But I know fall is coming, high temps or not. The animals know it, too. I saw a desert fox the other night, not long after sunset. First one since January! Squeaks (desert ground squirrels) are everywhere, starting to stockpile food.
If you're ready for a change in season too, maybe this list will help you get ready!
1. Create a master list on your computer of everyone you'll be gifting this year. For each person, indicate your gift budget and possible ideas. Be creative and you may find several gift items well before the holidays begin. If you start making smaller purchases each week, your budget won't be as strained later! But don't dismiss Black Friday and the biggest shopping weekend of the season: door-busters and all-weekend sales are a smart way to fill in the rest of your shopping list.
2. Plan your holiday dinner menus now. Assemble your recipes and make a master list of all ingredients. Watch grocery sales and start purchasing non-perishables so you'll have them on hand when you need them. Also start stocking up on cheese, crackers, nuts, and soda so you're prepared for drop-in visitors.
3. Haul out decorations a week before you plan to decorate. This gives you time to figure out how many bulbs need replaced, whether you need new batteries, how many candles you need to get, and so on. And it gives you time to actually get the stuff you need, so when decorating day comes, you're ready. If you're like many people, you'll be going through this four times between now and the end of the year: Autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas or Hanukkah. Be prepared.
4. Avoid some of the stress of holiday meal hosting by getting food prep done ahead of time. Peel and chop carrots and dice celery, and then freeze them until you need them. Bake cookies and snack breads the day before. If you're making pies from scratch, mix up filling ingredients the day before and refrigerate overnight.
5. If you don't already have holiday cards, get them early. (If you really want to manage your time and money, you get a couple boxes when they're discounted most, after Christmas, usually right around the beginning of January.) Take an hour or so and print labels or address them by hand, the week before you want to mail them. Take another hour or so and get all the cards signed. Then get them stamped and get them in the mail. No rushing!
6. Including a family photo with your holiday cards? Schedule family haircuts first, then schedule your sitting today for as soon as you can; otherwise, the wait for photos may delay getting the cards mailed on time.
7. Get holiday stamps as soon as they're available at the Post Office - in most areas, it's October 13th this year.
8. If you'll be traveling, finalize plans and make reservations.
9. If you're expecting company, start de-cluttering the house to speed the decorating process.
10. If you're hosting a meal, make sure you have enough flatware, table service, glasses, etc.
11. If you're anticipating going to holiday parties, check your wardrobe: be sure you have what you intend to wear and that it's ready to wear (including hosiery and accessories).
12. If you're shipping gifts, be sure they're well-wrapped and that you have an adequate box to put them in, plus adequate packing material.
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