Getting Ready For the Holidays

Well that's the thought I have in my head. LOL

It's a little busy here. I've been spending a lot of time getting ready for FALL, my favorite season.  You can check out my blog here.

Now I need to get caught up with the two plans I'm following over at Organized Christmas and Magical Holiday Home.  Today is the last day of week 3 for House & Holidays and week 4 for Holiday Grand Plan.

House & Holidays is Me & Mine week where the focus is all about "me".  Plus I tackled the master bedroom, including the closet.  Wasn't much to do, thank goodness.  I just added some fall decorations and fall scented candles.  Put out my pretty comforter and hung up some heavier window curtains.  The nights here have been wonderfully cool.  For the holiday prep part. Yesterday was a quiet day at work so I went over and updated my Christmas card list, designed some pretty address labels and scheduled in my holiday planner some "me" time.  I still need to get my gift closet/area set up.  Actually I need to start gift shopping.  I did take advantage of Walmart's pre-layaway weekend last week.  So I will need to have my closet ready before I start bring gifts home.

Holiday Grand Plan is Master Bedroom week, but I'm only following the holiday preparations part.  I made a batch of peanut butter cookie dough and placed in the freezer. I also made an extra meal for the freezer ( Lasagna).  Already in the freezer are sugar cookie dough and another freezer meal (meatloaf). The last week in November and all of December will be really hectic for me so having  meals already prepared will work great. Just throw in the oven and go.

I'm going to a family cookout in a few hours but when I come back I want to work on my Christmas cards. If I'm not too tired or other things. LOL

Holiday Grand Plan

Good day all. It's been raining all day here in Maryland.  A nice day to stay indoors and maybe get some things done around the house.

Today starts the eighteen week long Holiday Grand Plan over at Magical Holiday Home and Organized Christmas.  The the plan is divided into two parts: cleaning and holiday preparation.  Week One is cleaning off the front porch and list week.  I, myself, am only following the holiday prep part of this plan.

Here's my list:

• Create a master gift list:  I listed the names of all my relatives, friends, neighbors and coworkers whom I will be giving gifts to.  I also wrote down how much I plan to spend for each person and what gifts I will give.
• Update address list:  Made sure home addresses of friends and family that I send Christmas cards to are up to date.
• Thanksgiving menu:  What I plan to serve and wrote my grocery shopping list
• Christmas menu:  same thing I did for Thanksgiving
• Goodies for sharing:   I'm making 10 different types of cookies and two cakes. I made a list of the ingredients I need to buy and will get started picking up what I need this week.  I want to start making up the batches earlier than usual.  I love to share homemade goodies with my coworkers and leave a little basket of goodies at the door of my neighbors house.  It's a nice surprise when they open their door.
• Plan and prepare freezer meals:  As the holidays drawer nearer I will be too busy to cook so I made of list of dinners I will make and freeze so that they will be at the ready whenever I get hungry.
• Create a master shopping list:  This list consists of gifts I need to purchase, supplies for craft projects, decorations, party supplies, etc.

I'm so excited to get started. This Christmas is going to be wonderful.

Week 7 of Holiday Prep - Nothing Really Going On.

I don't know what to do with myself. I am at a standstill. Other than shopping for the remainder of the gifts, the rest of the holiday prep cannot be done until December (or at least Thanksgiving Weekend).

So at home I sit, twitteling (sp?) my thumbs, trying to think of what I can do.  All my craft projects are completed (There weren't that many to begin with). Lists are done, menus planned, apartment is cleaned (with the exception of the guest room), parties and other events are penciled-in. There's nothing left to do right now. 

Many of my friends at MHH are getting ready for Halloween. They are planning costumes for family members, going over decorations, foods and activities for their parties.  My best friend and her husband always plan and have the best Halloween parties.  I offered to help but they refused. They just want me to focus on Christmas.  The only thing I had to focus on was a costume. I ended up buying a pirate costume instead of a midevil costume - was cheaper.  Boy I tell you, buying a costume is very expensive.  I am definately making my costume next year.

Week Six Holiday Prep - Stocking Stuffers

Well I finally purchased everything for my 10 year old niece's advent calendar.

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  lip gloss
  
  
  
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  bangle bracelets
  
  
  
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  hair bands
  
  
  
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  designer leggings (tights)
  
  
  
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  leg warmers
  
  
  
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  fun socks
  
  
  
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  nail polish
  
  
  
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  fun writing pens/pencils
  
  
  
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  candy
  
  
  
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  mini digital photo viewer keychain
  
  
  
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  bubble bath
  
  
  
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  jewelry
  
  
  
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  note pads
  
  
  
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  fun stickers
  
  
  
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  watch
  
  
  
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  gift certificate to Friendly's
  
  
  
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  hand lotions
  
  
  
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  lip balm
  
  
  
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  perfume
  
  
  
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  ear muffs
  
  
  
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  mittens
  
  
  
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  change purse
  
  
  
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  $10
  
  
  

I'll give the gifts to her mom Thanksgiving weekend so that she will have them by December 1st. They need to be wrapped though. Will have to get started on that.

HGP Holiday Prep Week Three

Well it's week three. Time to take care of the entry/foyer. My foyer is pretty small and there wasn't much to do since I had tackled that area weeks ago.  This weekend I just swept and mopped the floor.  Then I put up the fall decorations there and in the livingroom. Things are looking pretty good.

Now on to holiday prep.

This week the plans suggests

1.  Make one batch of Holiday Goodies. I planned to make a Boston Cream cake with upcoming Sunday's dinner but may instead bake a few cookies. They won't be for the holidays though. LOL!
2. Make one extra meal for freezer again labeled HOLIDAY MEAL.  So far I have two meals in the freezer - meatloaf and minced bbq.  They will come in handy during December when I don't have time to cook. I can make sandwiches with those. Mmm, mmm, mmm!
3. Buy two canned food items from Menus (get 2 of each item, one to use and one to donate to food drive).   I need to get started on this.  I want to make sure I have less to purchase when the holidays drawer closer. I hate when I'm in the middle of cooking and I realize I'm missing an ingredient and have to run out to the nearby store and pay a fortune when if I had remembered, the cost would have been cheaper at my regular store.
4. Keep 2 boxes in a pantry area or storage place to put these in so that they are not used in everyday cooking - make sure to label them so that when food drives start your holiday supply stays intact and the food drive gets the food purchased for it.
5. Buy all supplies for homemade gifts. Package each project with directions and other information in zipper food storage bag and place in a basket or box in craft/sewing area.
6. Buy film, camera batteries, blank videotapes. Hide them; write yourself a note. I recently bought several packs rechargeable batteries for my digital camera. I need to purchase more DVD recordable disks for making movies to give to folks after the holidays. I always film everyone opening their gifts and just having fun. This year I want them to see how crazy the are. Hahaha

That's it for now. Happy planning!

HGP - Holiday Prep Week Two

August 30th kick-started the Holiday Grand Plan at Organized Christmas.  Week one was dedicated to the front porch. This is week two: The Livingroom.

In addition to cleaning our homes we are also prepping for the upcoming Holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. So during each week we also take time to get things ready like creating gift lists, making a budget, planning menus, etc.

Week two is a little more challenging.  For week two we're asked to answer questions like, what does the holidays mean to us, what traditions are important, etc. If you want to see more check out week two of the HGP.  

Week two also suggests that we start stocking up the pantry with extra flour, sugar, etc. for the tons of baking some of us will be doing.  I had a list of desserts I want to make but I have been finding other recipes I want to try so my list keeps changing.  My goal this week will be to come to a final decision of what I will make. That's it. No more changes.  One item I will definately be making are those delicious Oreo Balls.  My family and co-workers absolutely love them. Just yesterday a co-worker was asking me about them. No kidding. 

Here We Go!

I have been up since 5:30 this morning. I'm excited because today is the first day of the Holiday Grand Plan . This week is List/Front Porch week.

Because I have no front porch, this week is dedicated to the balcony.

Sweep the outdoor carpet
Wipe down patio furniture
Wipe down railing
Clean patio windows/doors

For the holiday prep part, I have the following lists:

Gift list
Christmas card list
Parties/Events
Menus for holiday breakfast and Christmas Eve family gatherings
Shopping list
Baking list
Crafts list

HGP

The end of August kicks off the Holiday Grand Plan at Organized Christmas. I, however have decided to start early. My apartment is in desperate need of deep cleaning and I just can't take it anymore (heeheehee). So I made a list of cleaning supplies and will be heading to Walmart and Dollar Tree this week to do a little shopping.

If you're interested in getting your home cleaned and ready for Fall and the holidays, HGP may be the plan for you. Or, if your home is in need of only a little cleaning and you'd like to be better prepared for the holidays, then Holiday + Houseworks may be what you prefer. I have followed both plans and they are awsome.

While you are following the plans, take a visit over to Magical Holiday Home discussion forum where myself and other Christmas lovers tell of our progress.

Where Has The Time Gone?

I was just over at cmerth's blog when I noticed that it's been 3 weeks since my last post. I can't believe we only have 66 day's and Christmas will be here. I have been working so much trying to earn extra money, to make sure that Christmas is extra fun this year that I've all but put the holiday on the back burner. I haven't followed the HGP for the past two weeks and I missed the Fall Tour of Homes. :o( Not to mentioned that the Christmas Countdown starts this upcoming Sunday. So I've decided to stop working so hard and get focused (again!)

I'm taking the day off tomorrow from both jobs. First thing - finish the tasks on my list from HGP. I think this week is the kitchen. I have to give my kitchen a good cleaning out but since it's small hopefully it shouldn't take much time. I've already emptied out the fridge/freezer. It's nearly completely empty. I need to reorganize the food cabinets, sort through expired spices and baking supplies and purchase supplies, move my Christmas dishes from the top shelf of the cabinet down to where they can easily be reached once the holidays are here. Give my floor and oven a good scrubbing, stock the fridge and freezer with easy/quick meals on those nights I don't have time or feel like cooking and other cleaning organizing that needs doing. Then I'll revisit the list for the previous weeks and see what needs to be completed in each area. I know I won't get everything finished tomorrow. What I don't finish will be worked on Wednesday and Thursday evenings as I do not have to work at my parttime job. I want to get the cleaning completed before the countdown begins that way I can focused just on the holiday planning.

I'm sitting here at my desk looking at the boxes of Christmas decorations sitting on top of the file cabinets. I can't wait to start decorating my office. I'm doing a totally different look. I think my co-workers will be presently surprised. I especially hope to lift the spirit of one of them who shares the office with me. Her sister was diagnosed with Cancer back in early September or late August. On Columbus Day the sister went into cardiac arrest and was put on life support. The family decided to take her off this past Friday and she passed away. My co-worker has gone through a lot in the last few months and I just want to make her feel not-so-sad during the holidays.

Saturday is Rudolph Day. There's only one more before the "Big Day" in December - the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. I have to admit that I don't really do anything spiritually-wise and have been thinking of what I can do to change that. I will talk with my mother for advice.

As for this Rudy Day, I'm pulling out all my decorations. I will be checking lights, finish writing room decorating ideas, checking that I have all recipes in my holiday notebook, signing/addressing greeting cards all while listening to an instrumental holiday CD. I like to hang lighted garland around the living/dining rooms and hall. I have the larger lights that I wrapped around garland but this year I want to switch to smaller lights. I picked up a lot of boxes of lights at Walgreens on clearance after the holidays last year that I will use. The larger lights will go on my new tree for the balcony. Thinking now, I'll probably spread this day out to the entire weekend as I also need to finish my crafts.

99 Days and Counting

Well whether you want to except it or not, Christmas will be here quicker than quick. Will you be ready? I sure hope I will be.

I've been getting my apartment in order by following the HGP plan over at MHH . It's been neglected all summer. We're now into week three - the foyer. My foyer is small and leads down a hall to the bedrooms and bathroom. I was able to get 99% of it done in a day. Saturday I will tackle the coat closet which is part of the foyer. Last week was the living room. It's almost done. I just need to rearrange some furniture and shampoo the carpet, sofa and two chairs. The chairs/sofa are white so I clean them twice a year. I hope to get new furniture after the holidays. With the new arrangement I'll have more room for the Christmas tree and the millions of gifts that be underneath it.

I spent a few hours yesterday looking through my holiday notebook. I wanted to see how my planning was going. My gift list is looking really good. I've been buying two gifts at a time throughout the year which has been a big help and won't cause me to worry too much about money when the holiday is here. The gifts I have left to get are mostly goody baskets that need to wait to be put together. There's two special gifts I can't wait to get.

My best friend and her husband are big football lovers. She loves the Giants and he loves the Redskin. They both are originally from New York but the husband has always been a die-hard Redskins fan. The two of them are really funny when their teams play each other. That's a show in and of itself to see (better than halftime). Oh and don't let them go to any of the games. You'll cover your face and shake your head during the whole game. Anyway a lady on my job knits or crochets (don't know the difference). I have her making me two scarves -- one with the Giants logo and one with the Redskins logo and in the teams colors. The scarves will be a little longer and wider than your average scarf. I got the idea last year when we were watching a Redskins game. My best friend's husband noticed a woman in the stands wearing a similar scarf. He really liked it -- mentioned it (every-so-often)the rest of the evening. So when I got home I made a note of it in my planner. My girlfriend knows about his gift but not about hers. Wait til she opens her gift.

After looking over my checklist I need to finish going through my decorations and writing out my plans for decorating each room, update my gift closet list and work on remaining holiday crafts. There's one craft I want to do that I recently thought about and that was a gingerbread wreath for the kitchen - the theme for that room. For the upcoming Rudy Day (25th) I think I'll spend the day doing crafts. I have a lot of catching up to do as I've been spending a lot of time preparing for fall.