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

It’s Party Planning Month! It’s never too early to start planning your holiday parties. This month pencil in some tentative dates, decide party themes, and start thinking about menus and decor ideas!

• Master Gift List: We are at the halfway mark. How are your gifts looking? Plan to buy a couple gifts this month! Update your gift lists if you have been buying items throughout the year. Make sure you keep track of them so you don’t over buy!

• It’s Recipe Month!  It’s time to organize your holiday recipes! This Rudolph Day task will help you be ready for next month’s party planning and then again in September when you plan your baking and candy making! Get a notebook or file box. Sort your recipes. Keep in mind that you can’t make them all. Keep a section for tried and true recipes that you love and a section for new ones that you want to try. Plan to try at least one recipe before June Rudolph Day arrives. Make a list of ones to try each month between now and Christmas!
• Themes: Do you like to do theme trees like a travel tree or a wine tree? Do you like theme decor or theme parties? If so, this is the month to decide on some themes so you can be on the look out for items to go with your “themes.” Flea markets and resale shops have hidden treasures but to pull it all together you need to make a decision about your theme(s) for this year!  In addition, don’t forget to “think outside the box”. Many non Christmas items can be used as decor or ornaments. When traveling pick up pretty keychains or other items to use as ornaments on your travel tree.

Get your things in place….tomorrow’s Rudolph Day…..and you have a whole month to explore recipes and themes!

• It’s Christmas Dishes Month!  Do you have Christmas dishes, serving trays, and other items that are tucked here and there? Do you have trouble finding them when it’s time for a party or dinner? Well this is Christmas Dishes Month and it’s time to declutter and organize the Christmas dishes. Find a storage area. move your dishes there and inventory what you have. Later you may discover a random piece stuck here or there, when you do, add it to your Christmas Cupboard, so when the holiday season arrives, you’ll have everything at your fingertips!  This is also a good time to organize holiday linens.
• Christmas Magic: Do you do 24 Days of Christmas activities? Do you give the 12 Days of Christmas gifts? Or perhaps you do a little St Nicholas Day gift. If so, this is the month to plan the “magic”. Make a list, pick out some items, or just get your ideas into the notebook!

It’s Books & Movies Month! Time to inventory and organize your Christmas books and movies! Gather them from all of their hiding places or perhaps you have them in a nice box or on a shelf! Take time to inventory what you have and spend some time browsing online to create a “wish list” for the coming holiday season! If you have a little one…this might be the month to “wrap” the books. Then when the holiday season arrives, place the wrapped books in a pretty basket or box. When story time arrives, your little one can pick a wrapped book to unwrap and have read to him or her!

Christmas Cash: If you haven’t already started, it’s time to start tucking away some cash for Christmas. Perhaps you have a Christmas Savers account? Be sure and add to it this month! Maybe you have a savings jar where you tuck away change and small bills? Don’t let it go hungry. You will be glad you fed it throughout the year so you have money for gifts! Through a combination of buying gifts throughout the year and saving some Christmas Cash…you can have a wonderful Christmas and still stay on your budget!