In
the busyness that will envelop your home in the next few weeks, the more
shortcuts and pre-prep, the merrier.
Keep your important tools and supplies on hand and easily within reach
to cut time and save some sanity during the holidays.
Your
trusty sidekick this time of year can easily be your scissors. Between wrapping gift after gift and opening
that frustrating plastic packaging so many items come encased in, you can feel
strapping on a hip holster is the only way to keep that one pair of good
scissors from disappearing. If that
sounds like you, it could be time to multiply your supply. Buy a few pair of scissors and add them to
key kitchen and bathroom drawers, a home office supply caddy, a gift wrapping
bin of supplies, and a slot in your knife block. Why try to keep track of just one main pair? The same goes for good gift wrap tape
dispensers to ensure you have enough well within easy reach.
Having
company can multiple your loads of laundry and keep your machines running
repeatedly. To keep things moving, load
up on extra detergent, laundry additive, fabric softener, and dryer sheets to
avoid running out or running low and having loads stack up on you. Keep small laundry bags for delicates in the
bottom of the hampers or dirty clothes baskets.
When you sort your laundry, they will be right there, ready for
immediate use, saving you from digging in a laundry room cabinet.
If
you don’t already, add a plastic supply caddy under each sink for applicable
cleaning supplies. It is easier to keep
cleaners stored away in each room you use them in, instead of lugging one set
from bathroom to bathroom. This is
especially quick and easy for cleaning up on the spot, like a little toothpaste
left in the sink.
Take
an end-of-the-year inventory of other household supplies and plan to restock
where needed to make sure you have enough to carry your home well into the New
Year. Look into your light bulbs,
batteries, paper towels, toilet paper, paper napkins, and the like. As many trips as you will make to stores for
groceries and gifts, relegating those types of home supplies to a trip of their
own lightens your regular load.
Determine not to dig, hunt, or scramble to keep things in line and running smoothly around your home this Christmas. Whether you will be entertaining a houseful or just settling in with the family, a little planning and preparation can be all it takes to take the “bah humbug” out of being a relaxed holiday hostess who really knows how to fill the household stockings.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 2nd.
