As we mentioned in our November blog it’s important to plan and get organised in order to enjoy a simple and stress free Christmas. So, following on from that we’ve put together a last minute checklist to help you make the most of this wonderful time of year. We’ve put together this last minute Christmas countdown checklist to help you in the last days leading up to the big day.
3 Weeks To Go
With no less than 3 weeks to go here’s what you’ll need to do:
Post Presents & Christmas Cards - we all know how busy the postal service and couriers can be in December so allow plenty of time to send parcels to friends and family so that they arrive in good time before Christmas.
Get Cleaning - give your house a good deep clean ready for decorating.
Buy Your Tree & Decorate - If a real tree is what you have opted for, 3 weeks before is a good time to collect it and bring it home. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to decorate your house too. We have a great choice of decorations this year.
2 Weeks Before
Create a food shopping list - Keep Boxing day and New Year’s in mind too. This will save you doing multiple trips to the supermarket during the in-between period.
Start Shopping - Non perishable items can be bought earlier to make things a little easier in those last days. Tins, bottles, packets and even frozen items can be bought ahead of time.
Last Delivery Dates - Make a point of checking last delivery dates and make a note of any that are important for you.
Kitchen Essentials - Do you have everything you need to cook the roast dinner of the year? Is your roasting pan big enough? Have you got a gravy jug? If not then we have everything you need at Lawsons and a blog to guide you through which Christmas Kitchen Essentials you’ll need.
1 Week To Go
Check Presents - Double check your present buying list to make sure you have everything you need for those you wanted to buy Christmas presents for. This allows you enough time to grab those
Stock Up On Batteries - If you have children who are likely to receive battery operated toys on Christmas Day it’s a good idea to stock up on batteries in advance to save any disappointment on the day.
Clean The Fridge - Clear out any food items that have been lingering in your fridge for a while in order to make space. Now is a good time to give it a good clean, ready for all the leftovers!
Final Clean Up - Have a final tidy up around the house, clean, hoover and dust.
3 Days To Go
Last Minute Wrapping - Make sure all of the presents are wrapped. No one wants to be rushing the wrapping late on Christmas Eve.
Fresh Food Shop - Head to the supermarket for those last fresh ingredients such as fruit, vegetables, milk and cream.
Defrost The Turkey - If you have chosen a frozen turkey, you’ll need to check the defrosting time and take it out of the freezer in plenty of time to allow it to thaw properly.
2 Days To Go
Start Cooking - Some foods can be cooked a couple of days in advance and will keep well in the fridge.
Baking - Now is a good time for some Christmas baking with the family, maybe some mince pies for Santa.
Christmas Eve
Cooking Schedule - Plan out your cooking schedule for everything that needs to be cooked on Christmas Day. Working backwards from your planned eating time can be a really useful tip.
Prepare As Much As Possible - Foods and vegetables that can be prepared in advance will save time on the day. Vegetables can be peeled or sliced and desserts can be made too.
Relax - Take some time out to relax, sit back with a nice cuppa and watch a festive film.
You may have your own traditions and points you may want to add to this list, but hopefully it will help you keep a clear, organised mind and break up what can seem like an overwhelming chunk of chores into a more manageable schedule. We hope this gives you more time to spend with your loved ones, so now all that’s left to do is eat, drink and be merry!
