Holiday Planning Tips For Busy Moms
By Aurelia M. Williams
Ahhh, the Holidays…… The Thanksgiving turkey comes out of the oven golden brown, with an enticing aroma that fills the entire house. All the china is in pristine condition and not a single piece in the set is missing. The family is gathered for holiday pictures, the children are poised perfectly; hands to themselves, not a hair out of place and their smiles are shining brightly for the camera. Then just as the photographer is about to capture the shot… you wake up!

Let's be realistic ladies. Without proper planning, the are anything but a holiday. Just look at the list of things that need to be done: Shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, sending holiday mail, the list goes on and on.

Let me clue you all in on a few key questions that you should ask yourself in order to have a holiday season free of stress and worry, and instead filled with fun and laughter:

What types of holiday celebrations do you want? For example: Do you want to have an immediate family only holiday affair or an extravaganza including immediate and extended family plus a few friends? Once you've thought everything through and decided on the type of holiday gathering you would like, you can then start making your plans.

If you are ready to get a head start on organizing yourself, your family and your holiday check lists, then keep reading:

Holiday Cards: Start early! I use a holiday card list that I derive from saving names and addresses from holiday cards my family has received in past years. I created a simple, computerized list that is easy to edit and print onto address labels. Be sure to stock up on stamps so that when you have your cards signed, stuffed and addressed you can affix a stamp to them and make one, simple trip to the Post Office.

Holiday Gifts: There's nothing like getting a HUGE credit card bill in the mail at the start of the New Year. Many of us tend to want to be generous when shopping for holiday gifts. While your generosity will be appreciated at gift giving time, keep in mind that it is very easy to succumb to "impulse buying" and go all out on your holiday shopping. While your intentions may be good, your pocketbook may be singing a different song. Set a budget and stick to it – your bank account will thank you for it after the start of the New Year.

Wrap it up: Wrap your gifts and place nametags on them immediately after you bring them home, then store the gifts in a secure spot. This will cut down on those late night wrapping sessions that I am sure we ALL have experienced a few times, if not every year.

Baking & cooking: If you will be cooking during the holidays, it is important to plan your meals ahead of time. Be sure to stock up ahead of time on all the necessary non-perishable baking ingredients such as flour, sugar and spices. Create a list of your holiday menus and a list of the ingredients you will need to prepare each of those meals. Also, try to think of a few dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and then frozen as an extra timesaving measure

Delegate: This is one of my favorite tips. Be sure to enlist the help of your family or friends. Sit down and discuss what needs to be done then ask for volunteers. If no hands are raised, simply assign small tasks to each of them. Whether it is arranging for a babysitter so that you can escape for a child free day of shopping, passing the shopping list onto another family member or friend so that they can pick up the items for you, or letting the children decorate your home. Be sure to get the whole family involved in the holiday preparations so that you will not be overwhelmed.

Enjoy: Whatever you decide to do, remember to relax and enjoy yourself. You and your family will have much fonder memories of this holiday season if you are not spending it pulling your hair out.

Article

A gift from Iona
Iona Flavell, aged 12, raised 175 sterling for the victims of the Asian Tsunami. Today (7th April 2005) she presented a cheque for that amount to Lt. Col Ian Joiner of the Aldershot Rotary Club which will be put towards the cost of the replacement fishing boats. The first boat will be named IONA in recognition of such a big effort from a young girl.
The School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SEME) donate 6,000 sterling to Ex. Shrivenham Spirit
SEME are the training school for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) of the British Army. Earlier this year SEME undertook a rowing marathon to raise money for the victims of the Asian Tsunami.
MALABAR YACHT CLUB - new club facility
the club house for the MYC is now complete. The building has 4 good sized guest rooms each with a/c and on-suite bathroom. Pictures are in the gallery. Guests are now welcome - contact us for latest rates.
The Kondo Syokai Bouken Project gets underway with Exercise Shrivenham Spirit
the first UK Forces Adventure Training Exercise in Kerala (Ex. Shrivenham Spirit) is building a replacement fishing boat for the victims of the Asian Tsunami - reported here in the Malayalam Manorama news and here in the Hindu
Update on Asian Tsunami Boats
the first replacement boat for the Asian Tsunami is now out of the mold. Paid for by the Rotarians of Aldershot, UK, this is a 9M vessel. She will be named IONA after the 12 year old daughter of Lt. Col Alan Flavell who by herself raised nearly 200 sterling towards the cost. See here and click on Boats for the Tsunami link for pictures.
Asian Tsunami
following our narrow escape from the effects of the tsunami, Kondo Syokai is trying to help fishing families in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. See here for details.
ROSA in the News
Reporters from The Hindu (India's largest circulation English newspaper) and the New Indian Express visited Kondo Syokai today (26th November 2004) and were shown around ROSA, the Malabar Yacht Club's first yacht. Articles appeared in the press and on the web.
Ganso-Kiso
the "base" Gazelle from Kondo Syokai and the lowest cost of all the Kondo Syokai Gazelles.

In response to enquiries and suggestions the specification of Ganso-Kiso has been re-written. Now she really is a practical sail-away Gazelle for less than the price of a kit-boat. Ganso-Kiso is the door to the experience and benefit of journeying under sail.
First pictures of ROSA under sail
the first gazelle for the Malabar Yacht Club, ROSA, was sailed in the backwaters this week (17th October). This was simply to carry out a few preliminary checks prior to starting sea trials proper (scheduled for 30th October). It also provided an opportunity to get a few good pictures.
MALABAR YACHT CLUB
the first gazelle for the MYC is launched today 7th October 2004. The ribbon was cut by Mr David Pyle, Sales Director of Princess Yachts International PLC. This is a stunning vessel, the KS team have worked hard to get her ready for showing at the Indian International Boat Show this weekend. Pictures of the yacht can be viewed here.
SOUTH INDIA - Practical, Affordable, Yacht Ownership
for those of you who live in an area with cold and miserable winters from November to March this is just the tonic. Now you really can afford to own and keep a 50' yacht in one of the most fascinating places of the world - and at the same time escape the misery of winter.
The KS Boatyard is now able to offer wooden boat building

So you think all steel boats look the same? Think again!
the KS Boatyard produces an unbelieveable mirror finish using International and DuPont coatings.
Launch date set for Gazelle No.1
7th of March is the date that the first Gazelle will be put in the water
Auxillary Finalised
The decision was taken to fit the Simpson S 217 25.5 bhp diesel engine mated to a ZF 12M reduction gear as our standard item.
Boatyard Visits
Boatyard visits are also a great holiday opportunity - check out the Prospective Buyers Visit Package for more details and see the new images of the boatyard on the Boatyard Visit page

Source: http://www.ArticleJoe.com

Aurelia Williams, certified Personal Life Coach and owner of Real Life Coaching who offers free consultations and Real Life Solutions, a Family Resource site that helps you lead an emotionally & physically healthier, more productive and less stressful life. www.reallifecoaching.net