Woolyback'swife, thank you!!
I was awol recently but had spotted this thread and planned to post.
I started out on the Flylady Cruise quite a few years ago, but moved to Organised Christmas maybe 10 years ago. The Holiday Grand Plan (or its sister, the Houseworks Holiday Plan) are both well underway now - they are both 14 week plans that start the last week in August and work on the premise of tidying one room or function of the house per week and doing some Christmas prep every week as well.
The Christmas Countdown is a 6 week plan from the same Organised Christmas website, starting at Halloween I think. Does the same thing but slightly less detailed on the house side.
Around now, I am trying to:
Organise my cards lists and check addresses that have changed.
Buy the cards as soon as I see them in shops (I usually buy charity ones - either RNLI or cancer or supporting children's hospital).
I tend to start writing cards anytime from now on. If I have any flights/trains to take (especially work trips), I will take a bundle and do them while "stuck" in transit. Or else do 5-10 per night while watching tv.
Add a few regular meals to the freezer for the manic time that is December, so we will still be reasonably well fed as a family even when rushing about. Lasagne, curries, chilli, spag bol sauce etc. And some chicken breasts already diced up to throw into a hot pan from a bag and chuck in a decent jar of sauce.
Add a few festive treats to the freezer for Christmas itself. So a batch of mince pie pastry (I got as far as making the mincemeat so far....it may end up being shop pastry!). I always have a log of cookie dough in there too in December, as DD likes to make cookies on Christmas Eve for Santa and I don't always have the time/energy to bake from scratch that day, so slice'n'bake works well for me then and when unexpected visitors turn up. I usually do it by making cookies a few times over the autumn, but only baking half or less of each batch and freezing the rest, some of which gets used up over the autumn but I do try to keep some.
Presents:
Make a list of everyone who needs one. Put down ideas of things they like, or specific things they've mentioned wanting etc. Still loads of time for online shopping and there are loads of great sales this autumn too. It's also good to look now if you have anything particular in mind, or want anything personalized, or that takes a while to arrive etc.
Put your purchases on the list, or just tick off those bought for (or made). depending on who will see it.
Find a hidey-hole to put your purchases. Some people swear by wrapping now - I prefer to do that on the nights in December when DH is on various nights out with Christmas music going and a glass of wine in hand. But I am organizing paper, ribbons, tags and tape now, and making sure I have a decent scissors too for the job.
Christmas stamps are out now (in Ireland at least) so I am checking postage dates for cards and parcels, and getting the stamps while the special offer booklets are out (I buy a few for the free stamps as I send a lot, and other mail during the year too).
Think about outfits. How many parties will you attend, and need outfits for (and formality of those, can you wear the same thing to a few, will you have time for washing/dry cleaning in between, etc)? What do you wear Christmas Day, and do you need anything new for that? Or even, stocking up on stockings (ooh err missus!) and tights, foundation garments etc? And things like makeup, beauty regime items, etc - what needs replacing? Write a list.
I have already bought new PJs for DH and seen what I am getting for DD (bribery so we weren't buying until after she did what was needed - now I am free to buy). But I need to buy for me yet.
I have bought the Lush Santa bath bomb for DD - but need to buy some relaxing ones for me. (We do new PJs for everyone, and lush bathbombs for DD and I, for Christmas Eve night).
I also need to buy a new red pillar Christmas candle this year - so that is on my list.
I've stocked up on batteries when I saw a special offer a few weeks back - lots of AA and AAA, as well as a few spare C, D and 9V squares. I also got the small ones to replace the mantle clock when it slows (usually once a year, so I put it on my "autumn bits and bobs" list).
Bird seed goes on that list too.
And firewood, firelighters, and both regular matches (for fire lighting etc) and long matches (for lighting lots of candles). Nightlights, and any other candles, and essential oils etc.
I usually also check my winter supplies - warm clothing and thermals all still in good order, snowsocks for the car, salt for footpaths etc.
Early autumn tasks that I stick on my list are things like cleaning gutters and checking drains, checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, servicing the boiler, etc. Not necessarily Christmas but I tend to put them all on my Christmas planner list as seasonal jobs to remember.
Checking diaries as events come in. So the school fair dates, when do regular activities end or seasonal ones happen, are there things we want to see (a Santa trip, a particular carol concert or musical event, a gig, various work parties or meetings with different groups of friends)? I want to ensure that we are not totally swamped every day, but we all still have things to enjoy as well. And be able to book babysitters of DH and I will be out the same night (or even manage a datenight!)! And checking out dates for craft fairs etc for present buying opportunities.
I also book my hairdresser and beautician appointments about now. Those book out FAST! (My hairdresser, last week, had no Saturday mornings in December left, and 1 Sunday is also gone - Sundays are a special in December, not regularly given).
Things like food ordering are left for a few weeks yet in my house. I don't do a M&S/Sainsbury/Waitrose etc special as I generally cook from scratch for the turkey meal and just want a few pack of nibbly bits and DD's birthday cake at the last minute. I do order a turkey in late November from the butcher/supermarket most years. But if I was going to a "open packet, put in oven, ignore until cooked" dinner, I would order now.
Check drinks cabinets, what do you like to have in, are there particular things that certain people want (your family, or expected visitors, or places you will be visiting and bringing things to)? Again, write a list. Include plenty for non-drinkers. And start buying over the next few weeks (you'll often find you can pick up certain items on specials between now and early December).
Also write a list of items you'll want for the cupboards. What will you need for the Christmas meal and entertaining, and regular meals etc over Christmas. The next while can be great to restock by "shopping the specials". Also remember things like cleaning products and toilet rolls/tissues/kitchen towels.
Now is also a great time to put in some effort on yourself. I love the idea of "princessing" but work FT and have a challenging DD and home life. So just reminding myself to drink my water, take some fresh fruit and veg daily, use my moisturizer and remember to clean off makeup properly etc are helpful. If I get time to do a bit more, that's great. I always contemplate losing a few pounds, for about 5 minutes, but I DO try to at least eat healthily and not go overboard on the treats so not gaining too many instead.
Sorry this is so long, I've kinda started in the middle, and jumped all around as I wrote it. But I hope it helps a little.
A notebook really helps!!