Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Host a cookie party: You could spend hours baking cookies solo or you could invite friends for an afternoon of cocoa, conversation and cookie dough. Swap stories while rolling out dough and cross an important item off of your holiday to-do list. "You'll have more than enough cookies to serve throughout the holidays but more importantly, you'll have the memories of a cherished afternoon with friends," says Monique Tilford, co-author of Your Money or Your Life.
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Proof holiday cards online: 'Tis the season to snap photos, which means department store photo counters are crowded. Check the proofs of your holiday cards and place your order online. You can even have the cards sent directly to your house instead of trying to squeeze in an extra errand to pick up the printed cards on your lunch break.
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Save time in the kitchen: Monica Bhide, author of Modern Spice: Inspired Indian Flavors for the Contemporary Kitchen, advises making part of your holiday meal ahead of time so you're not stuck in the kitchen on the big day. "The best dishes to prepare in advance are ones that can be reheated without losing texture or flavor," she says. Her favorite dishes to make early include cranberry sauce, vegetables, dinner rolls and desserts like pumpkin pie. "Advance preparation really reduces the stress so that the host can enjoy the gathering," she says. You could also have part of the meal catered: Gourmet delis and supermarkets offer entire premade holiday meals that were designed to heat and serve.
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Decorate with natural materials: You don't need to spend all afternoon crafting the perfect centerpiece. A simple glass bowl filled with dried branches and colorful cranberries or a grouping of pillar candles will look stunning on your dining room table. Ditto for a simple poinsettia that you can buy at the supermarket along with your other holiday staples. Remember, it doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming to look great.
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Schedule time with Santa: You could wait in line for hours for a chance to sit with jolly old Saint Nicolas and whisper your holiday gift list in his ear (while little ones dressed in itchy party clothes throw temper tantrums in line). Or, you could make an appointment to have your kids' photos taken with Santa and skip the lines altogether. Photo studios all over the country offer Santa photos by appointment. Schedule a time first thing in the morning to give the kids less time to get their holiday clothes wrinkled and dirty!
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Shop and ship: Who wants to lug extra suitcases filled with gifts through security lines at the airport? Instead, ship gifts in advance. Not only will you save on hefty baggage fees, traveling with a carry-on means you can skip the long lines to check luggage at the airport and less time having your bags checked in the security lines. "It takes just a bit of organization to get the presents in the mail before the trip but it's worth it," says Jacobs. "It's one less thing to worry about during an already stressful time." Just remember to wrap gifts in unsealed gift bags in case the post office or delivery service has to inspect the packages.
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Let someone else do the wrapping: Instead of agonizing over wrapping paper choices and spending precious hours looking for ribbons and bows in the perfect shade of crimson, leave the wrapping to the experts. Drop your gifts off to be wrapped at one of the kiosks in the mall. They'll take care of the wrapping and you'll have extra time to attend to some of the other things on your to-do list. Most online retailers also offer gift-wrapping for a nominal fee. You can have gifts wrapped and shipped to the recipients without ever stepping foot in the mall.
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Order postage online: Standing in line at the post office during the holidays often takes longer than finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list. The good news: You can access all of the same services online. Calculate postage, print shipping labels, order stamps and track shipments with the click of a button. Just be sure to leave plenty of time for gifts to reach your nephews in Colorado and your best friend in Maryland: Shipping early is your best bet to avoid post-holiday deliveries.
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Hire help: Yes, it'll cost extra to have a professional hang the holiday lights on the eaves and clear the dust bunnies from the guestroom. Consider it money well-spent if it lowers your blood pressure and frees up time for you to focus on the most important part of the season: Spending time with loved ones.
Put the Happy Back in Your Holiday
Make a list: Wandering around the mall in the hopes of stumbling across the perfect present can take hours. Channel your inner Santa Claus and make a list of all of the gifts you need to buy this season. Shopping with a list ensures you don't forget anyone (and won't have to spend extra time fighting crowds at the mall for a missed gift) and can also help prevent overspending. You can save even more time by choosing gifts from a single store: Shop in your favorite bookstore for a pop-up book for your niece, pretty stationary for grandma and a book of photography for a friend. "It's a great way to shop because you're not wasting time running all over the mall," says Connecticut-based professional organizer Leslie Jacobs.
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