How do you begin your Holiday countdown list?

Madge Sala
by Madge Sala

Do you make a Gift List, a Guest List, a Menu list or a List of Preparations such as decorating. Can you suggest the most important thing to start off the Season. And do you have difficulty deciding which of the invitations you receive each year that you will attend.

  7 answers
  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Nov 05, 2018

    Madge..I do a list of names that I want to buy gifts for. If I am hosting a holiday party I make a list of name to invite and a list of food to prepare. I decorate after Thanksgiving for Christmas. Hope this helps!

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Nov 05, 2018

    I start by browsing the web and eBay for sales and then see who I need gifts for to match up with the deals

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Nov 05, 2018

    All of that is so personal. I have the same gift list year after year and buy all year long. By November I'm mostly done with gifts. I just see how I feel as how much I want to decorate or host parties. I try to attend all invites.

  • Hi Madge, I'm a pencil and paper girl, so I tend to make lists, but keep them all in one notebook...a page or two for each list. Then I begin to record what pops into my head first and keep the list rolling as the weeks go by. There's always something to add. However, if I'm hosting a party or dinner, then I begin planning the guest list and meal first. Then I move on to my theme for decorating and lastly, the gift list, based on who I will see when, who I will have to ship gifts too, etc. As far as invitations go, I try to accept as many invites as possible...'tis the season! For that, I would map it out on my calendar to see what conflicts I may have and work from there. Hope that helps. Happy Holidays!

  • Queen of lists here, I have a list for everything. Yes I make a list of people that will receive gifts. Menu for Thanksgiving is already planned along with shopping list to pick things up here and there so it won't be a mad rush the few days before. I am alone so I decorate for me! And I get invited to nothing. I am a 2 hour drive from work, so I don't attend any festivities. I know a few of my neighbors, but the ones I was friends with have moved out of the area or passed away. Mulling over Christmas dinner, might try a new recipe or two. Have that shopping list ready.

  • K. Rupp K. Rupp on Nov 05, 2018

    The most important thing to start the season for me is to start the decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. If I don't, it seems to take the entire 3 weeks to get everything up. LOL! When you are finally finished the day before Christmas, there wasn't much time to enjoy it then. HA. I would suggest that first because if it gets done that weekend you can enjoy it all season long. My kids keep me going with their activities so decorating is easy to take a back seat. Then when that is done, turn on the music, and enjoy making your lists. Have fun it will be here before you know it:)

  • Hi Madge - This is a great article on holiday planning. Hope it helps and enjoy the season! Hugs, Holly

    https://pinkfortitude.com/plan-for-the-holidays/