Official Calendar

Contact: Frank Cirillo or Meghan Olmstead, 216.252.4938

No one said it would be easy, but with this handy calendar, and a little of your own planning, you can get all of your holiday chores done early (yes, we said early) so you can actually enjoy your family and friends (yes, we said enjoy them).

Now

Review this handy calendar to coordinate all of your holiday planning activities
Feel free to make any slight adjustments to fit your schedule and needs
Breathe a sigh of relief with the realization that you will finally have the holiday season of your dreams

Week of November 3: Planning

Sit down and create the following lists:

Gift recipients list (with a basic idea of what you would like to get for each, and general cost for each)
Card recipients list (make sure to double check who you received a card from last year to include them)
Gift-wrap and accessories list (what will you need to get you through the season?)
A master holiday calendar (including vacation days, travel schedules, parties you have been invited to, etc.)
Your budget (take into account your holiday meals you are in charge of as well as any parties you need to plan for and create an over-arching budget. Leave a little room, if you can, so you aren’t too pressed)
Tip: Set small achievable goals for yourself along the way so that you are constantly rewarding yourself for all of your hard work

Week of November 10: Begin to assemble your needs

Set out to get all of your wrap, cards and accessories (also stop at the post office to load up on stamps)
Start filling out cards at your leisure (at lunch, while watching television, etc)
Begin shopping for those hard to buy for recipients on your list and/or anyone who you will have to ship the present to
Tip: If you can, use a vacation day this week when the malls won’t be as crowded, and you can get through quickly

Week of November 17: Start checking names off your list

Start to shop for everyone else on your list. Go out with a few names in mind so you can stick to a plan, save time and money.
Continue filling out your holiday cards and sending them out
Start wrapping gifts as you get them, as to not overburden yourself closer to the official holiday season.
Tip: With Thanksgiving a week away, be sure to take some time to plan for that. Make this week more flexible so that you aren’t overwhelmed by both holidays

Week of November 24: Give thanks that you got such an early start to the season

If you absolutely must, enjoy Black Friday.

Week of December 1: The stretch drive begins!

Devote this week to additional wrapping and holiday card sending. You will want to get anything that needs mailed out early to avoid heavy traffic…
In fact, be sure to purchase any gifts that will need to be mailed by the end of this week
Begin decorating for the holidays. Enlist the help of the kids or friends, and above all else, enjoy yourself!
Tip: Take an inventory of where you are at: How have you done with your goals? What are you behind on? What needs to be done now?

Week of December 8: Get to shipping

Finalize your cards and presents you will be shipping out. Have everything in-house and make sure they are wrapped, filled-out and ready to go.
Are you going to be the host or hostess this season? If you are having the family over for dinner, make a detailed menu along with a shopping list. Having a few overnight guests? Inventory your home to make sure they will have everything they need including, extra blankets, pillows, towels, toiletries, etc.
Tip: Try to wrap up all of your gift shopping this week so that you can devote extra time to wrapping up all of that gift wrapping next week

Week of December 15: A week of deadlines (don’t worry, you have most of them done already)

Make sure to send all cards and presents being mailed out no later than Monday, December 15
Head to the grocery store for anything you’ll need to entertain, and make a stop at any convenient retailer to get any items you will need for house guests
Have all gifts purchased and set a schedule to get the wrapping done
Complete any cards you plan to hand out at parties, work, etc.
Tip: Do any major cleaning on your house that needs to be done before the holidays so that only minor touch-ups will be required during crunch time

Week of December 22: Christmas Week! Hanukkah Begins!

Its finally here, and you should be sitting pretty.
Double check:

Are all gifts wrapped and coordinated by where they need to be delivered?
Are all of your cards out and/or ready to be handed out if attending post-Christmas get togethers?
Are you preparing a dinner? Do you have all of the ingredients you need?
Will you be entertaining house guests over the holidays? Do you have everything you need to ensure their convenient stay?

Cross off any of these last minute needs with a few trips to the store, or even by recruiting a little bit of help
Have the family pitch in to maintain your tidy home in lieu of the barrage of guests. Assigning specific rooms to family members and doing a nightly “sweep” of the house will keep things in tip-top shape and stress-free
Tip: Did you ever think you could say this during the holidays: Take some time to relax. You have gotten it all done and can now truly enjoy. Nice job!