October – 

1. what is your plan for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? where will you be having dinner? this is especially important to figure out if you’re in a relationship because it’s likely you’ll have to split your time. 

2. start to fill your calendar. if you have little ones, book your train tickets for your own Polar Express ride. Christmas parties, Christmas bucket list, or Christmas vacation. 

3. start budgeting – make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for. you want to set your overall budget and then how much you’ll spend on each person. i would add a little extra because you know sometimes we get too excited shopping for our loved ones. 

4. think of homemade gifts to make – gifts are amazing of course but nothing says i love you than taking the time to make something. 

November – 

1. start shopping in stores for presents. at this point, you have your shopping list and your budget. look around for any sales. 

2. write your Christmas cards (i like to add a picture of a memory from that year with a handwritten card)

3. online shopping – see if there are any good deals online 

4. make a decoration plan – get your idea and inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram. always check to see what you already have. 

5. buy Christmas decorations. Christmas ornaments, wreath, garland. don’t forget to buy wrapping paper, Christmas cards, ribbon, tags, stockings and a Santa sack (these are about ~$8 at Home Goods) for the little ones. in our family, we buy the number 1 gift and put it in the sack and wait until all of the presents have been opened to give the sack. they almost always forget about it and the joy is undeniable. 

– if you have an artificial tree, do you set it up the day after Thanksgiving? 

6. get your advent calendar (Trader Joes for dog advent calendar) 

7. stocking stuffers! i love to give practical gifts, so i buy gift cards, hygenic products, etc

8. Christmas lights – put the Christmas lights outside while it’s not completely freezing cold 

9. Christmas catering orders – place your food and baked goods order. for example: your Christmas ham (the honey baked ham company is a good option) 

December – 

1. buy your Christmas tree – if you buy a real tree, go to your local farm and buy your tree, how exciting! 

2. decorate inside and outside – Christmas decorations bring so much magic to the home. add lots of lights and candles for extra coziness. 

3. international shipping – if you have  friends and family in international parts of the world, go ahead and send them their gift. this way, they receive it on time. 

4. wrap your presents – put on your favorite Christmas movie, light your Christmas candle, make some hot chocolate and start wrapping your presents. 

5. what are you wearing? pick out your Christmas Eve/Christmas Day outfit. 

– weekly countdown to Christmas!

3 weeks out – Christmas food menu 

2 weeks out – make your grocery shopping list and any food you need to order.  buy non perishable food.

1 week out – deep clean your home and buy your fresh ingredients. plan your Christmas table. 

Christmas Eve – lay out presents. i know in some households, they build the presents for the children and have them all laid out.