Martha’s countdown to Christmas
For many people, the four weeks before the winter holidays are among the busiest of the year. Indeed, there’s a lot to get done before New Year’s. This week-by-week chart includes many of the to-dos that will come up, followed by some timesaving tips. Finish the tasks in a timely fashion, checking off one or more every day, and the week before Christmas won’t be a mad dash to the finish line.
WEEK 1
• Write gift lists and organize addresses, preferably on a computer or a PDA to ensure neatness and efficiency.
• Purchase stamps, cards and wrapping supplies.
• Plan a gift swap with friends to limit your total number of purchases.
• Sign, address and send holiday cards.
• Spend a few hours shopping on weekdays or after work, when stores are calmer than they are on weekends.
• Ship gifts early to guarantee on-time delivery.
• Carry your address book or PDA when you shop, since some stores will ship directly.
• Finalize travel plans. When the time comes, check in and print boarding passes at home.
WEEK 2
• Plan holiday menus. Order a turkey, ham or other specialty items.
• Shop online. It will save you the time and effort of wrapping and shipping gifts.
• Unpack decorations, and inspect them for damaged ornaments and burned-out bulbs.
• Take an inventory of baking staples, and replace those that are running low.
• Set up a wrapping station in a low-traffic area of the house, and wrap gifts as you buy them.
• Hand out gifts and gratuities to service people.
• Buy bulk gifts, such as a case of wine, and offer bottles to neighbors, acquaintances and party hosts.
• Drop off a few festive outfits to be dry-cleaned.
WEEK 3
• Complete half of the house cleaning, starting with infrequently used areas, such as a guest room or formal dining area.
• Display exterior decorations; greenery lasts longer outdoors.
• Polish silver and hand-wash stemware.
• Make and freeze cookie dough to bake as needed over the coming days.
• Purchase the tree and other greenery. You can even buy a tree online and have it delivered.
• Put up interior decorations.
• Trim the tree toward the end of the week, so you’ll have time to enjoy it, and it will stay fresh.
• Prepare chicken broth for use in holiday dishes, such as gravy. Freeze stock in jumbo muffin tins, and keep the rounds in freezer bags.
WEEK 4
• Launder and iron table linens, then roll them around wrapping-paper tubes for short-term, wrinkle-free storage.
• Shop for food at an off-hour (some stores and markets expand their hours). Consider having purchases delivered.
• Clean the remaining areas of the house, this time targeting frequently used rooms.
• Finish last-minute wrapping.
• Take stock of and clean serving dishes and utensils if you’re hosting a holiday meal.
• Make seating plans and write out place cards; set the table.
• Prepare make-ahead side dishes such as cranberry sauce.
• Get an early morning jump on the main meal, which will give you more time to spend with guests.
HELPFUL HINTS
Do the math: Draw up a budget and gift list before you shop. This will ensure even distribution (among, say, your kids) and eliminate aimless shopping trips. Organize lists by category (clothing, electronics, toys), so you’ll make only one trip to each store.
Keep bows neat: Wrap gifts early but add ribbons, bows and tags later (label gifts with sticky notes so that you don’t forget who gets what). Unadorned boxes are stackable and therefore easier to store and transport.
Fly lightly: When traveling for the holidays, lighten your load by purchasing gift cards rather than bulky presents. If you must bring gift-wrapped items, package them so that airport security will be able to examine their contents. (A box in which the top and bottom are wrapped separately, with a card and the ribbon tucked inside for attaching later, is one option.)
Work together: Organize a party with friends to tackle a big holiday task, such as baking cookies or wrapping presents. An expedition to a tree farm to cut down the Christmas tree is also a fun group activity.
Questions may be sent to mslletters@marthastewart.com. Sorry, no personal replies.