Get cracking for Christmas
Don’t be the sweaty mess rushing around the mall on Christmas eve – get prepped now, writes Katie Newton.
There seem to be two distinct camps when it comes to Christmas – those who relish the day and all the preparation that goes before it and those who grit their teeth and endure it. But planning is essential for anyone to feel organised for any event or occasion, according to professional organiser Steph Knight of Less Mess.
‘‘Christmas is supposed to be a day of celebrating with family and friends, enjoying old and new traditions, comparing pavlovas, and eating way too much good food,’’ she says. ‘‘Have a plan and give yourself enough time to execute it so that you lessen any potential stress.’’
Family plans
Now is the time to lock in friends and family about their plans for the holiday period. This will help you prepare everything else – food, gifts, decor and other chores around the home.
If you’re travelling, make sure you have accommodation sorted now, as well as any arrangements for pet care or car maintenance.
Around the house
If you’re hosting, start getting your house in order. Focus your time on decluttering and cleaning key areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, outdoor entertaining areas and guest bedrooms.
Knight says that if you’re having visitors for a decent amount of time, it’s important to be OK with schedules, delegating and having a few house rules to avoid things like running out of hot water.
‘‘Make sure you have enough of everything like sheets, towels, plates etc,’’ she adds. ‘‘You can always borrow from friends if they’re heading away.
‘‘And even better, maybe borrow their house if there are too many guests for your own house!’’
Money matters
Making a budget and sticking to it is a vital part of reducing stress at Christmas, and the earlier you lock it in the more likely it is to be successful. Think about what you’re spending on gifts, decorations, food, travel and decor.
‘‘You won’t enjoy the occasion as much if you’re worrying or feeling stressed about how much you have spent,’’ says Knight.
Gift giving
Talented gift-givers enjoy the process and are always on the lookout for the perfect gift. The rest of us end up in a blind buying panic in the mall on Christmas Eve.
Christmas-lover Megan Sharp is one of the former – 80 per cent of her long list of gifts is already bought and wrapped. ‘‘If you buy throughout the year you’re less likely to overspend as you’re not rushed and you can make use of sales,’’ she says.
‘‘I have little kids and I like December to be spent enjoying all the fun activities rather than being stuck at the mall.’’
Online shopping is also an excellent time-saver. Starting now means having plenty of time for shipping and returns.
Prep-ahead food
No one wants to spend all day slaving in the kitchen when they could be celebrating with loved ones, yet it’s a scene that happens all over the country on December 25th.
Preparing a menu well in advance, delegating jobs and making as much food in advance as possible will help ease the load.
Traditional foods like Christmas cake and steamed pudding need to be made several weeks in advance – November is the perfect time to get onto it.
Cool them completely and store in a cool, dark place in an airtight container, and if you’re worried about the Christmas cake drying out, brush it periodically with a couple of tablespoons of brandy.
Preserves and many sauces (including gravy) can also made in advance.
Pavlova is fragile so can be tricky to freeze, but it does require eggs that aren’t too fresh – buy them in the first week of December and keep them in the fridge.
Deck the halls
While it’s tempting to go out and buy a completely new set of decorations each year, often one or two new baubles are all that’s needed for a fresh look. Now’s the time to do a stocktake of what you’ve got and what needs replacing or adding to.
Leo Spring, owner of Ogilvies Christmas Importers, says traditional decor is being shunned in favour of individual, customised styles, which need time to plan and execute.
‘‘The early birds or Christmas aficionadas as we call them are build-your-own people,’’ he says. ‘‘They buy early and they’re buying the components to make their own wreaths – we’re selling more plain undressed wreaths and garlands and seeing people buy the components they want to design their own decorations.’’