Rudolph Day
Preparing for Christmas Throughout the Year!

It’s a brand new year and time to get organized for Christmas 2012. January is Christmas Notebook month! So hopefully you have all those old sheets OUT of your notebook and you have it all set up and ready for Christmas 2012!  If not…you still have till the end of January to do so!

Life needs to be simple, so for 2012 we are going to try a new approach to Rudolph Day!  We like to think in THREEs….and Rudolph Day is no exception.  So get out a small notebook or a list pad and think about the upcoming Rudolph Days. Jot down three things you would like to accomplish on Rudolph Day each month. Everybody’s list is going to look a bit different. You can follow the framework here at Rudolph Day or make up one of your own. Here’s a sample of how a list for January might look.

1. Notebook: clean out old pages and insert new.

2. Watch this month’s Rudolph movie pick: Christmas Vacation

3. Buy a stocking stuffer for someone on the list.

This list follows the rule of three and it also follows my own rule of ORGANIZE, FUN, DO. Organize the notebook, have a little fun (the movie) and do something (take some action) buy a stocking stuffer. It’s easy, its manageable and yet it moves us forward into an organized Christmas 2012.

Some people like to make their lists now…one for each month and some people like to make them on the first of each month so they know their focus for the 25th but can tailor it around the time and resources they have available that month. Either way works!  Let’s think Christmas folks!

Coming Next: February is Crafty Kits Month. Set up some simple crafting projects. More details coming February 1st!!

It is Wrap It Up Month!  The goal for Rudolph Day this month is to finish wrapping gifts or at the very least have a wrapping day and get as many wrapped as possible! No more staying up late Christmas Eve wrapping gifts. The goal is to have Christmas Eve free for enjoying family and friends!

Advent Calendar: Time to get your calendar ready!

Elf Arrival: Is your elf ready? Do you have him or her where you can find it? Is your arrival letter written and do you have the gift from the North Pole that the elf can bring? If not…pull off some elfish magic and get them ready now!

Christmas Cards: Get out those cards you made or signed back in July, finish addressing them, add a newsletter or note if you like and put them in a basket or box ready to mail December 1st! Don’t forget to buy your stamps early.

It’s Gift in a Jar and Basket Month: Are you making some gifts in a jar or putting together gift baskets? If so this is the month to pull them together! Buy jars or better yet, go on a search of resale shops and find an odd assortment of jars. I love the treasures I find in resale shops!  while you’re at it…look for baskets too, at a fraction of the cost! Decide on the ones you will make this year, create a master list and buy ingredients and items!

Master Gift List: It’s time to check the list again. Just like Santa, checking it twice. Add a space for checking when you wrap the gift. This will also help keep track of what is already wrapped and what

September is Baking Month: This is the month to finalize your plans for baking and candy making. By deciding on recipes early, you can create a master ingredient list and start shopping now. Spreading the cost out over several weeks will help the holiday budget.

Ornaments: Time to take an inventory of what you need. Hopefully you jotted down that list back in January. Now is the time to pull it out and jot it down in a small notebook to carry with you. Then when you see an item on sale, check your list and stock up on the savings!  In addition, this is a good time to find a cute ornament or two to make! Remember: SIMPLIFY….you can’t make them all….pick a couple and enjoy!

It’s the Month of the Elf: Time to plan Elf activities. Get out some planner sheets and jot down any “pranks” your elf might do and also check your elf gifts (did you pick up some items after Christmas for the elf to bring this year?) Don’t forget “experience gifts” are lots of fun with the elf. So be sure and include making cookies or going to the theater to take in the newest Christmas movie (the elf goes too, of course!) The elf can present the tickets as a surprise! If your elf is writing notes….get a jump start and craft a couple this month so they are all ready when the busy holiday season arrives!

Crafts: Check the crafty kits you started back in February. How are you doing on the crafts and gifts? Do you still need to get some materials? Which ones are priorities? Work on those this month!  Remember time is a factor, so don’t take on more than you can reasonably finish!

Finish up Stocking Stuffers Month (pick up those last little goodies for stockings) It’s easy to get drawn to all the little goodies that get put out right before Christmas but usually these are cute for a second and tossed aside quickly. For stocking stuffers think variety (a book, one beauty item, an ornament, etc) and limit the number you put in each stocking.

Christmas Cards: This is the month to design, get supplies, and make cards) OR if you use store bought cards then this is the month to get them out and sign them. Perhaps even start addressing the envelopes or at least update addresses as needed on your Christmas Card List

A favorite in  Sweden, Coffee Bread at Christmas!  Check out the recipe and step by step directions over at Homecooking Rocks!  There are so many yummy Christmas recipes, what are your favorites?

Father Christmas is a beloved figure in many parts of the world. Over at Dancing with Daisy you can read about some fun customs in Ireland and other countries!

Week Three: It’s a Small World. Isn’t Christmas lovely anywhere in the world? This week at Magical Holiday Home, we will be looking at Christmas around the world as part of the month long Christmas in July celebration. The customs and celebrations are as varied as the members of MHH and we look forward to sharing our ideas here at Rudolph Day.com

We’d love to hear about the special ways that you celebrate the “most wonderful time” of the year!

Look what I found over at Easy Christmas Crafts.  It’s a glitzy Christmas charm bracelet. I love the red and white beads and the little bells.  It is adorable!  The directions are over on the site, along with a materials list. These would also make cute gifts as well.