Holiday panic? Keep it simple, sweetie!

Here we are T-minus 10 days and counting! 9 . . . 8 . . . 7 . . . 6 . . . OH, MY GOODNESS!

What am I to do now? Where do I start? Do you feel like your head is about to blast off from your body? Don't fret! I am going to help you put your head back in place and plant your feet firmly on the ground. I promise you can do this.

Ten days are plenty of time if you will not let the panic of the day turn into a manic Christmas Countdown. If you have finished your holiday preparations then you don't have this pressure to deal with. You can sit back and enjoy the ride. Be thankful for the baby steps you used to get ready for the holiday celebrations.

Now if you are feeling a bit queasy right now, I want you to grab another cup of something warm and let's do just a bit of planning before you run out into the day. This is only going to take a few minutes. We are not going to think this to death!

Here is the first thing I want you to do: Sit down with an old notebook that still has a few sheets of paper left in it. A little planning now is going to save you some money and time!

1. Whom do you have left to buy for? Write down their names, list what you would like to get them and how much you would like to spend. If all else fails, think clutter-free gifts like gift cards to their favorite stores or restaurants.

2. Are you cooking the holiday feast at your home or are you going to someone else's home? Start a menu and a grocery list for this dinner. Keep it simple, sweetie! Don't try cooking things you have never fixed before; you will be setting yourself up for failure. We have a traditional turkey dinner and all its directions on our Web site in the holiday section of www.FlyLady.net. Pick a day to do your grocery shopping.

3. Are you attending any other parties that you will need to take a gift or a dish? Add them to your shopping lists.

4. Do you have enough wrapping paper, tape, bows, ribbon, gift cards, tissue paper or gift bags? When you are getting down to the final countdown, you may want to use the gift bag idea and tissue paper. This will save you a lot of time and help you to let go of your perfectionism or get the item wrapped when you purchase it. Wrapped gifts always look nice but wrapping may take time and extra money. Put the items you need on your list.

5. Do you have a holiday outfit to wear? Has it been picked up from the cleaners yet? Make sure you have hose and any other things you may need for your most festive occasion. Make sure the rest of the family has their clothing needs met.