<p>The holiday season upon us is one of the “shortest” in a while due to a late Thanksgiving. In my parts, last weekend was a wash for anything that had to be done out and about due to weather. I’m hearing and reading left and right that friends and co-workers are WAY behind in getting things “ready”. Shopping. Baking. Wrapping. Even decorating, getting the tree up!</p>
<p>I actually landed ok in terms of buying gifts - I do shop online a lot. I for once in my life, am ahead of the game in wrapping. I am behind in baking and will probably (unless I have some really late nights this weekend) reduce the amount/types of baked goods I create. Decorations were done by 2nd week of December, slightly reduced from some years, but absolutely adequate! </p>
<p>So, Dec. 20 2013 - where do you find yourself in the midst of being “ready”???</p>
<p>Luckily there is a very natural lull in my business this week and last, and that’s a huge help when it comes to getting ready for the holidays AND with getting my business stuff administratively wrapped up for 2013 before the craziness starts January 2nd. </p>
<p>Two small gifts left to buy, and I’m calling it done. Baking will happen next week, but the supplies are (mostly) purchased.</p>
<p>For the most part, I am done with gift buying. Most of my shopping was done online. I never wrap til a few days prior so that is on schedule also. But, we have done NO decorating. I did convience my S to pull out the decorations and tree last weekend, but just have not have time to do anything. I hate putting the tree up so late, because I like to get it down the weekend after XMass and it seems such a waste of effort to leave it up for such a short period time. We have people over for brunch XMass morning, and I have to buy and bake for that, but I can do it Monday and Tuesday when I am off.</p>
<p>I’ve finished shopping, but still need to wrap and have done very little decorating. I miss having the “cues” that I got when my kids were at home (all their holiday-related activities). We’ll be traveling and this is the first year we are not putting up a real tree but the back of my car is filled with greens I want to bring in so the house at least smells like Christmas. The artificial tree I ordered is still in the box it came in.</p>
<p>In a moment of generosity, or perhaps, insanity, I offered my home to my neighbor so her relatives all have a comfortable place to sleep. That means I have to add a good housecleaning to my list of things to do before we leave.</p>
<p>We are more or less ready. I finished all my gift buying a few weeks ago and the last one came this week and is wrapped and under the tree-- I did everything online this year, the roads were crappy and I was lazy. My fiance was only responsible for buying whatever he wanted for me, I shopped for his family this year, and he has everything he has bought so far under the tree but apparently two more things need to come in the mail. I hope they get here on time.</p>
<p>I have to call around pizza restaurants across the state from me today to see where I can order a dairy free pizza out there tomorrow for a party with my fiance’s brother, we still have to give the guest bathroom a more thorough cleaning than usual since FMIL may stay over Christmas Eve night (I’ve never had or been an overnight guest before so I am nervous), and we have to buy the roast for Christmas Eve but I don’t think we will do that until the day before-- cross your fingers they don’t sell out or we will be having pizza AGAIN and I will die of shame. It’s my first time hosting a holiday dinner.</p>
<p>My decorating was all finished a week or two ago and I was really mad it didn’t get done the day after thanksgiving. My fiance dragged his behind and I needed his help to get a lot of it started… lots of heavy boxes to move and hell if I was getting on a ladder when it was 18 degrees to hang lights on the house. But it is done! We moved into this house right before Halloween, too late to buy halloween decorations, and as a result we have more Christmas decor than anything else-- my house really looks its best this time of year!</p>
<p>I’ve been sitting here reading CC to avoid doing the ever growing list of chores that awaits me (again.) All of my gift shopping was done online. Once again, Amazon Prime paid for itself and I got a few good deals from Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, and Eddie Bauer. (I probably read about their sales/coupons here; if you posted something in the good deal thread - thank you!) </p>
<p>With the time between Thanksgiving & Christmas shortened and DH working extra long hours, I had to significantly reduce the decorating. I spent last weekend feeling loopy from Rx pain meds thanks to a back injury, too. Holiday baking hasn’t happened, although if D1 wants to bake this weekend I’ll be glad to help her. I’ve bought a few specialty cookies locally and ordered some candy. Publix has some holiday ice cream flavors that we enjoy - eggnog and candy cane - both of which will be good with the brownies DH wants.</p>
<p>We’re planning on pizza while the family is here, too. Take-out Chinese food and BBQ are also planned. We’ll have a spiral sliced ham next week (that’s good for several meals) and a standing rib roast for Christmas Eve. This year is all about keeping it easy.</p>
<p>I have the flu, which has both simplified and complicated things. Simplified in that I am not attending parties and am done with what I can do, which makes things complicated for everyone else who will have to pick up the slack.</p>