10 Things To Do For Christmas Now
It’s not too early to think about Christmas! Actually, now is the perfect time to start your Christmas to-do list and check it twice. Today let’s talk about 10 important things to do now for Christmas!
I’m making a list and checking it twice and doing what’s on it early! Here’s my top 10!
MAKE A MASTER PLAN AND CHRISTMAS CALENDAR
My best advice is to make a master plan for the Holiday season! Write it all down. I like to use the back of my planning notebook to keep all my Christmas plans together
Try to think of everything! Cards, food, decor, gifts, entertaining, cleaning schedule, diy’s, gifts, events… and whatever else you can think of.
You don’t have to put it all down on paper now. Just start! And when you think of something you need to plan or do for this special season, write it down!
Keep a running list.
I really need lists! How about you?
If I don’t have everything written down something is liable to slip through the cracks and I’ll forget to do it. If I write it down and go over my list daily I can see what needs to be done for Christmas!
And as I finish something on my list I just love to cross it off! And that feels fabulous!
I will often assign a few tasks to one week in my calendar It just makes these tasks so much for enjoyable than rushing them at the last minute.
THINK ABOUT HOLIDAY CARDS NOW
It’s time to think about Christmas cards!
If you want to send cards with personal pictures on them, NOW is the time to take pictures and pick the design of your card, etc.
My Christmas card mantra is, “have them done by Thanksgiving Day”! Do a few every night!
I like to personalize cards so I write a sentence or two just for the recipient.
I also like to handwrite the addresses on the front of my envelopes. That’s just me! It’s those extra little ways to show people I care! I know many companies will sign cards and put our name and address on the envelopes but I would much rather write a few each evening. I think people who get my cards will notice these extra touches. I guess I’m just old school when it comes to things like that!
I keep my cards in a basket along with my address book next to my tv watching chair and write them while I watch the news!
WRAP AS YOU BUY
I’ve learned these tips the hard way!
Wrapping all my gifts at the last minute is no fun… no Christmas joy at all!
I love wrapping gifts and making them pretty and special. So, I set up a gift-wrapping center in a guest room.
Wrap gifts as you buy them and keep an envelope to put all your receipts in.
And since I buy many gifts online I like to keep a variety of packing boxes on hand to stick gifts in. Wrapping a square box is so much easier than trying to wrangle an odd size gift.
You might like to see how to organize and use Christmas ribbons and other pretty things to put on presents HERE. And see how to make my favorite and so so easy Christmas bow too!
PLAN A CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHER NOW
The holidays are a time to celebrate with family and friends.
Plan a party now! Get it on the calendar and send out invitations. Even a get-together with a couple of friends should go on the calendar! We tend to be busy over the holidays so plan even the most casual celebration now.
Don’t fuss! Plan an easy dinner with a mix of great deli food and a few yummy homemade dishes!
Set an easy table or just have friends in for hot chocolate and cookies! It’s all about being together!
You might like to see how I planned this easy, HOLIDAY HOT CHOCOLATE BAR.
PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY MENUS
I’m already thinking of Christmas dinner! Every year we have a huge brunch mid-morning and I put out hors d’oeuvres in the afternoon. Then we eat a cozy supper in the evening.
This Christmas we will have all our kids and grandbabies and other family too!
Christmas Eve, I’ll make CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST CASSEROLE for brunch on Christmas Day. I’ve made this for over 25 years! It’s a must at the brunch table!
I’ll be making our favorite HOLIDAY BEEF BRISKET for Christmas dinner this year (I make it for almost every Christmas dinner). It’s a make-ahead dish so I’ll be freed up to enjoy Christmas day without a lot of fussing in the kitchen! And it’s company-worthy!
I even plan what cookies I’ll be making and make the dough up ahead. Most cookie doughs can be frozen and then thawed when you need them. Don’t you love this about cookies?
My favorite Christmas cookies are MY BEST SUGAR COOKIES. This post is almost a decade old, so excuse the rudimentary look. However, this cookie is the best! I make up the dough and freeze it until I’m ready to bake the cookies. YUM!
And when my grandbabies come we will make easy no-bake cookies. See MERRY NO BAKE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER HOLIDAY BALLS.
In the last couple of years, I’ve made 5 different doughs from one mother dough and frozen them to make at my leisure. This is the best dough!!!!
My family loves every cookie flavor. Make sure you see THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE BOX.
TRANSITION DECOR FROM FALL TO CHRISTMAS
Start thinking about Christmas decorations! Yes, already! Start daydreaming about how you want to decorate this year. And decide on a Christmas color palette.
Every year I start with a color scheme! Nothing will make your decorations look more beautiful than every holiday thing in your home working together!
This is an image from Christmas many years ago. And I’m loving the red with all the white! This image is the inspiration for my Christmas colors this year!
I’m going with a very neutral color palette with a punch of red!
Now I can start shopping for things like wrapping paper and ribbons and gift tags I’ll need.
As fall turns towards Thanksgiving I begin to take down most of my fall decor and put it away. I love just a few touches of late fall decor in my home in November!
Doing this also makes putting fall decor away when it is time to decorate for Christmas so much easier!
Give this a try! You will be so happy you did!
PURGE AND ORGANIZE YOUR HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
Spend some time going through your Christmas decorations.
Purge those items that are tired or no longer being used and make sure you know where your important things are like your Nativity, stockings, tree skirt, and Christmas lights!
Throw away what is beyond repair and donate gently used items.
This will save you so many headaches!!! And someone might love and use what you are passing on.
I do this every year in late October or early November. Then what I have is fresh in my mind and at my fingertips as I begin to decorate!
START CHRISTMAS DIY PROJECTS
If you wait until December to start Christmas DIY projects you are probably already too late! Start those great DIYs you want to do for Christmas now!
Here are a few Christmas DIY projects you might like to try…
- WHITE CLOTHESPIN SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENTS
- BLEACHED PINECONES
- HOW TO UPDATE AN OLD WREATH
- BROKEN GLASS ORNAMENT CHRISTMAS BALLS
PLAN CHRISTMAS SEASON OUTINGS
Now is also the time to check out all the fun holiday events planned for your area! Many special Christmas events require tickets.
Are there outdoor Christmas tours? How about planning to chop down your Christmas tree as a family?
These little outings are so important to keep the fun, positive spirit of the season alive!
Is the Nutcracker ballet being performed in your area or other live shows you could see? Check online for an updated list.
I just looked up all the Christmas events in our area and I found so many events to choose from. Now is the time to plan and get tickets!
GIVE TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARITIES
Last but certainly not least, decide on the charities you want to give to or volunteer at over the Christmas holidays!
Now is the time to plan your giving and even give early! Check out ways you can help others!
Many organizations sponsor Christmas giving programs like the
There are my top 10 things to do NOW for Christmas!
Hello, your house is beautiful for Christmas. I want to know where you purchased all the stars ( like under the chandelier. Also where did you buy your Christmas 🎄 tree . Thank you
I found the trees at West Elm and the stars on Amazon. Hope this helps.
Hi! Wanted to tell you how I display my Christmas cards, we have a bay window in our dinning room with a valance and I use a safety pin to attach the cards to the bottom of the valance so people can enjoy them all at once.
Wow, what a flurry of cards! I bet it is so pretty!
I am new to your blog, and wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying it. Your style suits mine perfectly! I recently purchased another home, and I’m in the process of a major renovation. I just can’t wait to get to the decorating stage to put all your hints into practice!
Congratulations on your new home Juanita! And I’m so glad you have found us!
I saw a faux garland on your website that was beautiful. Quality garland is usually sold out by the time I want to order it. So, I want to place an order early this year. Can you recommend a vendor for a life-like Norfolk pine garland?
I love your website and posts.
I don’t use Norfolk pine garland so I can’t tell you for sure. But this one from Wayfair looks pretty and is reasonably priced. See it here:https://rstyle.me/+9Mf-4AMbFMhKXJAKrviiPA And here’s another one that looks nice:https://rstyle.me/+uwfyzWu7KlBMPqJDO5e9tA Hope this helps.
Your Christmas breakfast casserole has been a favorite of my grown children coming home for 2 years now. I’m cooking the brisket this year also. My 3 girls and their significant others and husbands and my grandson will all be home for Christmas. Thank you Yvonne! I always enjoy your posts.
Kristi, I am so thrilled my recipes have helped to make spirits bright at your Christmas table!
Hi, Yvonne! I love, love, love your blog. I look so forward to reading it every morning with my coffee. You have inspired me to go with more neutral tones in my home, and I love it! I’ve actually duplicated (well, the best I can) some of your decor such as the round white clock and round lidded baskets.
I love the idea of using the broken glass ornaments, but aren’t they sharp?
Thank you for all of your inspiration!
Yes, they are sharp. I’m just careful when I hang them. But they are so so pretty!
So many wonderful ideas and tips! I can’t wait to try your Christmas Breakfast casserole! I made your brisket for my gang a month ago to give it a practice run, and we are looking forward to enjoying it during the Christmas week. And your cookie recipe is making my mouth water!
We aren’t doing photo cards, and I shopped for Christmas cards last week but was very disappointed in the quality of the cards. I’m sure most people won’t even notice, but like you, I am also a hand-written sentiment, along with hand written address…it’s much more personal.
Love your Christmas palette, too! Now I want to go look at ornaments and gift wrap. And your suggestion for a wrap-as-you-buy wrapping station? BRILLIANT!!
Bless you! And thank you for always sharing your best ideas and goodies with us
Patti, I’m thrilled you are enjoying all the Christmas ideas.
Great post Yvonne! It’s so fun to plan early so there’s more time to enjoy the season! I’ve always loved your beautiful home, and it’s even more lovely decorated for Christmas. Thanks for more inspiration!
You are so welcome, Barbara!
Where did you purchase your small boxwood wreaths that you used to decorate your presents?
Here you go Lucia:https://rstyle.me/+tJmFJdG-q-E1Y_V43wKWXA