Don’t Let the Christmas Season Catch You Unawares

The Christmas season, from Thanksgiving until New Years Day come and goes so quickly that it is very easy to be caught off guard. All too often we find ourselves not ready for Christmas Day when we have known all along that it is where it always is, neatly nestled between Thanksgiving and New Years, during the last week of December. It always seems though, that we forget someone or something until the last minute and end up rushing around with all of the other crazy busy people on Christmas Eve at whatever retail establishment it is that is still open to tend to our needs. There is an easy way to avoid this though. Account for all possibilities. What are you likely to forget? Who are you likely to leave out? Below is listed a list of things you should keep on hand during the holiday season, whether in your car, refrigerator or pantry.

1. While you are doing your Christmas shopping, pick up a bunch of little things to have around as take-away or hospitality gifts. It could be anything from candy filled mugs, to small decorative frames, or a chocolate box sampler. You never know when an unexpected person will be thrown in to the mix, and it is best not to be caught empty handed

   
   

2. On a similar note, keep your refrigerator fairly stocked with small dessert items or trays. This is good for when you are doing your holiday visiting. This way you can bring something with you to each place that you visit during your Christmas week. Stuff like apple pie or finger sandwich platters are great, because they can be used pretty much anywhere that there is a gathering of people. Avoid things that will go bad quickly so that you can keep it on hand throughout Christmas week.

   
   

3. Keep a couple of bottles of wine in your car. Perhaps you would like to save in bulk by hitting up Trader Joes for their award winning Charles Shaw wine which in most places will run you about three dollars a bottle. Buy a mixed case and keep it in your trunk in case of last minute visiting hours. That way you are not running around like a crazy person trying to find a liquor store that is still open, or a grocery store that has something that is appropriate to bring as an addition to someone’s most likely already full holiday spread.

   
   

4. Christmas cards. Do not go out and buy individual Christmas cards for each of your co workers. Buy a large amount of cards at once and keep them in your car or briefcase with you. When you are dealing with a large amount of people it is very easy to forget a person who you only see maybe once or twice a week. It is best to keep cards with you so that you can correct any oversights before they become an insult. Stay prepared, and have fun, and your holiday season will assuredly run according to plan.