The holiday season is supposed to be a joyous time of the year. Delicious cookies baking in the oven, cheerful holiday decorating, and spending time with loved ones are all a part of what makes the season so merry. As lovely as all that is, busy moms, like myself, can easily get stressed out from all the extra to-do's that get piled onto our already day-to-day chores. I absolutely hate feeling rushed to get things done before entertaining begins. I want to sit back and enjoy the holidays, creating fun memories for my family, not running around like a mad woman trying to get everything done in a pinch. After years of practice, I think I finally have a system down to keep stress levels to a minimum, so I can enjoy everything else to the max.
Food Prep
Your holiday dinner spread doesn't have to be elaborate. Prepare a few dishes a day or two in advance that can be frozen, then quickly reheated the day of the party. Things like meatballs or soups are perfect for quickly reheating and serving. Slice salad veggies a day or two ahead of time and keep in air-tight containers in the refrigerator. If you don't have time to make desserts from scratch, box mixes are always a quick and easy solution. If your kids are old enough to work in the kitchen with minimal supervision, delegate some of the food prep to them.
Entertaining Prep
Make a list of all activities you have planned for the evening. What time you will be serving dinner, when to start opening gifts, and what party games you plan on playing. Don't be afraid to be specific on how early you would like your guests to leave by. Clearly write it on the invitations, "Holiday party will be from 6-9". That way, guests already have it in their head they are expected to leave by a certain time without you having to hint on it's time for them to go at the end of the night.
Home Prep
With everything else going on during the holidays, I don't want to spend a lot of time cleaning and organizing my home. I usually head to Walmart a few days before our gathering to stock up on holiday necessities that help me quickly take care of home prep without a lot of effort on my part.
Viva® Paper Towels® are always first on my list. With the durable, cloth like texture, they are tough enough for tough cleaning jobs, but soft enough to use on cleaning up little hands and faces. I love the choose-a-size sheet option, so I don't have to waste a full paper towel when I only need a small bit, like for holding my holiday desserts.
Keeping plenty of toilet paper on hand is an absolute must for holiday entertaining! I have three bathrooms in my home, and so I don't have to run around all night making sure each toilet paper holder is full, I keep small holiday themed baskets in each bathroom, stocked with Cottonelle® and Scott® toilet paper.
Since holiday entertaining usually falls during cold season, I also like to keep festive tissue canisters from Kleenex® sprinkled around the house. The slim canisters can fit on most tables, and blend well with your seasonal decor!
Swing by your local Walmart store to pick up these Holiday Necessities to help your party planning run much smoother. Be sure to check out the Ibotta App for amazing savings on these great products! You'll get:
• $1 off Cottonelle 12-ct or larger
• $1 off Scott 12-ct or larger
• $1 off Viva 6-ct or larger
• Buy two products and get an extra dollar back
After all of the other purchases you make for the season, it's nice to be able to put a little money back in your pocket by using the Ibotta App!
What are some ways you are saving time on holiday prep this season?
Sounds like you've already decorated the Mahoney mansion for the holidays :)
ReplyDeleteYou certainly do not have DEZZY'S SEAL OF APPROVAL for slicing veggies one or two days ahead! No, no, no.... I shall come over and slice it myself for you, we must not waste vitamins!
Please, do come over and help! The more hands, the merrier ;) Then, we can kick everyone else out early, make us some stiff holiday beverages, and oogle over sexy celebs online all night ;) That's where the real party would be lol.
Deletethat would be such fun, and we can pop over to Anne too and her little city, since I promised her we would do a parade each evening to scandalise the local hillbillies :)
DeleteOooh, a parade to harass the hillbillies sounds like jolly good fun! I'm in!
DeleteYou sure have everything down pat indeed. Always good to have extra paper towel and tp too no matter the season
ReplyDeleteI buy those suckers in bulk. Running out of paper towels falls just shy of running out of toilet paper.
DeleteI'm glad I don't have to get much ready at all for the holidays
ReplyDeleteLucky! Wait til' you and Daisy have kids, then come back and let me know how little you have to get ready for the holidays ;)
DeleteThose are great ways to save. I love that Santa basket. I buy year round, so I don't have to spend so much all at once.
ReplyDeleteI tried buying early in the year, and you know what happened? Allison just informed me the trampoline she was just hoping Santa would bring her (seriously, has been begging for one since June) that she is no longer interested in one. Guess what I get to take back to the store this week? Yay :(
DeleteOh yeah, we went to the store to stock up over the weekend because we're hosting Christmas dinner at my house.
ReplyDeleteViva paper towels are the best out there. I never buy any other brand. I learned that the hard way a few Christmases ago.
ReplyDeleteI will have to get this app. I am always interested in saving money. Especially on products I use every day. Catherine S
ReplyDeleteI should definitely do some stocking up before it's too late. I'm loving those deals! Those savings will help!
ReplyDeleteWhether it be time, money, or both, I am all about saving! Stocking up on essentials is always a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI order my toilet paper online because I've run out one too many times! It's a recurring shipment and it shows up every month like clockwork! Scott Extra Soft is my favorite. Is that TMI? :)
ReplyDeleteI saved time on holiday prep this year by shopping online. But I think I am running low on paper towels with all the cooking I have been doing lately.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to save on the products needed to make holidays and every day easier to get along with. It's Mary's turn to choose Christmas dinner. She is a big Mac n Cheese fan, and has requested Stauffer's. We'll each pick a favorite veggie, side dish, and dessert. I'll pick up the paper products while I'm at it.
ReplyDeleteWe save time by prepping food ahead. We also all chip in.
ReplyDeleteI love the storage of your cottonelle this should around in house.
ReplyDeleteThese are all definite items needed for the holidays! We use them all.
ReplyDeleteI try to save time any way I can. I shop online to avoid long lines and trips out!
ReplyDeleteWe need to stock up! Looks like you are very prepared. I need to get myself in gear because it's coming up really quickly! - Jeanine
ReplyDeleteI do as much prep as i can ahead of time. Viva Paper Towels are amazing. They are so strong and can clean up any mess i come across.
ReplyDeleteCan never have enough paper towels when holiday party season is here! Tjhanks for the tips for survival, I definitely need them!
ReplyDeleteNot sure what we would do in the kitchen w/out paper towels. I'll check out the app.
ReplyDeleteI think you are spot on about the prep to keep holiday stress to a minimum. Love the holiday tissue holder!
ReplyDeleteWow the Christmas-themed canisters are so cute. We don't have those in Singapore!
ReplyDeleteAi @ Sakura Haruka
I would hate to run out of the necessities during this busy time of the year. Viva paper towels are awesome! They are so soft.
ReplyDeleteWe just bought some of the Kleenex in the holiday canisters. They are so festive! I have them everywhere!
ReplyDeletethe house looks fantastic, Theresa and sooo festive as well. I always make sure I have all those paper towel and toilet paper needed as well :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so impressive. Not only are you nice, you have holiday themed toilet paper basket holders. Kudos to you.
ReplyDeleteawesome post, and those muffins??? are the real? I feel they look so pretty that one should not even eat itt!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with above (Rawknrobyn) you are indeed very impressive!!!
Those are real cupcakes, but I didn't make them. I went full lazy and bought them from the bakery lol
DeleteWe had three bathrooms too and the cleaning time was ridiculous. BUT no one ever had to wait. Now we have one and if we have a house full visiting, there's always a line, lol!! I like the little guest baskets for the bathrooms. Very cool (and cute!).
ReplyDeleteYour holiday dinner spread doesn't have to be elaborate... So true. It just needs to be a lot haha! No fancy stuff, just delicious food that's easy to prep.
ReplyDeleteReally, it doesn't! Nobody complains about the spread because they are getting free food! Beggars can't be choosers and all that jazz lol.
DeleteWell - I have more time this year since my job RIF - I am seriously loving getting so much done, and not having to stress this year!! If I could only afford to stay home full time - sigh!! I'm enjoying it for now - so luckily prep work has just been ensuring we have the groceries for the dishes we plan on serving and I've already wrapped all presents and placed them under the tree.
ReplyDeleteLucky for me, I didn't do Christmas this year, so I got off easy. I am going to try for the same next year. Let everyone else do the work and I can just enjoy myself. LOL... doesn't quite workout like that but close.
ReplyDelete