More Planning Tips

• Love holiday cooking and baking? Collect favorite recipes can be prepared ahead and frozen -- cookie doughs, cakes, pie crusts, casseroles, and so on.
• Tip: Make double batches of party foods or cookies to give away.

Decorative Christmas Cookies

 

• Purchase cards early if you don't have a supply left from the previous year.
• Spend a few evenings addressing and stamping envelopes.
• Tip: Plan on custom printing or ordering photo cards as early as possible to allow for delays in shipping.

Homemade Christmas Cards

 

• While some prefer to make every gift and handcraft every decoration, most of us run out of time to do so. However, getting creative for the holidays is a great way to get into a festive mood. Look for quick and easy projects so you can make something special without a huge time commitment.

New Life for Old Ornaments

• Make lists and shop for nonperishable items such as postage stamps, gift-wrapping supplies, paper goods, pantry basics, and holiday decorations.
• Tip: Save time by ordering stamps online and using grocery delivery services.

 

• Resolve to box like items together for storage. Keeping all of the mantel decorations (lights, extension cords, bows, and ornaments) in one place will make decorating that much faster the following year.
• Tip: Clear storage tubs can make it easier to find what you need next year.

More Holiday Storage Tips