Christmas Planning Week 16: Maintenance Week

It's sooo close we can almost touch it and, if you're like me, no matter how organised you feel you're not. Yes my Christmas shopping can be ticked off, My vodka is on order for delivery on the 22nd and the ibuprofen is ready for the 26th.

I've wrapped most of the presents (and bought far too much as usual) and the chocolate tub is only half full  .... but the housework... well that's taken a bit of a back seat.

This week is all about Maintanance ......... making sure the rooms are organized, tidy and ready and finishing all the little jobs.

There are now 11 days left until the big day to get things done in .... here's how mine will plan out.  I am going to print this off and stick it up/ write it in my diary so I can check on my progress/ outstanding things.

Of course I also have a blogging schedule to add to this.....

Christmas Planning Week 15: Finish-Up Week

It's now or never, there's only 2 more weekends to go before the big day.  I'm now in a proper sorting and organising mood as I only have 9 days of no work (ohhh on that note I only have 7 more days of work.... YAY)

I've wrapped the presents that need posting, just got to sort out all the cards this week and mail everything off.  

I love the idea of delegating chores to the kids, Ben seems to be in a very helpful mood at the moment (wonder why?!)

I'm flying on the organisation front.... but sadly lacking on the sorting and cleaning.  In fact I've wrapped almost everything and working on Christmas Eve hamper.... must add a box to my shopping list.

Our elf and his friends is here and having a great time (I'll try and pop a post up about it) and the 24 books of advent is going down a treat (again post to follow).

Christmas Season is well and truly in full swing with Ben's Christmas play at school tomorrow and Noah's next week.  Our trip to Santa is planned for the 21st and I'm super excited.

Let's take a look where I'm up to.....

Christmas Planning - Week 1: Front Porch / List Week

Well Christmas is well on it's way and Week One on Organized Christmas is List Week.  Yup you guessed it, this week is all about making lists, lists and lists to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Check out the printable lists on the above site (I won't be reinventing the wheel), however I will be sharing my progress and would love you to keep me on track and share your progress along with me.

I just need to find me a nice Christmas note book to keep my lists in :)

As I don't have a front porch (which is the suggested focus for the week) I will be concentrating on my front room which is a disorganised mess - mainly as it is currently the storage point for all the lego.

Cleaning/Organising Area:
Front Room and the Front Room cleaning checklist  (once mine is written I will upload to google docs or similar for you).

Christmas Preperations
Print the Holiday Grand Plan calendars for reference.
Make the following lists:
Gifts to be given, amount to spend (include family, friends, etc)  Master lists here and here  I've started and listed everything bought so far (including any savings).  I'd love to list them here but you never know who may stumble across the blog.  I'll let you know after Christmas.... tho there will be a hint in a review later on this month. ;)
Christmas card list - Decide how many cards are needed, which are we making, buying in bulk, ordering?  Master List here
Visits to make - we really don't make any so for me I can cross this straight off.
Parties/Entertaining - we really don't entertain (or go to parties), yay another I can cross this straight off.
Menus for Christmas, New Years, etc
Long-term shopping list/ perishables / decorations/ Goodies - buying in a few every week saves a big splurge just before Christmas.
Favorite Meals of Family members for freezing ahead - our freezer isn't really big enough, it will be 'business as usual in our house.
Create a Christmas planner notebook to organize all this holiday planning into.  I found a lovely 'me' notebook set in Store21 and they were reduced to £1.50.  BARGAIN.

If you want to get ahead of the game there are more printables here.

Updated 6.9.14