Today, you have exactly four weeks until Christmas Eve. That should be plenty of time to make the season bright, if you plan ahead and do a little bit each week.

Today, November 26 >
Make a plan: Take out a calendar, a notebook and a pen to plan out the whole holiday season.

Gifts: Figure out your budget and list everyone in your life. Determine who gets a card and who merits a gift, then brainstorm a few ideas.

Decorating: Decide when you want to put up the tree and schedule a time the whole family can help.

Events: Gather all your invitations and decide which events you’ll attend. Put them on your calendar and send regrets for the others. It’s OK to say no to a few; it’s a busy month.

November 27 to December 3 >
Gifts: Buy the biggest gifts first, such as for your spouse, kids and close family. That way, you won’t blow your budget buying small gifts for others. If you don’t know what they want, ask them for ideas. Try to buy the most significant or most expensive gifts this week, or at least have a good idea of what you will buy.

Cleaning: Spend extra time this week getting your house clean and organized for the season. Dust all of the surfaces you will decorate, vacuum and deep-clean your bathrooms for guests.

Oh, Christmas Tree: Pull your decorations out of storage a few days before you plan to decorate. The next day, check and replace your lights, if needed. On the big day, ride out with the whole family to pick the perfect Christmas tree and play Christmas carols while you decorate. Save “Oh, Tannenbaum” for the end, so you can sit with some hot cocoa and serenade your pretty pine.

December 4 to 10 >
Gifts: Now that you have your decorations up, buy wrapping paper and ribbons that will complement them. Buy more than you think you will need, better to have some left over than fight the crowds for more. Start shopping for smaller gifts, such as for friends, teachers and co-workers.

Cards: If you haven’t bought cards yet, stock up and buy postage early this week. Then write about 10 cards each night. If you have more than 70 people on your list, consider writing a holiday newsletter and sending it to everyone. But don’t forget to spell-check.

Clothes: Send your favorite holiday wear to the cleaner to make sure it’s ready when parties roll around. If your wardrobe needs some extra cheer, buy a sparkly sweater, some new shoes or a festive new tie.

December 11 to 17 >
Shopping: This isn’t exactly the last minute, but go ahead and act like it is, so next week will be more fun. If you still can’t decide on some gifts visit a few locally owned boutiques in town, such as those in downtown. You’ll find some unique gifts that aren’t sold in the big-box stores.

Start a detailed grocery list for a big trip next week. Put it up on your refrigerator and add to it as you think of things.

Kids: Give the kids a small budget and take them shopping for gifts for you and other family members. Even better, give them a few art supplies and have them make gifts, themselves. Buy holiday-themed books for them to begin reading or for you to read to them.

Wrapping it up: Make sure you have tape and scissors and set aside an afternoon to do all your wrapping at once. Put the gifts under the tree so your family can ooh and ahh before the big day.

December 18 to 24 >
Food: Clean out your fridge and finish your grocery list, then go shopping early in the morning or late at night, to avoid the crowds. Don’t forget to buy extra storage containers, you will need them when you bake and cook a few things ahead and put them in the freezer.

Stocking stuffers: If you’re already done with your gifts, make one last trip to get a few stocking stuffers, and savor the feeling of being more organized than everyone else.

Festivities: Pick up your party dress and get ready to kick up your heels with friends and family. Find at least one holiday-themed event to go to, such as a party, a musical or even a silly movie.

Christmas Day, December 25 > 
Wake up early and watch the kids open their presents. Make sure to take some time to play with your own presents and maybe take a nap, you’ve earned it! before you do the final cooking for the holiday meal.

The endless socialising which is an intrinsic part of Christmas is one of the best parts of the festive season, but organising something to suit everyone can be difficult. A little forward planning can reveal a superb range of venues catering for every imaginable celebration, family get-togethers or friends’ reunions.

There is often so much socialising going on at work that we leave important family arrangements till last – because everyone assumes that family and closest friends will always be there.

This year, it’s time to put those closest to you at the top of your list, and decide how you’re going to enjoy your Christmas get-together as never before. Think about who will be involved, and how you can make sure the venue and event are fun for everyone.

Maybe this is the perfect time to forget about cooking Christmas dinner, and revel in someone else doing the work – and the dishes – by taking your family out for the meal. If nothing else, it will put you in the good books of whoever is normally responsible for getting this feast on the table.

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During the bustling weeks ahead, save yourself some time and trouble by using these tips to manage all the tasks that accompany the holidays. By planning ahead and working efficiently, you’ll be able to juggle the season’s cooking, cleaning, decorating, entertaining and giving.

COOKING
•Buy baking staples:  Avoid last-minute trips to the store by purchasing essential baking ingredients early. Take inventory of what you already have in the kitchen, and then stock up on basics such as butter, flour, granulated and brown sugars, baking powder and vanilla extract.

•Organize recipes:  Photocopy or print out recipes you plan to make, and arrange them in one binder. That way you won’t have to crowd your countertops with several cookbooks at once. Plus, the pages can double as shopping lists.

•Have multiples:  Measuring cups and spoons are indispensable for holiday cooking and baking. Buy extras of these inexpensive tools, and you’ll always have a clean set to use.

•Master a basic cookie dough:  Once you have a simple cookie dough down pat, mix up the recipe each holiday by changing the add-ins, using such ingredients as zest, dried fruit, spices, or white chocolate and macadamia nuts.

•Keep instant hors d’oeuvres: Stay prepared for drop-in guests by refrigerating a selection of cheeses that you can serve as hors d’oeuvres. Aged Gouda, goat cheese, blue cheese and hard sheep’s-milk cheeses store well. Refrigerate them, wrapped in waxed paper and in a plastic bag, for up to one month, blue should be wrapped in aluminum foil. Olives, chutneys and nuts are other small bites that also keep well.

DECORATING
•Hang a versatile wreath: A pine-cone wreath, available from florists, can make a smooth transition from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Spruce up the decoration with a ribbon in gold or silver, festive shades suited to any holiday.

•Pick potted plants: Amaryllis, Christmas cactus, cyclamen and poinsettias will add cheer to any room. Plus, the attractive plants make excellent gifts for guests.

•Shop for a tree online: You can browse for a Christmas tree on the Web and arrange to have one delivered to your door. For farm listings, visit the National Christmas Tree Association’s Web site www.realchristmastree.org

•Create a long-lasting display: Dress up your home with items that will shine from November to January. Pillar candles, which last longer than tapers, and unshelled nuts spray-painted gold add sparkle.

GIVING
•Keep a notebook: Jot down gift ideas as you think of them. Make a list of people you need to shop for, and note their sizes, favorite colors and hobbies to inspire you and keep you focused.

•Store neutral wrapping paper: Stock up on patternless paper and matching ribbon that work year-round.

•Buy crowd-pleasers:  All-purpose gifts, such as jars of jam or bottles of wine or high-quality olive oil, are sure to please anyone. Soaps and lotions also work well. Wrap the items ahead of time so they’re ready in case you need a last-minute gift.

CLEANING
•Have a plan:  Draw up a checklist of the cleaning that needs to be done before a family visit or large get-together. This may include organizing the entryway closet, cleaning out the garage or polishing furniture. To ensure you finish in time, start with the largest project on a weekend, and then tackle one or two more on the following weekends.

•Accept help: If a guest offers to pitch in with the post-dinner cleanup, let her. This can even be a nice opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation in the midst of a busy party.

•Minimize tree cleanup: Before you bring home a Christmas tree, ask the retailer to shake it to remove loose needles and other debris. To ensure a swift and tidy removal, lay a tree-disposal sack, available at home-supply stores, under your tree’s skirt. The large plastic bag can be pulled over the tree and tied so falling needles and sweeping are kept to a minimum.

ENTERTAINING
•Have a buffet:  This style of entertaining doesn’t require assigned seating or fancy table settings. Many of the dishes can even be made and set out ahead of time.

•Plan a get-together with a goal: Invite friends over to compose holiday cards or wrap small presents. Everyone will be able to socialize and cross off an item on her to-do list at the same time.

Good thing I love the holidays. But even if you love the holidays as much as I do, we all know how much extra work Christmas entails. There are hundreds of celebrations, traditions and obligations during the holiday season and to pull it all off you will need sharp organizational skills.  

November is the perfect time to pick up a calendar and create your own holiday planner. I know for myself I can’t do everything nor do I want to, but there are certain traditions and events that are “a must”. I start by writing those “must-dos” on the calendar in red ink. Any other possible events are written in blue ink, but I certainly don’t sweat it if every event or task isn’t attended or completed. 

However, many of the tasks and events I don’t want to miss can sure benefit from an early start. Here is a reminder of some of the things that you may also have on your list and may be helpful to start early. Now is the time to:

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