Thanksgiving and Christmas - Routines and Checklists to help get through the Holidays

I wrote out several articles that detailed my entire Thanksgiving routine last year. Maybe some of you might find them helpful now.

It took me several years of writing down everything and then doing a written follow-up sheet each year before I was able to get this down so everything worked well for us.

One of the most important things to remember is that none of this is about perfection! Think of the Norman Rockwell paintings. Part of what makes them so charming is they show some imperfection about humanity in each of them.

Each year I give myself permission to skip something I am not in the mood to tackle even if it is putting up a Christmas Tree AND to know in advance that something I cook is going to be burnt or taste awful. (I DO keep getting the slightest bit better with cooking as I keep getting older.)

RELAX! Enjoy the people instead of being worried about your image. Besides, the way to make the best impression is by being truly comfortable and letting down the expectations you have on yourself. You will some across as confident and self assured when you seem to keep your cool in spite of any disaster.

I usually start a bit here and there toward the first of October so that most of what I need to do for all of the Holidays is done by the end of Thanksgiving weekend. It makes a big difference in how much I enjoy the whole season!

If you will write out your shopping and to do lists, menus and recipes, then write out all of the afterthoughts you can think of as soon as you can after all of your events end, you will have a HUGE start for next year. Use all of it to start a Holiday Planner for yourself. After a couple of years making little adjustments you will be blown away by how easy all of it will seem to be!

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