Holiday Grand Plan 2010 - Week 1

It's that time of year again! I can't believe it - feels like summer just started, yet here it is time to start getting organized for the holidays already.  Last year I again did the Holiday Grand Plan from Organized Home.  It went pretty well.  Little E was still quite young and there were some other things that did come up, that ended up making it a bit more challenging.  This year I am working full time so it's going to be interesting to see how I manage.  I really hope I can find a happy medium of getting things to a point that I am satisfied with and being okay with not having things perfect.

So this is week one of the Holiday Grand Plan and here's what I am going to attempt to accomplish.

Grand Plan Week 1 Tasks

• Spend 15 minutes each day this week to get organized for Christmas.
• Set up your holiday organizer in a notebook or 3-ring binder. If you’re using a clear pocket binder, print the cover and spine pages.
• Make or designate a holiday calendar. For your holiday organizer notebook, print the Countdown plan calendar. For more flexible calendar forms, add monthly planning calendars from HolidayOrganizer.com.
• Begin at the beginning; review your family’s holiday values. Print and record your findings on the holiday values page.
• Gift buying looms! Start a master gift list. Print the master gift list form and use it to record purchases and homemade gift items.
• Complete the holiday home spruce-up exercise and schedule improvement projects. Print the home spruce-up worksheet.
• Begin a Christmas card list. Locate addresses; consider making a computerized version for maximum time saving.
• Arrange for family photo sessions for holiday giving or photo Christmas cards.
• Schedule carpet cleaning now! Call now for your choice of appointment times.
• Make the following lists:

1. Gifts to be given, amount to spend
2. Christmas card list. Decide how many cards are needed
3. Visits to make
4. Parties/Entertaining
5. Menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, other parties
6. Goodies for sharing/gifts. Decide how much needs to be made and divide it between the weeks from now through Dec 1.
7. Favorite meals of family members for freezing ahead.
8. Long term shopping list, divided into: canned foods, perishables for each holiday, linens and dishes, decorations, etc.

To Buy This Week:

• Christmas cards or supplies for Christmas letters
• Postage Stamps
• Freezer containers for goodies – at least 12 are needed.
• Freezer containers for Holiday meals – at least 12 are needed.

Area to Organize 

Front Porch, Patio & Dining Room

Do you use the Holiday Grand Plan? If not, what plan do you use to get ready for the holidays?