Rudolph Day
Preparing for Christmas Throughout the Year!

• It’s Crafty Kits Month! This month decide on crafts or gifts that you would like to make throughout the year. Remember to keep it simple. You can only do so much.  Then create a craft kit for each one. Use a gallon sized zip lock bag and include the craft directions, materials list, and put in any materials you already have! Now you are organized and ready to craft and create during the whole year. Visit Magical Holiday Home’s Christmas Cottage page for some delightful ideas!
• Rudolph Day tote, basket, or bag!  This month find a little storage spot for all your Rudolph Day stuff. Place your Christmas notebook, crafty kits, cards, recipe books, Christmas mug, socks, whatever suits you into the tote. Every Rudolph Day, you will have most of your supplies at your fingertips!

There are as many versions of the Christmas Notebook as there are people in this world. Some use a spiral notebook, some use a three ring binder, some use a lovely scrapbooked version and some use an electronic version.  The main thing about the Christmas planner is to have one. In today’s busy why try to keep it all in your head when there are som many ways to record it and track it.  Only you can decide the “version” that works best for you. Don’t spend too much time deciding, it is already February. Just pick one and play around with it this year. If it doesn’t work like you want it to you can always switch to something different.

Besides the kind of planner you want, the other item that is a very personal choice is the sections you choose to include in it. Everybody has different needs. I would caution that ar first you just pick 4-6 sections and get them working for you before adding others. Sometimes diving in can become overwhelming. Better to have a smaller WORKING notebook than a large one that gathers dust!

Here’s a list of sections to get you thinking but also think about YOUR Christmas. What are the things that are important to you? What areas seem to stress you out? Those are the ones to consider organizing so that when Christmas rolls around you are armed with a notebook tailored to meet those challenges.

Possible Sections:

• Calendars (I use October-December) Record party dates, deadlines, Christmas programs etc
• Card List: This is a mini address book for all people that I send cards to. It’s so nice to have it all at my fingertips. Some people prefer to keep this section on their computer for printing address labels.
• Master Gift List: Everybody that needs a gift(s). When I buy gifts during the year I record them on this list. I also have a small section to check once the gift is wrapped!
• Stocking Stuffer Lists: Same as the gift list except just for those I fill stockings for.
• Baking Plans: This section I redo each year. I try to pick the cookies/candies I am making ahead of time and print and keep the recipe in this section. It also eventually includes a master ingredients shopping list so I can buy ahead of time.
• Party Plans: Since we entertain several times during the season, I use this section for party menus and notes. I also put Christmas Eve Dinner and Breakfast plans in this section. Again after making selections I copy and put recipes in this part.
• Christmas Countdown: This section has the six week Christmas Countdown. I don;t always follow it exactly because by preparing throughout the year there seems to be less of a need for it but I still have it to refer to.                                   

Those are the main sections I use along with a St. Nick’s Day section and an Elf Adventures section. There are other sections that some people use: decor ideas, storage, movie and book inventory, reflection page, freezer meals, etc etc. The best way to pick your sections is to think about your own personal Christmas and the things you normally hope to accomplish.