Hello friends!  Where is the time going?  Today I’m tapping into my inner girl scout and sharing a post about being prepared.  And while this is a post about getting ready for Christmas, it’s not meant to take the focus off of Thanksgiving and what that holiday means.  Instead my goal is to help you get a jump of Christmas so that once Thanksgiving has passed you can usher in the Christmas season with less stress and anxiety and enjoy it to the fullest.

By nature I’m a preparer and organizer.  I don’t function well without order in my life, a daily to-do list, and a cup of tea in the morning.   So, these tips are just as much for you as they are for me. With only 7 weeks before Christmas, nows the time to start making that list and checking it twice!

 #1 Pull out your holiday decor and assess what you have. Stores have been stocked with Christmas decor for weeks (and in some cases months) and items are selling fast.  Now is the time to take inventory of what Christmas decor you have and what items you need to purchase.  This is especially key when it comes to Christmas lights because there never seem to be enough white Christmas lights to go around.

#2  Determine your holiday decor theme.  Once you’ve looked through your Christmas decor, determine what your decorating theme will be this year.  You may have a traditional look that you want to continue with or you may want to change things up a bit.  Whatever look you want, now is the time to get a picture in your head so when you start to decorate you’ll know exactly the look you want.

# 3  Schedule time to buy, set-up and decorate the tree.  Decorating a Christmas tree is a task so block out time on your calendar for decorating so you don’t feel rushed.  If you buy a live tree, plan the date when you’ll go purchase the tree and then make sure the area where it will go is clear and free for when you bring it home.

# 4  Plan your gift list.  All of the major retailers and online stores have begun to promote their holiday gift guides.  Gift guides show you the hottest items of the season so take note because they can be a great starting point in helping you create your own gift list.  If you’ve got electronics and toys on your list, it’s also a great time to start price shopping to find the best deals.

# 5  Buy (or make) your Christmas cards.  I was in Target the other day and they have the cutest Christmas cards.  Just like gift wrap and Christmas lights, the weeks before Thanksgiving is when Christmas cards start flying off the shelf.  Head to the store in the next week to get your cards so you don’t miss out on the best designs. Or you can be totally insane like me and try to fit handmade cards onto the to-do list!

# 6  Create a giftwrap station (or at least pull together your holiday wrapping materials).  I love to wrap gifts so creating a gift wrap stations is something I love to do.  Fill a basket with holiday wrapping essentials so everyone in the family can easily access the items.  Here’s what items should be included in your giftwrap station:  assorted size boxes, tissue paper, wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, tags, embellishments, scissors

**my favorite sources for holiday wrap this year:  Giftwrap Wonderland, Sugar Paper LA and Paper Source

#7  Ready the guest room.  There’s always lots to do to prepare for the holidays and it’s the little things that often get overlooked.  If you have guests coming for Christmas, spend a couple of hours getting the guest room prepared.  Check out my guest room ready post to help you welcome your guests in style.

# 8  Set the table.  I know this won’t work if you use your dining table everyday but I know for many folks the dinning room only gets used on special occasions.  If you fall into that category, plan ahead and get the table ready for your holiday dinner.  Iron the linens, pull out the china and create your place settings. A few days before Christmas, create the centerpiece and you’ll be all set.

# 9  Plan you menu & buy cooking staples.  Cooking is not one of my favorite things to do and I get really cranky when I decide to cook and find I’m missing a staple like baking soda or spices.  Now is the time to loosely plan your holiday menu and purchase all of the staples you’ll need so you have them on hand.

and with all that preparation you be able to…

# 10  Enjoy the season!  Taking time to prepare for the busy holiday season will pay off in big ways because you’ll be able to relax, enjoy a hot toddy and watch your favorite Christmas movies without stress.