Holiday grand plan 2010

[Nancy]

I found 2011 calendars and got a couple of big ones that had smaller ones in the same package today at the $1.oo store so we are set.

[blessedw2]

great nancy.

I still am thinking of the grinch. thank you again dharriet.

this week for holiday grand plan was the master bathroom:
I dejunked the cabinets already because of dharriets decluttering routine
I will not wash anything down as I don't have time

what I will do this week:
buy hand soap
toss out decreped towels
checked hair soap, deoderant, razors, toilet paper and bought so I don't have to run out at Christmas when money is shorter and I have no time.
wash curtains and that window
wipe door as that is when needed
I have glass doors in my shower but if I didn't I would probably wash my shower curtain or replace lining


I am putting in envelopes a cash christmas tip (not much ) for water guy, mail man (cash) and put it in bill area

[blessedw2]

also this is when I start keeping an eye out for what I and the kids (they choose their own) will wear for the holidays. we used to get super dressed up but not anymore. I also make sure I have a back up outfit as I always do something to mine when the kids were little I had too many times the outfit they would wear would get ruined before we went to grandmas house.

we look at our shoes, I need this year to buy some nice shoes as my shoes are shot... not sure about dd21/dd15
we also buy new mascara and lip gloss as it goes bad. lol I don't wear make up on a regular basis and then barely but I do toss it and replace it.
socks: need to replace
pants/skirt do I need them

[blessedw2]

Deep Cleaning/Organizing Area:
•Kids' Rooms / Play Areas :
Cleaning Grand Plan Week Six
Holiday Grand Plan by Katie Leckey
Holiday Grand Plan Printables by Cynthia Ewer

"Let's get shelves done first (if appropriate). Use same method: examine, toss/save/donate, replace onto shelves. This is a good time to get rid of games with lots of missing pieces, or save for while you're in the playroom in case the pieces are hidden there.

Desk drawers: go through (or have your children if they're older) and sort out what papers need to be saved and what can be tossed. Get rid of old magazines, old McDonald toys, toys in pieces, broken crayons, non-functional pens. make room for the stuff on top of the desk!

Clothing Drawers and Closets: Again, check for current sizing. Too small? Donate to a friend's kids, Goodwill, or homeless shelter. Torn? Can it be used for rags? Box up anything to be saved for a sibling. Label and the box and put it away now. Throw out anything not able to be repaired! Have your child try on questionable items.

Before we go further. have you thought about taking curtains down, and washing? Better start now! Throw the bedspread & blanket in the wash too!

Time to check under the bed for the nasties down there. This might be a good place for under-bed storage containers. Once everything is picked up off the floor, don't forget the ceiling fans, and wash your ceiling fixtures. Now's a good time for windows & blinds too! Don't forget to dust, & polish any wooden furniture.

If you have boxes stored in bedroom or closets make sure you have a good marker with you to mark the outside of boxes with contents. (You can do this but I find that giving the box a code number, letter or name and not marking the contents directly on the box but instead on an index card placed in your SHE box, you can at anytime change the contents of the box without writing and rewriting on the box what is inside.

You can use the same methods for playrooms or play areas. Perhaps if you have a hobby room and no children, you can use this for your sewing or craft room. If you have none of the above, then take a relaxing bath. Then go over any areas that still need "doing".


Holiday Prep:
•Make one batch of Holiday Goodies.
•Make one extra meal for freezer again labeled HOLIDAY MEAL.
•Buy two canned food items from menus (get 2 of each item, one to use and one to donate to food drive).
•Buy 1/8th of TO BUY gifts. Save all receipts, note return policy before buying. Ask for gift boxes.
•Wrap and label packages. If needing to ship, get some shipping boxes now and store packages in them.
•Work at least 1 hour a day on homemade gifts.
•Check smoke detectors and clean them, change batteries if needed.
•Make "goody basket" for guest bath, from samples found in abundance in stores right now."

this is ceo's list:

[blessedw2]

I can't do all of dear CEO's list:
since my dkids are older I have moved this to closer to the holidays where they just vacuum, dust,
i don't have toys any more etc. and if I follow dharriets decluttering focus: we are staying on top of our clutter (lol most times) etc.

what I have done already: bought comforter for dd15 as dog ruined other one and replaced pillows in both girls rooms.

what I do now:
1. I don't know what others want at this point for the holidays. but I start asking dkids and dh to start thinking about what they want. they give me great lists as they have time to really think and they even send me photos. they give me a pretty nice list so they never know exactly what is coming.
1A: I also write down everyone who I need to think about: including people that help us... mailman etc.

2.donations for food: I do start now.. something each shopping day
- (at christmas) we do make gingerbread houses (each girl makes their own) and we give one to someone we think deserves a little treat. 3. but now: we buy each week candies.

4. I have found over the years that wrapping as soon as I buy really helps, I have a card that I write down what I got for that person, I have a number on the package as we get one nice gift and then little things, ie: dd21 - #1 purse - cost
(this way I know whats in the package and that I keep things equal.

also I think that if you are buried; this list would be overwhelming to get all of it done for the holidays.
to me a big thing is getting the laundry off the floor and washed and keep up with it until the holidays
donating is a learned process and if you struggle with memories I find touching those areas as with dharriets focus will help. it takes time:
re: games: I found don't look for all the pieces... if they are missing don't think... toss. games that don't have pieces don't get played with even if you have found memories of playing with your dkids. also I have learned you will find pieces here and there and think oh if only .... well by the time you find the pieces the game hadn't been played with for a year. games are cheap.
(if you really struggle tossing it.. take a picture of it and if thats too hard take a paper part (small off the game to put next to the picture.. then you have a piece that you can feel ) I did this with a table cloth from my grandmother, it was warn and not usable but found memories.. so a cut a small square. years later I no longer needed to feel it and I tossed it)

[blessedw2]

bought one tide for donation
bought 2 licorice for the gingerbread houses (put away)
bought 2 more pillows and one blanket for hall closet

[Harmony]

blessed, your holiday list makes me tired! You do so much stuff. Well, I guess I do (or did) too, just different things.

Thank you everybody for your insights. I have been considering a table top tree for a few years. But I'd always envisioned a 3' tree with very special miniature ornaments, each one picked out... when we went out to buy one that size one year when DH couldn't lift because of an operation, I ended up with a 6' white one anyway because it was so pretty. But it is so heavy to drag in and all the decorations are up on top of storage shelves in the garage.

Everything I do involves getting boxes down with ladders, and ladders to get the village up. The outside decorations are a whole day project, ladder up into palm trees, and DH walking across whole roof.... plus the same getting everything put away.

There is always a bit of disappointment in past several years when noone comes here because kiddos are little and want to be at their own house, and we see friends at another friend's where she has an annual party. So the decorations were mainly for us, and always made me feel so happy to see..

I love the Grinch and the philosophy. Just really really do not want to get depressed this holiday. 1DD has a situation herself that may make the holidays difficult for them too. So much swirling in my head.

If I could get DH on board with all this I think we might manage to cope, though the change would be huge. Right now, though, I feel truly stuck with the deciding and the accepting.

[Harriet]

Harmony, here is a completely different thought, then, going the opposite way.

You and Mr. Harmony already hire one helper for workplaces. Could you hire someone to do all the exterior work this time without Mr. Harmony getting so involved that he exerted himself? Could he stand it? Could you hire help indoors, even? Would oldest grandson be mature enough (and close by enough, and strong enough) to come help you do the lighter-weight chores indoors for some extra allowance money?

If any of this would be dangerous in that it would encourage Mr. Harmony to do so much that he might hurt himself, then it wouldn't be worth it. You could ask him for a particular Christmas present, then when he (of course) says "yes" to you, tell him it is letting you hire some helper to do the heavy-exertion decorating. Also, whoever helps, they have to agree to help with the un-decorating. too, or the plan falls apart.

blessed, thank you for noting the HGP children's room checklist/guide here - it's interesting and detailed. I have printed it out for dd.

[blessedw2]

oh harmony that isn't my list.. that's ceo's. I couldn't think of doing all that in one week.
I just print what she has. right now I only follow: basics... buying things a little at a time for gingerbread house and donations for school food pantry collection. I also buy new pillows for us this time of year.
nothing much. I would be exhausted lol.

also dharriet as always has wise advice. We hired teenagers to help us this year in the garden. dh can't do it and I don't have time. Also I think it takes time to get used to a new way of doing things. I was depressed for the first year, I'll admit it. but slowly (slowly) we have adjusted, it was a grieving process of once was. my dmom will not come back anymore for christmas and I can't leave dh's family christmas eve plus dd21 and my dbro and his wife have issues from when she stayed with them at the height of her ed. she will never trust them.

we have had Christmas early december and november and when everyone was together it felt like christmas. but this year there will be none together as my dmom leaves november 3 and with dh sick it won't work. So we are setting up a date in summer next year, God willing.

I understand about decorating for yourself. My dmil has all of us girls and children at her house in the beginning of december to put up her decorations. Could your dd and family do that with you. it's lots of fun. one year I made box gingerbread houses for the dkids and while we were busy they did that, one year my dmil made cookies with the kids while we worked.
is that something you could do... we also put on christmas music while we put up lights etc.

[Harmony]

Oh, blessed, that is funny, I thought you were trying to do ALL THAT STUFF! I guess I read it wrong.

You and Harriet had good idea to hire this out, but don't think that would work very well. DH is not the stand around type, it is difficult enough out on the jobsite, this past week he was up on ladders holding boards with one arm.. and now that his sling is off I'm afraid he would be more tempted than ever to do stuff.

Also family is all 3+ hours away, and stuff up on ladders isn't safe for little ones. Ages: 11, 9, 7, and 6. Family with the oldest struggles with time issues to just get a holiday put together for themselves. I'm sure we could find some teens from church, but DH would likely get too involved.

I just need to make a plan and stick to it. Trying to focus on little easy things I can do to make things special this year.