I am behind on my Christmas schedule – I was so busy getting ready to go out of town and then we were gone for two weeks. I am still further ahead than I have ever been on Christmas planning, and I have the long weekend to get caught up. I am going to cram 4 weeks into one week. I apologize for those of you trying to follow my plan!

View Week 4 here

Week 5 (Oct 30-Nov 5) purchase or make Christmas card, pick up non-perishable baking items (they are almost always out of at least one ingredient when I get around to going to the store in December.)
Christmas card – I have actually already started on my Christmas card design. There are many great ideas you can use for your card. You can be as simple or complicated as you like. Try shutterfly.com, snapfish.com or walmart.com for online photo cards. Choose one of their designs and upload your photo. You can design your own using scrap book paper or your computer. Affix your photo to your own design. You can also find many designers on etsy.com that design cards (use keyword “Christmas card” or “holiday card”). Of course, we design cards too! (micandnic.com) However you decide to do your card, make it fun. If it is a stressful event, wait and send one for the first of January that says Happy New Year, or even wait until Valentines day. It should be a fun and creative time, not a stressful thing to check off the to-do list.

Pick up non-perishable baking items – since I was out of town I am going to have to wait on this until the beginning of December. They will be out of everything because of Thanksgiving baking. I will go next Wednesday or so.

Week 6 (Nov 6-Nov 12) catch up week; work on homemade gifts
It is a good thing that I scheduled a catch up week, I need it! I have been slowly working on my gifts when the little pickle is sleeping. I have a list of what I am making for whom, and am checking them off the list one by one. I am planning on making a big dent in my list this long Thanksgiving weekend.

Week 7 (Nov 13-Nov 19) make gift tags, decide on gift wrap colors
I will work on these this weekend as well. Look at tags and wrap in the store and magazines new and old for ideas. Use a photograph or make a design with a stamp or print out from your computer and cut with a die cut. Many scrapbook stores have big cutting sets and shapes you can use for free.

Week 8 (Nov 20-Nov 26) schedule Christmas party and plan, make invitation
This will be a quick one. Decide on the day to do the party, I am thinking a Tuesday or Thursday night. Make a list of easy snacks and desserts to make and shopping list. Design a cute card to send out. Make a small gift for guests to take home – maybe an ornament or cute packaged dessert and recipe.

Happy Planning! I will resume with the weekly plans end of this week.

I am now on week 3 working towards a stress free Christmas. View last week here.

Week 3 (Oct. 16-22) – go through address list, decide on size of Christmas card, purchase stamps & envelopes, address envelopes

This will probably be the hardest week for me. I usually procrastinate as long as possible when I do not want to do something, and going though my address list is definitely not something that I want to do! I do know that it will save me a lot of time in the future and save me a late night in December trying to round up my addresses. I am planning on working on this for 20 minutes everyday to make it easier to bear. I will find all my addresses, put them in a pile, and start typing them out to store on my computer and print out a copy for quick reference. I am going to print out the addresses on labels this year and I am happy about that – my handwriting is not that great!

Deciding on the size of you card is not absolutely necessary, but I want to go ahead and decide on it so I can buy my envelopes and print out the labels so I can check that off the list. It will be so nice to simply stuff and place in my mail box in December.

Last week I discussed my list to accomplish what I want for Christmas and still enjoy the season. For week one, I created a budget and a list of gift recipients. I also researched gifts to get and/or make for each person on my list.

Here is week 2 (Oct. 9-15) – inventory holiday decor and make list of what to pick up; make list of items needed to make gifts, pick up
Last year I made an inventory list of all my ornaments, decorations, etc. I also made a note of what I needed when I was putting it all away. I know that I need new tree lights and a string of outdoor lights. I am doubting that they are in stores yet, but when I am there and see they are out, I have the list in my purse and can pick them up. I will also make a list of all items, craft supplies, and non-perishable food items I need for gifts. I can pick them up in stages or all at once.

If you need some ideas of gifts to make, here are a few ideas:

What does the recipient enjoy in their spare time? If they like to journal or sketch, make them a journal. Are they into running? Get them a subscription to runners world.

Coupons are always a great idea – Give your mom a coupon for a day of cleaning, give your dad a coupon to wash and vacuum his car, a coupon for your friend for a night of baby sitting, a coupon for your grandma to file and paint her fingernails. The options are endless. Create a coupon by using scrap book materials or use your computer.

Picture gifts are a no-fail idea. Make a picture calendar, a photo charm bracelet or necklace, a photo book, or bookmark with a photo and verse or saying.

Food gifts are usually an inexpensive way to cover several people. Make homemade salsa, BBQ, or vegetables from your garden and can (Canning is actually much easier than you would think. Just place the jar in boiling water.) Give a jar of layered cookies – layer dry ingredients, sugar, m&m’s or chips. Make cute tags and attach to the jars. Are you known for a particular dessert? Is your dish requested over and over for functions? Make a batch and give a few to each person in cute packaging along with the recipe.

Next Friday  – go through address list, decide on size of Christmas card, purchase stamps & envelopes, address envelopes

Have a Great weekend!