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How To Make Next Christmas Even
Better Than This One
by Colleen Moulding
With the decorations still up and the Christmas successes or disasters
fresh in your mind this can be the perfect time to make plans for next
Christmas.
Make a note now of what worked out as well or better than you had
planned and note too ideas that didn't quite gel as you had hoped or
jobs or activities that you just didn't get time for.
Did your Christmas menus work out well? What could you have prepared in
advance? Did you have something to offer an unexpected vegetarian guest?
What did you have for the children who wouldn't eat vegetables? Did you
forget to warm the plates to help keep the food hot or chill the wine?
Jot these things down now for an easier time next year.
When it's time to take down your cards take a few minutes to make a
Christmas card list in the back of your new diary or address book, this
will make writing out your cards much easier next year as you won't be
worried about forgetting anyone.
Take a good look at your tree and room decorations. Are some of them
looking past their best? Would you love to start again with a new theme
or color scheme or add just a few new items to give the whole look a
lift. Did a friend's decorating scheme inspire you or did you see a
wonderful decorating idea in a department store or craft shop?
Now is the time to hit the sales for cards, decorations and wrapping
paper as all these items can be found at half their usual price or less.
Don't forget to stock up on clear or colored cellophane and tissue paper
to wrap all those gifts or gift baskets that you intend to make
yourself.
Treat yourself to a couple of crates or storage boxes to pack away your
decorations neatly and label them so that they are easy to find, or even
more cheaply, cover some cardboard boxes with gift wrapping paper and
you will always be able to spot them in your closets.
Resolve to spread the financial load next year by making a list of
everyone that you want to give gifts to and make or buy one or two each
month throughout the year, this works well except for children as who
knows what the latest must have will be by next Christmas!
Spend a few minutes to think about what gave you pleasure this
Christmas. Who did you really enjoy spending time with? Who did you hate
spending time with? Would you have enjoyed something a little more
spiritual? Make a note to attend a midnight service, caroling service or
the local nativity play.
Would you have liked to stay at home alone with your husband? Schedule
an evening doing just that.
Did your kids enjoy making cookies with you, or paper decorations?
Did you spend some time with the TV off reading the Christmas story or
poems or gathering greenery and berries to decorate the house? Perhaps
these will become family traditions that they will remember forever.
It will only take a few minutes to jot down these things now, yet when
you are back in your regular routines they are easily forgotten. Once
you have them in your Christmas note book or the back of your diary you
have everything you need to make next Christmas even better than this
one!
Have a wonderful new year!
About the author
Colleen Moulding is a freelance writer from England where she has had
many features on parenting, childcare, travel, the Internet and many
more subjects published in national magazines and newspapers. She has
also published a variety of women's and children's fiction. Her work
frequently appears at many sites on the Internet and at her own site for
women and children
All That Women
Want.com a magazine, web guide and resource for women everywhere.
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