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Is your holiday preparation in order? Summer is over. That means Halloween is right around the corner, and Thanksgiving is not far behind. Christmas will be here before we know it, followed by the New Year, and the cycle starts all over again.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. True, autumn has arrived, but it’s not even the end of September! The weather is still warm. So there’s still plenty of time left. Or is there?
We all know the truth: the holidays have a way of sneaking up on us. They’re here before we know it. We figured readers wouldn’t mind having a cheat sheet available for doing their best to make it through the holiday season in one piece.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at six essentials that constitute the basic holiday preparation checklist for families:
Most families make a point to take holiday-themed photos to send to friends and family. But it takes more than a last-minute appointment at the studio. There’s a level of preparation involved.
For starters, ensure everyone in your clan has recently had a haircut or hairdressing. Follow up with considerations over clothing; whether it’s matching family outfits or individualized fashion choices, make a point to ensure the selections enhance the quality of the family photo. Lastly, shop around to find a stellar photographer in your area. Combined, these steps will lead to great photos to send to friends and family.
Cook Favorite Holiday Recipes
Holiday preparation can be a tricky business. For many families, the holiday season means one or more tasty dishes or treats to enjoy. More times than not, this requires a unique recipe – seemingly conjured from thin air – to convert from a concept to an iconic dish.
Whether it’s a family recipe handed down from one generation to the next or something generated from a recipe found online, the end result should be the same: a delectable edible only available during the holiday season. Anything less fails to harness the fanfare that makes holiday recipes so desirable in the first place!
Put Up Seasonal Decor Around The House
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas all transpire within a few weeks. They also call for different kinds of celebratory decor. Holiday preparation can be a lot of work, but it's also a great opportunity to get creative and have some fun.
Whichever combination suits your cultural traditions, we encourage you to plan ahead as soon as possible. Doing so all but guarantees your house is adequately decorated for the rapid-fire series of holidays destined to come your way in the coming months.
Buy Simple and Thoughtful Holiday Gifts
With all the holiday preparation that needs to be done, it can be easy to get caught up in trying to find the perfect gift. However, we suggest taking a step back and focusing on simple gifts. Shaker influence aside, the concept of simple gifts boils down to the idea that great gifts don’t need to be complicated.
In other words, focus on gifts that are relatively easy to get but not difficult to appreciate. Rather than chase down the modern-day Tickle Me Elmo, stop and think about useful or meaningful items to procure for your loved ones. The simpler gifts often mean more than any high-stakes, high-ticket item you’d chase down under pressure.
And sometimes, the best gift of all is simply your time and attention. So this holiday season, try to focus on giving from the heart, and you're sure to spread holiday cheer to everyone you meet.
Keep Storied Holiday Traditions Alive
As mentioned beforehand, the so-called holiday season varies from one family to another. Maybe you celebrate Hanukkah. Or perhaps you’ve embraced Kwanzaa.
Whichever holiday you prefer to celebrate, it’s no doubt part of a longstanding tradition. Don’t be the one to put that tradition to an end. Whether it’s dozens of lights wrapped around an evergreen, individual sticks of wax lit on a menorah, or something else, so long as you keep the tradition alive, the better.
Holiday Preparation Leads to Lasting Memories
If you're like most people, the holiday season is a time of mixed emotions. On the one hand, it's a chance to catch up with family and friends, exchange gifts, and enjoy festive activities.
On the other hand, it can also be a time of stress and anxiety, especially if you're responsible for holiday preparation. However, regardless of your emotional state during this time of year, it's important to make a point of cherishing and embracing the lasting memories you encounter.
Whether you realize it in time or not, the takeaway is that memories of a certain holiday in a certain year are more lasting than they’d be in a world where such things were controlled or manipulated by insincere forces.
Final Thoughts Family Holiday Preparation
The holidays are a time to come together and celebrate with family. By following our holiday preparation checklist, you can minimize stress and enjoy the season. Have a happy and healthy holiday!
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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Thanks for sharing all of these helpful tips.