Planning
Plan your attack!
The first thing to do is to plan for the Holidays so you will not feel stressed and will be able to relax and enjoy your family and friends. Prepare with the HG Labs Holiday Planning Notebook. Organizing now with you own HG Labs Holiday Planning Notebook will mean a more successful and enjoyable holiday time. The key though is to simplify and work at this daily or weekly!
The HG Labs Holiday Notebook should organize all of your holiday cleaning, decorating, travel reservations, gift lists, receipts for gifts, as well as recipes, budget, etc. This notebook will be the one place you go when you need direction and want to stay on task!
What You Need to Set up a Holiday Planning Notebook
(this should last you for years)
A Large Binder- Look for a sturdy three ring binder, one with pockets on the inside covers. Some people like to choose a red or green binder, while others choose a binder with a clear pocket on the front and print their own label for it. Go on, make it as festive as you want and personalize it with family pictures, etc.!
Dividers & Tabs- Use dividers with tabs and pockets to help in prioritzing. Write out how many events and categories you think you are going to need. Trust me... buy a few extra... you will think of more things as you go along. Start with at least 10 dividers.
A Highlighter and Indelible Ink Pen- Located in the front pocket of the binder or attach it with a string.
That's it! A three ring binder, some dividers with pockets, and a pen and you are ready to transform any holiday season into a precise organized event.
Sections Within Your Holiday Planning Notebook
Calendar
I suggest you keep your calendar on your computer with a paper calendar in the front or your notebook to help jog your memory and refer back to both from time to time. Be careful not to double book you and your family.
Budget
This may be the most important section of your holiday planning notebook. At the beginning of the holiday season, determine a reasonable budget based on your gift lists and ideas. Each section of your notebook needs its own allotment of the budget. Also keep this in front of your notebook. Tracking your spending can help you know where to make cuts or add a few frills to your holiday spending. You will have a great Holiday Season and no regrets!
Gift Ideas and Shopping Lists
Write down gift ideas for friends, family, or anyone you plan to gift. I buy gifts throughout the year when I see something special or "on sale". This will help to spread that budget a little further and give you more time to relax and enjoy the holidays!
Christmas Card Lists
Also your computer would be the best place to organize addresses. Keep your list up to date. Consider sending e-cards...more eco-friendly. If you want to send a special person a card consider one with a meaning like a seed or donation to a favorite charity!
Menus and Recipes
This would be a good section for menus: food menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and individual parties, will help you find everything at a glance. Put in copies of all your favorite holiday recipes. Include recipes for easy 20 to 30 minute meals to make during the busy holiday months. Gift jars and mixes would fit in this section too.
Personalize
Plan your personal traditions. The important activites that you and your family most enjoy... making cookies, caroling, Christmans tree shopping, etc. This section is to keep those traditions on your busy calendar.
Visiting and Travel
Organize your visits to family, friends and special events. You can keep travel arrangements, maps, directions and packing lists in this section. Information from past visits may help you be more prepared for any traveling issues.
Parties and Entertaining
This section should be used for guest lists, menus, and activity information just to mention a few ideas.
Receipts
Receipts would be a good idea to keep. Write information on the receipt, if it isn't already printed, include stores return policies and other info as well as the one who received the gift. You can bet something will break, not fit, or that they just may not want it.
Cleaning Schedules
Next organize your cleaning schedule. Extra things you may want to have tidy, maybe the glitter you will need to clean up... which is not in your regular cleaning schedule. Check my blog for year long cleaning tips also keep a look out for my new How to Cleaning and Organizing book.
Come back each week for more tips to make you Holiday Great & Green!
Don't let this be you...get organized and prepared!
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