Eight things you can do now for Christmas
Getting Organized for Christmas
Last week I wrote a post about having a Christmas Wrapping Station, so I will not include those items in this post.
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I am Not telling you that you should do all the items in this post. I don’t know your circumstances, your plans, how big your holiday events are. These are some of the items I will get done now instead of later. These are things I have found make my December much more enjoyable.
Baking Pans
Did you forget about them in the back of your cupboard? Bring them out, take a look at your baking pans, scrub them clean or replace any that are worn out. (You have to love them even if they used your favorite bun pan to burn pork chops in).
If you’re lucky ask one of the men around you to help you with the hard scouring. My guys are actually pretty good about it. I use oven cleaner if necessary.
I do all my baking over a weekend marathon. I play carols, drink pots of coffee and dance. I make a huge mess and am a happy woman in her element. I don’t want to stop baking in order to scrub, or worse yet leave to go shop. Getting these “tasks” out of way before I start baking makes that happen.
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Kitchen Supplies
When you’re doing your regular grocery shopping add parchment paper, food storage containers, extra dish soap, pot scrubbers (isn’t this list glamourous), large plastic sealing bags, cupcake liners and tea towels to the list.
I own a few 11 by 14″ food containers to store baking. I bake much more during the holidays, so I don’t need them all year. When the holiday season is over I wash these containers up and use them to store my breakable Christmas ornaments. It keeps the ornaments safe AND I know I have those containers put away with their lids are intact. As a bonus, they aren’t filling my pantry with extra plastic either.
Baking Ingredients
If you haven’t decided what your baking yet, grab some butter, lard, flour, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. You can bet you’re going to need it. I would also grab raisins and chocolate chips. These items cost so much and it helps to have them on the shelf before those last paydays hit.
Gifts for Mailing
Get these packages ready. If you’re concerned the receiver will open them too early you don’t have to mail them right away. Otherwise, send them out.
Items you Order or Appointments
Book any hair appointments, dog grooming appointments. Thankfully this is free.
If you have any special order menu items do it now. I order extra lean ground pork for tourtiere. A girlfriend orders a precooked turkey. Whatever it is go ahead and order it.
Alcohol or other Special Beverages
We don’t drink very much over the holidays. We make a special liqueur we make ourselves for December, but if you need these supplies. Buy it now and HIDE IT.
Odds and Sods and Other Little Parts
Remember the ornament hangers. I remember as a little girl my mom sending me around the house looking for hairpins to bend and use for the tree ornaments. With this mop of hair I need my hairpins, so I make sure I have ornament hangers.
You may also need command hooks for decorations, those little suction cup hangers, a wreath hanger, and picture hooks.
Toys
If you have little ones, get their toys. I buy the girls gifts super early then let their Mom know what I chose. That way I can shop without worrying about duplicate gifts.
I was a single Mom for decades. I always felt if I had the children’s toys purchased the rest could be worked out. If nothing else a batch of peanut brittle, or homemade bread can be an adult’s Christmas gift.
Yawn is it just me or does this post seem like a long ugly to do list. Well except for the toy shopping part. I love toy shopping.
At this point, I think you should add getting a pedicure. With my budget, I will settle for a coffee to go and putting the Christmas Carols on obnoxiously early while I drive around.
I jazzed this post up with some clip art to make it a bit more appealing. I hope you noticed. I am doing these tasks over the upcoming week.
My baking day will be coming up soon!
What a great list, you inspire me. I love the idea of storing your breakable Christmas ornaments in the food storage boxes, they will be empty by the time you need them, they protect your ornaments and they are not taking up room in your cupboards! Brilliant.
Now that the kids are older our Christmas is much simpler, and the budget is tighter. I may do a bit of baking, but mostly just for us, scones and cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. And some extra fig jam to give as gifts. But, I think I will be doing some extra sewing and custom Pillows for loved ones. In fact, I better get busy on that soon! Thanks for the push.
Hi Nikki; I love your fig jam post. I still bake, but not like I use to. Home made gifts are wonderful. Especially if people appreciate the love in them.
Thank you for the lovely comment. Keep in touch lady. Hugs Leanna
Great tips for an organized Christmas. It is sneaking up on us so fast. Thanks for sharing your helpful tips at DI&DI.
Hi Linda: I enjoy doing link up parties. This time of year is we are all so busy, thank you for taking the time to welcome me and commenting. Leanna
Wonderful tips!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! I appreciate it!!
Hugs,
Deb
Hi Debbie: You are welcome. I will stop by next week. Leanna
Great tips Leanna, seriously the one about the using the big food containers for all the baking over the festive season and then using them to store your Christmas decorations afterwards is just so brilliant. I had one of those “Now why didn’t I think of that” moments when I read it.
Hi Michelle: I don’t begin to do the amount of baking that I use to do. Now I make single batches instead of two double batches of everything. I have so many containers. Once a year I wish for two fridges and two freezers, then I wouldn’t have to be so thoughtful about it.
Thanks for letting me know that I actually put something new online lol. Cheers Leanna
Hi Leanna, yes your post is appealing with those clips. Great tips you have given to organise things in advance. I like the idea of buying baking ingredients in advance, it can always help. Good post dear, continue writing like this as it is going to help your readers a lot.
Hi Sadhna: I dislike leaving things to the last minute, or getting interrupted in the middle of something because I need this or that. You cook so very much, how do you keep it all organized? That would be a really good blog post I think.
Thank you for the kind comment. Leanna
Leanna, your plastic container tip for storing ornaments year round then using them to store baking during the holidays is genius!!!! Hiding the holiday booze isn’t my concern but hiding the dang baking is. I can hearing them calling my name from the freezer 😉
Hi Marie: Last year I made these cranberry filled cupcakes with gingerbread icing. I swear they called me. The rest of the baking and appetizers I was able to ignore there whispering, but those cranberries were persistent lol.
Thanks for commenting, Whats your favorite Christmas treat?
Really great tips Leanna! I always seem to find myself needing cupcake liners…and then realizing I don’t have them. Need to add to my list! But my favorite tip was definitely storing ornaments in larger tupperware containers! I never use big ones and hate storing once a year type items, but I love how you have made your do “double duty”!
Hi Shandy – You have a beautiful name btw. I loathe plastic containers, they are a necessary evil especially during the holidays, but yowsa they take up so much room in the cupboard. I need every inch of my cupboard space.
Thank you for commenting, I hope the tips makes your holiday a little big quieter. Leanna
Hide the booze? You must know me! 😉 This list actually sounds like a great way to stay ahead of the holidays and not end up stressed out! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Jessica: I try to have the holidays run as smoothly as possible. I really was super organized, then I added blogging to it lol. I am especially glad I started early this year. Thanks for commenting. Leanna
Hi Mary: It is a happy time of year. The last two days I have been sewing table runners and cushions, today I am busy doing some applique cushions to match.
Playing with pretty material and glitter. No dancing until I start baking next week when Herman is home.
Thank you for commenting busy lady.
Leanna you are a hoot! The hairpins had me laughing. And hiding the liquor, who has time to drink when we are so busy running around with so much to do. I fully get how you need to be organized in order to be able to enjoy your holiday. After al,l we don’t want to be in the kitchen at the last minute. Keep on dancing Leanna and enjoy your preparations. You put a smile on my face today.
Great ideas, Leanna!
Hi Carrie: I have to do thing in an organized way and get lots of the tasks off of my mind. I really enjoy the hub bub of Christmas but if I leave it too late I feel overwhelmed and tired.
Let me know if you do any of these tips yourself already? Leanna
These are great tips!
Hi Pam: Thanks, this is the last of my helpful organizing hints for Christmas. I am afraid the rest of them includes way too much housework. There is no way I can make that an interesting fun Christmas post. So that’s all tips I have for you this year. Thanks for writing. Leanna