Hosting a Cookie Exchange: Timeline

We have sent the invitations and created our menu. Now it is time to make our shopping list, check it twice, and prepare the house for the party by settling on some decor and cleaning!

In order to simplify the next few days, I will be doing a thorough cleaning of the house during the week and doing only the necessary touch-ups on Saturday morning.

Three-Four Days Before Exchange:

• Bake cookies and store in an airtight container
• Make sure your house is Christmas-y and festive by making sure your Christmas decorations are up.
• Gather table linens and serving pieces that you will need. I instructed everyone to bring their cookies arranged on a platter for the exchange, but I also had everyone bring an additional dozen to share, so I plan on having a few platters ready to go in case someone did not tray up their cookies. I have several serving platters as well as a few metal Christmas trays that I use when I make my Christmas cookies! And, don't forget to pull out your cake stands; using different heights on your table adds drama to your buffet.
  
• Make ahead any appetizers that will freeze or store well: Unfortunately, none of my apps fall into this category, so the earliest I will be making anything ahead of time is a day or two.
• Create your day-of timeline, as well as lists of any last minute cleaning that needs to be done. Be sure to schedule in time to run to the grocery in the morning for perishables if needed; I will need a fresh baguette and vegetables, so I will be making a quick run first thing in the morning.
• Prepare centerpiece/table decorations.
  

Day Before Party:

• Set your appetizer buffet and cookie table. For the cookie table, make sure that more than one person can get to it at a time!
  
• Arrange furniture and pull out additional chairs if needed.
• Prepare the rest of your appetizers that can be made ahead.

Day Of the Cookie Exchange:

• Buy perishable items at store
• IF you have done your major cleaning, wipe down bathrooms (including the toilets) and prepare the bathroom for guests. Run the vacuum and dust, and make sure your kitchen is clean.
• Put out appetizers, start the Christmas music softly, light the candles, brew the coffee!
• Enjoy the time with your friends and family!
  

Are you hosting a cookie exchange this year? Remember, Sundays with Santa's Helpers have challenged you to host some sort of gathering, so I hope you are planning away and preparing your details!

Sundays with Santa's Little Helpers: Week 4

So, did you accomplish your holiday decorating last week? Unfortunately, our tree is not up yet. We had a choir concert and several evening commitments this week, so were unable to put it up last week and we did not have the girls this weekend. We are hopefully going to purchase it tomorrow and put it in the LR so we can decorate it Tuesday. But, I digress...

The holidays are a time for families and friends to gather together, and often we are bogged down with invitations and weekend commitments. What holiday gatherings are you attending this year? Are you hosting any? Well, if not, here is our challenge to you!

Host a holiday celebration.

This can be any number of things.

• A cookie exchange
• A formal Christmas dinner
• A Christmas brunch
• A casual dinner with friends
• A gingerbread house decorating evening with the kids
• A holiday open house
• A New Year's Eve party

Whatever event you choose, the challenge is to PLAN and POST.

Create a timeline, tablescape, decor, menu, all nine yards, and link us to it throughout the next two weeks (Santa's Helpers are taking next Sunday off to prepare for Christmas), and tell us how you did it!

I have two big events coming up: my first cookie exchange next Saturday and a brunch for my side of the family on Sunday, December 20th. I have already posted my invitations and menu for my cookie exchange, and this week you will see posts and pictures of my decor and timeline, as well as all those last minute touches!

There is LOTS coming in the Control Freak household this week, so stay tuned!

Sundays with Santa's Helpers, Week 3: Deck the Halls!

This week's challenge is going to be a fun one, and is quite possibly one you have already begun! It also happens to be one of my favorite things to do!

Cleaning and decorating for the holidays!

Before we can decorate, we need to take the time to thoroughly clean and organize the place that will be decorated. The extra cleaning and organizing will pay off in the long run and even make the take-down of the decorations much easier!

Due to this weekend's craziness of my ten-year class reunion (which I planned) and taking the girls to see a 6:30 PM showing of Wicked, I will post more details during the week about my cleaning and decorating process.

Haven't been participating in our challenges? Check out Week 1 and Week 2, and my fellow Helpers at A Working Woman's Guide to Domestic Success and My Happy House. It is NOT TOO LATE to join in! This week, post your cleaning and decorating to do lists, as well as your holiday decor and favorite spot in your house!

I leave you tonight with a few of my favorite holiday inspiration pictures from Pottery Barn:

Sundays w/Santa's Little Helpers: Christmas Budget/List

Let me ask you something. Are you one of the 4 AM shoppers on Black Friday? Or are you snug in your bed, nursing a food hangover from Thanksgiving?

I am one of the early shoppers, but not because I am fighting for a flat screen. I enjoy the day after Thanksgiving madness! It puts me in the Christmas spirit and I love the hustle and bustle (and yes, I realize that is putting it mildly).

In preparation for the biggest shopping day of the year, Santa's Helpers are here to provide you with a few tips and tricks of what works for us to keep us on track and on budget during the Christmas season!

I present to you my very technical way of keeping things organized. I introduce to you The Notebook and The Envelope.

This notebook contains ideas for gifts and wish lists, as well as what I have already purchased along with a running tally of cost in order to stay within budget. As I come across items or ideas of the perfect gift for a family member, I jot it down and can use The Notebook as a reference while I am out shopping!

The envelope holds all receipts, which are labeled with the names of people whom the gifts are for. I actually have TWO envelopes, one which is kept in my purse and one at home. As I make purchases, I put the receipts in the purse envelope to be transfered to the one I keep stashed in our bedroom.

Here are the KEY ideas to making holiday shopping as non-stressful as possible:

• Make a list: Write down everyone you plan on buying for. If it is for a family gift exchange and you haven't chosen the names yet, at least write down something like GE (gift exchange): C. I would know then that we have to buy a gift for the gift exchange for C's family.
• Make a budget! Are you spending a certain amount per person? Or do you have a set limit to divide between everyone?
• Keep a running tally of how much you spend! This way, you will know when you are nearing the end of your set budget! This becomes helpful with kids and spouses.
• Have ideas ready! This makes shopping so much easier than wandering around the stores searching for something that suits the gift receiver.
• Stick to the budget! You created it for a reason!
• Maintain a positive attitude while shopping. The holidays can be stressful and everyone feels it. Try to go shopping on a day when you are not stressed out over other things or when you are not in a hurry. And enjoy the time you spend purchasing gifts for people. Don't be a Grinch as you head to the mall this holiday season!

How do you plan your holiday shopping? Here is your challenge for the week: Create your LIST, BUDGET, and HOW MUCH YOU PLAN ON SPENDING PER PERSON! Or...do you have other great tips to share with us? Leave us a comment to share your ideas and let us know when you completed the challenge! Be sure to visit my other Santa's Helpers at My Happy House and The Working Woman's Guide to Domestic Success for other holiday shopping tips!

Sundays with Santa's Little Helpers: Thanksgiving Prep

Wait, wait, wait...Thanksgiving has nothing to do with Christmas! BUT it has everything to do with preparation and planning for a dinner and entertaining a crowd. Although I do not host our family's actual Thanksgiving dinner, I am hosting a faux-Thanksgiving with another couple (and have already been to our FIRST faux-Thanksgiving last week where I made orange-cranberry sauce and a pumpkin roll). I will be basing my planning around hosting an ACTUAL Thanksgiving as well as preparing for our faux-Thanksgiving. So follow along as we get through Thanksgiving together!

My friend Rach and I have a tendency to go all-out when we get together for dinners, and last year's Thanksgiving was no exception! This year I am taking on the challenge of the turkey, starch/potato, appetizers (2) and a dessert. Obviously, hosting a regular Thanksgiving or a larger group would make a much more involved project, but I am going to be completing some of the small "touches" that I would if I was hosting a larger party.

Invitations: I am not sending invitations, but my fellow Santa's Helper Molly has suggested sending invites out 2.5-3 weeks in advance, which I think is perfect. Since not falling on an actual holiday, you are able to avoid the stress of planning around. She also suggests sending an Evite to save yourself the time. I enjoy making invitations, so if I were to host Thanksgiving for a larger crowd, I might whip up one similar to my Cookie Exchange invite.

2 Weeks Prior:

• Do a mock table setting: This allows you to see how many place settings you have, what you are missing, and if you have enough serving pieces. What linens will you be using? Do those napkins need ironing? Do you need to call Mom for another deep serving bowl?
• Place cards: Do you need to keep Uncle Fred away from Aunt Sue? Are the kids going to be next to parents or at one end together? Creating place cards will help alleviate any confusion when the time comes to sit! Here are a few ideas for place cards or visit
• Create your menu: What are you, as the hostess, in charge of? What are your guests bringing? Be sure to ask your guests as they RSVP if their dish will need to be heated up or if you will need to provide serving dishes for their food.
• Also be sure that you have everything you need to prepare your food, not just serve it. Do you have enough bakers or will you need to purchase or borrow another? Best to make sure of this now than be caught unawares during the week of the holiday!
• Make your grocery list: Using your menu, write down everything you will need. Be sure to check your cabinets in case you have some supplies already in there!

One Week Before:

• Head to the grocery store and purchase anything that NEED NOT be fresh. For example, I will be needing baguettes and won't want to purchase that in advance, but instead the day before our gathering. I normally do my grocery shopping on Saturday, so I will head to the store armed with my list and coupons!
• Are your guests taking home leftovers? What are they bringing them home in? It is a great idea to provide some sort of box for them to put all the yummies you are sending them home with in to! Check out Nashville Wraps for gable boxes and other cute ideas.
• Wipe out and clean all glassware

The Week of Thanksgiving:

• Enlist help, if it is available. Both stepdaughters are the age where they are HUGE helps, and I feel comfortable assigning chores to them.
• Deep clean the house! More on this later this week! Look for posts on mopping, cleaning the sink, and bathroom cleaning, as well as preparing for guests!
• Prep pastry doughs and pie crusts of possible, as well as any cookie dough that needs to be refrigerated.

Tuesday before Thanksgiving: Thaw the turkey!

Wednesday before Thanksgiving:

• Prep any appetizers that you can, as well as dips
• Cut and slice and prepare any veggies you will be cooking! Sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, and kind of tater!
• Set the table, set up appetizer, drink, dessert stations
• Complete rest of baking

Thanksgiving: Hopefully by the time Thanksgiving is here, you will be able to enjoy yourself because you have put so much preparation into it. The KEY to having a relaxed and enjoyable day with your family is to be prepared and REMAIN CALM. We will be working on a DAY OF timeline as well, so stay tuned!

What does your Thanksgiving week look like? Or are you having a smaller event with friends you are hosting and preparing for? Be sure to leave a comment with what you have coming up in the next two weeks!

Also, be sure to check out my other Santa's Helpers, Kristen at The Working Woman’s Guide for Domestic Success and Molly at My Happy House as they too post their Thanksgiving week tips and tricks!! Stay tuned for more detailed posts this week as I prepare to serve faux-Thanksgiving dinner to some friends on Saturday!

Sundays with Santa's Little Helpers!

Do the holidays make you light up with excitement? Do you burst at the seams just waiting for their arrival? Are you just nuts about decorating, baking and family parties? Well, if you answered yes, stick around! You are about to be bombarded with holiday goodness! But wait! If you said no, don’t go anywhere either! Why you ask? Because there is a good chance I know why you aren’t excited. Does the thought of the holidays make your skin crawl? Are you nervous and anxious at the same time? Does the chaos, entertaining, decorating, baking and cleaning make you want to hibernate with the bears? Well then you should stick around too! Sit back, grab a cup of spiced cider, hot cocoa, hot toddy or whatever else you like, for we are about to embark on a holiday challenge like never before!

I’ve teamed up with Kristen at The Working Woman’s Guide for Domestic Success and Molly at a My Happy House to bring you this series of posts in order to make your holidays painless. Starting next Sunday, we’ll each do a weekly post with the same theme and pump you full of knowledge while challenging you to do some of the same things we’re doing!

Are you as excited as we are? If so, post in the comments and tell me you are committed! We are going to conquer the holidays one week at a time, and it’ll be enjoyable- I PROMISE! And make sure to stop in every Sunday (well…you can stop in every day if you’d like…I’d like it…) and join Santa’s Little Helpers during the most wonderful time of the year!