The holiday season is here! Let the festivities begin. This year we'll do it all without any stress, last minute melt downs or panic attacks come crunch-time.

*When its 3 hours to go, the turkey hasn't defrosted sufficiently and the curls we put in our hair this morning have flattened due to the heat and humidity of the kitchen we didn't anticipate.

Here is a 4 week plan to get you ready for the holiday season with minimum fuss:

4 weeks to go

·        Money Planning Budget - Write down how much money you'll have coming in, going out to expenses and how much you expect to put on your credit card. Be realistic. Then also write down what your expenses will be in January and the dates upon which you'll need to pay bills. This is a very important part of holiday planning that we try to ignore. If these financial events are on your calendar you will take much more care of how much you spend. Yes we all like to give beautiful, fun gifts, but if they come at the expense of January's Home Associations Fee - is it really worth the risk?

·        Gifts -

o   Write down a list of all the people you will be getting gifts for.
eg. Your daughters girl scout troop = 5 goodie bags from dollar store (est. $30.00)
Trash Collectors and Door Man = Cologne and chocolate? Gift Cards? $50.00

o   Check out the USPS holiday shipping schedule for National and Military Mail deadlines. Leaving

o   Update your contacts list for gifts and cards. If you are doing e-cards this year make a special holiday contact group list.

·        Gift Wrapping Equipment and Christmas Cards -
Stock up on all the things you'll need to get the gifts under the tree in a presentable state without too much time wasted. The basics: Wrapping paper, adhesive tape, cards, bags, and tissue-wrapping-paper.
e.g. Check out any bulk gift bag sales
e.g. Book Christmas Family Photo Session for Christmas cards

3 Weeks to go

·        Start shopping and get to wrapping.

·        Get the cards in the mail: Write those special wishes, sign and seal envelopes. I have a list of pre-written messages that I've collected over the years to put into my cards, just in case inspiration is low.

·        Pick up free post-office shipping boxes and pack up gifts that will be sent by mail,  

·        Unpack the tree, haul out the decorations

·        Decorate the tree

2 Weeks to go

·        Plan the holiday festive menu

·        Bake cookies

·        Clean your home - start with the spaces your guests will occupy first - Coat closet, Hallway, Living Room, Guest Bathroom and Backyard Porch.

·        Host an event

·        Wrap the gifts for those in your own home and relatives who will be coming over during the holidays

1 Week to go

·        Deliver gifts or baked treats

·        Spend time giving to Charity, e.g help your local charity by delivering care packages or at a local old age home

·        Clean the rest of your home

·        Start baking in earnest

Christmas Week

·        Celebrate the festive season

·        Attend Services

·        Exchange Gifts with friends and family

New Years Week

·        Transfer contacts and important dates from old diary into new

·        Start Packing up the decorations

·        Begin thinking of the goals you will be setting for the New Year