Christmas 2024 caught me off guard and I was not prepared for it like I intended. Thanksgiving week was not only late, but it was filled with guests and multiple events. Before they left TheHub came down with the creeping crud and he was generous in sharing it with me. We both coughed, sneezed, and felt generally terrible for over two weeks. And, even once on the mend, we were both still lethargic and overly tired throughout the day.
As a result, things I normally do to prepare for Christmas just did not get done. I baked nothing, made only one type of fudge (I usually make 3), made white trash candy but no chocolate covered cherries.
Decorating? Ha!
I did get the living room and den trees up and filled to the brim with lights, but not one ornament was placed on either tree.
For the most part I did not feel like shopping, so the things I bought were either ordered online or bought at one of the two stores I actually went into. As a result I was not particularly happy with most of the things I had for others. The odd thing is that they seemed to like them as they opened each gift. (Of course their main gift was not something we could actually buy for them.)
Since there are 52 weeks until next Christmas I thought I would start a weekly post about what I am doing each week to get ready for next year. I will be beginning this week and ending the week of Christmas Eve, hopefully listing something positive that I have done each week preparing for next year.
1. Bought a daily planner to plot my goings on. I also bought a project planner to keep all of my ideas and plans easily accessible.
2. Got my Christmas organizer ready for Christmas '25
3. Inventoried wrapping paper and ribbon to see what needs to be added for next year. (Maybe a roll or two of paper and that's it). But did I go to any clearance sales to grab any? Nope!
4. Froze the butter, flour, baking chocolate, and white chocolate I bought but did not use for baking. Thanks to the FoodSaver it should all be perfectly fine to use for candies, cookies and cakes next year.
5. Took down trees and put all the lights in a container to check for any needed replacement bulbs during a boring night in January.
6. Washed and put away all Christmas bedding and linens.
So this is my first step toward a potentially wonderful Christmas next year. The jury is definitely still out, but I am going to try very hard to keep focused without any obsession.
I love this! I was caught off guard a bit this year too and vowed next year will be different. It was still a lovely holiday, but I missed doing a few things I always do. I will be following along with your progress. I set up my planner and notebook yesterday so bring on the New Year!!
ReplyDeleteLike you I am ready for this new year!
Delete"Focused without any obsession." Maybe we could have a t-shirt of bumper sticker with that to remind us.
ReplyDeleteSince cleaner his most of my decorations, I just want to locate them for next year. I checked baking items I did not use this year, and they will go into freezer.
Right now, I need to focus on getting things down and making sausage balls.
I decorated so little that getting things down and put away was pretty easy. I intend to have the entire house decorated before Thanksgiving this year, since it will be in later November once again.
DeleteYou are very organized for Christmas! To me,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you did really well with your Christmas brunch and decorating. I give checks, socks, and hoodies for grown kids, and art supplies for grandkids. My tree is $15. from Dollar General. Lol. Truthfully, the rest of my decorations, as well as everything else, was lost in the fire. I had the flu over Christmas so I couldn’t be around anyone anyway. I am supposed to fly West to grandkids over MLK weekend but we shall see bc it looks like you, PP, and I are in for winter weather soon! I only fly direct from Atlanta and refuse to change planes, so if I can’t get there I will have to reschedule for a spring trip. I think the name of the game this year for both you and me was go with the flow. Cindy in the South
“Were lost” sigh…. Cindy in the South
DeleteCindy in the South,
DeleteI only became well on Dec 22, so preps were sparce.
I get the direct flight preference. We are now driving to Nashville for a direct flight to Portland, and to get a little short visit with Son 3. The Nashville airport is a dream to navigate.
DeleteYou are stronger than I am. I am quite glad to have Christmas in the rear view mirror and won't be thinking about it again for months. And months.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas and all the comings and goings. I felt like we missed a good part of it this year and though I can't guarantee we won't be sick again next time around, I am at least going to have as much as I can control done.
DeleteIt's still Christmas in my house, or maybe it's already Christmas in my house! I'm not in a hurry to take down my tree and decorations because I love the lights and ornaments. This year and last I felt I took way too long to get the tree up and decorated. I swear I will start at the beginning of November, 2025. I didn't bake cookies this year and didn't feel bad about it.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I love all the lights and baubles, and even though my Christmas stuff is put away, I keep lights on the mantle and candles going until spring.
DeleteI love this, Anne. You are on the ball for next year. There is a Facebook group called "The Tuesday Afternoon Club", (https://www.facebook.com/groups/469231433481678) which is run by Annabel who writes "The Bluebirds are Nesting on the Farm" blog from Australia. (https://thebluebirdsarenestingonthefarm.blogspot.com/2024/12/feather-your-nest-friday-27th-december.html) The Facebook group starts making stuff in January to be prepared for Christmas when the time arrives. It's a great idea to get started early.
ReplyDeleteI am not on the ball, but was so behind the 8 ball this Christmas that I don't want to get caught behind it again.
DeleteOkay, your title made me giggle (snort, actually) out-loud. Like Janie, I'm in no hurry -- but Epiphany will be here before I know it. Two thumbs up for your 2025 Game Plan!
ReplyDeleteNothing like a little sarcasm with preparation, right?
DeleteWait! You mean Christmas 2024 is over??
ReplyDeleteIt is here, and now is time for black eyed opeas, collards and pork
DeleteHa, ha, I used to buy the following year's gifts during the after Christmas sales! This year, though, I didn't get all my decorations up, for one reason or another, but, it was OK. But, I will join you with the preparations for next Christmas! I already bought some red and green tissue paper to stash for next year.
ReplyDeleteI have not been shopping since Christmas so I have no stash. I was kind of shocked to run by Walmart's grocery store near me NYE and see it fully stocked for Valentine's Day
DeleteOh thank goodness you'll be doing all this without any obsession! You had me worried there!
ReplyDeleteYes, nothing like teling about an obsession then declaring there is none!
DeleteWith the new kitten investigating and getting into everything, I did virtually no decorating and what little I tried, she managed to attack it. People got gifts, I made food and attended the festivities, and now would like to ignore it until December next year. Maybe something will change in the year to get me enthused again but I'm feeling a bit like Scrooge minus the tight pockets.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with being done with it until it comes around again. I was just unhappy that we had to cancel so many plans, then felt too tired and out of sorts to "do" Christmas like I prefer.
DeleteWell, I just want to go on record as saying that a tree with just lights is beautiful! I am sorry, though, that things went sideways because of not feeling well. I hate being sick, but no more so than when I'm looking forward to something like Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHonestly I put so many lights on the trees that they were beautiful as long as they were on.
DeleteStarting in October I am going to be doing vitamin C like a fiend!