Getting your home ready for the holidays only weeks after Thanksgiving can be a bit overwhelming. Focusing on one area at a time and creating a plan of what can be prepared in advance can make things much more manageable. Check out our list below for some things you can do to make the next few weeks go by a little more smoothly.
Update Your Emergency Kit
We’re not just talking band aids, gauze and antiseptic (although it’s important to restock these as well!). But assure that you have these items in stock and ready to go in case of any little accidents:
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Good for wine stains. (Blot the spill with a paper towel, then combine one teaspoon of dish soap with 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide in a bowl. Soak a clean sponge in the mixture, squeeze it halfway dry, then gently blot the stain. Continue until the stain lifts. After that, sponge the stained area with warm water)
- CLR toilet and sink de-clogger
- An Extra Place Setting: It’s always a good idea to plan for an extra seat.
In the Kitchen
- Take the time now to organize your pantry to save you the headache of pulling out all of the cans searching for something you’re sure you bought
- If you’ll be serving the holiday meal make sure you know what you’ll be cooking and what family members will be bringing. Start a master shopping list. Try to do your shopping before the 20th when the stores get even more hectic
- Go ahead and set the table a week or so before. Make it even easier by putting a sticky note on each platter that states what dish you plan to serve on it
- Clean the fridge out as much as possible several days before Christmas.
- Make a few meals ahead of time and put them in the freezer. The week before Christmas is always hectic. No matter how much you plan ahead, things come up. and you still need to have dinner. Save yourself a lot of stress and cleanup by having meals all ready to pop in the oven.
Bed & Bath
- To make any overnight guests feel welcome put together a basket of towels, wash clothes and extra toothbrushes before your guests arrive. This will also save you the stress of scrambling around last minute
- Keep sets of clean sheets all together by slipping them inside the pillowcase
- Track down extra blankets and have them handy.
An Inviting Entry
- Make an inviting entry while also helping keep mud at bay with a cheery mat outside the front door. Be sure to check the lights along the front walkway.
- Establish a place to collect all warm weather apparel, including boots. Add extra hangers to your coat closet or designate a room to collect these.
- You should also consider adding an extra doormat for wet boots. If you plan for this ahead of time your entrance won’t become a cluttered mess upon everyone’s arrival.
Extra Extra
- Consider putting together some fun things for the younger visitors that you will have. A box of assorted Legos, a stack of colored paper and a box of colored pencils are all simple but can help to keep them busy.
- Don’t forget to buy batteries for any toys or electronic gifts.
- Recharge the batteries on your camera or video recorder.
It may not seem like you’re accomplishing 
a lot in the grand scheme of this holiday season when there is always so much to do. By checking off some of these smaller tasks in the weeks before it can allow you more relaxation and less stress on the big day, We hope you & your families have a wonderful holiday!