1. Don't count calories between December 15th thru January 2nd. That's what a New Year's Resolution is for.
2. Remember the three rules to reducing holiday hussle and bussle. *Plan Ahead *Begin Early and *Keep It Simple!
3. The best way to beat the holiday blues is to do something unexpected and special for someone else.
4. Take a Family photo each year in the same spot, such as a lovely tree outside in your yeard. In years to come, you'll have a wonderful record of the growth of not only your family but also the tree *wink.
5. Find out what everyone wants for christmas when the family is together for Thanksgiving. Make your list then and if your family does exchanges.. draw those names that day etc...
6. Don't despair if you are short on cash. Looking back, you'll discover that the most precious of Christmas Holidays were when funds were low. Mostly because that year you created gifts from your "heart" and not your pocketbook.
7. Hang a favorite Christmas tree ornament from your car's rear window mirror.
8. Bake Christmas cookies while your favorite christmas tunes play on the stereo. Make this a family event where everyone is present to enjoy the conversation, sing-a-longs, laughter and memories.
9. Personlaize your christmas cards with a short hand written personal note.
10. Take a few moments each month to jot down certain family news/events each month on a calendar. This will make those Christmas letters alot easier to write.
11. Be considerate fo your in-laws' special Christmas traditions. You'll treasure your own that much more each year *wink
12. Have a special place to display those christmas cards... We take a plain sheet of Red Wrapping paper and draw a "fireplace / brick wall" on it, use 4 tacks only and hang on a bare wall [from the bottom up], then tape our cards to it. The cards can be easily viewed and no messy tape marks on your walls etc...
13. Start working on a Christmas Themed jigsaw puzzle on December 1st and try to have it finished on christmas eve.
14. Tie Jingle Bells thru your children shoelaces.
15. Don't wait til Christmas eve to wrap gifts... Wrap them as you buy them so when the tree does go up... You can add your family and friends gifts for awhile under your own tree.
16. Give the youngest in your family the tradition of placing the star or angel atop your tree.[  A nice tradition to start if you haven't already.]
17. Check for loose or burned out bulbs BEFORE you put the strands on the tree.
18. RECYCLE Instead of throwing away wrinkled ribbon run it thru a curling iron to straighten it out. Use wrinkled wrapping paper as packing material also.
19. Take pictures of your home AFTER you have decorated. Not only will you treasure these but you will have a visual reminder to help you decorate the following year.
20. Try to finish your christmas shopping by December 10th - Christmas packages mailed by December 12th.
21. Remind newlyweds to save an item from thier wedding ceremony to use as a treasured Christmas ornament.
22. CAll a nursing home and get names of 5 people who don't often recive mail. Send each one abeautiful christmas card and sign it "From Santa"
23. Tell your children about christmas's when you were their age.
24. Buy christmas mugs for everyone in the family. Some hot chocolate can also be an added bonus gift. *hint *hint.
25. Make snowangels.... Some of my best freinds are flakes *wink
26. Attend a holiday church bazaar and buy something even if you don't need it. the sales go to help others in need.
27. Begin a Family Christmas Album/Journal. write down memories your family shares; events that you attended that year. and the inevitable mishaps from the season.
28. Help and elder neighbor decorate their home for the holidays. Share the Spirit!
29. REMEMBER The more the toy costs... the more the child will want to play with the box it came in *wink
30. Relax with your family on Christmas day by looking at the christmas's past or by watching a video from Christmas's past.
31. Take the family outto eat at  the same restaurant before bringing home that real christmas tree.
32. Enojy Christmas music in your home, car, office or private bedroom to keep in the holiday spirit.
33. Record and update your address book before throwing away christmas card envelopes from friends and family.
34. Create a special Christmas Morning breakfast and serve it each year.
35. And most of all.... Remeber the true reason for the Season and attend a Christmas Eve Mass ... Even if you are not a regular church go-er like myself.