It’s that time of year again. The wind is turning chilly, leaves are falling off, and before you know it – the trees will be decorated, the lights will be up, and holiday music will be playing.
Christmas is just around the corner, and if you’re like most mothers, you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and stress. After all, along with all the fun of the holidays comes the pressure of making everything perfect.
But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here are a few tips to help you make this Christmas the best one yet.
Two Months Before Christmas
Set a Budget
Christmas is a time for giving, which means spending money on presents for your loved ones. But it doesn’t have to break the bank. With a bit of planning and budgeting, you can ensure you have plenty of cash to celebrate the holidays without going into debt.
Prepare a Gift Checklist
Start by making a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for. This includes family, friends, co-workers, etc.
Next, start brainstorming gift ideas for each person on your list. Consider their interests, hobbies, and personality type when coming up with ideas.
Once you have a few ideas for each person, start narrowing down your choices and deciding on what to get them.
Plan the Family Photoshoot
It’s never too early to start planning your family’s Christmas photoshoot. In fact, the earlier you start planning, the better. This way, you’ll have plenty of time to find the perfect photographer and figure out what kind of photos you want.
Make the Christmas Card List
Two months before Christmas is the perfect time to start making your Christmas card list. This will give you plenty of time to gather addresses, purchase cards and stamps, and get everything ready to go in the mail.
A Month Before Christmas
Start Purchasing Gifts a Month Before Christmas
Instead of scrambling to find the perfect present at the eleventh hour, why not start shopping a month in advance?
There are a few benefits to starting your holiday shopping early. For one, you’ll be able to take your time and find the perfect gift for each person on your list. Secondly, you can watch out for huge sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday and save a lot of money.
Make a Christmas Party Guest List
You don’t want to be scrambling to create a guest list right before your Christmas party. Start making your list a month in advance, so you have plenty of time to get everyone’s contact information and send out invitations. This will also give you time to come up with an accurate headcount, which is essential for catering purposes.
Prepare the Menu
Whether you’re hosting a big party or just having a few friends over, it’s always helpful to have a plan.
One way to take the stress out of holiday entertaining is to prepare your menu a month in advance. This will give you plenty of time to shop for ingredients and test recipes. It will also ensure you have everything you need on hand when the big day arrives.
Two Weeks Before Christmas
Purchase Christmas Gifts and Dinner Supplies
If you want to avoid the holiday rush and ensure you have everything you need for Christmas, it’s best to start your shopping a month in advance. This way, you can take your time to find the perfect gift-wrapping and presentation supplies and stock up on all the dinner supplies you’ll need without worrying about last-minute crowds and craziness.
Send Christmas Party Invitations
If you’re planning on throwing a party, start sending out your invitations about a month in advance. This will give your guests ample time to mark the date in their calendars and make any necessary arrangements.
Remember to include all the important details like the party’s date, time, and location. And if you’re planning on having a theme, mention that too. Guests will appreciate the heads-up so they can come prepared.
A Week Before Christmas
Buy Christmas Tree
If you want to avoid the holiday rush and get the best Christmas tree possible, buy it a week before Christmas. You won’t have to worry about the perfect tree being sold out closer to the holiday. Plus, buying early will help you get into the Christmas spirit sooner.
Put Up Decorations
What’s more Christmassy than waking up every day to decorations and lighting? Putting up decorations a week before Christmas may seem like a lot of work, but it’s actually quite simple. Here’s how to do it:
- Choose your decorations. This is the fun part. If you’re tired of the same old traditional decorations, you can do something unique like putting up these Christmas ornaments.
- Get your tools and supplies ready. You’ll need things like ladders, tape, and scissors.
- Start hanging up your lights. Begin with the outside of your house and work your way in.
- Put up your tree and other inside decorations. Place your tree in a spot that’s visible from the street, and be sure to secure it well. Then, add your other inside decorations.
- Step back and enjoy your handiwork. You did it. Now you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your beautiful holiday decorations.
Clean the House
One of the most important things you can do is to give your house a good cleaning. Not only will this make your home look its best, but it will also help you avoid any last-minute stress.
Plan Christmas Theme Activities for Kids and Adults
If you’re looking for something fun in the lead-up to Christmas, why not try some festive-themed activities? You can plan various activities for kids and adults, so there is something fun to do except for dinner and presents.
Go Final Grocery Shopping for the Party
The week before Christmas is the time to do your final grocery shopping. This will ensure that you have everything you need for the big day and that it’s all fresh.
Christmas Eve
Now that you’ve sorted your Christmas list, it’s time to start prepping for the big day. If you’re cooking a big meal, start prepping the food a few days in advance.
Make sure you have a great Christmas playlist ready to go. Christmas music is the perfect way to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Light candles and play music to cozy up your home. It’s time to get in the spirit. Don’t forget to wrap your gifts.
Finally, make sure your cameras and phones are charged on Christmas Eve. That way, you can take lots of pictures and videos of your family and friends on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day
It’s finally Christmas day. You’ve been waiting all year for this, and it’s finally here. Everything is ready – the tree is decorated, the lights are up, and the fireplace is lit. Now it’s time to enjoy the day.
Start by opening presents with your family or friends. Then, it’s time to get the Christmas feast underway. Cook up a storm in the kitchen, or warm up some pre-made holiday dishes. Serve a tasty spread of food and drink, and enjoy quality time with your loved ones.
Finally, it’s time to relax by the fire, play games, and reflect on another wonderful year gone by.
