by Debbie Williams

It's that time of year again: the holidays are upon us. We all know it happens the same time every year, but we almost let it sneak up on us year after year. It doesn't have to be that way if you think about a few ways to change the holiday hustles:

Have an Open House: Invite friends and family to drop in. An open house keeps you from having to spend all day Christmas travelling from place to place, and increases quality time spent with loved ones.

Use your best talents: Don't try to do it all when you entertain. If you are a fantastic hostess, then spend your time mingling and making your guests comfortable instead of cooking. Order cold food trays from the deli or hot meals from your favorite restaurant. If you love to cook but hate decorating, ask a friend to help in exchange for some baked goods. Florists and interior designers will decorate your home for the holidays, or hire a college student from the art or drama department for a small fee. (They also undecorate, too!)

Ask for help: Hire a mother's helper or sitter to watch the kids while you decorate the house, make appetizers, or wrap gifts. Barter with a neighbor to watch each other's kids when shopping for gifts. Borrow rather than buy serving pieces from friends or family and keep your December budget under control.

Multi-Task: There's that word again. Most moms do it naturally, and business managers do it without even thinking. Address holiday cards while watching a movie, have the kids put postage stamps and return address labels on the envelopes. Form an assembly line if you can gather enough help. Polish the silver and iron the linen napkins while the pies are baking the day before the big meal. Or in most cases, have the kids take an inventory of the paper goods (paper plates, napkins, plastic spoons and forks)!

Plan, plan, plan: It's never too late to make that to-do-list. If you have a planner or calendar, start making notes now. Or grab a spiral notebook and make a list on each page: cards to send, guest list for open house, errands to run, gifts to buy, etc. Plan for the holidays as you would plan for any other event (vacation or a party) and create a countdown sheet for each day. Remember those wonderful articles in bride's magazines: organize your wedding, and count down the the joyous day. Use the same strategy by making a to do list for each day of the month of December. It's much more exciting to see a list of 5 things to do each day rather than a long list of 100 things to do this month! Don't forget to cross items off as their finished. Everyone needs a pat on the back.

Avoid the crowds: Shop during slow periods at the mall such as weekdays or lunchtime. Avoid the weekend and after-work rush. Consolidate your shopping to save time and gas. Shop in malls or strip malls and you won't have to drive far to get what you need. If you've planned and made your lists, you know where to go and when to go there. If you start now, or you shop year-round as I do, then you can steer clear of retail stores and shop at home through direct mail. Online shopping is very secure, but if you are hesitant to purchase online you can make your selection and order by phone. Some mail order vendors will gift wrap and ship directly to the gift recipient. Now THAT's a time saver!

Treat yourself: Don't be afraid to treat yourself and your family to pizza night or what's-in-the-freezer-dinners. The last thing you need during holiday planning is to shop all afternoon or weekend, then go home and cook a meal. Once a month or freezer cooking is a great way to avoid kitchen burnout. Keep a folder of takeout menus in your junk drawer or office desk drawer and call ahead. Pick up food on the way home from the mall or before you take the whole clan shopping for Grandma's gift. Decisions will be made quicker, and tempers will not be as quick to flare if everyone's working on a full stomach.

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