It’s already three days after Christmas and Jan is still collapsed on the couch in a post-Christmas haze. Why is she so exhausted? What went wrong? Why can’t every Christmas be as magical as the Very Brady Christmases of yesteryear?
Jan’s brooding is interrupted by Marcia’s chirpy voice on her new i-Phone, “Jan, I’m just heading to Office Max to purchase my new Christmas notebook! Would you like me to pick you up a notebook too?”
Christmas notebook? Jan is intrigued. “Thanks Marcia…er..what is a Christmas notebook?”
“Why Jan,” Marcia laughs, “The notebook is part of my strategy to plan for next Christmas! I also write letters to Dear Libby in it.”
Here’s how to plan ahead for next Christmas using Marcia’s easy tips:
Take notes.
Before you dismantle the Christmas tree, grab a notebook and write down what worked—and what didn’t work—this holiday season. Did you run out of sugar cookies with icing while your festive lime-green Corn Flake Christmas wreaths went untouched? Make a note. Did your mother-in-law hardly raise an eyebrow when she received a Lands’ End cardigan sweater, but screamed with glee when she opened a vinyl coupon sorter? Make a note.
Take inventory.
While you’re surrounded by wrapping paper, decorations, food, and recipes, take inventory of what you have—and what you need—and take advantage of the after-Christmas sales. Stock up on cards, gift wrap, and holiday-related office gifts so you will actually have something to give the bitter administrative assistant who gives you a Santa coffee mug filled with candy canes on your way out the door.
Cut the clutter.
Sure, your Santa Bear collection was cute—say 15 years ago—but do you really need to display all 20 of them like furry soldiers on parade? If you have a holiday collection—whether it’s angels or nutcrackers—keep one or two of your favorites and donate the rest.
Take photos.
You’ve spent hours creating your winter wonderland—both indoors and outdoors—and you don’t want to recreate the wheel next year! Grab your camera and snap away and use photos as a guide for next year—you will forget your wonderful creations! This is also a helpful reminder of the decorations you have in storage!
Christmas notebook? Jan is intrigued. “Thanks Marcia…er..what is a Christmas notebook?”
“Why Jan,” Marcia laughs, “The notebook is part of my strategy to plan for next Christmas! I also write letters to Dear Libby in it.”
Here’s how to plan ahead for next Christmas using Marcia’s easy tips:
Take notes.
Before you dismantle the Christmas tree, grab a notebook and write down what worked—and what didn’t work—this holiday season. Did you run out of sugar cookies with icing while your festive lime-green Corn Flake Christmas wreaths went untouched? Make a note. Did your mother-in-law hardly raise an eyebrow when she received a Lands’ End cardigan sweater, but screamed with glee when she opened a vinyl coupon sorter? Make a note.
Take inventory.
While you’re surrounded by wrapping paper, decorations, food, and recipes, take inventory of what you have—and what you need—and take advantage of the after-Christmas sales. Stock up on cards, gift wrap, and holiday-related office gifts so you will actually have something to give the bitter administrative assistant who gives you a Santa coffee mug filled with candy canes on your way out the door.
Cut the clutter.
Sure, your Santa Bear collection was cute—say 15 years ago—but do you really need to display all 20 of them like furry soldiers on parade? If you have a holiday collection—whether it’s angels or nutcrackers—keep one or two of your favorites and donate the rest.
Take photos.
You’ve spent hours creating your winter wonderland—both indoors and outdoors—and you don’t want to recreate the wheel next year! Grab your camera and snap away and use photos as a guide for next year—you will forget your wonderful creations! This is also a helpful reminder of the decorations you have in storage!
1 comment:
Great tips-
I love that Marcia has 4 kids and Jan only has 1
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