Alright, fellow Christmas junkies, we’re heading into the third week of HHP! Let’s debrief Week #2 first.

Debrief: Week #2 Calendar & Creativity

Cleaning

• Declutter and clean creative spaces: I cleared some of the floor, particularly in front of my design wall, and it’s much nicer in the craft room as a result.
• Assess stored crafts materials: I have more than enough of everything, ALWAYS.

Holiday Prep

• Get your calendar filled in: I actually reached out to people and we scheduled some stuff! Woo hoo!
• Plan holiday travel: My favorite: None. I’m travelled out for the year, y’all.
• Schedule necessary household and family upkeep appointments: Done.
• Hold a family scheduling session: Still need to do; we were sick.
• Start gathering your holiday ideas: I made my Pinterest board for the year, and as I was filling it in I just felt like I’d rather go a little simple this year and enjoy what we already have. So often I feel that “More, more, more!” feeling, but we’ve had such minimal celebrations in the past couple of years that I feel like just using what we already have on-hand would be plenty, so I might just make do this year.
• Start a shopping list: Done.
• Review gift lists: Done.
• Inventory unfinished crafts projects: I have a UFO storage system and spreadsheet already, so I was aware of how bad it was. I did unearth the Christmas Alphabet Embroidery Sampler while decluttering the craft room and have set it aside to frame in the next few weeks.
• Begin a “Gifts to Make” list: Done.
• Decide Christmas music performances, purchase sheet music and figure out logistics: I’m adding this to this week’s tasks after a conversation I had with a friend who is a piano teacher and she mentioned that she had assigned all her students’ Christmas recital music in the last week. I generally start thinking about Christmas music around Labor Day anyway, so it’s a good thing to add to this week’s checklist for the future. AND I do have a piano solo of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” that I started messing around with as a result. I also have a cute arrangement of “Away in a Manger” that I wish I could track down again because it’d be good to finally perform that.

Week #3: Me & Mine

Week #3 is all about the master bedroom, seasonal clothing rotation, Christmas cards, and gift wrapping.

Week #3 Cleaning Checklist: Master Bedroom

• Declutter, clean, and organize the Master Bedroom
• Decorate/update the Master Bedroom
• Declutter your clothes closet: Rotate out summer clothing and get ready for sweater weather

Week #3 Holiday Prep Checklist

• Inventory holiday cards, gift wrap and mailing supplies
• Make a Christmas card list
• Create a digital address book for Christmas cards
• Print/order address labels for Christmas cards
• Order, buy or print Christmas cards or letters
• Plan personal pampering sessions, and add them to the calendar
• Set aside a gift closet or create a gift box; inventory any previously-purchased gifts
• Continue working on handmade gifts
• Schedule time to work on HHP