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Okay, we’ll be the ones to say it—-there are less than 2 weeks before Thanksgiving, and depending on when you read this, approximately 33 days until Christmas. The very thought of all that lies ahead would make a grown woman “swoon”, as my grandmother would say, or using the vernacular of today, cause an otherwise level-headed woman to throw a tantrum the likes of which no 2 year old has ever seen. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Over the next several weeks, we will be giving you time saving tips on everything from easy party platters to last minute do-it-yourself treats and organization. We would also encourage you to send in your ideas as well.

How have you saved time in the kitchen? What organization tips can you share that work to take the stress out of your holidays? How have you involved your children? How do you make sure that there is time for what is essential, not just important?

For example: my husband and I just spent several days in California visiting our daughter and her family. Our visit coincided with Halloween and with 4 of her 5 boys in school, my daughter could have spent the day running from one classroom activity to another.

Instead, she chose to visit every one of her son’s classrooms but only worked in one of them. She rotates working in their classrooms and each boy is satisfied that their mother will help him and his classmates color, paste, decorate, or assemble at least once during the school year.

The first grader got Halloween, the third grader has Christmas, the fourth grader has Valentines and the sixth grader…well, we all know that sixth graders are too cool for the Easter Bunny. He’ll be happy if she just doesn’t kiss him good-bye in front of his friends!

So, tip number one is: Don’t slice yourself so thin trying to do “everything”, that you forget the “one thing”—that your children, family and friends would rather see your smiling face, than your back-side running out the door...again.

Cheers! And Happy Holidays!

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