Three Things to Do in November to Prepare for Christmas

Can you believe we are already through 16 days of November? Christmas is only 38 days away. 

If you've been following along with our monthly to-do lists, you should be less stressed about Christmas preparations. If you haven't had the chance to keep up, or if you are just discovering this blog, check out the monthly lists and see what you can manage:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

Here are three things you can do in November to prepare for Christmas.

Address and Send Christmas Cards

Photo credit: alicia_mb on Freepik

Since you ordered your Christmas cards in October, address them and have them ready to mail out right after Thanksgiving. I usually write an annual Christmas letter to go with them. 

Decorate your house 

Photo credit: Freepik

Some random year at our house 

Some have already decorated, but we often wait until Thanksgiving weekend. Last month, we shared outdoor inspiration. Here is some inspiration for the inside of your home:

Live Home 3D

Soho Interior Design

Southern Living

Emily Henderson

House Beautiful

Country Living

Finish shopping

Photo credit pikisuperstar at Freepik

Finish early to reduce stress. Amazon, Walmart, Apple, and more are running early Black Friday sales. Local craft fairs have already begun. I visited one last weekend, and plan to hit two more this coming weekend. Supporting local can be just as important as convenience this time of year. 

The big day is coming faster than we realize. Use these tips to keep you on track. 

This or That? - Yes or No on Black Friday Shopping

When we talk about Black Friday shopping, there seem to be one of two camps:

Oh yeah!!!!

and 

Hell no!!!

If I am honest, I'm in the "Hell no!!!" camp. It's one of the few things I don't enjoy about the holidays. But, I don't really enjoy shopping, so that is probably the reason. I shopped on Black Friday once and vowed never to do it again. 

The term Black Friday did not originate with the post-Thanksgiving Day shopping phenomenon. According to History, it signified the crash of the gold market on September 24, 1869. Like many terms that have been passed down through generations, there are other meanings, but by the time I started working in the retail in the early 1980s, the term referred to that day after Thanksgiving when stores opened early, running huge sales to attract holiday shoppers. 

How about you? Do you shop on Black Friday or not? What is the best deal you ever got on Black Friday? 

Gifts for Those on Your List

 

In addition to spending time with family and friends around the holidays, we often like to share Christmas joy by the giving of gifts. Though the origins of gift giving harken back to pagan traditions in Europe, as Christianity spread across the continent, the early Christian Church brought this ritual into its faith, and the practice of giving gifts at Christmas is meant to remind us of the gifts the Three Wise Men brought to Jesus. And though the holiday has been commercialized, at its heart, this tradition has the ability to bring great joy to the giver and the receiver.

Here are links to articles with gift ideas for people on your list. I don't make any money from sharing them. This is just my way of making help inspire ideas.

Gifts for her: Christmas Gift Guide for Her: Top Picks for the Holiday Season - Blufashion 

Hottest Toddler Toys: From Fisher-Price to PAW Patrol: 9 of the Hottest Toddler Toys of 2023 (newsbreak.com)

Macy's/Toys 'R' Us 2023 "Hot Toy List": Macy’s, Toys ‘R’ Us announce 2023 ‘hot toy list’ for holiday shopping (newsbreak.com) 

Gifts for him: 71 Best Gifts for Men 2023

Gifts for teens: 71 Best Gifts for Teens That Are Thoughtful and Unique

More toys: Amazon's Toys We Love List

I will do my best to find list from local retailers as well.