Sunday, July 15, 2012

Collection of great tips from the past





"When setting up your holiday planner/control journal, see the Flylady website or Organized Christmas for great tips. At least include a master gift list, envelope for receipts, pen/pencil, and recipes/grocery lists. Consider using a plain binder or notebook, nothing too cutsie or Christmasy less you spark the interest of little curious eyes! Also, you may want to leave the first few pages blank in case the wrong little (or big) person opens your planner, the first page will not have all of your Christmas secrets right up front!"
" When tagging gifts wrapped for your children, give each child a secret name or number so that the card reads To: #3, or secret name From Mom and Dad or Santa, whoever! This adds to the fun of guessing whose gifts are whose and takes away any tendency to see who has the most gifts under the tree. The same code names or numbers can also be used on shopping lists in case the list gets into the wrong hands!!
"If you have a desire to simplify decorating for the holidays, limit your decorating efforts to five areas only: Christmas tree, front door, one mantle, one banister, and EITHER your dining room table or your kitchen table. Your house will feel festive and uncluttered through out and you will not be WORN out! Of course, if decorating is your thing and brings you joy, not stress, then decorate away!!!"
" Order Chrsitas PJ's for your family now, when selection is good!"
"I print a copy of my Christmas Card list from my computer with addresses and keep in in my planner. I am always surprised how often I need to refer to it for an address to mail a package, when I have a few minutes sitting in a pick up line and I can address a few cards, or to mail an invitation. I now keep this list in my planner year round".
"Instead of saving entire catalogs, I buzz thru them daily and only keep the page I like with the gift idea I like circled. I put the name of who it would be appropriate for on it and I check to make sure there is a phone # or website address at the bottom of the page. Then I store it in my Christmas notebook." Tracy
"My extended family always struggles with what to get my boys for Christmas. They don't want to get something they already have and are often just not sure what to get. I have started making a short list for each of them and emailing it by the end of October. I keep a list of this on my computer so that nothing is duplicated." Angi
"Last year I made notes about how I decorated my house (and took pictures) kept my favorite and/or easy Christmas recipes and my favorite Christmas card styles so that I would have them for a quick reference when I started this year. My notes were very helpful and reminded me of some things I forgot about last year." Jennifer
"Put out a holiday puzzle...I bought one on sale for half price after Christmas last year and can't wait for our family to sit by the fire and the tree and work it together. Isn't that why we are doing all of this?" Tracy
"Wrap one side of your extended family with one side of your christmas paper and the other side for the other when using a 2 sided paper like Sally Foster. You could also accomplish this by using two different papers or different color ribbon with the same paper. It really helps when packing up to visit one side of the family to make sure you have not forgotten anyone's gift!." Jennifer
"Using cute ribbon, tie Christmas Cards on a Christmas tree each day they arrive. You can then pray for the families on the tree...and after taking them down...continue to pray for a few of them each day all year long by scrolling through them each morning during your quiet time. " Tracy
"As a former teacher, I always loved getting ornaments from my students. Each year when I hang them, I always think of that child. Make sure to write your child's name in permanent ink somewhere on the ornament." Angi
"Limiting number of gifts children receive is the most common bit of advice passed along. Saves money, space, and unfailingly encourages appreciation for fewer well selected items."
"Best tip from last year: Letting each of my four kids pick just one thing that is Christmas to them and then I am focused on only four special things instead of running around all Christmas trying to do all things." Tracy