Please tell me you love Christmas as much as I do.
Currently at our house, Fall is winding down and the pumpkins are taking their final bow.
Christmas is happily hopping in the door, but not before making time and space for a very important birthday party pit stop.
Yes, if you stopped by our house this week, you would have been welcomed with this Fall porch, still decorated with pumpkins and mums.
Then, the puppies would have invited you to come inside, where you would need to duck under birthday streamers hanging in the hallway, as you made your way to the kitchen, where we would have handed you a slice of red velvet cake.
And finally, the sound of Mariah’s voice belting All I Want For Christmas would have beckoned you to plop down on a swivel chair, layered with a cozy faux fur blanket to sit and stare at the twinkling lights on our Christmas tree.
We are in fact, creatively and happily hovering between holiday’s while singing the birthday song on repeat. 🙂
Honestly though?
This time of year can all get a little overwhelming, if I don’t plan ahead.
And?
To know me, is to know I LOVE Christmas.
And I LOVE Birthday’s.
And I Iove to make both, extra special for my people.
Our Livvy turned 12 this past week and truthfully my emotions haven’t had a chance to process that our youngest daughter is T W E L V E.
You can see a reel I created of her 12 years HERE on my Instagram.
We went from Halloween costumes on Friday night, to Livvy’s friend party on Saturday night, straight into our family and friends party on Sunday…
My 2 Piece Red Lounge Set – Available in Multiple Colors
And now?
Now, I am busy prepping our home for the Christmas season!
Honestly, I have been dreaming of classic plaid, velvet pillows and pretty red bows tied on everything, since soaking in the sun, this Summer.
Hello Ralph Lauren Christmas trend.
I see YOU.
I spent my childhood, growing up on a Christmas tree farm, where my Dad still operates his tree farm today.
So, the fact that I LOVE making Christmas feel Christmassy…
Well, it just makes sense.
And as we know, Christmas is one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year.
From the smell of the holiday simmer pots on our stove, cookie baking and holiday meal planning, to hanging up Christmas lights outside, wrapping presents and snuggling on the sofa while falling asleep to our favorite Christmas movies…
I am here for ALL OF IT.
And if you’re hanging out with me here, then I think you’re here for all of it too. 🙂
But sometimes?
Sometimes, preparing for the holiday season can become overwhelming and just plain stressful.
Am I right?
Today on the blog, I am sharing a peek behind the curtain on the little things I am doing right now, to help me feel more prepared for Christmas and reduce future holiday stress.
Because?
I am all about reducing holiday stress levels around here, so that we can focus on what really matters and what Christmas day and the season is really all about.
Interested in my Christmas planning tips and practical guide to help this holiday season feel less stressful and instead – make it one of the most memorable yet?
Follow me friend!
How To Prepare For Christmas
There are a few routine things that I do every year, during this time that help me prepare our home for Christmas and also organize my brain. (Now that is one tall task! lol!)
What I have found is that, anytime I start to feel stressed out or anxious about something…I can usually trace it back to this one thing.
Lack of preparation and planning.
Being prepared in advance, for something that you know is coming, is something I try to model for our three daughters.
In hopes – they can relate this idea of preparing in advance, to exam time during the school year.
If you take the time early and often to prepare and study, it takes the edge off the mounting stress that builds, the closer the exam date creeps up.
It’s the same with the holiday season.
I prefer to start planning and decorating early for Christmas because not only does it help me to feel less stressed, but it also makes space for me to breathe and actually enjoy the season as it unfolds.
Because after all –
Why go to all of the fuss to decorate and create a cozy home for Christmas if you are never going to actually sit down and enjoy it!?
Now, let’s get to the few basics that I lean into now, in order to get a better hold on the holiday season!
When To Start Preparing For Christmas
Christmas Simmer Pot Potpourri Jar Recipe
At the risk of being Captain Obvious…
The time to to start planning for Christmas is – now.
Just in case you didn’t get the memo, we are preparing for Christmas in November.
Truthfully, I have been known to start ordering garland in October, because so many of the best selling Christmas decorations sell out before Halloween.
But, do not stress!
The name of this game is – not to stress!
Because, we’re in luck!
The best selling artificial garland and Christmas trees we have and love are still in stock.
Afloral Norfolk Pine Garland -4 strands on left // 9 ft. Cedar Garland – 2 strands on right
Aside from ordering decor, it’s simply best to start preparing for Christmas, in November, before the Christmas season actually arrives.
Even if it’s as simple as making your holiday shopping gift list on a piece of paper. Or, beginning to plan the family calendar by penciling in family movie nights and when to make the trip to the Christmas tree farm to select a tree.
Mapping things out in list form , or on the calendar, will get the information out of your brain and onto paper, which really does help lessen the mental load that tends to weigh us down during the holiday season.
What To Prepare For Christmas
Decide where the tree will go & any new furniture layout
If you’re like us, then you likely tend to put your Christmas tree up in the same place every year.
We usually put our 9 ft. Christmas tree up in this same corner of our living room.
Here is a picture of our living room last year for Christmas.
But?
This year, while our tree is up in the same corner –
I decided to flip the furniture and swap our extendable dining table, swivel chairs and curved loveseat around.
I do love that we now have this extendable round dining table from Pottery Barn so that we can enjoy this room daily, instead of only as a dining room for meals.
While we usually do keep the table smaller, I love the fact that we can add the leaf to extend the dining table, in order to host larger family dinner’s, like we do on Christmas Eve.
For me, furniture starts to feel stale after being in the same spot for a while.
That being said, I don’t recommend running out to by all new furniture when a room begins to feel a little boring.
Definitely not!
However, I DO recommend playing musical chairs literally with your furniture and allowing yourself permission to shift things around.
Chances are, you already tend to move a few pieces of furniture around during this time of year to make space for and accomodate your Christmas tree.
So take this as your early sign…to start playing now with your furniture layout, and enjoy redecorating you room for free, by using what you already have, now just in a different place!
Turns out?
After I shifted the furniture around in our combo living & dining room, I decided to move our glass console piece from our family room, where it was under our television and into this room, to serve as a sofa table, behind the swivel chairs.
We love how cozy this space feels now, and love to sit in the swivel chairs and have a place to set down our coffee mugs or cocktail glasses.
By moving the glass console table into this room, I did decide to order this new sideboard that I have been eyeing from Amazon, for our new media table, under the television in the family room.
Giving yourself permission to play around with existing furniture and determining a possible new furniture layout, helps to breathe fresh energy into your spaces, so they feel revived and ready to receive the holiday decking and decor!
start laying the foundation of trees & garland
We are loving the simple “un-decorated” view of greenery right now of plain garland and a naked Christmas tree! LOL!
Choosing the right “base” for your holiday decor will elevate the entire look of your space!
By ordering your artificial garland, wreaths, and trees now, you can start to slowly incorporate them into your home decor.
Last weekend, I started to decorate our mantel by hanging up artificial garland.
New this year, to my garland collection, is this 9 ft cedar garland from Amazon which did not disappoint!
Pro Tip: I love to mix two different types of garland and intertwine them, to create a unique and custom look.
I ordered 2 strands of this 9 ft cedar garland and wrapped it around my tried and true Afloral Norfolk pine garland.
Then I use these command cable bundlers to hold the garland in place, by sticking them to my mantle.
When we start adding the greenery a little early, it enables us to enjoy the art of what I refer to as “slow decorating.”
By starting to put up your tree, hanging up the garland or sprinkling a few pine branches in vases now, you can sit back and enjoy the twinkly lights, and cozy vibes a little earlier and for a little longer.
Then, enjoy adding in more decor slowly, as you start to feel inspired as more Christmas planning unfolds in your home…
I used 2 sets of these Norfolk Pine Branch Stems from Amazon in the vase above.
decide the color or theme of your christmas decor
I mentioned the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend earlier…
And?
I am so glad that everyone else seems ready to roll back to red and all things traditional Christmas.
I have been ordering varying shades of burgundy and red velvet ribbons to determine what shades I like best.
Because the next decor detail that I will add to our mantel will be in the form of red or burgundy velvet ribbons and bows!
Velvet Burgundy Ribbon (Top) // Red Velvet Ribbon (2nd from top) // Similar Plaid Wrapping Paper
I’ve also started to pick up pretty wrapping paper as I see it.
It’s seems so silly and simple.
But if you start now, adding 1-2 rolls of paper to your cart as your strolling the aisles…it alleviates last minute panic of needing to run out and buy Christmas wrapping paper, during the week of Christmas, when everything is picked over!
Let’s just say…I think wrapping this year…may bring it’s own kind of stressors with a very interested “helper.”
🙂
How Do You Prepare For Christmas
Stock up on supplies for decorating
Our cozy Christmas home runs on Command Hooks and double and triple A batteries. 🙂
I stock up now on supplies, so when I am in full decorating mode I am not scrambling to the store for more batteries of command hooks to hang wreaths up!
stock up on easy hostess gifts ready to share
Holiday Scented Bar Soap // Bell Gift Toppers
I picked up these scented holiday bar soaps and set of bell gift toppers to have on hand for hostess and teacher gifts whenever I need them!
I plan to place the soap on a small dish or tray like this and wrap them up with holiday ribbon and tie the bell gift topper on top!
Planning ahead and picking up simple and affordable gifts now, to have on hand takes the panic out of needing to rush to the store, in order to grab a random gift, so that you don’t show up empty handed to the holiday party.
buy matching holiday pajamas before sizes sell out
Maybe it’s just me…
But everything feels more festive and fun when you are wearing your cozy Christmas jammies.
🙂
Thankfully our girls agree, which is why I need to buy 4 sets of matching holiday pajamas every year.
I found ours this year at T.J. Maxx of all places!
Here is a super cute set with red bows from Walmart and here is another option from Amazon.
That’s a wrap on what I am doing right now to help prepare in advance for Christmas!
I hope that if the holiday season often finds you feeling overwhelmed, that these little planning tips will help you to enjoy the process of slow decorating and as a result, will create more time, energy and space for savoring this very special time of year with those you love!
Living on a prayer,
Heather
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