Christmas/Yule Countdown - Week 2

As promised, here is my list of Prep for this week. This week we have one of my favourite activities! Christmas Lights Across Canada. This is when they turn on the christmas lights at Parliament Hill for the first time. It really is magical! After the ceremony we we head to the Byward Market for a hot chocolate and a beaver tail- Don't know what that is? Stay Tuned!

Gift n Giving Week: : November 28- December 4

To Do This Week

• Write and address one-forth of the Christmas card list
• Finish all catalog shopping. Record tracking numbers and save receipts.
• List all gifts to make Jot down needed Materials and add them to the master shopping list
• Work on “To Make” gifts. You must make one-fourth of your gifts each week.
• Set up wrap and mail center.
• Reserve baby sitters for December nights out.

To Buy This Week

• Continue gift shopping
• Buy materials and supplies for “To Make” gifts

Yule/Christmas Countdown!

I have decided to blog about my Yule/Christmas prep to help me stay on task.

I break my Holiday prep into 4 stages: Organization, Gifting, Cooking, and Celebrating. This plan is inspired from what I learned from Flylady.net and Organized Christmas (To give credit where it is due) I have a list for each week. It contains action items and a shopping list. I have all of these list in my Holiday Preparation Planner. My planner is made with a Pocket Folder. I will post a picture of it shortly. Here is an excellent example of what I am talking about.

This weeks List (I will post them on Monday from now on

Get Organized Week: November 21 - 27

To Do This Week;

Spend 15 minutes each day this week to get organized for Christmas.

Set up your Christmas Countdown Organizer in a notebook or binder.

Make a holiday calendar.

Begin at the beginning: review your family’s holiday traditions. Record your findings on Holiday Traditions* page.

Start a Master Gift List*: Record purchases and home-made gifts

Begin a Christmas Card List.

Are you traveling? Make Travel arrangements and reservations this week Will you host house guests? Make arrangements for overnight guests.

Arrange for family photo sessions for Holiday gifts or cards.

Make a holiday budget*.

Divide Christmas card list into 5 groups. Write and address one group this week.

Print Master Shopping List for errand days.

Set up Holiday House Work Plan. Post Chore Check List; determine who is responsible for what chore.

Check Holiday wardrobe for family. Put to buy items on list.

To Buy This Week:

Christmas cards or supplies for Christmas Letters

Postage Stamps

Begins Christmas shopping Divide master list into 5 sections Buy one section a week. Wrap gifts as they are purchased. Keep a running total of gift expenditures on budget form.

Purchase any holiday clothing needed for family members