Many of you know that I've been obsessively organizing for months. Well, as it would turn out, I'm pretty freakin' organized by now and ready for the baby AND the holidays (yes, there are in fact wrapped gifts already stacked and ready to go in my office.) What I can tell you though, is that it feels FAN-TAS-TIC. So, to prode my fellow gals to the path of organized enlightment, I want to share a short list of the LISTS that you should get going on PRONTO so you too can enjoy an under-whelmed state of being this holiday season. :-) This is only helpful for those people like me that normally can't (or don't) even think about the holidays until AFTER Thanksgiving, and by then it is too late, chaos is bound to ensue because there is just not enough time! You want to have a little zen in your holiday and this is the only way to achieve it (well, short of loads of therapy) :-)!
1) Holiday Outfits: Jot down your events, parties and holiday gatherings and what you have to wear in your closet now and what you might need. If you are going to be slaving away making Thanksgiving dinner, you might as well be doing it in style! This is the time of year you see everyone that you haven't seen all year and you better look fantastic.
2) Gifts: This is a daunting task for most of us, but start one list for friends, one for family and one for "other". On the "other" list I put people like the teachers at school, Ava's piano teacher, the nanny. All those people that you know you will in fact have to buy something for and it will be loads easier to just have them done now. My method of attack was all the "obligatory" type gifts first...ie, the relatives you hate to buy for but you must, the teachers etc. So now, I pretty much only have fun gifts left to buy and the short list of people I enjoy buying for will actually be a fun holiday thing to do later for a little "spirit". Also, make sure your hostess stash of gifts is up to par because you ALWAYS need stuff to take places...someone also always shows up with a gift you didn't know was coming so having something for emergencies is smart.
3) Holiday cards: Get them ordered, it feels great to know that you will be timely for once. Yes, I even addressed mine early. At this point by the time you actually get them, it won't even be that early. www.invitingsmiles.com and www.tinyprints.com were both places I ordered from this year and was happy with.
4) Holiday tickets and events: Get your calendar in order, and buy any tickets you need to. Things go fast....the Nutcracker, Polar Express etc., all sell out unbelievable early so just book now and get your schedule in order. Every year before this one :-), I would scrabble to organize things late in the game and you get the worst seats, and most aggravation. Or worse...no seats and serious disappointment.
Signed, Annoyingly organized, {lv}
My family loves the holidays, beginning with Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Mardi Gras so we always have lots of parties. This year I decided to find real unique holiday cards that I could write my own holiday party invitation wordings. I found three great sites, http://www.cardsshoppe.com/Holiday_Invitations_Announcements/Holiday_Invitations_Announcements-7.htm http://www.holiday-invitations.com/Halloween-Invitations-Cards/browse-24.htm and http://www.invitations-shoppe.com/Invitations_Cards/Christmas_Invitations_Cards-9-1.htm. I added all three sites to my favorites and ordered from http://www.holiday-invitations.com and was very pleased. I got lots of compliments, and was so happy. It made the holidays extra special!
Posted by: Alice | November 02, 2007 at 03:26 AM
Mardi Gras is always so special and so much fun. Since I always give a big Mardi Gras Party, I am always looking for that 'special' Mardi Gras party invitations. This year I not only found one place, but three great places to buy Mardi Gras Party Invitations that can be personalized, Mardi Gras Party Cards Mardi Gras Party Invitations and Invitations for Mardi Gras Party. I added all three sites to my favorites and ordered from Invitations for Mardi Gras and was very pleased. I got lots of compliments, and was so happy. It made the holidays extra special!
Posted by: Janice | November 02, 2007 at 03:28 AM