For the past several years, I've gotten emails from blackfriday@gottadeal.com. They get advance notice of the terrific sales being offered by major retailers on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving). If I'm on the hunt for electronics, technical stuff, video games (are they still called that?!), or appliances I always wait to see what's going to be on sale that day.
It's also a good source for toys. Really it's a good source for anything you're in the market for. They even post the ads for Sam's Club, Costco, and other warehouse stores across the country.
So... get going! Make a list: write down the names of everyone you need to buy for. Include a couple of suggestions for each person. Sign up for emails at blackfriday@gottadeal.com. Get ready to save some serious cash!
9.26.2011
Taking a Break from Christmas to Prepare for Thanksgiving
Only 59 days until Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays. In the past, I have prepared Thanksgiving for large (at least to me) crowds and I loved every minute of it. Since I worked outside of the home in those days, I had to get organized in order for the day to come off without a hitch. Plus, I wanted to be free to enjoy the food, fun, fellowship, friends, and family!
Now is the time to sit down and plan your Thanksgiving dinner menu. If you're going to have a huge crowd, consider asking some of them to contribute by bringing a favorite dish to the meal. Most people want to participate, so when they offer, be ready to say yes! Once your menu is planned, you can start the grocery shopping. Most stores will begin to have their holiday sale items available in the next few weeks. By having a Thanksgiving grocery list you'll be prepared to take advantage of the sales and purchase your items early.
I usually create my guest list in October. Since I like to mail invitations to the dinner, I fill them out and have them ready to mail by the 1st weekend in November. Have your menu close at hand, so when people respond to the invite, you're ready to ask them to bring a dish or to take note of what they offer to bring.
It's never too early to go ahead and decorate your home for the fall holidays. I decorate for Fall every year on Labor Day weekend. I put it all out. Then when Halloween passes, I pull those pieces out and rearrange the remaining items a little. Gourds, pumpkins, and mini pumpkins are in the grocery stores here in Phoenix. I just bought mine yesterday and will be designing pieces with them today. I save my Indian Corn and have had it for several years now. If it starts to look a little worn, I just purchase a few more ears to fill in. It does not mold or spoil (at least not in this dry climate).
If it's just too early for you to think about Thanksgiving I've put a tab with a later timeline at the top of this blog.
I just can't wait for these holidays! Now if the temps would just drop below 100...
Now is the time to sit down and plan your Thanksgiving dinner menu. If you're going to have a huge crowd, consider asking some of them to contribute by bringing a favorite dish to the meal. Most people want to participate, so when they offer, be ready to say yes! Once your menu is planned, you can start the grocery shopping. Most stores will begin to have their holiday sale items available in the next few weeks. By having a Thanksgiving grocery list you'll be prepared to take advantage of the sales and purchase your items early.
I usually create my guest list in October. Since I like to mail invitations to the dinner, I fill them out and have them ready to mail by the 1st weekend in November. Have your menu close at hand, so when people respond to the invite, you're ready to ask them to bring a dish or to take note of what they offer to bring.
It's never too early to go ahead and decorate your home for the fall holidays. I decorate for Fall every year on Labor Day weekend. I put it all out. Then when Halloween passes, I pull those pieces out and rearrange the remaining items a little. Gourds, pumpkins, and mini pumpkins are in the grocery stores here in Phoenix. I just bought mine yesterday and will be designing pieces with them today. I save my Indian Corn and have had it for several years now. If it starts to look a little worn, I just purchase a few more ears to fill in. It does not mold or spoil (at least not in this dry climate).
If it's just too early for you to think about Thanksgiving I've put a tab with a later timeline at the top of this blog.
I just can't wait for these holidays! Now if the temps would just drop below 100...
9.25.2011
Holiday Prep Update
Only 91 days until Christmas... 13 weeks from today! Time to check our progress as we prepare for a stress-free holiday. For me, today is also the day that I work on my Twelve Days of Christmas present for my folks.
I am more than half finished with my Christmas shopping. All of the gifts I've purchased so far are gift-wrapped, just waiting for ribbons and bows to be attached the day after Thanksgiving. We're going to visit JD and Janel soon, so I'll be applying the finishing touches to their gifts in the days ahead for delivery to them.
I have my Christmas cards laid out and will start addressing and signing them on October 1. I won't seal them as I write my Christmas letter in November. After inserting the letter I'll seal them, stamp them, and have them ready to be mailed on December 1.
I'm starting to purchase the ingredients I'll need for Christmas goodies. I usually start preparing them the weekend after Thanksgiving.
The menu for our family Christmas on 12/17 is created and I have the shopping lists made so I can start shopping for those items in the next few weeks.
Now I'm working on a list of fun activities I want to participate in during the holidays. I'll have time for fun, because my Christmas preparations will be done!
How about you? Are you well on the road to a stress-free, fun-filled holiday?!
I am more than half finished with my Christmas shopping. All of the gifts I've purchased so far are gift-wrapped, just waiting for ribbons and bows to be attached the day after Thanksgiving. We're going to visit JD and Janel soon, so I'll be applying the finishing touches to their gifts in the days ahead for delivery to them.
I have my Christmas cards laid out and will start addressing and signing them on October 1. I won't seal them as I write my Christmas letter in November. After inserting the letter I'll seal them, stamp them, and have them ready to be mailed on December 1.
I'm starting to purchase the ingredients I'll need for Christmas goodies. I usually start preparing them the weekend after Thanksgiving.
The menu for our family Christmas on 12/17 is created and I have the shopping lists made so I can start shopping for those items in the next few weeks.
Now I'm working on a list of fun activities I want to participate in during the holidays. I'll have time for fun, because my Christmas preparations will be done!
How about you? Are you well on the road to a stress-free, fun-filled holiday?!
9.23.2011
Christmas Eve... Eve
Three months from today we'll be on the eve of Christmas Eve. What will that day look like for you? Will you be rushing around trying to finish your shopping? Feverishly wrapping gifts at the last minute? Standing in the kitchen surrounded by ingredients as you bake all of the goodies you procrastinated on? Rushing to the Post Office to mail the cards you meant to mail on December 1st?
It doesn't have to be that way. You can have a stress-free holiday. And you don't have to be a perfectionist or highly organized to achieve it. You just have to put a little thought, followed by action into planning your holiday.
If you host a huge Thanksgiving dinner at your home, you need to concentrate on that first. I'll post about that on Monday.
But for today, we're going to think about Christmas. Take 10 minutes today to think about what you want your holidays to look like this year. Grab an old spiral notebook and write down your vision of Christmas. That's it. Now you're done for today. Place your notebook in a convenient location, you'll need access to it as we plan a stress-free holiday.
Our goal is that three months from today, on Christmas Eve - Eve, we'll be relaxed and caught up in the joy of the season. Not harried, stressed, and just wishing it was all over...
It doesn't have to be that way. You can have a stress-free holiday. And you don't have to be a perfectionist or highly organized to achieve it. You just have to put a little thought, followed by action into planning your holiday.
If you host a huge Thanksgiving dinner at your home, you need to concentrate on that first. I'll post about that on Monday.
But for today, we're going to think about Christmas. Take 10 minutes today to think about what you want your holidays to look like this year. Grab an old spiral notebook and write down your vision of Christmas. That's it. Now you're done for today. Place your notebook in a convenient location, you'll need access to it as we plan a stress-free holiday.
Our goal is that three months from today, on Christmas Eve - Eve, we'll be relaxed and caught up in the joy of the season. Not harried, stressed, and just wishing it was all over...
9.06.2011
I've Been Busy...
According to the banner at the top of my blog there are 110 days until Christmas. Yippee! I am on a roll this year. You know, when things go so smoothly it starts to worry me a little.
I have the house decorated for Fall. We're going to Katie's for Halloween so I don't have to buy goodies to pass out. I think we may be going to her house for Thanksgiving too, so I don't have to start planning that. I can spend all my time on Christmas!
I wrapped gifts on Sunday. I am completely finished with five of the 12 people in my immediate family. I have started on all of the rest of them. I've also finished with one of my four extended family members.
My Christmas Jar is filling up nicely and I'm thinking about where it will end up this year.
I have my cards and card list at the ready. I will start addressing and signing them on October 1st. Can I just say I love to send Christmas cards?! And that means I also enjoy receiving them. Sadly, we receive less each year. If you're like me and you enjoy snail mail cards, send me your address. I'll add you to my list!
Let's see. The only subject I haven't addressed is Christmas stockings. I am working on them. I've pretty much given up hope that I'll get them all done. Now I'm trying to decide which ones are top priority to finish. I'm going with the grandkids. My kids will just have to understand!
The weather forecast for this weekend (as of now) is for the chance of rain (I'll believe it when I see it) and highs in the low 100s. Almost sweater weather! I'll be watching Christmas movies, cross-stitching stockings, and dreaming of a stress-free Christmas!
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