Christmas Timeline 5 Weeks to Go

Every year I have a time table for getting my Christmas planning, gift buying, etcetera done. This consists of a 6 week timeline to get everything I haven't done throughout the year, done in a timely and stress free manner.

Christmas Timeline Week 5

Begin by taking all of those cards we got last week and finish addressing them and getting them ready to be mailed. You want to be sure you get those mailed out this week so the receivers will get them by Christmas. Remember that there is a lot of mail going through our postal services this time of year and things can take a little longer to arrive at their destinations.

Try to finish your gift shopping this week. Remember that next week is Thanksgiving so you will be rather busy and unable to shop for your gifts. Black Friday is next week also so you should be able to find some deals if you are brave enough to fight those crowds. If not, try to be sure you finish your shopping this week. If all else fails, finish your shopping the week after Thanksgiving, however try not to put it off too long.

If you are planning to have your house and tree decorated before Thanksgiving, now is the time to pull out all of your Christmas decorations. Try out all of your strands of lights. If they are not working, you can either try to fix them, or do like I do. If I don't see an easy fix, I take all of the bulbs off of the strand of lights. I put them in a container and save them from year to year. You can use these as craft items for making your own Christmas decorations or trying to fix another strand of lights. I am sure most of you don't have the time to sit and check every bulb on a non working strand of lights. Be sure you don't have any broken ornaments. If you are in need of more ornaments or lights, now is the time to check your local thrift stores or purchase them new from the department stores.

Continue to work on wrapping the gifts you have purchased. Again, this saves you stress rather than trying to wrap them all at once.

Continue to bake your cookies and desserts that are freezable. Remember to freeze them in air tight containers, layered by using waxed paper.

Recheck your holiday travel plans and accommodations. Be sure there are not any mix ups, everything is paid for and that everything is booked the way you prefer.

Continue your shopping for your dinner party if you are having one. Purchase any items that you can that won't expire before Christmas. Purchase the items that are freezable. Be sure you have purchased enough napkins, paper plates, silverware, tablecloths and disposable pans for all of your guests and your entrees.

That concludes week 5 of the Christmas timeline. Please see my other articles for the following weeks.