The Posh Space

DIY Advent Calendar

This year we started a new tradition in my house.  As a child my husband always had an advent calendar where you would open the little cardboard door and pull out a chocolate.  This year I thought it would be fun for my girls to start this tradition so I went out in search of a very simple cardboard advent calendar.  I couldn’t find one anywhere!  So I decided to make one.

I was trying to keep it simple (well, that is easier said than done!) and I wanted to incorporate foreign treats.  My husband spent several years in Germany as a child so I wanted to have some of his favorite treats.  So I purchased.  Lebkuchen from Germany, Toblerone Swiss Chocolate, Italian Amaretti Cookies, and Jammie Dodgers from England…oh and Hershey Kisses from America!

I purchased some simple treat boxes from the craft store.  There were 10 boxes per package.  I also purchased five gift card boxes.

I had some metal rim tags that I stamped with the days leading up till Christmas. I usually purchase these at an office supply store but you may also be able to find them at a grocery store.

I already had the number/letter stamps.  You should be able to find something similar at a craft store.

I tied ribbon around the polk-a-dot boxes and ran the tags through the red ribbon.  For the Santa boxes I used a hot glue gun to glue black velvet ribbon to the box and then glued the tag to the front of the box like Santa’s belt!  I put all the boxes on a cupcake stand.  My girls can’t wait to open these boxes each day!  They helped me fill the boxes so they know what sweet treats await them!

The good thing is that all this can be used again next year!  We just slip the ribbon off and the boxes fold flat so they will be easy to store! I love it when things work out that way!  If you don’t want to give your children sweet treats everyday you could insert notes with holiday themed activities like reading a Christmas story , watching a favorite Christmas movie, going out to look at Christmas lights, or what ever is your family’s favorite holiday activity!

Getting Organized for the Holidays – Part 3 Kitchen

There is so much to do in the kitchen this time of year so here is my super quick checklist of what you need in the kitchen as you prepare for the holiday.  I’m sure this checklist will grown and you will find your own things to add, but this will help you get started.

Thanksgiving Kitchen Checklist

Paper & Cleaning

1. Extra  dish soap for doing all those dishes after the feast
2. Lots of fresh dish towels for drying all those dishes after the feast
3. Lots of paper towels
4. Good supply of plastic zip top baggies to store yummy holiday leftovers
5. New box  of aluminum foil for covering the turkey and for leftovers
6. Paper/plastic cups, plates, utensils, and napkins

Food

1. Recipes.  Pull them out and read through them double checking to cooking and prep times
2. Make a list of any ingredients you need
3. Other meals. Pick up extra snacks, breakfast, or lunch items if you will have company staying
4. Drinks.  Don’t forget to add drinks to your shopping list
5. Gather everything you need for one recipe in a shopping bag so it’s ready to go

Serving

1. Gravy boat
2. Serving bowls and platters
3. Serving spoons, forks
4. Pie servers
5. Hot plates, crock pots, chaffing dish
6. Table clothes and napkins
7. Plates/China: Dinner, salad, and dessert
8. Flatware/Silverware

Click here for a free downloadable version of my checklist!

Holiday Travel Tip: Mail Holds

Going out of town for the holidays? Don’t forget to put your mail on hold! The USPS now offers a quick and easy way to do this online. Just go to this page, enter your zip code, street address, the dates that you’ll be gone, and whether you want to pick up your accumulated mail at the post office or have it delivered to you when you return. With a few clicks, you’re set!

You can put mail on hold up to two weeks in advance, and unlike submitting a hold at the post office (which you must do at least the day before you leave) mail holds done through the website before 2 AM are effective that same buisness day.

Here’s to stress-free holiday travel!

Holiday Shipping Deadlines!

Still need to mail gifts to friends and family for Christmas? It’s not too late! Here are some domestic shipping deadlines, provided by the US Postal Service, for getting presents to your loved ones by Christmas Day:

For more information, or to check shipping deadlines for military and international destinations, check the USPS’s Holiday Shipping Cut-Off Dates page.

Hope you’re having a fabulous holiday season!

Send Out Cards

The holidays are just around the corner, and with them holiday card season.  If you like sending cards, but hate the hassle of addressing, stamping, and posting dozens of individual envelopes, perhaps Send Out Cards is just what you’ve been looking for!

Send Out Cards is an awesome card sending service that I’ve been using for over a year now for every card-sending occasion–holiday cards, birthday invitations, thank-yous, and even just random greetings. 

At their website, you can choose a card from hundreds of designs, write a personalized message inside, enter the mailing address, add a small gift (if you want), and then hit the send button.  That’s it!  In less time than it takes to walk down the greeting card aisle at your local store, you can have a real card printed and mailed for you without even leaving your office.  It’s amazing!  You can even customize your card with your own pictures!

Here’s to a stress-free card sending season!

Angela

Resource of the Month: Coats For Kids

Not sure what to do with your child’s old coat? Now in its 24th year, Coats for Kids is an annual community project that collects and distributes warm winter coats to eligible children and teenagers in Central Texas. Visit their website for more information, and check out the volunteer page to see how you can help sort or distribute coats.

When: November 15th through December 1st.  DON’T DELAY!!!

Where: Donate new or gently-worn coats at any local Jack Brown Cleaners location.

If you don’t live in Austin, seach for Coats for Kids in your area. Many cities around the country are currently holding similar coat drives.