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PLANNER

H O L I D A Y G O A L S With the hustle & bustle of the Season, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Use this page to set your holiday goals & priorities. what 3 things can we do to help S this year? what are 5 things we can do as a FAMILY this year? what are 3 things we DON'T want to do this year? what is LEAST important to us this year? what is MOST important to us this year?

T H A N K S G I V I N G PLANNING CHECKLIST EARLY NOVEMBER MENU: If you re ordering a fresh turkey, do it now. If you re buying a frozen turkey, you still have time, but don t wait until the last minute CENTERPIECES: if using fresh flowers order them now. 4 DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING SHOPPING: Make a shopping list and purchase all nonperishables. Wait until the day before Thanksgiving to buy salad greens, fresh bread, or seafood. BAKING: If you re baking pies for dessert, make the dough for the crust, roll it out, lay it into pie plates, and freeze. TURKEY: Start defrosting the frozen turkey in the coldest part of the refrigerator. 2 DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING STUFFING: Homemade stuffing calls for stale bread. Cut bread now and place on a baking sheet. CRANBERRY: Make cranberry sauce. A couple days in the fridge will give the flavors time to develop. TABLE PREP: Prepare the serving pieces, plates, flatware, glasses, etc. If using cloth napkins or tablecloths, iron them now. 1 DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING PIES: Defrost pie dough. Assemble and bake pies. SIDES: Make the vegetables and side dishes that require baking, such as casseroles, and reheat them tomorrow, or assemble them today, and cook them right before dinner. Peel the potatoes, and then refrigerate them in a pot of cold water. TABLE: Double check to make sure you have enough bakeware, pans, dinner plates, servingware, stemware and silverware. Set the table tonight or first thing in the morning. ACTIVITIES: Come up with activities for your younger kids to do on Thanksgiving Day. Invite guests to bring kid-friendly games and movies too. Plan some fun for the adults too.

T H A N K S G I V I N G PLANNING CHECKLIST THANKSGIVING DAY 8 HOURS BEFORE DINNER Remove turkey from the refrigerator. Allow it to sit for 1 hour at room temperature. 7 HOURS BEFORE DINNER Preheat oven and stuff the turkey. Put the turkey in the oven, basting it every half hour. 5 HOURS BEFORE DINNER Set out appetizers. Refrigerate white wine & sparkling cider. Run dishwasher. 2 HOURS BEFORE DINNER Make the mashed potatoes. Closer to dinnertime, place them in a heat-proof bowl and set them at the back of the stove over simmering water. Unload dishwasher. 1 HOUR BEFORE DINNER Whip the cream for the pie. Prepare the coffee, but do not brew it until 20 minutes before it will be served. Check the temperature of the turkey at the thigh. If the thermometer reads 165 degrees, remove the turkey from the oven. If not, check the temperature every 15 minutes until done. HALF AN HOUR BEFORE DINNER Let the turkey sit for 30 minutes prior to carving. Remove stuffing from bird; transfer to a baking pan. Bake stuffing. Make the gravy and any last-minute vegetables. Bake rolls. DINNERTIME Make the kids' plates. Move all servings dishes to the table. Pour beverages AFTER DINNER Clear the table. Designate a place for guests to retire (e.g. TV room to watch the game). Pick up leftovers. Load Dishwasher and run it. Turn on the coffee pot. Place pies in the over to warm. Serve pies and desserts.

N O V E M B E R 2018 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 VETERANS DAY 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY NOTES 1 2 3 8 9 10 15 16 17 22 23 24 BIG DAYS Thanksgiving Day Black Friday 29 30

HOLIDAY B U D G E T FOOD ESTIMATED SPENT DIFFERENCE NOTES THANKSGIVING CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH BAKING NEW YEARS TOTALS GIFTS ESTIMATED SPENT DIFFERENCE NOTES CHILDREN SPOUSE PARENTS FAMILY FRIENDS TEACHERS COWORKERS TOTALS ESTIMATED SPENT DIFFERENCE NOTES TRAVEL ACTIVITIES DECORATIONS ENTERTAINING SELF CARE TOTALS

H O L I D A Y E V E N T S SPECIAL DATES TO REMEMBER EVENT LOCATION DATE TIME COST PAID

B L A C K F R I D A Y SHOPPING PLAN STORE: STORE: STORE: STORE: ITEM PRICE TIME

C Y B E R M O N D A Y SHOPPING PLAN WEBSITE ITEM PRICE TIME

H O L I D A Y M E N U DATE: TIME: LOCATION: # OF GUESTS APPETIZERS RECIPE SOURCE NOTES SOUP/SALAD SIDE DISHES SAUCES BREAD MAIN DISHES DESSERTS BEVERAGES

G R O C E R Y L I S T Bring the list on your next shopping trip & check items off as you go. PRODUCE MEAT FISH CANS BOXES SNACKS BEVERAGES SPICES CONDIMENTS PAPER CLEANING PASTA GRAINS RICE FROZEN DELI DAIRY HOUSEHOLD PERSONAL

H O L I D A Y P A R T Y PLANNING MADE EASY EVENT: LOCATION: DATE/TIME: GUEST LIST MENU MUST DO LIST DECORATIONS ACTIVITIES

C H R I S T M A S PLANNING CHECKLIST LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER SPECIAL DELIVERY: Buy stamps, cards, sign, address, and send holiday cards. GIFT SWAP: Plan a secret Santa or other gift swap with friends to limit your total number of purchases. SMART SHOPPING: Spend a few hours shopping on weekdays or after work, when stores are calmer than they are on weekends. MAKING A LIST: Write out gift lists and organize addresses, to help with neatness and efficiency. FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER BULK GIFTS: Buy bulk gifts, such as a case of wine or multiple candles, to offer to neighbors, acquaintances, and party hosts. DRY CLEANING: Drop off all festive outfits at a your local dry cleaner. GIFTS OF GRATITUDE: Hand out gifts and gratuities to service people. MENU PLANNING: Plan holiday menus; order a turkey, ham, or other specialty foods. THAT'S A WRAP: Set up a wrapping station in a low-traffic area of your home; wrap gifts as you buy them. SMART SHOPPING: Shop Online; you can do so at any time of day, and it will save you the time of wrapping and shipping gifts. SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER INVENTORY: Take inventory of baking staples. Replace those that are running low. DECORATE: Unpack decorations, and inspect them for damaged ornaments and burned-out bulbs. Put up interior & exterior decorations. CLEAN SWEEP: Complete half of the house cleaning, starting with infrequently used areas, such as the guest-room or formal dining area. TRAVEL: Firm up travel plans; when the time comes, check in and print boarding passes at home. SMART COOKIE: Make and freeze cookie dough to bake as you need treats over the coming days. FREEZER COOKING: Prepare freezer recipes for quick meals during the holiday hustle and bustle.

C H R I S T M A S PLANNING CHECKLIST THIRD WEEK OF DECEMBER CLEAN SWEEP: Clean the house, this time focusing on frequently used rooms. SHIP GIFTS: Ship gifts early to guarantee on-time delivery; save a trip to the post office by scheduling an at-home pickup at www.usps.com. THAT'S A WRAP: Finish up any last-minute wrapping. TABLE PREP: Launder and iron table linens. STOCK UP: Shop for food, again at an off-hour (some stores and markets ex pand their hours; consider having your purchases delivered). GUEST LIST: Confirm guest count if hosting a holiday gathering. CHRISTMAS EVE TACKLE THE TURKEY: Defrost the turkey. Snip open the bag to let air circulate, put the turkey in a roasting tray and leave to thaw somewhere cool for 24 hours. SMART SIDES: Don t neglect the vegetables. You can easily prepare potatoes and parsnips in advance. For quick cooking cut them into even-sized pieces. Parboil for five minutes. When they are ready, store in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a hot oven on after the turkey is taken out. SIMPLE SUPPER: Keep your supper simple- holiday feasts are such a rich treat, so keep the other meals much simpler. On Christmas Eve, try serving a casserole. It s easy to make, a great contrast to turkey and economical too. CHRISTMAS DAY FORGET BREAKFAST: Forgo breakfast - let everyone look after themselves. TURKEY TIME: Tackle the Turkey again- Place it in a roasting tray lined with foil. Then smear butter over the breast, lift the skin and push the stuffing inside the breast end. Wrap the foil around the turkey so it s like a tent giving room for steam to circulate. Cook it until it s pale golden, then reduce the heat (Check if it s ready by sticking a skewer in the thigh. If the juices run clear, it s done.) Let the turkey sit for 30 minutes prior to carving. Remove stuffing from bird; trans fer to a baking pan. Bake stuffing. Make the gravy and any last-minute vegetables and bake rolls.

D E C E M B E R 2018 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 2 3 4 5 HANUKKAH 9 10 11 12 16 17 18 19 23 24 CHRISTMAS EVE 25 26 30 NEW YEAR'S EVE 31 CHRISTMAS DAY KWANZAA

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY NOTES 1 6 7 8 13 14 15 20 21 22 BIG DAYS 27 28 29

C H R I S T M A S C A R D S SPECIAL PEOPLE TO REMEMBER NAME ADDRESS SENT

G I F T G I V I N G SPECIAL PEOPLE TO REMEMBER NAME GIFT SPENT

H O L I D A Y E V E N T S SPECIAL DATES TO REMEMBER EVENT LOCATION DATE TIME COST PAID

C H R I S T M A S M E N U DATE: TIME: LOCATION: # OF GUESTS APPETIZERS RECIPE SOURCE NOTES SOUP/SALAD SIDE DISHES SAUCES BREAD MAIN DISHES DESSERTS BEVERAGES

B A K I N G M E N U DATE: TIME: LOCATION: # OF GUESTS COOKIES RECIPE SOURCE NOTES CANDY BREAD PASTRY PIE CAKE DESSERTS BEVERAGES

H O L I D A Y P A R T Y PLANNING MADE EASY EVENT: LOCATION: DATE/TIME: GUEST LIST MENU MUST DO LIST DECORATIONS ACTIVITIES