December 19, 2011

Cleaning for Christmas

6 daysOnce again, we have reached a crucial cleaning time of the season. Christmas is officially THIS WEEK and there is still much to do to be ready for any Christmas festivities you may be having in your home. This week we will be focusing on cleaning different areas, beginning from the top.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to plan your cleaning schedule using your calendar or ListPlanIt’s Week of Christmas*. Pencil in the remainder of your Christmas obligations to coincide with dinner preparations, houseguests, end-of-school
happenings, and everything else that takes place during the last week before Christmas. While it’s not necessary to spring clean, some tasks to include are dusting, cleaning bathroom(s), vacuuming, mopping, changing sheets for guests, and cleaning out your refrigerator to make room for make-ahead dishes and holiday leftovers. Are visions of a clean house for Christmas dancing through your head?

* Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download a Week of Christmas worksheet in Holidays & Occasions.

How do you build in cleaning to your busy holiday schedule? Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and let us know.

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December 16, 2011

Old-Fashioned with a Modern Twist

9 daysPopcorn strings are a traditional decoration that links your family’s Christmas tree to a simpler time.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to pop a giant bowl of popcorn. This can be cheap and easy by adding a quarter cup of popcorn kernels to a brown paper lunch bag. Fold the top of the bag over two or three times and then microwave for about two minutes. Using a quilting needle and a heavy-duty string, begin to thread kernels one by one onto the string. I would suggest putting one person on each end of the string to finish faster. Keep popping until you can string enough to make a nice garland for your tree. Pop extra for your family’s movie night and add the topping of your choice.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us what you and/or your family are watching tonight. Which Christmas movies are your favorites?

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December 4, 2011

O Tannenbaum

21 daysToday is a good day to pick out a Christmas tree. With exactly three weeks left until Christmas, you want to leave plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of your Christmas tree.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to consider getting your tree and creating or developing a tree tradition. Make it something you all look forward to each and every year, whether it be chopping down your own tree, heading to the grocery store to pick out a freshly cut tree, or putting on Christmas music and drinking hot chocolate while you assemble an artificial tree.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us about your family’s Christmas tree tradition.

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November 27, 2011

Deck the Halls. . .

28 daysThe Christmas season may have already officially begun, but who had time to think about what that really means with Thanksgiving leftovers to finish off and shopping to accomplish.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to begin your Christmas decorating. The time this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas is short, so you want to not only have time to enjoy it fully, but also to get it all up and in order well before you host any parties or get-togethers.

See ListPlanIt’s Christmas Decor Board on Pinterest.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and upload a photo or two of your Christmas decor. Can’t wait to see it!

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November 18, 2011

So Clean You Could Eat Off Them

37 daysWe have reached the bottom of the house. I would love to be able to put a positive spin on this one, but this is just one of those household jobs that I have to work very hard to commit to doing it.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to tell yourself that there is no time like the present to get an unpleasant task out of the way: mopping. I’ve always been a hands-and-knees- kind of mopper, but I bought a Shark steam mop this year and love it. I never did like the idea of sloshing dirty water around on my floor and I prefer to use fewer chemicals. Do you have a method of mopping that works? I would love to hear your ideas.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us how your cleaning went for the week. Are you ready?

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November 17, 2011

Hit the Floor Running

38 daysAs we’ve been working our way down in cleaning this week, we are now ready for the floors. The only equipment you will need today is a broom, a dustpan, a vacuum cleaner, and some muscle. We’re going to get a bit of a workout today!

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to sweep your hard floors and vacuum any carpets and rugs. Start with an attachment and go over the windowsills and baseboards. Don’t forget to get the corners and stairs. Hand one child a broom and the other one the dustpan and set them to work. Make it a group effort!

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November 16, 2011

The Powder Room

39 daysStill working from top to bottom, nothing makes a house feel clean like clean bathrooms. You may need to spread this one out if you have two or more bathrooms in your home.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to give your bathroom a good deep cleaning! Clean the surfaces you haven’t thought of in a while. Because this challenge comes a week before Thanksgiving, you may need to touch up closer to the day, but this will save you from having to bake pies the same day you are scrubbing your toilets. Eww!

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November 15, 2011

From the Top. . .

40 daysWhen cleaning, the most efficient method is from top to bottom. That way, any particles that float down will not land on a clean surface. So, without further adieu, today’s cleaning assignment is DUSTING!

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to dust (or vacuum) ceiling and window corners, all furniture, knick-knacks, and shelves. This would make a GREAT after-school activity for the kids, as well. Give them some socks to cover their hands, a little dusting spray, and some instructions. All you would need to do is follow up on their progress.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page to dish about holiday cleaning.

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November 14, 2011

Cleaning Week

41 daysUnfortunately, cleaning is unavoidable this close to a major holiday. This week, we will focus on one major task a day. If we can accomplish each task this week, we will be all the more prepared to host Thanksgiving and leave time next week for food preparation.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is simply to prepare yourself for a mindset to clean. Even if you are not hosting Thanksgiving, it is a great way to prepare your home for the start of the Christmas season. Come back each day to commit yourself to the task at hand. Let us know how you are keeping up (or not).

What is your holiday cleaning strategy? Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and share your tips.

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October 25, 2011

Entertaining for Christmas

61 daysMany households host a party or get-together sometime during the Christmas holiday season. It might be a cookie exchange with friends, a kids’ party with your playgroup, a holiday tea, a casual family gathering of food and gifts, or a more formal dinner party with just adults.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to begin to think about what might be happening in your home in December. Maybe you’ve always wanted to host a get-together in your home but never considered the details in time to organize it. Maybe your home is already designated as the hub for Christmas gatherings in your family. Don’t wait! It will only bring stress if you put it off. Start thinking about your entertaining budget, list of guests, food, supplies, and location. ListPlanIt‘s Holiday Party Planner* is a great way to get started with your Christmas party planning.

* Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download a blank Holiday Party Planner in Holidays & Occasions as a worksheet for your holiday event planning.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us where your holiday gatherings are usually held. If in your home, what are your best tips for hosting?

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