Holidays Unscathed

We are a full week into the month of December.  Chanukah is eight days away and Christmas another twenty-two.  Between now and the start of each celebration are countless trips to the mall, shopping online, wrapping, holiday gatherings – work, girlfriends, neighborhood, school, church – concerts, school programs, gift exchanges, traffic, family traditions, keeping off extra pounds, cards to write and lots and lots of baking.

How can you be Super Shopper, Best Baker, Super Mom/Super Dad, Best Girlfriend/Dude, neighborly, Martha Stewart Wrapper, Employee Extraordinaire & Gift Giving god?

You can ask Rudolph to light your way or read Santa & Mrs. Claus’ Top 10 tips & tricks below to bring you through the holiday season blizzard of activity unscathed.

  Baking  Start baking double batches of cookies now. This is Mrs. Claus’ # 1 tip. A batch a week.  Leave one batch out for family & freeze the other for the upcoming Cookie Exchange.

  Shopping  Keep a list of gift ideas handy.  This is Santa’s #1 tip. When you find a great deal, match it to your gift list.  Then check it off the list.  Keep checking that list & checking items off.

  Weight  Hate stepping on the scale everyday? Keep weight in-check while sampling holiday foods by trying on your skinny pants every other day.  No numbers, just fit.

  Wrapping  Set up a decorative wrapping station in the heart of your home. Now getting a gift wrapped is a cinch & you don’t feel you’re in time out while doing it.

  Cards  Write & address 5 cards.  Do something fun.  Rinse.  Repeat

  Traditions  Keep or start family traditions by scheduling them on your calendar.  Put them on before any other events.  Creating memories with family are the most important activities.

  Gatherings  Think you don’t have anything to wear? Look your festive best without buying a thing.  Be dashing in dark jeans & blazer.  Bling up all black. Pair leggings with long tops & heels.  Choose a dress.  Finally wear your velvet blazer.  Carry an evening bag.

  Scheduling  Call a family meeting over hot coco & those cookies baking.  Review all family holiday activities.  Mark on one Family Calendar everyone can reference.

  Gifts  Keep some wrapped gifts available for hostess & last minute gifts.

  Cooking  Holidays mean several different family schedules running all different directions & times with only a few family members home for meals.  Keep cooking complete meals for the whole family freezing single servings for teens to eat finally home.

I’m here to help you by disclosing my knowledge of how to organize & be prepared for any situation.  I will show you tips & tricks through posts on the Styled & Organized Living Facebook page, @StyledOrganized on Twitter & the Styled & Organized Living Pinterest page.  Some posts will be simple tools while others will be ideas to consider.   But all will show you how to gain a little more control over your life through organization because Life is Better Organized!