For me, the holiday season officially begins on Halloween. Here’s why. In the Garvey household, every two weeks, starting on Halloween, there’s a holiday or “major” event in our home. Two weeks after Halloween is Collin’s birthday. Two weeks later is Thanksgiving, followed by Kailea’s birthday in two more weeks, and then Christmas. Whew! As you can imagine, over the years I’ve developed some strategies to make this time of year more organized so it’s less stressful and more enjoyable for all of us. Today, I’m going to share three tips I use to take the stress out of the holiday season. Hope you enjoy the video and put the ideas into action soon!
Remember, action creates change. So if you want a different outcome for the holiday season this year, be sure to put the three tips I shared in the video into action today!
Happy organizing!
Aby, will you be covering Thanksgiving prep in here as well?
Hi, Christine,
The ideas apply to the entire holiday season…and there is a bonus handout that covers Thanksgiving Meal prep. So, yes. 🙂
Thanks for your question!
Aby
Abby, thank you for all your great organizing ideas!! Will this be your first Christmas without your father? I recall your wonderful tribute you posted about your dad awhile back (I’m sorry but I don’t remember exactly when it was though) because it really touched my heart. I even printed it out and put it on my wall. What really struck me was your Dad’s practice of filling his life with things that gave him joy and I try to incorporate this in my life now. What a wonderful legacy he has given you!!! So if this is your first Christmas, please know that you will be remembered and thank you for sharing your dad with us!!
Diane,
Thank you so much for your kind and heartfelt comment. It means so very much to me that you remembered that I lost my dad, and that what I wrote about him touched you in such a profound way. He was amazing.
It’s hard to believe, but this will be my second Christmas without him. Our hearts are healing and we find ourselves laughing more and more as we remember him and his incredible approach to living.
Thank you again for your thoughtfulness.
Aby
Abby, thank you for posting this. I’ve been thinking about your tribute a lot lately as I deal with losing my daddy. This will be our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without him. I seriously considered not even having Thanksgiving here this year, because it would be so very different without him. My oldest son is planning to leave for Marine boot-camp this summer. Knowing this may be our last Thanksgiving with him for a while, I wanted to make it work. We have decided to have an empty chair at the table for my dad. This way we neither have to pretend that he just didn’t make it, nor do we have to cancel Thanksgiving traditions all together. You were right; this has impacted me in ways I never knew possible. One of our traditions has been the Five Kernels of Corn poem and passing around a jar and putting in 5 pieces of popcorn while naming our blessings. I think this year we will each put a piece in for my dad and list things that he was thankful for.
That sounds like a lovely way to handle Thanksgiving Christine. Hugs to you as you make your way through this new world without your beloved daddy.