it’s the FINAL COUNTDOWN, again . . .

Public Service Announcement: It is the first week of October. You know what that means, right? On the day of publication (October 4th) there are 27 days until Halloween, 52 days until Thanksgiving, and 83 days until Christmas. Forget New Years; by the time January 1^st rolls around, those of us in the west are grateful we can watch New York’s celebration and go to bed long before midnight!

I have made personal goals to simplify and direct my life. From reducing the number of toys and clothes my family has to a general downsizing in living arrangements; I have been able to streamline the processes that happen in my household. As I look forward to the holidays (and I do look forward to the holidays!), I’m certain this same simplification can and will be applied.

What needs to get done?

Where do we start? Grab a notebook! First, take a personal inventory of what you already have for each holiday. Consider decorations, unfinished projects, and especially the gifts or knick-knacks you have saved but don’t really have a use for. Now look at your calendar. What time do you have to decorate, attend events/parties, shop for costumes, prepare food, buy or make gifts, and maybe finish those cute wood pumpkins or snowmen you have been meaning to complete the last two years? Start now and schedule time in for yourself and family for these tasks. As your calendar fills up, you can be flexible, but remember that you gave yourself this time to keep order and sanity in the first place!

Make a list of what you need

Once you know what items you already have, you can make a list of what you need. From gifts to costumes, divide up your notebook into holidays and start writing down the items you use or may need. Do you have a favorite “deals” website? I subscribe to www.freebies2deals.com’s daily emails and score some pretty significant savings when I plan and think ahead. Don’t forget food! Especially important here is holiday meal/treat planning. Need chocolate chips for Halloween? Watch for sales in the circulars and buy enough to get you through Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. Grab all the candy you’ll need when it is on sale after Halloween for Santa to use in stocking stuffers. Keep your eyes peeled for the best deals on what you really need – your living space, pocketbook, and sanity will thank you!

Remember Why

Finally, remember the reasons you do what you do each holiday and don’t be afraid to say no to the events and activities that don’t align with your goals. I have a nasty habit of squeezing in every possible event because I feel like it exposes my kids to new ideas and adventures. In reality, more often than not we all go to bed that night crabby while I scratch my head wondering what I possibly missed. What is your favorite activity to do for Halloween? If you enjoy carving pumpkins, skip the costume parties and look for pumpkin carving events. Do you enjoy baking for the holidays or looking at the brightly lit decorated trees and houses? Make more time for the activities that bring you joy and don’t feel guilty over the activities you cut out. Personalize your holidays!

So how about that countdown? To me, it’s all just numbers. Today, I’m armed with a notebook, a pen, and my calendar. I know the resources I have available to tackle the tasks I need finished today, and three little sets of arms, legs and hearts that fill my world. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas may consist of Goodwill costumes, store bought stuffing, and a “Charlie Brown” tree while I take inventory of my life, including only the best-of-the-best in each day.