Christmas come and goes in a flash!
All that prep.
The shopping, the baking, the organizing..the panicking?
How can one little Mama possibly keep her family of four happy, get them to all the open houses, family Christmas gatherings, through the meals and survive the photo shoots in one piece?
It's not easy my friends.
Here are a few tips I have learned along the way:
Start shopping today for next year, it's the only way you are ever going to get it all done without breaking the bank.
When you think you are done buying all of your gifts, your not. But one extra super generic gift for when some peep who is clearly nicer and way more thoughtful then you shows up with a gift for you. You don't have one for her? Awkward.
Same goes for Christmas cards. When you go get the mail and there is some love sent to you from your second cousin twice removed, it would be sweet if you have an extra card on hand ready to go. Throw that baby in the mail IMMEDIATELY. Butt is now covered.
Don't make the damn Christmas cookies so far ahead. You and your wee ones (mostly you) will eat them and then you will be forced into re-creating all those mouth watering yummies.
Plan out those Christmas Eve and Christmas Day outfits for yourself and the kiddies a good week in advance. I guarantee you will be short at least one pair of tights and possibly a red sweater. While you are at it, have at least one back up plan for all your lovelies. Food disasters, hormones or the fact that you ate 4 dozen cookies and no longer fit in your "go to" pants may force you into a back up plan.
Do you have enough AAA and AA batteries? NO. You do not. There are never enough. Go get some more.
Sweetie, no matter how hard you try you are going to be tired. It's OK. You can sleep in January.
Be prepared with Tylonel, Wine and expectations at a realistic level and you are ready for the season of Peace, Joy and Christmas in the Suburbs.
So now...are you ready for New Years??
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41 comments:
Your tips are right on the mark.
This is pretty good. I don't think I've been eating quite enough cookies this season though...
oh boy you got it covered. Have a great weekend.
Two pieces of your advice I'll always remember, keep an extra prsent handy, and DONT'T make the damn cookies too far in advance because I'll eat them.
Have the best New Year!
Secretia
I have to agree! I am exhausted from yesterday and all the build-up and hype and rushing around! So tired! I am ready for 2010!
Very good advice all around.
Great advice. I have my own list of "Christmas Notes" that I refer to in early December to remind myself of all those details that I seem to forget from year to year. Great minds think alike.
cant i just take a little nap...smiles.
Hahahha! And as proof that your list needs heed...
- Audrey didn't have Christmas shoes, so she wore her pink rainboots with her dress...
- Had to rush out on Christmas Eve for Salt...have YOU used your credit card for an 89 cent box of salt?
- Several people will be getting generic Christmas cards by Valentine's Day
- I FORGOT TO PUT THE HAM IN ON CHRISTMAS DAY! At least the turkey was amazing!
- Not only do we need batteries, we need a light bulb for the Easy Bake Oven...grrrr
- And sheesh, since I KNEW I was getting my ring, why didn't we get it sized BEFORE Christmas?
Other than that, it was fantastic!
Hey, aren't you celebrating Boxing Day? It's like, Christmas Day with all the same food but, easier, right?
isnt it insane what we do to prepare... but then.. its gone and over in a day...!!!
hope you are having a wonderful holiday wkend!!!!!
Throw in have Benedryl for a son who seems suddenly allergic to everything.
Is it wrong to be relieved that xmas is done? LOL!
Now to start the dieting and sleeping... oh, wait - you're right, still New Year's to get through.
Yey!
Another tip is to give the adults gift cards!!!! It cuts down on the shopping and wrapping and they prefer picking out their own stuff, anyway!
I couldn't have said this better myself...especially about the Christmas cookies. Why on EARTH do we cook them 2 weeks before Christmas...like they are actually going to sit there that long? Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
I so wish I started shopping now, but it never happens. I am sadly a week before Christmas gal. It all works out in the end though.
As a very unrested and rookie mother of 2 under the age of 3, I think I accept the given fate of one who will fly yet again by the seat of my sagging and threadbare yoga pants. I hope you will re-post this again in a few years when I am ready to effectively plan to do anything. Fooling not even myself I have claimed my intent to have Christmas cards completed by summer. Ha
yes, if i could get all my shopping done early, it would make it so much easier.
but i never do. i'm a last minute shopper,
I'm totally going to take your advice and start shopping today!!
I'm exhausted.
Thanks for dropping by my blog. Will talk more later.
Now... need more wine....
I'm with wackymummy - needing more wine and a good feet up - I reckon I washed every pot in the house at least 3 times over in the past 2 days!
All very sound advice. :)
And, I do not know what I would do without alcohol and meds through the holidays... {giggle}
Hope it was happy in your 'burbs!
I had a great time shopping today.
Bought gifts for next Christmas and ribbons, bags, paper, etc.
these are such great tips! i completely agree, shop now for next xmas! can't beat the sales that are going on lately plus the xmas decor clearance, too!:) hope u get some rest soon:)
TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com
Following from MBC, hope to see you at http://luvsjurn3.blogspot.com soon!
Christmas was great but I'm glad its over! I am going to start buying Christmas presents here and there starting now!
How did you get so smart and where were you last week when I needed this? I am printing this puppy out for next year. This dog can hunt.
Following you from MBC! Thanks for following me!
http://www.stockpilingmom.com
Melissa
Good morning! I'm here getting caught up on my post holiday blog reading. Is there coffee?
I survived Christmas, with wine.
I'm prepared for New Years, with wine.
I see a pattern. With wine.
Good call on not making the cookies too early! If it's not bad enough doing it once!
all true...i will think about that next year, probably in Dec LOL!
true, true, true! Especially on the cookies and that one stinkin person who brings a gift and you don't have one in return! lol. That's why I keep a stock of nice yet cheap mugs filled with candy canes all ready to go. lol.
great tips!
Amen to the batteries. I swear they are having a party with all my bobby pins, I never know where those things get to.
I did get some Christmas cookies after all, now my pants don't fit either! Oh well, there's always January for the celery.
Oh so true!
***Ally
Check check check check and check. Are you jealous I had it ALL done by Christmas Eve morning? OH WAIT! I forgot I still had to make potatoes and green bean casserole!
Additional tip - have enough wine, champagne, beer, (vodka?) on hand to make certain family members more bearable...
It's hard to believe that Christmas is already over!
I love all your advice...I also keep an extra gift wrapped and handy...I actually used it this year.
My problem is the shopping...even when I start early, I continue to buy my daughters just one more thing...so I am still shopping right up till the last minute!
Have a great Monday ~Natalie
Love it! I'm whiped out and I'm sick. Nice.
Happy Holidays!
Great post! I am lacking batteries right now!!!!!!
So ready!!! You have no idea!
Thanks for the smiles!
Yours in Health,
Robin
Ha...wish I'd seen this earlier...like last January:-) Great tips. Hope your Christmas was wonderful
Great tips.... Christmas wiped me out this year!!
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