|
Author: Mary Gardner Article source: http://marygardner.blogspot.com/. Used with author's permission.
If you've been to any store lately you've seen that the holiday decorations have hit the stores. It's the time of year that puts everyone in a good mood until the time that the family arrives on your doorstep. Then of course, the rush is on to get it all done in time. If you're anything like me and my family, there are always last minute trips to the store to get everything that is needed for the dinner and the delivery of presents.
Now is the time to plan out your whole event. You should know now whether you are traveling to a relatives' for the holiday or even just for dinner. It's a good time to start planning your menu's and your presents for the people on your list.
Here are a few things to make your holidays run a bit smoother:
1. Write a list of each person who is to receive a present. If you need to draw names, make it happen via email this week. Then select a budget for each person and draw the cash out and put it in envelopes. Make a vow to stay within the budget you've set.
2. Start by perusing the catalogs. It's an easier way to shop. There are so many catalogs on line now so shopping on line will help you stay away from that crazy holiday rush.
3. Shopping in one place certainly saves time, and places like TJ MAX and Marshalls are old favorites and do carry affordable items for the whole family.
4. Once you've gotten the shopping done, it's time to start the decorating. I usually purchase a few magazines specifically for the holidays and do one art project that will last. It's been fun to see my projects through the years that took a day to make, but have been in our family for years. If you're "crafty" enough, then these items make excellent gifts for your friends and neighbors. Presents like pinecone wreaths or candle covers are easy, fun to make and last for years.
5. Next, comes the cooking! This is the one that seems like it should wait, but in realty it's a great time to start right now! We still have a few weekends before Thanksgiving and those early Saturday mornings are a great time to bake up and decorate holiday cookies and bars. In addition, homemade jellies and jams make excellent holiday gifts to share. My personal favorite is Hot Jezabel. I make it with pineapple and apricot jelly, horseradish, dry mustard and black pepper. It is delicious on top of cream cheese with crackers. Put in a cute jar, with a box of crackers, the recipe in a basket makes an affordable and delicious gift.
6. Get your kids dressed and head to the nearest hotel lobby for a beautiful holiday picture! Sure, you can go to a studio and spend upwards of $100, or you can get dressed and go to a nice hotel where you can take a picture that is classy and will impress your friends! Get them printed at Walmart and you're good to go for your holiday newsletter and card!
7. Last but not least, understand that the holidays are some of the most stressful times of the year. If you have a family and are traveling or entertaining, you need to schedule some time for relaxing without doing anything. Book your manicure ahead of time or a fun cookie exchange evening out with the gals in advance.
Then kick back and enjoy the time this year. If you plan ahead this year, like you SAID you would last year, you'll be able to relax and enjoy the holidays creating memories, instead of stress! Mary Gardner is a Lifestyles Consultant and communications coach and can be reached at http://www.marygardner.com
Mutual Fund Honor Roll – Buy High, Sell Low by Chasing Performance
Do you chase performance? Millions of investors guarantee failure by selecting mutual funds based on annual performance numbers. Studies and market statistics...
Stress Management Tip – Nutrition and Stress
A lot of research today is showing that having a good nutritional diet has a direct impact on a person's ability to manage stress. A body that is well nourishe...
Jamaican Villa Vacations Start with the Right Ingredients
What's it like to vacation and have your own private staff? This article recounts an American couple's experience traveling to Jamaica and staying in a full se...
SEO #6: How TO GET Banned by Google!
The sixth lesson out of 6 that teaches you the most important elements of search engine optimization.
On Death and Dying
In fearing death, we make dying a painful experience for the dying and everyone concern. In welcoming death, the experience is totally different and even joyful...
Job Search Blurts
Making a speaking mistake in the interview...
MySQL Database Handling in PHP
Most interactive websites nowadays require data to be presented dynamically and interactively based on input from the user. For example, a customer may need to ...
Nine Things More Important than Capital
When starting any enterprise or business, whether it is full-time or part-time, we all know the value of having plenty of capital (money). But I bet we both kno...
Give People What They Want And Watch Your Profits Soar!
Do you know why the majority of people use the Internet? The majority of people use the Internet to do some type of research. In other words, to read. Now,...
Fruit for Breakfast – The Secret to a Healthy Life
Do you want more energy? How about more of the vitamins, minerals and enzymes that your body craves? Try eating fruit for breakfast!
Super Verbs Really Move Your Copy
Run or hustle? Eat or devour? Move or scurry? You can boost the power of your copy by boosting the quality of verbs you use. Verbs show action, and the way ...
A PR Surprise for Managers
For those business, non-profit and association managers committed to PR tactics like radio and newspaper plugs, it can come as a surprise to discover where pub...
Easy Dining Room Makeover
A dining room can be such a fantastic place to entertain, but it can easily be underused if you often eat in the kitchen or in front of the telly instead. Here ...
What Makes Advertising Successful?
This article lists things that makes advertising successful.
The Loveliest Las Vegas Wedding Reception
If you are actually planning your Las Vegas wedding reception, you're already a step ahead of a lot of people who get married in Vegas! All kidding aside - thi...
Be Aware Of Your Reasons
You have decided that you want to lose weight and improve your health. What is the first step? Start by asking yourself what your reason(s)is for wanting to mak...
How To Write Your Book Within A Week
Can you write a book within a week? Graham Jones, a successful author of 27 books does just that. Here he show you how you can do the same.
The Difference Between Large and Small Ponds
If you think that a large pond is simply a small pond that "grew
up", you're in for some pond maintenance problems. Let's start
off my defining the terms that w...
131 (Legitimate) Link Building Strategies
131 (Legitimate) Link Building Strategies... "The Definitive Source of Link Building Strategies on the Internet" Co-authored by Robin Nobles, Eric Ward, and Jo...
Recruitment - Do You Know What Youre Looking For?
Before you can ask a question or conduct an interview, you
need to be very clear in your own mind - you need to know
exactly what you're looking for.
Cheated Lovers
Overcoming The Pain Of Being Cheated
Hoodia – Its Basic Nature Part 3
Hoodia a new beginning: Hoodia Gordonii a cactus plant found thousands of miles away in the Cape Town of South Africa, has become incredibly beneficial for peo...
Heard A Good Radio Ad Lately? Neither Have We
Clever radio commercials are hard to come by. That's because so many ad agencies and advertisers treat radio as an afterthought. But there is a way to make your...
The Upside of The Pill and Acne
Most people know that when used correctly, birth control pills are almost 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. But birth control pills offer many other medi...
|
Print this page