Free Sony EBooks: Free ebook sample of "A Simply Wonderful Holiday" by Dee Armstrong Crabtree

A SIMPLY

WONDERFUL

HOLIDAY

A Holiday Guide

and Planner

Created by

Dee Armstrong Crabtree

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Copyright 2010, Dee Armstrong Crabtree, all rights.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dee Armstrong Crabtree is a publisher, author and lecturer. An Indiana native, she is the mother of two and the grandmother of two. She studied journalism at Indiana’s Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and has been published in several local, regional and national publications.

ALSO BY THE SAME AUTHOR

A Simply Wonderful Life – A Guide to Easy Organization

Simply Wonderful Travels

Records Retention Made Simple

DEDICATION

All versions of this small book are dedicated to the memory of my fantastic, one-of-a-kind grandfather, Rufus Lee Perkins, who adored Christmas and who made it a truly memorable experience for the entire family.

It is my hope that the tips and lists contained in this little guide will help you make the holidays warm, loving and memorable for your entire family.

THE CHAOS

Christmas Day is the highlight of the year for many of us. It is definitely the highlight of the year for the children in our lives.

The holidays seem to be the center of American life; a time when we gather together to share food, fun and gifts. It is a time that should be spent thoroughly enjoying the company of your loved ones.

So, why is that many of us become stressed-out over the holidays? We feel the pressure, very often self-induced, to make the holidays absolutely perfect for our families. However, the holidays are not perfect if you are fighting with your spouse over the lawn decorations, sitting in a horrendous traffic jam outside of the mall or having a nervous breakdown over lumpy cream sauce.

Many of us create our own stress. We over-shop, over-decorate and just generally over-do in our quest for that illusive perfect day.

This year will be different for you. You’re going to use the ideas and lists in this guide to organize and simplify the entire holiday season. Your shopping will be easier, your entertaining will be easier and your life will be easier.

Simplifying things does not mean eliminating the things you enjoy. You can still shop with your friends, bake cookies with the kids and go to the office Christmas party, should you so desire. This guide will show you how to plan and organize things so that whatever activities you decide to participate in, and whatever chores you need to tackle, are managed efficiently.

Everything you need to keep your wits about you during the holiday season is contained within these pages. Follow this guide and you will enjoy simply wonderful holidays.

THE BATTLE PLAN

This is your holiday survival guide. I suggest you keep this booklet on your computer desktop from October through December. However, since your gift list is included in this planner, you may want to password protect it to keep it safe from prying eyes. If you haven't totally embraced the electronic world, print your copy and hide it among your cookbooks or in your desk at work.

In the next chapter, you will find some basic timesaving tips that will help you manage all that you have to do over the coming months. The following chapters will cover shopping, gift-giving, decorating and entertaining. The final pages are the lists that you will customize to suit your personal needs.

Now on to the planning! The first thing that you need to do is establish your holiday calendar. If you don’t have a system that you currently use, I suggest that you use the one that is in your email program. All email systems have a calendar and most will even send you reminders of important events and tasks if you turn the reminder feature on. As soon as you finish reading this guide, go on-line and visit your church, school and work websites for important dates. Make note on your calendar of all the parties, school programs and religious services that you and your family want to participate in. Once you’ve saved those dates on your calendar, be sure to schedule time for your holiday tasks such as addressing cards, shopping, wrapping presents, baking and entertaining.

Next, move on to your Christmas card list. Go through your address book and any other list of addresses you may have. Don’t forget to check your church directory and club membership rosters. Note the names and addresses of everyone you’d like to send holiday wishes to and enter them onto the greeting card list. Going forward, you’ll want to keep this list and refer to it year after year. Over the holidays, if you receive a card from someone who was not on your list, be sure to add them to this list so you won’t forget them next year.

The most difficult list for you to complete might be the holiday gift list. Fill out a section for every member of your family and all of your friends that you buy gifts for. Don’t forget any co-workers or service people (hairdresser, etc.) that you generally give to over the holidays.

The grocery list is the easiest form in this guide. Feel free to print multiple copies of this list. Post a copy on your fridge, and when you see that you running low on certain items, circle those items on the list. When you’re ready to go to the store, simply grab your list off of the fridge and you’ll be ready to pick up everything you need.

PRECIOUS TIMESAVERS

If your life is already busy, squeezing in multiple holiday-related tasks can be a difficult challenge. In this section, you will find a few timesaving measures that will help you tackle that challenge.

To save yourself from having to search for supplies every time you bring a gift into the house, set up a gift wrap center. A variety of inexpensive organizers are available at discount stores. However, a cardboard box works just as well. Include scissors, tape, wrap, tags, etc., so that you never have to go searching for those items when you need them. Use the same box year after year and keep it stocked at all times. If you live in a two-story house, consider keeping a separate box on each floor so that if a gift recipient is upstairs, you can wrap his/her gift downstairs and vice versa.

To simplify your wrapping, use a unique wrapping paper print or color for each person in the family and you won’t have to put name tags on the gifts.

Many stores will wrap your purchases for free or at a very low cost. Another option is to support local charities who, for the cost of a small donation, wrap gifts inside many local malls during the holidays.

Complete your greeting cards while you’re relaxing in front of a good Christmas movie or a football game. Put the kids to work affixing stamps and licking those envelopes. Spouses can help out with addressing envelopes, particularly if you keep your list on the computer and print out the addresses on peel and stick labels.

Don’t waste time standing in line to buy your postage stamps. Nowadays you can buy books of stamps on-line, from your postal carrier or even at some ATMs.

THE SHOPPING STRATEGY

Shopping is quite often the chief time thief from September through December. However, a little forethought can save you a lot of time and money.

Before all of the holiday madness begins, stock up on basics such baking goods, paper products, wrapping paper, tape and assorted batteries. If you wear department store cosmetics, check your stash and make sure you have all you need to get through the holidays. You really don’t want to have to fight large crowds just because you ran out of your favorite eyeliner or trash bags.

Start early by buying gift wrap and small gifts from the neighborhood kids during their early fall school fundraising sales.

Shop on-line wherever possible. The gifts you order on-line can be sent either to you or directly to the recipient. Most on-line retailers also offer gift-wrapping. Some, such as Amazon, will even email your recipient a gift card with the click of your mouse.

If you prefer to go to the store, try to go during off-peak hours. Very early in the morning and late in the evening are particularly good times for avoiding crowds.

To streamline your shopping, consider a gift-giving theme. Doing so will cut down on time wasted running from store to store. For example, give everyone books this year. All you have to do is make one stop at the bookstore and you’ll be done.

Wineries are a great place to buy gifts and, while they are busy during the holidays, they are much less crowded than the malls. In addition to wine, many wineries also sell gourmet foods, candles, home accessories, coolers and picnic baskets.

One of the best places to get last minute gifts is Cracker Barrel. You can have breakfast there and afterwards pick up toys, candles, clothing, books and countless other fun gifts for everyone on your list.

Give homemade gift certificates for services that you yourself can provide, such as babysitting, cooking, housecleaning, painting, lawn care and dog walking. Use your computer’s word processing program to create professional looking certificates. Not only will these gifts be easy on your budget but you will probably be providing your loved ones with services they will truly appreciate instead of a sweater they will stick in a drawer and never wear.

Consolidate your gift-giving by giving married couples or families joint gifts, pooling the money that you would have spent on individual gifts and putting it all into one bigger, nicer gift for the recipient couple or family.

Consider giving “serial” gifts over the years. You may not be able to afford an entire set of fine dishes or CD’s all at one time, but you may be able to buy one piece for a loved one every year. You’ll be able to complete the collection over time without breaking your budget.

Are you on a limited income or do you have difficulty getting out to go shopping? Consider giving some of your family heirlooms to your kids and grandkids. Cookbooks, albums, furniture and antique dishes are all welcome gifts. Not only will you have given your family members something they can cherish for a lifetime, but you’ll have the personal joy of seeing them enjoy your things during your own lifetime.

Office gifts can be tricky. Buying a gift for your boss can be misconstrued, so stick to mere token gifts for your supervisor. A tin of home baked cookies or a picture frame for his/her desk would be appropriate.

Carefully consider whether or not you will give gifts to your co-workers. The question in a large group becomes where do you stop? Do you give only to your most intimate friends at work or must you act like you're in school and bring something for the whole department. If you work in a large group, keep it cheap. Goodie bags filled with Christmas candy or a simply ornament for each person can be a thoughtful, yet affordable gesture.

DECK THE HALLS

Television shows and decorating magazines can make decorating your home for the holidays feel a bit intimidating? How can you create that magical look in your place without blowing all of your holiday funds on decor´ alone? Your home can be beautifully decorated without spending a lot of time or money. Try some of these quick and easy ideas:

• Tie red, green, gold or silver ribbons on everything that doesn’t move. Put big bows on planters, curtain tie-backs and vases.

• Wrap inexpensive twinkle lights around windows, doors, stair rails and house plants.

• Drape tinsel from light fixtures and bookcases.

• Hang cheap crystals from the dollar store on your chandeliers.

• Top tables with red, green and white candles. Place them on or in front of mirrors to double the glow.

• String popcorn into a garland and hang it from your Christmas tree and/or mantel.

• Have the kids make red & green construction paper chains to drape over mantels and the Christmas tree.

• Fill glass bowls or canisters with glass Christmas balls.

• Display the holiday cards you receive on top of your entertainment center and bookcases or top entertainment centers, bookcases and cabinets with poinsettias.

• Create special collages with family holiday pictures taken over the years and prop them on benches and shelves.

• Raid the kids’ rooms for teddy bears (currently unused, of course), dress them in red ribbons or knit hats and scarves, put small wrapped gifts in their arms and arrange them on small bench or in a wagon.

• Hang mistletoe in doorways or from ceiling light fixtures.

• Cover your sofa with red and green throws and pillows.

• Light up the outdoors with ice luminaries. To create the luminaries, simply freeze large bowls of water, creating a hole in the center for candles by putting a smaller bowl or tin can in the center. Once frozen, remove the bowl/can from the center of the ice form and the ice form from the larger bowl. Insert a candle in the middle and line your driveway or sidewalk with the ice luminaries. Light the candles shortly before your guests arrive. The luminaries will last as long as the weather stays cold and dry. If you are short on freezer space and the weather is cold enough, freeze your ice forms outdoors.

ENTERTAINING

Entertaining can be intimidating if you don’t do it very often. However, once you’ve mastered the art of having parties in your home, it can prove to be one of the great joys in life. What could be better than sharing a relaxing evening in your home with friends and family? Below are some tips that will help you master the art.

Plan your menu so that you don’t spend the entire party either in the kitchen or jumping up to serve everyone. Most home parties wind up in the kitchen anyway, so you might as well embrace that fact and make it the center of the party.

These days, most people prefer casual parties where big pots of chili, salads and pizzas are served buffet style. Clean off your kitchen counters and use them as buffet serving areas. You need not have fancy serving pieces for this type of buffet. Just make the most of what you already have, including the kitchen sink. Fill that sink with ice to keep canned and bottled drinks chilled.

If you prefer to use an ice bucket but don’t have one, a soup tureen can serve as a nice substitute. Use the soup ladle as an ice scoop.

There’s no need to buy a food warmer for your buffet. Keep party food warm by keeping it right on the stove in your nicest pans. Crock pots work equally well but give you a little more versatility as far as placement. If you don’t have enough burners, get out your pancake griddle and turn it on low to keep extra pots of food warm throughout the evening.

Most family dining tables only seat six to eight people. If you want to host more people than that, set up extra tables in other areas of the house. If you don’t have enough tables, rent them from your local party rental store. Large tables can be rented for less than $10.00 each. You can also rent dishes, linens and serving pieces from these stores. Don’t have a tablecloth large enough for that rental table? The rental place does. Need to make coffee for 20 people but don’t own an industrial size coffee maker? The rental place does. If you don’t need specific pieces, such as an extra large coffee urn, very often it would be better to rent than to buy and store those pieces in your home. In fact, if you don’t own enough plates, glasses or flatware, you can rent all of that, too.

If an ultra-casual kitchen buffet doesn't suit your style, plan an old-fashioned open house, with a more formal buffet set up in your dining room. The beauty of the open house is that you can invite many more people than you could possibly accommodate at a sit-down dinner. Guests come and go throughout the evening, eating at various times. In order to keep things simple and to eliminate the need for cutlery, plan a finger food buffet featuring finger sandwiches, cookies, fruit and cheese.

There are several things you can do to insure your guests' comfort that you can do just before they arrive. The most important thing you can do is to make sure that your powder room has a fresh roll of toilet paper, clean hand towels, plenty of soap and a trash can.

If you have pets, for their comfort and that of your guests, consider sending your household animals to friend’s house or to an isolated bedroom in your home for the duration of the party.

Set the mood with holiday music. If you don’t have a stereo system, you will find that most cable and TV satellite systems offer music channels boasting holiday music. Set your television to one of those stations as your party begins. After you get the music going, turn down the bright lights and turn on your Christmas lights. Light the fireplace, the candles and luminaries.

As your guests arrive, greet them at the door and take their coats. Don't forget to clean out your coat closet or set aside some area in an unused room for coats to be stored neatly and safely during the party.

For party favors, decorate your tree with candy canes and let guests take one off of the tree as they leave at the end of the party.

WONDERFUL WEBSITES

These are my favorite shopping and educational websites. All of the on-line shopping sites listed below will deliver anything you order right to your door or the door of the gift recipient.

BEST WEBSITES FOR GIFTS

Amazon.com

Harryanddavid.com

Swisscolony.com

Atasteofindiana.com

Walmart.com

Target.com

Lillianvernon.com

Crateandbarrel.com

Sears.com

Potterybarn.com

Plowhearth.com

Llbean.com

BEST WEBSITES FOR COOKING

Bettycrocker.com

Butterball.com

Kraft.com

Jello.com

THE PLANNING PAGES

What follows are the pages you need to formulate your battle plan for the holidays. Print them out and use them to help you keep calm and organized during the days that follow.

GROCERY LIST

Apples

Bananas

Beans

Beef

Bread

Buns

Butter

Cake Mix

Carrots

Cereal

Cheese

Chicken

Cocoa

Coffee

Creamer

Cooking Oil

Crackers

Cream

Cucumbers

Eggs

Fish

Flour

Frosting

Green Beans

Ice Cream

Instant Potatoes

Juice

Ketchup

Lettuce

Marshmallows

Mayonnaise

Milk

Mustard

Onions

Oranges

Pancake Mix

Paper Napkins

Paper Towels

Pasta

Peas

Pepper

Pet Food

Pizza

Popcorn

Pork

Potatoes

Pudding

Radishes

Rice

Salt

Snack Cheese

Soda

Soups

Sour Cream

Spaghetti Sauce

Spices

Sugar

Syrup

Tea

Toilet Paper

Tomatoes

Vinegar

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