Tag: Checklists

Holidays Checklist Pt II of III

Handling the Holidays: Part II of III

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Holidays Checklist Pt II of IIIYou’ve made it through Thanksgiving, and hopefully gotten a head start on the rest of the year! Here are a few more checklist items for you, to keep you on track.

Dec. 1 – 8

  • Gifts En Masse – You’ve got neighbors, coworkers, associates… so many people, so little money. This is where buying gifts in bulk, like holiday cookies or boxes of candles, can come in really handy! It shows you’re thinking of them, without breaking the bank. Throw a bow on top, and you’ve even saved yourself some extensive wrapping!
  • Menu Planning – This helps to organize what you have vs. what you need to get, as well as what can be cooked the night before vs. what needs to be made that day. Did you know most potato dishes can be made a day early?
  • Review Your Décor – Every year there’s something broken or missing hooks to go buy. Save yourself some grief and look through your decorations now, so when the time comes to put them up, you’re ready and don’t have a last-minute trip to make in the blinding snowstorm that inevitably happens.

Dec. 9 – 15

  • Clean (part of your) House – You’ve got a lot of house if you’re throwing a party, so you might as well break down the cleaning schedule into manageable tasks. Clean the less-used rooms in this go-around, such as guest rooms, to get started.
  • Distribute the Décor – Did you know that live greenery lasts longer outside than in? You can put it up earlier and it will still look beautiful at your holiday party. Don’t forget to doublecheck your electrical connections for safety! Go ahead and do your indoor decorations too, though you may want to put any indoor live greenery out closer to your event.
  • Finish Your Philanthropy – AKA, finish up your gift shopping and get the rest of those presents wrapped. You have enough to do with food and place settings the day of your event without having to worry about last minute wrapping, which just makes another mess to clean up. This also allows you to ship gifts early enough to arrive for Christmas, if you’re shipping them out.
  • Create a Playlist – Whether your event is a block party or a quiet holiday dinner with family, set the mood with the perfect playlist, so you can have it keyed up and ready to go the day of.

Don’t miss Part III of this series, coming soon, and you can also find some awesome holiday ideas on our Pinterest page. Have more useful tips? Comment on our Facebook page!

Holidays Checklist Part I

Handling the Holidays: Part I of III

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Holidays Checklist Part IThe holidays are crazy. Whether you’re shopping for a family of fifteen or preparing meals for the block, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of what-all needs to get done. So, what can you do about it? Organize!

We know, writing everything down to ‘check off’ is a chore you don’t exactly want to add to your list of things to do. So, here’s a pre-assembled list for you. Enjoy!

Nov. 18 – 24

  • Thanks-Getting – This week is largely focused on preparation for Thanksgiving, so your first task is to organize what foods you plan to prepare, create a shopping list, and get those foods.
  • Keep the Kids Happy – If you have ever had children attending your dinner before, you know they don’t typically sit quietly and eat the entire time the adults are chatting away. Organize an activity or two for when they ‘finish’ that can keep them occupied (at least until they come back for seconds).
  • Food Prep – Set up any foods that can be pre-made the day/night before, and organize your cooking schedule the day of to alternate between things that will take up space in/on your range and things that don’t require one, such as the salad or cranberry sauce.
  • Ask for Help – If folks start showing up early, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance! There is no rulebook anywhere that says you have to do it all yourself, so save yourself the stress of trying to prepare a meal and be a host at the same time, and just ask them to help out in the kitchen. They’ll probably be more than happy to oblige!

Nov. 25 – 30

  • Holiday Greeting Cards – Get cards and stamps (or even e-cards) out of the way early, to avoid a last-minute “Oops, I forgot Grandma!” situation. Write down a list of your family and friends so you don’t forget anyone.
  • Start Gift Shopping – Seriously, the earlier you start, the less stressful it is, and it helps you avoid an all-nighter. To save time and frustration, write down who you are buying presents for, and a specific list of items. This will also help you prevent overspending on impulse gifts. Shopping for an hour or so after work on weekdays/nights will get you in when the stores aren’t as crowded, too.

Check back soon for Parts II and III, and for other holiday ideas, check out our Pinterest page!