Average Jane’s Holiday Prep

All budgetary issues aside, as overscheduled as my life always is, it certainly has been a boon to limit my Christmas shopping to just the kids this year.  I still need to pick up something for my cousin and my sister-in-law and her son, but after that I’ll be completely finished shopping.  Hooray!

That leaves me free to actually enjoy myself and get other things done.  Today I’m getting a haircut and a touchup on my haircolor to hide all the silver that’s been popping up in the field of dark brown.  I’m also going to try to pick up a couple new pairs of jeans for myself, since that’s pretty much all I wear these days.

After that, my band is coming over to record in our home studio.  I’ll only be responsible for guide vocals today, so while they’re here I’m planning to make a pot of soup or chili and start baking cookies for a cookie exchange party I’m hosting tomorrow.

I still need to decide what kinds of cookies to make.  I’m considering snickerdoodles and then maybe sugar cookies, just because I have an enormous collection of cookie cutters.  I’ll definitely make rum balls and probably a pan of fudge.  I have a cheese ball already made from a party I threw last weekend for which nobody showed up, so I’ll probably serve that.  I’ll heat up and spice some cider (with a handy bottle of Captain Morgan’s nearby, just in case), and I’ll have hot chocolate and soft drinks available.  I’ve been hosting these almost every year since we moved in and they’re always a lot of fun.

My sister and I have already decided that our Christmas Day celebrations will be pretty casual.  I’m getting a honey-baked ham delivered to me at work and I’ll also stuff and roast a turkey my husband received at Thanksgiving.  We’ll all get together in the late morning, snack throughout the day while the kids open their gifts, and have our big meal around one or two in the afternoon.

Well, I’m sure that’s all the stream-of-consciousness holiday party planning you can probably take.  It boils down to this:  I’m looking forward to a calm, relaxed and fun holiday and I wish the same for you!