Preparation!

I have been busy busy and figure you have too! So, I think I need to approach holidays this year with a little help under my belt. For the first time ever, I am going to organize my holidays! Lists and menus and all the things people say you should do to keep from getting crazy.
Here are the 10 things I am making a priority:

1. Gift lists. For family. For hosts. For neighbors. For teachers. For friends & their kids. It's a lot of gifts - better to start planning way in advance so you don't forget anyone.

2. Clean out toys and clothes to make way for new ones.

3. Get out old November and December editions of Martha Stewart, Bon Apetetit, Disney Fun Magazines to get ready for menus and craft projects, get decorating ideas for my house and things for my kids to do. By the way, I have a special magazine file just for holiday editions so they're easy to find. That's a great time saver too!
4. Make menus for the next 2 months. Not just for the holiday dinners, but for every night of the week. Seems crazy, and this isn't something I usually do. But, hopefully it will make things easier to know what I'm making instead of toil over dinner every night. Also, it's supposed to be cheaper to plan in advance, and healthier to have an overview of monthly meals.

5 Get rid of old projects laying around. For me that means thank you cards from Margot's birthday party 2-3 weeks ago, and store returns I've needed to put in the mail for 2 months. Also need to make it around to a few local stores for some returns.

6. Book babysitters early!

7. Collect coupons. In one place. And don't forget to use them.

8. Make a gift list for yourself. Scan Pinterest for ideas, if you don't know what you want. You'll find 200 things you never knew you needed.

9. Shop craft fairs! It's a great place to meet interesting local talent. Shop ETSY! It's great to get out of the huge stores and support people who works for themselves!

10. Don't forget to have fun. It sounds silly, but we get so busy with everything we have to do and everything we want to do. If you've decided to bake cookies for all the neighbors for the holidays and you still have 20 things to do, just send your husband to the store and buy some! Put them in a cute little bag and the neighbors won't even know the difference. Then, when you're done delivering them, put your feet up and have a drink! It's the holidays, after all.