Organized for the Holidays! And my most embarassing moment...

This week will be all about getting organized for the Holidays. I am no expert but I will share some ideas that have worked for me over the years. If you would like to add some thoughts I am all for it!
I don't know about you...but I would rather be organized for Christmas and the holidays then not be. My hubby and I do a lot of cooking for large groups of people...family, church Christmas meal, office party, and so forth. We do a great deal of Christmas 'food' shopping, but have to keep straight what goes where, who the roast is for, etc. He is the resident cook, people love to come to church if he is cooking...me I dice, chop, saute, bake, and also make fake http://ribbonwoodcottage.blogspot.com/2008/11/first-of-all-who-doesnt-like-to-bake-i.html as you can see, baked goods! (Big smile)

When My hubby and I were in college right before Christmas we broke up, I was heartbroken knowing I was going home for the Holidays without him....oh the crying and slobbering that went on that year. Right before I left town from college to head home he came up to me in the cafeteria, I had to act like I was fine (I was shaking inside) and I chit chatted about how busy I would be over the holidays...well we finished up the conversation and he said to me "Oh by the way...you have a big piece of brocolli stuck in your front teeth!" He proceeds to show me exactly where!!!! I wanted to die and knock him in the head with my 20 lb. science book all at the same time. Everytime we buy groceries now, especially at the holidays he asks me if I want to get "brocolli?" and smiles...believe me he now gets thumped in the head with brocolli when he brings it up! But God certainly brought us together and I don't take that lightly...even though I tease about him alot!


Anyhoo....have you seen this Christmas Countdown? You are in for such a treat! I love this, someone else has done all the work, all you have to do is print these (sent from heaven almost) organization forms for Christmas! It helps to have all your shopping lists in one place. To actually know what you are supposed to buy at the store when you get there!
I found these different Christmas planners forms to make things go a little smoother, there are printable pages that are free!


So copy them!
http://christmasplanner.com/make-christmas-planner
What a wonderful site this is to explore.


http://christmasplanner.com/print-christmas-planner
http://christmasplanner.com/checklists-christmas-planner

There are even more free printables at this site than I copied here so be sure to look at everything this gal has to offer...

I am buying a small notebook that I can slip a pretty front page in the front plastic slot. Then I will add all the printed papers in their sections.

These are other planners I looked at that are just darn cute!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.diyplanner.com/files/Holiday-Planning-Set.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.diyplanner.com/node/1379&h=400&w=400&sz=34&hl=en&start=12&usg=__gayeYmwZfQILqIsGEPCd-wTMvBU=&tbnid=4iu4zQpSn4fOMM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchristmas%2Bplanner%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG


This cute one I saw on flickr...it is made out of a manilla folder!


http://murdocks.typepad.com/polishedtoperfection/nestabilities/

Instructions for making a Christmas planner are in this tutorial...it is worth looking at...oh my...it will get your creative flow...flowing!
http://tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/2007/09/manila-folder-album-instructions.html

Get out the paper, glue, scissors...
http://familyfun.go.com/printables/season/feature/1102-holiday-planner/1102-holiday-planner.html




Please check these out. I am sure something will grab your eye!

I hope you enjoy this, I know I did....after all most of us do not have a staff to help us during the holidays! (Big smile) Usually WE are the staff!
What I would have given for something like this 20 years ago instead of just an ugly note pad!
One last important note! During Christmas shopping I put an envelope (large one) in my purse that says "Christmas receipts" and I keep it till after Christmas. Every purchase receipt and gift receipt goes in here, till I have a chance to go through them later. You can see how much you spent on someone, return something, burn it later on...and so forth! What a difference this one little thing has made in my frustration level when looking for receipts. When I get home I put all the receipts in a large ziploc bag, so that everything is in one place!
Tomorrow, I will show a smaller planner I made. Every day I will give you a new idea, organizing and Christmas tip, and give you a variety of planner/notebook to choose from!

Blessings,

Debbie