Disney's Merry Christmas a Princess Song

© Comstock

Thanksgiving is almost here and you know what that means—Christmas isn't far behind. Instead of stressing out about all the things you have to do, follow our guide, and come December 25 you'll be kicking back and thinking, "Now this is the way the season should be."

7 ways to put a lid on holiday chaos
On your December calendar, color-code all your errands, appointments and parties. "Put social event s in one color, errands in another," says space expert and author Linda Koopersmith of BeverlyHillsOrganizer.com. "You can tell what's coming up at a glance."

Instead of making seven separate holiday shopping trips, as the average shopper does, says Maria Gracia of GetOrganizedNow.com, designate one day as your official shopping day. Try to find a mall or store that will accommodate all your needs.

Feel on top of things by setting deadlines for major have-tos such as completing shopping, mailing cards, wrapping and shipping gifts, baking and decorating.

Designate an out-of-the-way area such as the basement or spare room for gift-wrapping. The mess is contained and everything you need is in one place.

As photos and cards start coming in, put the keepers in an album rather than letting them pile up. "Create a new holiday album every year," suggests Koopersmith.

Instead of pulling out a dozen different cookbooks, take time to find all the family favorites, make copies and put them into one folder you can use every year.

Take an hour to type the names and addresses of everyone to whom you send cards or gifts into your computer. This eliminates all the paper, and you can print out mailing labels.

4 ways to decorate without spending a fortune
Scout out flea markets and tag sales for decorations.

Shop consignment stores, particularly those near retirement communities or military bases. "When people move a lot, they often get rid of holiday decorations first," says Coral Nafie, interior decorating expert for About.com.

Look through your house for anything red, green, silver, gold or white. How can you use these items in a different way?

Think bows! Big wired ribbon (it's easy to shape) can be tied around anything—candleholders, napkins, etc.

4 fab food gifts
Even non-bakers can't go wrong with a jar of cherry pie filling from WisConsin's Wood Orchard. Go to woodorchard.com

Enstrom's toffee (enstrom.com) is pricey but totally worth it. If you don't want to spend $17 on a pound of toffee, buy a pound of toffee crumbs for $5.95, great for topping ice cream.

Know someone who pines for a certain candy bar from his childhood? Go to hometownfavorites.com to find the item, or give a gift certificate.

Send the wine or coffee lovers in your life a three-month, six-month or one-year membership to the club of your choice. Go to amazingclubs.com.

6 smart ways to ship gifts
Remember, between Thanksgiving and Christmas you have 32 shopping days, but only 27 shipping days. Plan ahead.

Don't want to stand in line at the post office? Go to usps.com and enter "Click-N-Ship" in the search box. You can calculate the weight (and postage) for a package, print out a label and arrange a free pickup.

If you're using recycled boxes for shipping, remove or black out all old labels and barcodes. Worried about gifts you mail getting stolen from the recipient's porch? Send them to his or her office.

For faster service, go to the post office Tuesday through Friday, midmorning or midafternoon.

Take advantage of the free gift wrap and shipping that many catalogs and websites offer.

7 ways to keep the house "company ready"
Before you put up decorations, clean out clutter "We're not talking deep cleaning," says Sarah Aguirre, housekeeping expert for About.com. "Just a significant decluttering to make room for the new gifts." Take any giveaways to Goodwill for an end-of-year tax deduction.

Make a cleanup kit and keep it handy Include carpet cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, premoistened cleaning towels and white cloths for wipe-ups. Use it for pre-company touchups and to tackle spills during the festivities.

If your home is the hot spot for gatherings, treat yourself to a professional housecleaning. Book early so you can have peace of mind.

No time to clean and guests are on their way? Do a quick straightening-up of the entryway, living room and bathroom, "the only rooms that people really see," says Aguirre.

Consolidate catalogs and magazines by putting them in a basket: It's easy to hide when company pops in.

Is the house littered with to-do notes? Gracia suggests using a set of index cards on which you write one holiday task per card. Put the cards in an appropriate sequence. (And save them for next year.)

Overnight company is coming and the sheets are clean but a little musty? Don't rewash the linens. "Tuck a dryer sheet between the pillow and the pillowcase for a fresh, clean smell," says Kim Bryant, a professional cleaner in Denver.

5 ways to feel the spirit (free of charge)
Have movie nights. Whenever a classic holiday film is on, make popcorn and declare it family night.

Give to charity. With the kids, gather up all outgrown coats, mittens and hats, and deliver to a shelter.

Bake cookies. Kids love to make and decorate slice-and-bake ones. Plate and wrap, then secretly put on the front porches of friends and neighbors with a best-wishes note.

Drive around to see the lights. End your outing at a place where you can see the stars and share a thermos of hot cocoa.

Sing together. Look in the newspaper for singalong performances of Handel's Messiah and sing your heart out.

5 ways to wrap it up
Got a big gift and not enough paper? Just wrap it in a large paper holiday tablecloth, suggests Gracia.

Hire a teen, friend or relative. Put out supplies and have your helper wrap and tag each gift.

Color-code. Knowing that all red packages are for the in-laws and all gold ones are for your folks is a quick way to pick up the right stack.

Put gift cards in envelopes (if they aren't already) and decorate with stickers or a bow.

Kim Bryant keeps wrapping paper organized by storing it in an inexpensive six-roll plastic box (available at Wal-Mart and Home Depot). She uses a box cutter to make six slits from top to bottom of the container, one slit in front of each roll, then pulls the end of each paper through its slit.

8 ways to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible
Host a potluck. Have everyone bring a dish—you provide a main course.

Buy ready-made—and don't feel guilty. "If you're not a great dessert maker," says Christopher Robbins, a caterer and events planner in New York City, "go to your favorite bakery and pick up something wonderful."

Use pretty plastic plates instead of good china.

Keep the menu simple. Nancy Kirk of Omaha, Nebraska, has made the same meal for years, and it's always a hit: a cooked bone-in ham, green bean salad, crusty rolls and eggnog. "The eggnog is both drink and dessert," she says.

Instead of standing over a hot stove, make your main dish in a slow-cooker and add a salad and bread.

Stop wondering how much food to make for that 35-person Christmas Eve buffet. Go to Allrecipes.com and to read "Cooking for a Crowd" by Noah Christmas to help you calculate exactly what you need.

Make cleanup easier by covering your counter with wax paper before baking or cooking, and lining all roasting pans with heavy foil.

Never try a new recipe when time is precious. If it fails, you've doubled your workload.

4 Ways to Make Gift Giving a Breeze
Apply the "Golden Rule." If you don't want gifts that clutter, don't give gifts that clutter. One good non-clutter choice: mail-order food items. Order a case and give one to everyone.

Are you in charge of the family or office Secret Santa? Consider organizing it online at elfster.com—a free Secret Santa site. Everyone involved can keep a wish list and even ask questions anonymously. (What size hat do you wear? Who's your favorite sports team?)

Teach kids about charity by buying a gift certificate from CharityGiftCertificates.org. They can then go to the website and choose what organization they want to donate it to.

Don't want to drop a load of money all at once? Offer the gift of a joint activity, which you pay for later when you and the recipient do it together.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Disney's Merry Christmas a Princess Song

Source: https://www.womansday.com/life/a47/a-merry-easy-christmas/