The Elf Blog

Christmas Countdown -- 7 Weeks!

Christmas Eve is only seven weeks away and Thanksgiving is only three weeks away!  That means it's time to kick the preparations into high gear.

Here are this week's tasks:

• Begin developing your task schedule for the holiday season.  Put it right on your master calendar.  Write in dates for baking, decorating, writing cards, shopping, cooking, wrapping, crafting, etc.  Keep in mind that some tasks may need to be spread over several days.  For example, some doughs need time to rise, crafts need time to dry, etc.
• Identify areas in your house for various holiday activities: wrapping, gift storage, baking supplies, Thanksgiving staging, card writing.  If possible, keep these areas set until the task is completed.  If everything you need to work on cards is easily at hand, you can take 5 or 10 minutes to write a few notes, address some cards, etc. 
• If you have any presents that must ship overseas, you needs to buy them this week so they can ship before November 15th.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving, here are your tasks:

• Finalize your menu.
• Begin staging the dinner, getting china, serving pieces, table linens, etc. ready and gathered in a single accessible place.
• Create a detailed schedule for your preparation.  Place everything as early in the schedule as possible to reduce stress.  You can shop for non-perishables as early as this weekend.  You can polish silver and iron table linens now.  You can set the table the Monday before Thanksgiving.  Only leave to Thanksgiving morning those things that cannot be done in advance.  The best thing you can bring to the table is yourself, relaxed.
• If you like fresh turkeys, order yours now for pickup during Thanksgiving week.  If you use a frozen turkey, you can buy it when you'd like.  Also get a large plastic bucket and make room in the fridge so you can brine it.

From here on out, we'll be working hard to prepare.  Remember the goal: To look up on Christmas Eve and realize that everything is prepared and you have nothing to do except enjoy.

Christmas Countdown -- 10 Weeks!

Christmas Eve is only 10 weeks away!  (I know.  I'm panicking a bit too.)

This week, let's focus on making lists. 

First, make a list of gift recipients.  If you have already bought some gifts, write down what you've bought.  You can also jot down any ideas you might have. You may want to color-code the gifts that will have to be shipped. 

Second, make a list of gifts you might like to receive.  Little ones can write their letters to Santa.

Third, finalize your CHristmas card list.

Fourth, if you will be throwing a party, draft your guest list and let folks know of the need to save the date.

Fifth, using your calendar, block out any existing engagements from THansgiving to Christmas:  family, work, religious, social.  Also, block out some rest time.  You'll need it.

Finally, if you make any gifts, make a list of the things you plan to make and the supplies you'll need.  Make sure you have all necessary supplies on hand or that you have a plan to get them!

Thanksgiving Planning

Thanksgiving is 8 weeks from today!  While it's too early to whip up the green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, there are some things you can do:

• Decide where you will celebrate.  If necessary, make travel plans to get there.
• If you will be hosting, decide on the guest list and issue invitations.
• Double-check your stock of china, table linens, and serving dishes.  See if anything needs to be cleaned or replaced.  (You may be able to find some good deals at Columbus Day sales.)
• Pull out that recipe file you tucked away last year: the one of side dishes, appetizers, desserts, and ways to use leftovers.  Decide which ones you'd like to try this year. 
• If you will be hosting overnight guests, I recommend deciding on some breakfast and easy dinner options.  If you'll be shopping on Black Friday, you don't want to do major cooking when you get home.  You'll want something you can toss in a slow cooker in the pre-dawn hours or something that comes together very fast.
• Take a look at the rooms you use when entertaining -- guest room, guest bath, dining room, formal living room.  Start decluttering now.  It's not unusual to go months without entertaining in these rooms (especially during the summer when you are more likely to entertain outside) so they can become a repository for all manner of things.  You don't want to be stuffing the turkey with one hand and clearing clutter with the other.  Tidying up now will allow for a more leisurely holiday.

Christmas Countdown -- Three Months To Go

Christmas Eve is three months from today.  That means it's time to kick the Christmas countdown into high gear. 

Within the next month, you need to complete the following tasks:

• Make your holiday travel arrangements.
• If you are throwing a party, let folks know to save the date.
• Update your Christmas card address list.
• Build your Christmas gift list.  You don't have to start shopping yet, but you should at least decide who you'll be shopping for.
• If you plan to make gifts or decorations, purchase all craft supplies and start work, if possible.
• Pull out your holiday recipe file and start narrowing down the ones you want to try.
• Make room in the cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer for the holiday surplus.
• Finalize your holiday budget and make sure you know where the money is coming from.  If you don't have enough saved, you need to reduce the budget.
• Stop buying things you don't absolutely need.  Put them on your Christmas list instead.

the sooner you start, the higher the chances that three months from today, you'll be cosily esconced in a chair, drinking hot cocoa, eating homemade cookies, and watching a Christmas movie -- not making a mad dash through the mall only to come home to defrost the turkey with a hair dryer before pulling an all-nighter to finish crafts and wrapping.

Happy New Year!

To all who celebrate, l'shana tova!  May your new year be sweet and your name s be written in the Book of Life.

May the Days of Awe be times of fellowship, reflection, and renewal.

T Minus 10

Thanksgiving is only ten weeks away.  Within the next two weeks, it's important that you do the following:

• Finalize any travel plans, buying tickets and making hotel reservations if necessary.
• Request time off from work if you'll need it for travel or preparations.
• Of you are hosting, make your master schedule for cleaning, shopping, table-setting, and cooking.
• If you'll have overnight guests, decide on the sleeping accomodations and begin de-cluttering the guest room.
• Go through your recipe folders to come up with a basic menu -- for the holiday itself and for the surrounding days.  If necessary, test any new recipes you plan to try.
• Begin making space in cabinets, fridge, and freezer.

Planning for Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset next Friday.  If you celebrate, now is the time to make your final plans:

• Invite your guests to celebrate the new year.  If you will be a guest, pick up a host/hostess gift.
• Since you are likely to be in services for much of the evening and, since Rosh Hashanah is a sabbath this year, it makes sense to order your meal from a favorite restaurant.  that way, you won't have to deal with the difficulties if preparation.  If you decide to order, place your order no later than Sunday.
• Rosh Hashanh begins the Days of Awe.  Block out significant blocks of time on your schedule for reflection and quiet.  The best parties in the world won't bring the awe to these days.  The awe is present.  Give yourself the space to find it.

Thanksgiving Countdown

Thanksgiving is 12 weeks away.  Yes, that means it's too early to start cooking. But it's not too early to start planning.

If you will be traveing for the holiday, make your ticket and hotel reservations now to ensure the broadest possible choices.

If you are hosting, now is an excellent time to start looking through those recipes you've been saving to see which ones you might like to try. 

It's also a good idea to take an inventory of "hosting things" like table linens and candles and glassware and serverware to make sure you have what you need and that what you have is in good repair. 

Finally, over the next few weeks, make a concerted effort to use the things in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. You'll want to have the room available, plus, using what you already have will help you save money for holiday purcahses!

Fall Entertaining

Fall is my very favorite season -- and it's full of opportunities to entertain.  In the early part of the season, it't great to entertain outdoors.  You can enjoy the changing leaves without the sweltering heat and bugs so common in the summer.

Here are some reasons to celebrate:

• Labor Day end of "summer" bash (Summer is in quotations because it doesn't end for another few weeks) -- heat up the grill and set up the lawn chairs, make some ice cream and drinks with umbrellas in them
• Rosh Hashanah -- celebrate the new year with lots of sweet things
• Yom Kippur -- gather friends for a meal to break the fast
• Autumnal Equinox -- celebrate the coming of fall
• Harvest Festival -- often tied to the Feast of Saint Michael on September 29 -- think lots of yummy fruits and veggies and hearty breads and soups
• Oktoberfest -- grill some brats and serve with spicy mustard, sauerkraut, and German potato salad, all washed down with some good beer (root beer works too)
• Craft party -- gather some friends to make headway on crafts for Halloween and Christmas
• Tailgating -- football season is here, making it a great time to watch a game and share a meal with fellow fans.

What will you celebrate this fall?

Two Months Out

Halloween is two months from today!  I can't recommend that you start stockpiling candy quite yet. (We both know it would never see the autumnal equinox, let alone Halloween.)  There are some things you can do, however.

• Start thinking about costumes.  If you plan to make costumes, you'll want to have patterns and materials in hand by late September, earlier if you need to make more than two.  The terror of Halloween should not be caused by needing to sew 5 cosumes in 2 hours.
• Decide if you will host a Halloween party.  Halloween is a Saturday this year, so more people may decide to entertain.  If you will host a party, it's not too soon to think about guest list, menu, and decor.  At least, you may want to do some web searching for ideas.
• If you decorate, use the time you put your summer things in storage to check on your decorations from past years.  See what's usable, what's trash, and what needs repairs.  If you'll be making things, decide on your projects and gather materials.  Use spare blocks of time to do what you can ahead of time.