tagged" as:

Categories: