Kohen meets Santa Claus, sent in by Mendy from Florida

Extra Holiday-Planning Tips Not Addressed in the Show

Holiday Stress-Reducers

• Create a master holiday to-do list and refer to it annually. Include your card recipient list, gift list, time line for tasks, favorite recipes, etc. Store it all in a holiday binder.
• Take a few minutes to look back at past years and make a list of what went well during the holidays, what didn't, and what you'd change if you could.
• Spread out the tasks. Don’t attempt to do it all in one week.
• Just say no! Only say yes to events you really want to participate in.
• Scale back altogether and focus on the things that matter most to you. Remember: quality over quantity.

The Joy of Cleaning

• Scratch off things that just aren’t important and save your energy for the necessities.
• It’s a busy time for home improvement and Spring cleaning. Clean only the areas of your home that guests will see and save the rest for next year.
• Delegate! Delegate! Delegate! You can even splurge on a cleaning service this once.
• Schedule in a weekend for cleaning. Get done what you can then let it go and enjoy the holidays.

Decorating and Un-Decorating

• Simple is better. Limit your decorations to your favorites.
• Do it earlier than usual to beat the rush.
• Start a tradition for both the decorating and the un-decorating (Have a party with eggnog, music and snacks!)
• Get out-of-town guests involved. They can set the table, trim the tree, help hang lights and even shop with you.

Gift Giving

• Take inventory of what you have, especially if you are the type to pick up gifts throughout the year.
• Have a family wrapping party or wrap as you buy.
• Keep a running list of gift ideas all year long as friends and family members comment on things they like.
• Buy duplicates. If you find a great item, pick up several of them to give as gifts.
• Declare a theme and shop at one place. For example, buy all books or music for your loved ones.

Holiday Meals

• Avoid the guesswork of what to make for a special gathering. Create a list of ideal holiday foods (favorite appetizers, desserts or even dishes that can be made ahead of time and freeze well) and store it in your holiday binder to refer to each year.) Be sure to list the cookbook pages or website from where they came.
• To ensure that cooking for big dinners goes smoothly, make a list of your menu items indicating the order in which they need to be addressed including cooking times and oven temperatures.
• Days before your big holiday meal get out all serving dishes and utensils that will be needed. Clean them and match them to a specific food item. Attach a label or sticky note next to each dish identifying it’s purpose. This helps eliminate the “match making” process on the day of serving when the meal is coming together.