The Elf Blog

Taking Down the Christmas Decorations

Now that the 12 Days of Christmas have passed, taking down your decorations is acceptable (though Catholic Churches in the US will celebrate through Monday). You can take steps now that will make preparations for next Christmas much easier:

• Don’t even bother storing decorations that are damaged. Either fix it now or accept that it is gone.

• If possible, store all of your decorations in one place, rather than scattered about. Next November, you don’t want to try to guess where you put the creche.

• Make sure your storage boxes and bubble wrap are in good condition. Replace any that are too worn or damaged.

• Label the boxes clearly.

• If you use a few things from a variety of boxes, consider taking the time to reorganize things as youput them away. That way you won’t have to open as many boxes next year.

Do you have any other tips for storing Christmas decorations well?

Don't Move On Quite Yet

Why is it that we spend weeks (or months) preparing for Christmas, then we can't wait to finish off our celebration and move on to the next thing?

December 25th is the first day of the Christmas season, not the last. Please don't take your decorations down yet. At the very least, keep your celebration through the 12 Days of Christmas -- through January 6th.  (I don't care what the stores tell you.  The 12 days start with Christmas, they don't end there.)

Enjoy the seaso.  There will be plenty of winter left when the Christas season is over.

I Believe

I Believe in Santa Claus.

I Believe that the best presents have no price tags and need no wrapping.

I Believe that no cookie is sweeter than time spent with loved ones.

 

I Believe that the brightest stars shine in the eyes of children.

I Believe that hope does not disappoint.

 

I Believe that love wins.

 

I Believe in the power of Christmas.

Alone at Christmas

If you will be alone at Christmas and you do not want to be, it's time for my annual elf offer.

Before noon on Christmas Eve, send an email to chiefelf at aol dot com wth your cell number and I will call you on Christmas Day to chat for a bit.  (It might be a good idea to le me know what time zone you are in.) Unfortunately, this offer is limited to the US, but I really will call.

Merry Christmas.

The Question of Regifting

Every Christmas, the question arises: Is regifting acceptable?

My answer:  Of course it is, as long as you follow a few basic rules.

1. With the exception of vintage collectibles, antiques, and family heirlooms, anything you regift should be new.
2. A re-gift should be re-wrapped (with special care to remove any tags).
3. You should re-gift only when you know that the new recipient will really enjoy the gift.
4. Never re-gift unless you are 100% sure of who gave you the gift originally.  Nothing is worse than giving someone back the gift he gave you.
5. Re-gift into a different social circle.  If you want to re-gift the sandwich maker Aunt Bev gave you, give it to Charlie at work.  If you aren't a fan of the scarf your friend Bentley gave you, you can re-gift it to your cousin. Like that.

Always remember, it really IS the thought that counts, so put some thought into it!  Even re-gifts.

Christmas Countdown - Less than One Week

Christmas is less than one week away.  That means it's crunch time.  If you've been following the Elf Christmas Countdown, you are just about ready to celebrate.  All you have to do is to wrap a few gifts, bake a last little bit, and prepare your holiday meals.  (No matter how well planned you are, December 20th is too early to start cooking the turkey!)

But, if you haven't been following the countdown, you may be facing a lot to do.  Here are your steps:

1. Pledge that next year you will follow the Elf Christmas Countdown faithfully and with great care!
2. Make a list of everything you need to do. 
3. Now cross out everything that isn't essential. What's essential will vary from person to person. You don't need to buy a gift for someone you won't see until New Year's Day brunch. You may not need to decorate or to bake 5 kinds of cookies. Only do those things that are deeply meaningful to you and your loved nes.
4. Only do the tried and true.  Last minute is not a good time to learn a new skill.
5. Share the load.  Recruit family and friends to do parts of tasks.  Dividing and conquering means that one person can mix cookie dough while another puts up the outdoor lights and a third wraps gifts.
6. There is no shame in mailing cards after Christmas.  People want to hear from you.
7. Don't skip sleep and meals to make "Christmas" happen.  You know what?  It's going to happen whether or not you have a hand beaded star on your tree.  Bringing your best self to the celebration is the most important thing.

So take a deep breath and get started!

(If you have followed the Countdown, have another cup of cocoa.  Or perhaps some mulled wine.  And take the main course out of the freezer so it has time to defrost!)

 

A Big Weekend

This is the last full weekend before Christmas so, for most people, it's the last large block of non-work time to prepare. Unfortunately, that means that stores (department, grocery,big-box, boutique, etc.) will be packed this weekend. Unless you can get to a store at an off hour (like grocery shopping at 6 a.m.), I recommend avoiding stores this weekend.

If you haven't finished your shopping yet, many online retailers are offering free shipping or shipping upgrades through midnight tonight. Give yourself a break and finish your shopping online.

Even better, use this weekend to make Christmas preparations at home:

• Finish your decorating. Wrap everything you have purchased.
• If you still have gifts to ship, pack them for shipment (but avoid the post office lines on Saturday!)
• Prepare cookie doughs that can be refrgerated or frozen as logs. Then you just slice and bake your homemade Christmas cookies.
• Finish your cards (if you haven't already!)
• Do a quick tidying and decluttering of the house so you are ready for guests.

And if you are finished? Sit back and enjoy the season.

As for me, I'll be hosting the Elf Extravaganza. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by!

Crafting Decision Time

Christmas Eve is ten days away. It’s time to make decisions about any crafts you have planned.

Do you really have time to complete the projects without pulling 10 all-nighters?

Do you have sufficient blocks of time set apart for crafting?

Do these blocks allow things to dry, set, etc.?

Do you have all the supplies at hand or are you counting on being able to find what you need?

Based on your answers to these questions, it’s time to fish or cut bait.

Christmas Countdown - 2 Weeks

Christmas is two weeks from yesterday. You should be moving into end game on your preparations. By the end of this week:

• You should complete your shopping. You do not want to be in the stores this weekend. They will be packed with impatient people in bad moods.

• Ship any gifts that you cannot deliver personally. Shipping this week means shorter lines in the post office and less chance that you’ll have to pay expedited shipping charges.

• Finalize your menus for holiday meals and purchase all non-perishable ingredients.

• If you haven’t done your decorating, you at least need a timeline.

• Try to wrap the gifts you’ve already purchased.

• You want your Christmas cards to go out no later than December 20th.

• Follow the schedule you made weeks ago for baking, parties, and other biog events.

• Get into the habit of doing a quick tidy and declutter each day so the house will be prepared for folks to drop in.

• Keep some easy refreshments (chips, cheese and crackers, cocoa, wine, soda, sparkling water, etc.) on hand for guests who drop in.

You’re in the home stretch. If you’ve been following this countdown from the beginning, you should be just about ready for the holidays!

Of Trees and Wreaths

For me, Christmas a full sensory experience – sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell – from wine and cider mulling on the stove to cookies baking to the smell of fresh pine in a tree or wreath.

Because I do not spend Christmas at Elf House, I typically do not have a real tree. Having a real tree requires your presence to make sure it stays watered to avoid a fire hazard. Also, you need to sweep up fallen needles fairly regularly.

But since I love the smell of pine, I buy a wreath that I can hang on my front door. (As an added bonus, even very nice wreaths are far less expensive than trees. Coming or going, walking the dog or greeting a guest, I breathe in the scent of the season. You could also hang the wreath indoors if you choose, though there would be the pesky needle issue.

Where do you come down on the real versus artificial tree question?