How to Create a Holiday Master Plan

There is a lot to do to get ready for the holiday season and very little time. Every year, the holidays seem to come around faster and faster. If you know ahead of time what you need to do and when, you can sail through the holidays and enjoy every minute of them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Notebook and pen
• Your “to-buy” list and pen
• Gift wrap storage box
• Address book
• Printable mailing labels
• Box of holiday cards
• Stamps
• Holiday recipes
• Your “food” list, “to-buy” list and pen
• Airtight food containers
• “Tableware” and “to-buy” lists and pen
• “Decorations” and “to-buy” lists and pen
• Calendar and pen
• Your “master plan” notebook

Preparation

1. Divide your notebook into 6 sections.
2. Label the sections with each of the following categories: gift wrapping, cards, food, tableware, decorations and "to-buy."
3. You will use these lists as you create your master plan.

Gift Wrap

4. Look around your home for gift wrapping materials. These should include wrapping paper, gift bags, tape, scissors, ribbons, bows and gift tags.
5. Write the items you have on your “gift wrapping” list and add the items you need to your “to-buy” list.
6. Gather the materials you currently have and place them in your gift wrap storage box. Discard any damaged items.

Holiday Cards

7. Look around your house for leftover holiday cards. If you don’t have enough for the season, add “box of cards” to your “to-buy” list.
8. Set up a mailing list on your home computer using your address book. Many programs, including Microsoft Word, allow you to set up mailing labels for print.
9. When your list is complete, print the addresses out on your printable mailing labels.
10. Print out enough return address labels for all of the cards you will be sending.
11. Keep the two sets of labels, box of cards and stamps together so you will have everything you need when you start writing your holiday cards.

Food

12. Look through your holiday recipes and decide which ones you want to make this year.
13. Divide your “food” list into sections for each meal and party you need to prepare food for. Write which recipes you want to serve for each meal and party in the appropriate section.
14. Look at the ingredients for every recipe you plan to cook and make a master list of all of the ingredients you will need.
15. Look around your kitchen for any ingredient you already have and mark it off of the list. Create a shopping list for the ingredients you don’t have on your “to-buy” list.
16. Create a separate space in your pantry and refrigerator for your holiday ingredients and keep them together. Create space in your freezer for any dishes you can prepare ahead of time and freeze.
17. Start preparing food as early as you can and store it in airtight containers in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer.
18. Mark off each recipe on your “food” list as you prepare it.

Tableware

19. Divide your “tableware” list into sections for each meal and party you are having, like you did on your “food” list.
20. In each section, write down what tableware will be needed, such as plates, silverware, glasses, napkins, tablecloth, centerpiece and serving trays.
21. Look around your house for the items on your list and gather them in one place. Add any items you will need to purchase to your “to-buy” list.

Decorations

22. Gather your holiday decorations and write the items on your “decorations” list. Be sure to keep all of your decorations together until you are ready to decorate.
23. Look through your decorations and see if any items need to be replaced. Add the needed items to your “to-buy” list.
24. Decide what new items you want to buy and add them to your “to-buy” list.
25. As you purchase new items, place them with your current decorations until you’re ready to decorate.

Set Up a To-Do Calendar

26. Look through all of your lists to see everything you need to do to prepare for the holidays.
27. Decide when you want to do each task and mark them on your calendar.
28. When you are ready to do each task, make sure you have your prepared list with you so you can mark off everything you’ve done.

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