Reflection: What Should I do Differently Next Christmas?

Twins Mom · ‎04-03-2016

Not being overly critical but in an effort to keep Christmas special and not a source of depression—- what will I do differently next year? Only three full weeks between Christmas and Thanksgiving!
• I need a notebook where I keep all notes, from ornaments purchased in July to gifts to menus.
• I need to practice certain menu items beforehand. Keep notes on details.
• Put all gifts in ONE place.
• Things aren’t movie perfect. It’s life.

Any other suggestions?

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

For us it was buy all gifts and put the tree and decorations, outside lights up BEFORE Thanksgiving. Otherwise, there's never enough time. And the weather gets bad or you get sick, or something happens.

Just get it done early. To us, that's our only hope at enjoying it.

Plus keep it simple.

MarkeieMark · ‎06-24-2012

Enjoy yourself

I tried to make that a point this year. For the holiday dinner, I threw the prime rib in the oven, and everything else I considered bonus.

Best holiday, ever.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

Good point about the shorter time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year, it was just under five weeks. Next year, it's just under four weeks.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

Personally, I don't treat Christmas like it's a job that requires hard work. For me, that would take all the joy and fun out of it. I'm close to 60 and long ago, I accepted that there is no such thing as a perfect Christmas. Something is always going to fall through the cracks, I AM going to forget where I put that gorgeous wrapping paper that I bought a year ago on sale. The turkey will be dry or I will forget to buy cheesecake for my niece who only eats one dessert....cheesecake. Something is going to happen or not happen and that's ok because it's still going to be a loving, fun, warm Christmas for my friends and family. I don't need lists after all these years but every year, I vow to be more organized when it comes to where certain things are. That is work in progress. I do have a theme and specific colors each Christmas and I make that decision sometime in the fall so that gives me time to fill in anything I don't have. I never try new menu items for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Learned that lesson long ago. My family and friends like and look foward to my old stand by foods. They don't want some new cookies I saw in a magazine, regardless of how good they are. They want creamy mashed potatoes, not roasted potaoes. If I want to try new recipes during the holiday season, I invite friends over before Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I did start Christmas shopping much earlier than usual and I did do 100% of online with QVC, Evine and Amazon and I will do that again next year. I had no late packages, no stress over "will it come in time" and I had time to actually think about the gifts I was buying. It wasn't I need "a gift for Sean". Rather it was "I need a hat and scarf set that will go with Sean's brown leather jacket". But, the Christmas Season has really just begun, we're in Christmas mode until Jan. 6th so this is when I kick back and relax and enjoy.

stevieb · ‎03-10-2010

While granted, I don't like the shorter time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I think the key, for me, would be to give it more than one day between the last one and planning the next one...

In my pantry with my cupcakes...

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

Not ever going here until some time after next Halloween. Still hungover from all the gifts this one.

qvcfreak · ‎03-10-2010

I bake all the desserts the morning before and then I prepp the casseroles ready to just place in the oven. So on Christmas I baked turkey and ham, transferred to roaster and set to warm while I put casseroles in the oven. While that’s going on I make mash potatoes and gravy.

I also keep a wrapping case where all the wrapping paper, gift bags, bows, tissue and gift tags are kept. I got it last year and it’s great to have everything in one place.

The one one thing I’m lacking in, is getting started early in the gift purchasing. I’m hoping to start in July this coming year.

CrazyDaisy · ‎03-20-2010

Best thing we ever did was replace buying gifts to giving the gift of time. We all make time to get together and stopped worring about material things. The last few have been the best Christmas ever.

Someday, when scientists discover the center of the Universe....some people will be disappointed it is not them.