3 Things I do in November for a better December

There is nothing that I enjoy more in December than not being frazzled.

I love to enjoy every fun tradition with my kids. I want to be present for all our family activities. I don’t want to lose my cool while baking Christmas cookies last-minute. (This will happen if you leave all your Christmas cookie baking until December 23rd. Trust me.)

One way that I've learned to set myself up for success in December is to check a few items off my list in November. Quick wins, if you will.

Don't get me wrong. There is no Christmas tree up at our house, no Christmas music playing, and I have no idea what I am buying for 93% of my Christmas list, but there are just a few things that I make sure I take care of in November so that my December can be intentional and calm.

So, in no particular order, here's what's on my "Christmas List" this month.

Christmas Activity Box

The Christmas Activity Box was my solution to slowing December down. It has worked so well that we've used it for years! We've found that the box has helped our family traditions become more thoughtful, deliberate and it ensures that we never over schedule ourselves in December—a true gift!

Above all, the Christmas Activity Box is a way to preserve my sanity while forming lasting memories and traditions that we all cherish. It’s also a great planning tool that helps me create shopping lists for Christmas crafts, baking supplies, and all the other small things that pop up in December. The Christmas Activity Box allows me to have all my lists made in November.

If you are looking for something easy and fun that will simplify and organize your December, keep reading. I’m confident you will get a few good tips for your family! Read about the Christmas Activity Box here.

If you don't have any Christmas traditions yet, make it a goal to add at least one this year!

Family Pictures + Christmas Cards Ordered

Each November our family gets our pictures taken by our favorite photographer. Figuring out what to wear without being overly matchy is something that can be tricky! Over the years I have come up with a few tips that work well for our family outfits and keep us within budget. I have also found my approach keeps me from going crazy trying to coordinate dozens of articles of clothing for six people. This year I only spent $40 on clothes for our family pictures. I’m calling that a win!

Click here to read my best tips and budget saving advice!

Another budget saving tip: In addition to having our family pictures taken, I also make sure to order our Christmas card before December 1. I've found it's always worth it to hold out for the Black Friday sales if you are ordering from an online card store, but not after December 1 due to shipping timelines. I make sure I add the dates that I’m going to be addressing envelopes to the Christmas Activity Box so that its scheduled and I don’t have to be frantic about it!

A few things I purchase early

I don't go overboard, but there are a few things that I order each year to sprinkle a little bit of Christmas magic in December. Up until 2020 I didn't think too much about when I would order these items, but that year led to a bit of panic, and now I just order everything in November so that I don't have to stress! Here's what I make sure to order well before Black Friday to ensure they are here before December: - Christmas PJs (In the past I've ordered from Gap, Old Navy, or Kohls but decided to try Primary this year!) - An Advent Book/Study (I've done this one in the past and we are doing it as a family this year. This is what I've ordered for myself - Wrapping paper + ribbon (This never used to be an issue, but the last two years I've been hard pressed to find ribbon in December. When I see it on the shelves in Target in November? I buy it!)

What am I forgetting? What do you purchase early?

Teacher Gifts Purchased

Having been a classroom teacher I know how inundated with gifts (in the best possible way!) teachers are around Christmas. I like to give my Christmas before Thanksgiving so that they can be enjoyed through all the holidays (and so that it’s checked off my list!). I've chatted before about how I put together a festive basket. This year's theme will be red or green, I'm just waiting for the Target Dollar Spot to drop some cute baskets! Here’s what last year’s looked like:

One thing that I'm adding to our teacher gifts this year (besides festive treats, a Target Gift Card, a diffuser and a favorite holiday oil) is a festive room spray. This one is one of my favorites and they are so simple to whip up - literally less than 2 minutes! Here's my go-to Christmas Room Spray:

Put a cute decal on the bottle and add some bits of festive ribbon. It's a thoughtful addition to your sweet gift!

Snippet from my week

Rain! This week winter seemed to hit in full force and we embraced it. One of our favorite things to do is to take a rainy day walk. We didn’t have much rain last winter, so it was a real treat to pull out rainboots, raincoats, and umbrellas and enjoy an hour outside walking in the rain.

Thanks for reading! What do you do in November to make your December easier? I would love to hear what you are thinking! Just hit reply if you'd like to respond. (When you hit reply, your message goes directly to my email. It’s a private conversation between just us.) I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.