Shopping, Food Preparation and Storage Ideas for the Holidays

Got a few weeks left before the holidays? Don’t panic! Here are some smart ideas on shopping and meal preparation for the holiday season.

Have you begun preparing for the holiday festivities? As you go over your numerous tasks, you are probably wondering how you can accomplish all of them in so short a time. The best way to manage your time is to plan ahead and to get extra help. Here are some neat ideas to make shopping, food preparation and storage a lot easier this holiday season.

Get a Part-time Helper

Bring along another person to help you shop for holiday items. A second pair of hands is a huge help when it comes to shopping and unloading. Give clear and precise instructions to your helper before sending her for an errand. Always ask her to double-check your list before leaving the store.

Use Stackable Containers

Are you running out of space in your refrigerator? Cover bowls and dishes of holiday party foods with a press-and-seal wrap. This special kind of wrap is so strong, you can stack containers on top of one another.

Rubbermaid 8-pc. Modular Food Canister Set: Prolong the shelf life of your favorite foods with this eight-piece canister set from Rubbermaid. These storage containers feature tight seals and a stackable design. They are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe.

Invest in Good Ovenware

Bake and serve casseroles, side dishes and desserts in specialized oven ware. Doing so will help you save time, especially when guests suddenly appear at your door. Dishes placed in ovenware go straight from the refrigerator or freezer to the oven to the table. Oven wares come in festive holiday colors, too.

Rachael Ray Bubble and Brown Oval Baker Set - Purple (1.25 Qt. & 2.25 Qt.)

Plan on Leftovers

Make enough food for the actual party and for guests who may want to take home food. You can store dishes in individual microwavable containers. Sometimes the best meals are the ones made the next day with leftovers.

Natural Decorations for the Holidays

Adorn the house with natural Christmas decorations. They are cheap, fun to make, and eco-friendly.

Decorating for Christmas puts everyone in the mood of the holiday season. Each year, we purchase new decorations for our house or office, specifically for the Christmas tree. This year, why not go for natural Christmas decorations? Natural decorations refer to the real thing. Using nature to enhance the place is safe for the environment. When the holiday is over, these natural decorations can be easily disposed. There is no need to stash away decorations that are made of plastic and other synthetic material. (You keep the artificial Christmas tree, of course.)

Below are some natural Christmas decorations which you can make at home:

Wreaths and Garlands

Decorate banisters, mantles, and archways with natural garlands which you can purchase at nurseries or farmer’s markets. If you have holly bushes or evergreen bushes in your garden, you can make the garlands yourself. Use the remnants to create strings of garland. The little pieces can adorn candle displays and be used to create wreaths.

Berries on Your Christmas Tree

Do you grow berries in your garden? Berries can add color to your Christmas tree. String a few berries and alternate them with seeds. Brush the string with shellac to seal in the smells. You can do the beading with your kids.

Cookie Ornaments 

How about cookies made of dough and salt? Make Christmas shapes out of the dough and bake them. Because of the salt, these cookie ornaments would become rock hard. Once cooled, paint over them using non-toxic paint. Before baking the dough, punch a hole in each cookie so a ribbon or a string could be passed through it later.

Good read: A Christmas Cookie Book (Includes sixteen recipes for cookies, including Keeping Cookies for use as Christmas tree ornaments.)

Pine Cones

Pine cones are another popular Christmas décor. Apply glue to the bottom of the pine cone and make a place for the string to be attached. Hang the pine cones on the Christmas tree.

Choosing to use natural decorations for Christmas saves money and the environment. Come up with your own decorating ideas and involve the kids in making them.

Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Kitchen

Are you planning on decorating your kitchen for Christmas?  Other than the Christmas tree, there are many other things that can add yuletide cheer to your kitchen.  Here are some ideas:

Oven Mitts and Potholders

Mitts and potholders are among the things you can use to decorate your kitchen.  Christmas themed potholders and mitts abound during the holidays, and they’re often sold by the bulk and at very low prices.  Choose a theme that would complement the colors of your kitchen.  Potholders with a picture of snowflakes, reindeers, Christmas trees, or Santa are the most common.  You don’t have to use these decorative potholders; you can just hang them or make them temporarily replace doilies.

Kitchen Towels

Just like mitts and potholders, you can easily find kitchen towels that come with a Christmas theme. Hang these items in your kitchen and you’ll instantly have Christmas decorations. In addition to kitchen towels, try Christmas themed table cloths or make a curtain for your kitchen window using special Christmas fabric.   

Kitchen Magnets

How about kitchen magnets?  Many retail stores, even those online, carry a large selection of Christmas magnets.  These magnets come in different styles and purpose; some are handcrafted while some double as picture frames.  Think of a Christmas theme that you’d like to showcase on your refrigerator.  You can get magnets to form a picture of the Nativity, or display Santa and his reindeers.  Another good idea is to place pictures of your family members using picture frame magnets.  Whatever theme you decide on, you are sure to find the perfect magnets everywhere you look.

Kitchenware

What could be easier than decorating the kitchen with kitchenware?  Kitchenware refers to the items that you use in your kitchen. Christmas themed plates, bowls, cups and eating utensils can be bought from practically any retail store you can get into.  You can get a boxed set if you wish to showcase a variation of kitchenware with one single theme.  Another good idea would be to buy items with different designs.

The above mentioned ideas and items are just a few of the many ways you can decorate your kitchen for Christmas. Look for more ideas in books, magazines and websites.  If you have very specific items in mind, shop early so you can get the best deals and prices.