Holiday Planning

I am over here in full Holiday planning mode. I already bought a new tree and put it up for a test run. I did take it down….for now, but I am oh so close to pulling everything out and getting it started. It doesn’t help that my nextdoor neighbor is Mrs. Christmas and puts up about 25 trees. She starts in October and I can SEE them. She is not turning the lights on yet but I still know they are there and I am itching to join her. But for now, I am just doing my planning and dreaming.

Here are the initial steps I complete in this planning phase

Now let’s briefly talk through these

Pull out all my Christmas inspiration

I pull out my whole collection of books and magazines and flip through them. They all have good ideas and just depending on the year, different things appeal to me. Plus, I am pulling out recipes. Gotta start planning party food too. I flag pages, combine ideas and just get all the creative juices flowing.

I keep a small basket of cookbooks on my kitchen counter. For the holidays those will be replaced with these Christmas books.

In fact, that’s what I do with every surface in my house. I clear the sofa tables, the end tables, the buffet, the island, the vanities, put away all the every day decor and in its place will go something holiday. Do not look under a bed if you come by…..that is where I stash all the every day stuff until January :).

Secondly, I start making notes in my journal. I have a page or two for each room

Here I will detail what is going where, what colors, themes, big decor items are going to be used in each room. While I like to use the same stuff again and again, there is nothing that says it always has to go back in the same location. I mean who can afford to buy all new stuff…..not me! But this way it feels different and fresh by using it in a different way. This also helps when we start pulling the storage bins out of the attic to know what goes to which room.

It is very important to look at photos from previous years

I am going to be honest, sometimes I forget what I own. So this helps refresh my memory on what I already have, so I don’t re-buy the same things.

I also make a list of what, if anything, I need to purchase. I think what makes the holidays special is tradition. So I want to use what I own. My people want the tried and true…….but maybe it needs lights added or a different base to sit on. Every year I just add a few new things here and there and mix them in so we have the tradition and we have some fresh ideas too.

And finally, let the fun begin……I have a ways to go to catch up with my neighbor! I find the planning just helps me have a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. It is fun to come up with the plan and then make it happen. I am going to try to hold off a few more weeks, but then it is going to be on!

If all of this sounds too much for you or you just don’t enjoy the process, remember to check out In Season-Madison on Instagram. We will be doing some of this planning, execution and even gift wrapping for those who book with us. You think planning for my house gets me excited, I am very excited to get to execute new visions in some of our clients homes……

Only 67 days to Christmas….in case you were wondering!