Holiday Countdown

Weeks till Christmas

November 5-11


• Mark all special dates for the season on your calendar - school and church concerts, parties, school vacations.
  
• Start collecting a basketful of inexpensize stocking-stuffers and small gifts for children and unexpected guests.
  
• Plan menu for Thanksgiving dinner.
  
• Avoid last-minute searching: Gather your favorite holiday recipes and keep them in a pretty envelope. Make a list, with page numbers,of recipes in books. Note which can be made ahead.
  
• Special-order goose, game or fresh turkey for Thanksgiving.
  Make a list of ingredients for Thanksgiving and Christmas baking; buy everything now to save time and money.
  
  
  November 12-18
  
  
• Order catalog gifts now: Most take from 4 to 6 weks to arrive.
  
• Buy the Christmas turkey for your freezer, if you have space.
  
• Decide what holiday decorations you're going to make rather than buy. This way, you'll have plenty of time ot work on them.
  
  
  November 19-25
  
  
• Get some of your gift shopping done early at church bazaars and school fairs.
  
• Buy Christmas cards - and stamps.
  
• To cut down on returns, update clothing sizes for everyone on your gift list.
  
  
  November 26 - December 2
  
  
• Send invitations out for Christmas and holiday parties.
  
• Make fruitcakes and plum puddings.
  
• Make and freeze baked goods for having and giving.
  
• Make and freeze hors d'oeuvres and casseroles.
  
• Plan menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and for parties.
  
• Special-order goose, game or fresh turkey for Christmas dinner.
  
• Plan time for a special holiday outing or activity with each of your children.
  
  
  December 3-9
  
  
• Schedule beauty appointments - haircut, perm, manicure, etc.
  
• Stock up on canned and frozen foods, crackers and chips for instant snacks.
  
• Make pie shells and freeze.
  
• Wrap and tag presents as you buy them.
  
  
  December 10-16
  
  
• Take a look at your tablecloths - do you see any burn holes? Stains? Fix, clean, iron now.
  
• Arrange to exchange babysitting time with another mother so each of you will have free shopping hours.
  
• Are there any items on your mail-order lists that haven't arrived yet?
  
• Do you have all your beverage supplies - alcoholic and non-alcoholic, mixers, sodas?
  
• Buy batteries for presents that need them.
  
• Decorate and hang your door wreaths.
  
  
  December 17-24
  
  
• Do your indoor decorating. Remember to put holiday towels in the bathroom, a decoration in the kitchen and in the guest room.
  
• Freeze extra bags of ice cubes.
  
• Buy tree and store it temporarily in a bucket of water in the garage.
  
• Test tree lights.
  
• Do you have graham crackers or cookies for Santa's snack?