Well first off I apologize I must admit I have fallen down on the job. Or should I say my body did as I woke up Saturday sick and then Sunday one of my sons was! Darn this freezing cold weather. I hope your holiday season is going the way you hope or at least plugging along.

Today you get a bunch of great stuff- Here is Countdown 17, 16 and 15!

Ten Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

• Prune the to-do list. Ask “if I dont do this, what will happen? “Aim to knock down the list of chores to the rock-bottom necessity.
• Cut the gift list. Rein in gift exchanges that have been outgrown or lost their meaning. Limit gifts to children only, draw names, or organize a gift exchange.
• Wrap as you go. Who needs to spend Christmas Eve catching up on wrapping chores? Sticky notes will help you keep track of gift contents.
• Buy, dont bake. Turn your back on the oven this year. Supermarkets, bakeries and the freezer department at the discount warehouse are a great source of delicious, pre-baked holiday treats. Costco here I come!
• Email your cards. Reach out and touch someone-the easy way. Online greeting cards are easy, inexpensive and fun to send. No more lines at the post office! I would not suggest this for close family however. I know my parents would NOT appreciate an email card versus a real one with a picture of the kids. Of course use your judgement.
• Scale back the decor. Substitute a simple door wreath for outdoor lighting and a tabletop tree for the over the top Tannenbaum. You can bring a festive feel to the house without day-long decorating sessions.
• Cut the clean-a-thon. Focus cleaning attention on kitchen and public rooms; private areas can slide till season’s end. Better to schedule deep-cleaning chores like carpet cleaning until after the wear-and-tear of the holiday season.
• Downsize dishwashing. Hand washing fine china is nobody’s idea of a good time, so move to everyday stoneware. Simpler still: paper plates!
• Finger food, not feast. A smorgasbord of tasty tidbits is easier on the cook and kinder to the waistline that a sit-down dinner. Share the work by hosting pot-luck events.
• Stay home! Cuddling down close to the hearth beats holiday travel any day. A holiday “stay cation” allows for evening drives to see the lights, family camp-outs in front of the Christmas tree, and evenings spent with carols and popcorn. Fun!

Here is a bonus one and something I have learned the hard way. Write down where you have hidden the gifts. I swear the last few years I alway lose a few and then end up finding months later. One year I even gave one of my boys a lego set that was supposed to be for Christmas in his Easter basket! Think you’ll remember? I always thought I would too but NOT!

Go See those lights. Link here to 9 De-Lightful Neighborhood Light Displays

Last Tip!

Have you ever heard of Froogle.com (powered by Google)? to compare prices quickly across online and offline retailers. Check it out! I just did because the store I went to ran out of Skylanders Swap force. Wish me luck!