22 Days until Thanksgiving!
50 Days until Christmas!
Time to get your planning on. That’s what I’m doing this week, as you know, I love to plan!*** Quick aside…planning takes away 50% of my stress during the holidays.***
Okay, I made up the 50% part, but I really do feel so much more relaxed and in the moment when I know what’s happening. Truly, planning is stress relief for me.
Here’s a few of the things I’m putting on my calendar…
*Brain storm with Baby Sister about menu for Thanksgiving and send out Evites. Do you use Evite? It’s free and a fun way to give everyone the details of your event. You can put in all the basics (When, Where, What time) and add what each person is to bring. HERE is the website!
* Plan,Black Friday Shopping. (not much to plan here, simply which mall and where we’ll be getting our burgers at 9:30 in the morning…if this needs explanation, check out THIS post!)
*Plan decorating days with the girls…my daughters and I do our decorating together. At my house I put on a big pot of cider and have something yumalicious to nibble and they ascend on the house and help me knock out some of the big stuff. Then we take turns at each house. This year I’m going over the river and through the woods to help my Baby Sister with her Christmas Nesting too, so I’ve got to nail down dates.
*Plan decorating days for just me! I decorate a lot for Christmas. I start super early so I can sit back and sip hot chocolate and enjoy the season. I like to go reeeealll slow, a little here and a little there. I won’t tell you when I’m starting my decorating, you’ll be tempted to make fun of me…
(This is Crossroads Village at Stone Mountain Park…does this make you Christmas tingly at all???)
*Schedule “Events”!
The Husband and I do several little things during the holidays, and I get them on the calendar ASAP!
We go stay overnight at Stone Mountain Park when they light up for Christmas. It’s a great way to get into the Christmas mood before all the hustle and bustle starts! Also, we sometimes go to see The Nutcracker at the Fox in Atlanta, but this year The Husband surprised me with tickets to A Christmas Carol! Another festive Atlanta tradition. It’s been on the docket for weeks!
*Plan the 2nd Annual “Let’s Do Dessert” Party! Last year my daughter’s and I got together and made a million calories of desserts in one day! We planned the dessert menu and divided the ingredient list and baked up a spun sugar storm! After, hours of baking we packaged our goodies and each took a load home. The next day, the husbands got to take all the yumminess to their offices and share the love. (Except Emma, who isn’t married…can’t remember what she did with her bakery stash!) I blogged about the big sugar event HERE!
*Plan the Big Family Christmas Party~ Get Evite ready .~
*Plan Christmas Eve game night~
*Menu for Christmas Breakfast~
Well, that’s my process! I’d love to know yours, and wonder if you have some fun traditions to share? I’m always looking for something new to do!!! Love to you Peeps and prayers as we live our legacy…one day at a time.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this reminder! Feels like November just snuck in on me! I always enjoy your encouraging and inspiring posts, Robin!
stargardener´s last blog ..Art Every Day Month!
My SIL and I share cooking for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. We do the traditional turkey/ham for Thanksgiving; but we either grill steaks or cook a standing rib roast plus shrimp and all the goodies for Christmas. I usually bake sweets on several different days. I set one day when aside to bake with a friend and one day for a cookie exchange party. I’ve already been working on my list and calendar. Thanks for sharing your tips. Blessings, SusanD
SusanD´s last blog ..Random Dozen – 11/4/09
Robin, I love you! I’m giggling my way through as each thing you mention brings me back to experiencing all of this through your blog for the first time, last year. I loved witnessing it all unfold. And now that I know what to expect? I may have just a wee bit of holiday stirring in my soul, knowing exactly where you will take me! Now if only I could figure out how to mail snow to you
Vicky´s last blog ..
We too do ‘game night’ on Christmas Eve! I cook up a dinner (nothing too fancy…usually Chicken Pot pie and a dessert), then we sit around the table playing games together (since my kids are older). We open gifts to each other that night and then maybe watch a movie. I love it!
I need to get busy planning! I’ve already told the office girls we will do a night at my house after work for treats the week after Thanksgiving (since I’m hosting the family for the weekend the house will be ‘company clean’ already! LOL).
Sherri S´s last blog ..Got Gifts? Idea #2
My plan for this Christmas is to live vicariously through you, so please share EVERY LITTLE DETAIL!!!
Maybe I’ll buy some hot chocolate to sip while I look at the delights you cook up …
gitz´s last blog ..Your Riley Questions…
You inspire! Thanks for letting us sneak a peek at your delicious life.
Celesta´s last blog ..I went into the woods….
I must admit I’m a wing it kind of gal for most things. I did hold a all day back session with my daughter a few weeks ago and have my sugar cookie dough frozen and ready to roll and cut. First I better take down the Halloween decor I suppose. I anxiously await the holidays each year and want to savor each moment I can. While decorating is intimidating ( I go a bit nuts), I love to fondly remember each piece as it appears from the dreaded boxes.
Lisa´s last blog ..Let’s Talk Turkey!
Oh Robin, I can’t wait to start decorating for Christmas! I have to WAIT til after Thanksgiving cause we are having “the new inlaws” too this year!!!!!:) I will be antsy to start on Fri. after Thanksgiving. I do ALOT too! I can’t wait to see all you do! Stone Mountain looks fabulous, wish we could go there! Where in Ga. is it? I might have to plan a little trip!:) XO, Pinky PS, as a floral designer I also decorate OTHER peoples homes for Christmas too!