It’s Christmas Eve already! I am already so excited for the upcoming holiday…I enjoy spending time with my family, and watching my kids light up with joy over the presents they give and receive. It truly is one of the highlights of my year, especially this year. Every year, I learn more tips and tricks to make the holidays smoother and simpler for me and my loved ones. Whether it’s a new trick to save time or streamline (or cut out clutter), I’m on board! Here are some of the ways you can prepare for your holiday, to make it the simplest and most stress-free yet:
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-Get a trash can out! Okay, this sounds like a silly way to set the scene for a holiday, but seriously, it’s a lifesaver. Before you start a big holiday meal or gift giving frenzy, a simple trash can lined with a large bag can make your clean-up a cinch. We let everyone tear into presents, but afterwards, a central spot to dump trash really cleans up the space for us to enjoy a meal or play with fun, new presents! I recommend actually putting an extra trash can out (a clean, sanitized one) filled with a trash bag for additional trash or disposable plates or cups, if you are using them. This helps prevent overflowing trash disasters.
-Light candles or do stove potpourri: I love the more natural approach for some potpourri (gently simmer cranberries, herbs, and cinnamon sticks in a pot with water on the stove), but candles do a great job of making everything feel cozy as you prepare to open presents or spend time together. I like to light them about 30 minutes early, so that they have time to burn and get the scent evenly distributed. I also try not to mix too many strong scents, so make sure if you have two very strong scents, that they are in different areas of the house, such as a back bedroom or bathroom, and one towards the front of the house.
-Prepare as much as you can, before the actual day: if you’re in charge of making rolls or that famous breakfast casserole, think about ways that you can prepare it ahead of time, and tuck it into the fridge to save time. You will thank your future self for doing any prep work such as chopping veggies or assembling cheeseboards, because you’ll be surprised how many last minute tasks pop up!
-Get out a group activity: Find a board game or puzzle, and get it set up before anyone arrives. It will give people something to do, and keep little hands busy if you have small children. Puzzles are an awesome idea to give people something to bond over, and you can set them up out of the way on a card table or folding table in another room.
-Prepare to remove all the decor: Obviously, many people leave their decor up until the new year, but even then, it’s so nice to do some of the prep work to make it go smoothly! Get down bins or ornament holders and arrange them in the garage, so the decor can be put right in. It’s the perfect time to sort through things as you put them away, and decide what broken or out-of-style things you may not want to store for next year. Then, when it’s carefully packed up, you can feel confident it’s all in one place, and ready for next year’s festivities!
Merry Christmas! I am wishing you all a very happy holiday, and am so grateful you’re here and part of this little online community!