What a difference a year makes.
Last year I was a mother of a four month old sleep-deprived zombie mindlessly shuffling through the holiday season. We didn’t even get our tree up until Christmas Eve!
This year I am feeling energized, full of holiday cheer and totally ready to tackle the Christmas season (it’s amazing how a little sleep can make you feel like a completely different person).
If you read about my Fall To Do List, then you know how much I love making lists.
Now that December has arrived, I am here to share my Holiday Checklist– a list of 31 fun activities and recipes I want to complete by the end of the Holiday season.
I have also included a free printable of my checklist with room for you add your own to-dos.
Holiday Checklist
*Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links, and, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.- Buy presents for everyone on list (there are lots of great gift options at Barnes & Noble)
- Decorate the house (Carla Aston has some simple, yet elegant ideas for the regretfully late procrastinator)
- Make and decorate a gingerbread house (I love this how to recipe from Simply Recipes).
- Sing our favorite Christmas carols (I really want the new Pentatonix Christmas album)
- Visit with Santa (here are some tips for surviving your visit with santa from Parenting.com)
- Bake Christmas cookies (there’s an entire website devoted to christmas cookies)
- Read our favorite Christmas books (you can’t beat this classic)
- Watch our favorite Christmas specials (our favorite Christmas Classics)
- Chop down a Christmas tree
- Make a Christmas wreath (find 35 different DIY wreaths at Woohome)
- Create festive potpourri (I’m going to try this Holiday potpourri from Pink Heels Pink Truck)
- Light the advent candles
- Light the menorah for Hanukkah
- Make festive drinks (can’t wait to try this Christmas sangria from Cooking Stoned that’s blowing up pinterest)
- Make a Christmas felt tree for W to decorate (here’s a list of 9 different felt trees for inspiration from Fantastic, Fun and Learning)
- Wrap presents
- Create homemade Christmas gift tags (these ideas from One Dog Woof are simply adorable)
- Take a Christmas-themed family photo
- Mail Christmas cards
- Give back to those in need (Mommy Ponders shares 20 ways to give back this Christmas)
- Check out a Christmas light show (here’s a list of great places to view holiday lights in Philly; we want to see the lights at Macy’s)
- Drive around the neighborhood and check out the lights
- Don’t forget to schedule workouts for the month of December!
- Make some handmade ornaments (lots of great ideas from How to This & That)
- Make some Christmas crafts with W (find a cute snow globe craft and more at Lil’ Luna)
- Make some homemade gifts (the Idea Room has a really nice collection of DIY gift ideas)
- Let W play in a Christmas-themed discovery box (there are some fun ideas over at Nate and Rachael)
- Play a Christmas-themed eye-spy game around the neighborhood with W
- Prepare a yummy Christmas morning brunch (Tater tots & Jello shares some yummy Christmas brunch recipes)
- Prepare a delicious Christmas dinner
- Plan a baby-free night out for New Year’s Eve
** BONUS: Cherish every moment with family and friends!
Loved this post…will be sharing this post from my FB page https://www.facebook.com/queenofthelandoftwigsnberries this Tuesday!
Amanda recently posted…Half Pint Shop–Macaire Douglas
Thanks so much for sharing, Amanda!
Tricia “The Good Mama” recently posted…Holiday Checklist
This year I’m going to add delivering baked goods to my local fire department. Love your list and will be using your printable.
Michelle recently posted…I’m Thankful For…
Thank you, Michelle! That is such a wonderful idea. I might be stealing it! I think it’s important to remember those in need during the holiday season.
Tricia “The Good Mama” recently posted…Holiday Checklist
PS: Your new website design looks beautiful!
Michelle recently posted…I’m Thankful For…
Your website looks BEAUTIFUL! Yay for site redesign, right?! I’ve had my theme for less than 7 months and I am already ready for a change. Any tips or suggestions for who to work with? I also make holiday check lists. This year since we are overseas, I’m having to do everything SUPER early. This is the last week I have to send gifts out to ensure they get there in time. This year we opted to just get a Charlie Brown tree. When we moved, the movers lost half of our fake Christmas tree! We live in a high rise building, so dragging a tree up here would be a pain. Have a great day!
Lauren
Lauren Tamm recently posted…Black Friday Essential Oil Freebies!
Thank you, Lauren! My cousin-in-law helped me out in redesigning my site. It’s not really what he does full time right now, but I could always ask him if he would be interested in any side gigs. I’m not sure. I do love your site how it is though! I’m sure that’s tough having to do everything super early. Although, it’ll take the pressure off once you get it all done. I love a good, little Charlie Brown tree. We’ve lived in the city, so I know all about the challenges of trees and apartments!
Tricia “The Good Mama” recently posted…Holiday Checklist
I love your list!!! We are doing the night out thing for New Year’s Eve, and I love the idea of driving around our own neighborhood to see Christmas lights. Fun and cheap :).
Lynne Streeter Childress recently posted…Cook YOUR Food, or Being the You You Were Meant To Be
Thanks, Lynne! I hope you have a wonderful night out! It’s always nice to have a night child free every once in awhile. It was nice to see a bunch of lights already up in our neighborhood today.
Tricia “The Good Mama” recently posted…Holiday Checklist
what a great list! Thanks for the printout! Time can really fly by you really need a plan if you want to squeeze everything in!
Thank you! I’m not sure I’ll get to all of these, but I like to have a list so I can at least try.
The Good Mama recently posted…Holiday Checklist
Aw, I love your list! Now I’m feeling all inspired to create one of my own! 🙂
Jennifer Corter recently posted…World AIDS Day 2014
I love this! I am inspired to join you. Thanks for the ideas! 🙂
This is a great checklist!! 🙂 I want to do all these things!
Lauren recently posted…Hello, December!
Some great ideas! I can’t wait to go look at Christmas lights. It’s my favorite holiday tradition. Loving the new blog design.
Melissa Matters recently posted…I Will Never Leave You
It’s a good thing you made a printable because I want to keep this list nearby and do several of them myself. The links are so helpful. Already visiting the sangria site 🙂 Thank you for all your hard work putting this one together. It turned out great!
Traci@tracesoffaith recently posted…Advent – Come Lord Jesus
Great ideas! So important to remember others during the holiday season… and take a breath and enjoy the company of family and friends. Happy holidays and thanks for sharing!
Darcy recently posted…Cribsters on Good Morning America!
Great list, I hope you’ll link it up with our Small Victories Sunday Linkup open all week! We have a kid free holiday party coming up this Friday but we haven’t been out for New Year’s Eve alone since we became parents!
Tanya @ Mom’s Small Victories recently posted…Small Victories Sunday Linkup {26}
Wow, you have ALOT going on this month! It all sounds so fun!
Maggie recently posted…New Makeup Kits by One Direction~Holiday Gift Guide 2014
My checklist has a lot of the same items. We still need to dig out the decorations. I feel so behind this year!
Donella Crigger recently posted…10 Homemade Gifts that Kids and Teens Will Love (and Free Printable Gift Tags)
That’s a LONG list…but so doable! Great idea for a checklist!
Kristen recently posted…My Favorite Things to Wear to Work
Love this! I need to make a list of all the things I want to do before the season is over. There are a bunch of things floating around in my head, but if I don’t write them down they’ll (poof) disappear.
Lauren recently posted…My Five Favorite Christmas Books
I have a lot of things to do on my checklist! Yours looks full! Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party! I’ve pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.
Tammy @ TOTS Family recently posted…How To Make Your Lipstick Last Longer
Just wanted to follow up and let you know that I got so much great feedback about your checklist…many of my girlfriends are using them as we speak. Congrats!
Amanda @ Queenofthelandoftwigsnberries recently posted…Intelligentsia Coffee Giveaway
Thank you so much for the follow up, Amanda! I’m so glad the post was helpful. You really just made my day!
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