Many of us are starting now to plan our holiday get-togethers – Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Years, and more are all coming up soon.
Looking to keep your celebrations and all the related items in order without feeling overwhelmed? Check out these helpful tips!
Plan Ahead. Determine the type of parties you wish to host, plan the menu, estimate the number of guests, make shopping lists, and consider the decorations you want. You can keep it simple with a one-page list, or explore numerous organizers available if you prefer to specify every detail.
One of my new favorite organizers is the online AnyList. You can upload recipes (or copy directly from a website), plan meals, make a gift list, or create a budget. And it’s free!
Gather your special equipment. Start now and take everything out of their storage places, clean and get them ready for use.
That oversized turkey pan, multiple cookie sheets, special tablecloths, holiday plates and glasses, serving pieces and linens you only use for special occasions.
Start by utilizing your dining room table as holiday central, so you easily see what’s there. (And feel free to donate any duplicates or items you no longer need or like – just make a pile, put them into a box or bag, and bring to your car, or shopping cart- then donate as soon as possible!).
Holiday-Centric Items. For Chanukah you need a menorah and candles- many people like to use festive plates for latkes and sufganiyot. For Kwanzaa, the kinara requires red, green, and black candles along with fresh fruits and the kikombe cha umoja, a wooden cup.
Beyond décor, Christmas may involve a tree holder and skirt, advent calendar, stocking holders for hanging socks, and pretty bowls to display holiday candy.
Decorations. And here’s where you can go wild, or minimalist!
If you stored everything from last year in labeled boxes and containers, it should be easy to find what you need. If not – check out these suggestions for holiday storage to streamline your life next year.
Thanksgiving. Keep your holiday wreaths intact with a see-through zipped bag, so you can see which season décor is inside. Décor like figurines and wall hangings need to be kept safely in a padded bin with dividers.
Christmas. There are artificial tree bags that hold up to a 9-foot tree, keeping all the branches intact. Keep your collection of ornaments safely stored in a hard-sided container with sectioned trays and oversize spaces for figurines.
Protect the holiday lights from breakage and tangling with an organizer with reels to wrap the lights around.
Utilize a clear bin that’s moisture- and bug-proof for larger decorations like tinsel, garlands, giant bows, Nutcrackers, etc.
New Year’s. Getting a clear plastic container with a label should hold your New Year’s glasses, hats, banners, and poppers.
Gift Wrap. Wrapping paper, gift bags and tissue paper can easily invade your home, with little pieces of ribbons and gift tags scattered all around. Opt for a gift wrap organizer that you can put under your bed or hang in a closet, and keep essentials like tape, scissors, cards, ribbons, anything related to wrapping presents close at hand.
Give yourself the gift of a less stressful holiday season by preparing in advance.
Go ahead and assemble and purchase everything you need for your celebrations now - don't forget to plan how to store everything later
WISHING YOU AND YOURS A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY!!
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