Christmas Prep: Wrapping it Up

It is one week to Christmas.  6 days if you don’t count today.

This is the first year that I took a step back from the frazzle and decided to edit some things out of my usual Christmas preparations. I held on to what matters and let go of the rest. Overwhelmed is not how I wanted to go through the holiday season anymore. I want to be able to sit back and enjoy all the season has to offer.

I decorated the house, but didn’t go all out. I bought presents, but did do a lot of shopping online which saved me many hours and trips to the mall. I baked cookies, but not dozens and dozens.  I decorated the tree, but only added my favorite ornaments. What I found by doing this was that going over the top isn’t necessary for me to enjoy Christmas. My Christmas prep was just enough to  make my home feels warm and cozy, just the way I want it for the holidays.

This week for me, it is all about gift wrapping. I have a few sure-fire ways to make the task less of a chore and am sharing them below.

Wrap Gifts In Fast and Affordable Style

The most important thing that needs to get done this week is to wrap the gifts I bought to give to family and friends. I like to do this using a “signature style”  I have mentioned this in previous posts since it helps me get the gifts wrapped fast, but also adds my own style to the gifts I give.

My favorite way to do this is to simply wrap all my gifts using the same gift wrap. I then do a “hack” on standard self-adhesive confetti style bows to give the gift an unexpected touch. You know the bows that you can buy just about anywhere, even at the dollar store. With a pair of scissors you can update the look of these inexpensive bows with a few snips.  Add a button or jingle bell to the center and you have created “present presence” very affordably in a few minutes.

Here is how to do it:   How to hack a confetti style gift wrap bow.

I am one of those people who enjoy creating tags and printables on my computer. This is the best way to create one-of-a-kind signature wrap.  Once I personalize a tag to each person on my gift-giving list. I attach them to plain gift bags. I make the bag filler by running any type of paper through a paper shredder – tissue paper, book pages, maps, scraps of gift wrap.

How to Make Monogram Gift Tags

If you don’t enjoy or have the ability to create custom tags on a computer, then do a Google search for “Free Printable Holiday Gift Tags“.  Literally, hundreds will show up. Pick one you like that will coordinate with your wrapping paper and print out on your home printer.

Here are a few I have made in the past:

Click link to post:  Merry Christmas Tags

Click link to post (the tags are at the bottom of the pretzel post):  Vintage Fashion Gift Tags

Enjoy the Task of Gift Wrapping

Wrapping a lot of gifts can become a stressful task since it takes time.  To lessen the chore, I try to make it an event in itself.  I set up a  few Christmas movies on the TV or play Christmas music so I can wrap and watch/listen. They put me in a festive the mood. I will most likely enjoy a frothy mug of hot cocoa or a hot buttered rum and a few Christmas cookies while I am at it.

Hot Buttered Rum Recipe

Prepare Gifts to Give to UnExpected Visitors

The holidays are the time of giving and I want to make sure I have something to give anyone that pops in unannounced to say hi.  Having a few generic gifts wrapped and ready to give them is a good thing. It is also good to have a few on hand for anyone who comes bearing gifts  – you will have a gift ready to give them in return.

If the need for these gifts doesn’t arise, then you have them to use for yourself. Gift-wrapped cookies and wine or champagne are what I usually have ready since we can eat or drink them after the holidays.

This week I will be making more of these Almond cookies.   They are easy to make, delish and stack well in a gift box.

For giving wine, here is how I wrap bottles of wine or champagne to give to unexpected guests or friends that pop in.  How to Wrap a Bottle of Wine with Gift Wrap

Take Time For Myself

With so much to get done this week, it is easy to put ourselves last on our holiday “to-do” lists. Make a date with yourself to create some downtime to enjoy a long soak in the tub filled with pine scented bath salts. I call nights when I do this during the year, “Beauty Night”. During the holidays it is a must!  Put on a facial mask that will make your skin glow afterwards, polish your nails etc. Taking a few hours to do this will not only make you look better, but feel better and ready to tackle all that needs to get done.

What are your plans this week? Are you ready to go or do you still have a few things to get done? If you do, I hope you are able to but some dazzle into the frazzle of preparing for the holidays.

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