Holiday Household Prep

[lucyismycat]

For several years I have been part of a group that does year-round household deep-cleaning. Our home was originally housed by a lady named Cynthia Ewer at organizedhome.com (she has since retired and we all moved to FB).

 

We work based on a plan written by Katie Leckey that's called the Cleaning Grand Plan; in 13 week cycles. Each week a different area of the house takes focus, so that once each season we focus on a room in our house and declutter, wipe down walls, baseboards, clean carpet if there is any, etc.

 

At this point in my life I mostly focus on the decluttering and I get to the rest of the deep clean as I have time or assistance from outside resources.  However, it's really helpful to remind me to have the piano tuned once a year, schedule the bug guy, house washers, etc. It's also great for helping me look at our house with fresh eyes, to see what projects I want to undertake in a season...and it helps me to try not take on too many things at once. 

 

When we begin our fall "season", we start something called the Holiday Grand Plan. This time of year is dedicated not only to decluttering and cleaning, but also holiday preparations.  Each week in addition to our regular lists, we do something holiday related - work on Christmas cards, purchase gifts or gift cards, work on handmade gifts, stock up on pantry staples for holiday baking, handle decor for fall, thanksgiving and Christmas, etc.  

 

Over the past 24 years, I have found this plan allows me to be the most relaxed version of myself during the holidays - I don't stress about having everything done, because even if I don't get EVERYTHING done, I still am way ahead of the curve by the time December rolls around.  The great part about the plan for me is how flexible it is.  Before kids, I didn't have a "kids' room" to focus on, so I'd pick something else that week to work on (usually a craft room). Now that I do have children and more rooms, I usually end up combining a week or two, but since I go through everything 4 times a year, keeping things decluttered isn't nearly as difficult as it was when I started. 

 

One of my other favorite parts of "the plan" is that it gives me time to reflect each season on what I liked, what didn't work, what things I want to repeat the next time around, etc.  It's how I learned that our family REALLY enjoys driving through Christmas light displays and I need to prioritize setting times aside for that, but we're not so big on picking our own apples, so we skip that and try to just hit a local pumpkin patch sometime around the last weekend in September (before all the "good" pumpkins are gone - an insight from a few years ago). 

 

So my question to you all is, how do you get ready for the holidays?  Are you organizationally challenged (like me lol) and have a plan to work, or are you able to just get everything done on your own?  I have always admired people who are able to have it all come together without it seeming like a ton of effort (like my mother).  I want our family to be able to enjoy the holidays without being stressed constantly that I've forgotten a gift, or that I've forgotten who likes what kind of cookies the best, or that we missed seeing a favorite yearly concert because I didn't have it on a list to check for tickets, etc. And the last thing I want is for my family to feel like the holidays are stressful and rushed...it's definitely my favorite time of year, and I want to pass that along to them. 

 

How does your family "holiday"? 

 

 

[berry1014]

For several years I have been part of a group that does year-round household deep-cleaning. Our home was originally housed by a lady named Cynthia Ewer at organizedhome.com (she has since retired and we all moved to FB).

 

We work based on a plan written by Katie Leckey that's called the Cleaning Grand Plan; in 13 week cycles. Each week a different area of the house takes focus, so that once each season we focus on a room in our house and declutter, wipe down walls, baseboards, clean carpet if there is any, etc.

 

At this point in my life I mostly focus on the decluttering and I get to the rest of the deep clean as I have time or assistance from outside resources.  However, it's really helpful to remind me to have the piano tuned once a year, schedule the bug guy, house washers, etc. It's also great for helping me look at our house with fresh eyes, to see what projects I want to undertake in a season...and it helps me to try not take on too many things at once. 

 

When we begin our fall "season", we start something called the Holiday Grand Plan. This time of year is dedicated not only to decluttering and cleaning, but also holiday preparations.  Each week in addition to our regular lists, we do something holiday related - work on Christmas cards, purchase gifts or gift cards, work on handmade gifts, stock up on pantry staples for holiday baking, handle decor for fall, thanksgiving and Christmas, etc.  

 

Over the past 24 years, I have found this plan allows me to be the most relaxed version of myself during the holidays - I don't stress about having everything done, because even if I don't get EVERYTHING done, I still am way ahead of the curve by the time December rolls around.  The great part about the plan for me is how flexible it is.  Before kids, I didn't have a "kids' room" to focus on, so I'd pick something else that week to work on (usually a craft room). Now that I do have children and more rooms, I usually end up combining a week or two, but since I go through everything 4 times a year, keeping things decluttered isn't nearly as difficult as it was when I started. 

 

One of my other favorite parts of "the plan" is that it gives me time to reflect each season on what I liked, what didn't work, what things I want to repeat the next time around, etc.  It's how I learned that our family REALLY enjoys driving through Christmas light displays and I need to prioritize setting times aside for that, but we're not so big on picking our own apples, so we skip that and try to just hit a local pumpkin patch sometime around the last weekend in September (before all the "good" pumpkins are gone - an insight from a few years ago). 

 

So my question to you all is, how do you get ready for the holidays?  Are you organizationally challenged (like me lol) and have a plan to work, or are you able to just get everything done on your own?  I have always admired people who are able to have it all come together without it seeming like a ton of effort (like my mother).  I want our family to be able to enjoy the holidays without being stressed constantly that I've forgotten a gift, or that I've forgotten who likes what kind of cookies the best, or that we missed seeing a favorite yearly concert because I didn't have it on a list to check for tickets, etc. And the last thing I want is for my family to feel like the holidays are stressful and rushed...it's definitely my favorite time of year, and I want to pass that along to them. 

 

How does your family "holiday"? 

 

If you are not already familiar with magicalholidayhome.com then you should go check them out. They have threads dedicated to the HHP and HGP along with the all the holidays. 

[Bopeep]

This sounds wonderful.  I always create a Holiday Calendar for the months of November and December. I schedule decorating, wrapping, which day which candy will get made, which day the whole family gets together at my mom's to decorate cookies, etc. My family makes fun of my calendar, but I would be a bawling stressed out wreck if I tried to wing it. Of course, they just say "don't worry about it" "If something doesn't get done, no one is going to care".  I did finally admit to myself last year that I don't do it all for my family, I do it all because *I* love it. If it didn't get done, I would be the one that cared.

 

Sorry. That seems to have turned into self  pity/therapy. LOL 

 

I really love your idea and I'm going to check out that website Berry1014 suggested too.

[lucyismycat]

If you are not already familiar with magicalholidayhome.com then you should go check them out. They have threads dedicated to the HHP and HGP along with the all the holidays. 

 

YES!  I also visit that site throughout the year for "Rudolph days" (basically we do something Christmassy on the 25th of each month) and for additional motivation to keep going with the HGP!  

 

Bopeep - it's totally fine to do it because *YOU* want to do it.  I grew up with a mom who made Christmas so special that I wanted to carry that feeling with me all year long. I am striving to do the same for my kids, it's sinking in with one of them  

 

DH used to joke at me because of my planning, but he has at least learned to tolerate my crazy holiday-ness.  LOL He embraces the feasting that's involved, though! 

[mjbateman]

I am always trying to create the atmosphere like I see on the Hallmark Christmas movies. So I begin my deep cleaning a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. Christmas is absolutely my favorite time of year. At the office we decorate our cubicles and hang up stockings after Thanksgiving. Everyone drops goodies into to stockings for about 3 weeks. It makes for a lot of fun and fellowship at the office. 

[abentley]

Oddly enough, I am busier now than I was when my children were younger. I work full time, and am a full time student. Planning is something that brings me comfort, yet I have less time to accomplish all the things I want.  Shopping isn’t my problem, just getting everything at home ready! I came home from an annual girls trip last December, and my husband decorated for me. Not anything I would normally do, but it worked but do not want a repeat!!

[tracy0504]

I am a planner, it is a must for me and I usually start planning for everything around August except for the deep cleaning... this past weekend I decided every Saturday I would tackle one room in the house until I got all the deep cleaning done... I will move on to decorating after that... and relaxing during the holidays

[ytmomof4]

So for me I work best under pressure but in all honesty it gives me anxiety to do that. I really need to come up with a plan