Photography by Galina Coada
Thanksgiving is just two weeks away and Christmas is just over six. While it may not feel like it to many of us, it’s officially holiday season. To avoid the last minute stress of prepping your house for all those extra guests, start organizing your needs now. Here are four quick tips to reduce the holiday stress:
1) Declutter- Focus on the countertops, end tables, guest bedroom nightstands and the like. Starting now allows time to re-assess if you realize you need to declutter more than originally thought.
2) Clean your oven- Do it now versus later. Running the self-clean cycle before a big cooking day could cause your oven to stop functioning properly. Deep clean now and spot clean as you go.
3) Check safety features- Double-check that your safety features are in top shape. Does the smoke detector need new batteries? Do you have a stocked first-aid kit? Also consider if there will be smaller children running around. Do you need to buy more plug covers or a nonslip rug for the top of the stairs? Start the list now to save the last minute headache.
4) Create a cook schedule- Whether or not you are cooking one dish versus the whole meal, create a schedule of when everything needs to be mixed, cooked and cooled. Realizing you gave yourself only 24-hours to thaw and cook a 20-pound turkey equals a horrible mistake.
As we get even closer to the celebrations we at Rev-A-Shelf will be sharing even more tips to help ease the stress of preparing for the holidays. Stay tuned!