5 Ideas for a Fuss - Free Holiday

The holiday season can bring about a lot of stress and rush. According to Jill Lamkin there are 5 things you can do to make the holiday season fuss-free.

1. Clear your family calender in December. All home maintenance service and doctor appointments should be scheduled no later than October, so nothing can get in the way of holiday fun.

2. If you plan to draw names for gift exchange, do it early. It's less stressful to shop over a period of weeks or months than trying to find the perfect gift in the last days before Christmas, when shelves are picked over.

3. Address and stamp holiday cards Thanksgiving weekend. Get your wrapping paper out and accessible in November or early December. If you have gifts to mail, set a shipping date for the first week of December to steer clear of the holiday push.

4. Make a family photo calendar for the grandparents using software such as iPhoto,Calendar Creator, or Simply Calendars. Do this as soon as possible.

5. Go casual. Christmas dinner should be simple and no fuss. Having Mom cooking all day is no fun. Make the menu easy and fuss free. Leave the big feast at Thanksgiving.

To read more about a Fuss-Free Holiday read "Better Homes and Gardens" December 2009 issue.