The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide
Nov 18, 2009 | Posted by in Family & Home, Featured | 0 Comments
The Ultimate Holiday Guide for Christmas 2009
Christmas seems to rush by so quickly! Follow these tips to have your ultimate holiday home makeover (and gift purchasing!) done in half the time.
1. Clean it up. If your home isn’t clean and tidy, it won’t look holiday-ready… period. So make this the number one priority on your list. (Don’t worry, we have lots of great tricks coming up next to make your house look really festive in no time at all!)
2. Keep it simple. Whether the clutter is inside your home or on your front lawn, nobody’s even going to notice your awesome ornamentation without being able to differentiate one glowing light from the next. When it comes to Christmas decorations, just remember, less is always more. Outside the house, just make sure things look balanced. Don’t string lights only on one side of the yard, for example, and stay away from cheap, tacky looking figures, and you should be fine.
3. Let the kids help. You may be surprised what they can accomplish with some clever guidance from you. After the cleaning’s done, let them make candy wreaths that you can hang up and give as gifts. Let them cut out paper snowflakes that you can then suspend from the ceiling or put in the windows.
4. Don’t be afraid to look for —and use— online wish lists. For the friend or family member that has everything or is super hard to please, don’t hesitate to look and see what they want. You can always give it with a gift receipt, if you’re not sure it’s a perfect match.
5. Gift certificates can save you time and stress - In those last frantic minutes, remember, gift certificates may not be the most personal gifts most of the time, but it’s not a crime to give them, whatever your mother says. The important thing is that you care about them, and you’re trying your best to show it. Make the card a really personal one to make up for a somewhat impersonal gift, and make sure you pick their favorite store.
6. Use colorful florals in red, white, and green to add some Christmas color. It’s fast, and boy is it effective. If you’d like a more traditional look, grab some poinsettia and a few sprigs of mistletoe to suspend from the ceiling, ornamented with pretty ribbon. And don’t forget about the mistletoe tradition! Make sure that you let your guests know that it’s there. Playful antics are sure to ensue, livening up any gathering.
7. Make some traditional hot Christmas drinks. Many of the traditional drinks take no time at all to make, just heat up some wine and/ or juices, add traditional spices, like nutmeg and cinnamon, and heat, and you’re ready to go!
8. Make Christmas cookies. For a quick Christmas cookie, buy some ready-made dough, sprinkle with green and red toppings and pop them in the oven.
9. Disposable dinnerware can help you relax. Remember, for gatherings, if you put plastic tablecloths over all the tables, and use disposable dinnerware, you can throw everything away afterwards!
10. Don’t forget to have fun!
For more great tips for the holidays and family life in general please visit the Family and Home Section on GKWomen.
