Christmas Eve is 9 weeks from today.  We're in the single digits folks.  It's time to gear things up.

Last week, our focus was on lists.  This week our focus is on set-asides:

• Set aside a place to store gifts as you buy them.  There is nothing worse than buying gifts early and being unable to find them when wrapping time rolls around.
• Set aside a place for any crafts you plan to make.  If you can keep a craft assembly line set up, it will be easier o put in small amounts of time as you find them.
• Set aside "card central."  That's where you want to keep your card list or address book, your address labels, your stamps, any stickers you use, and, of course, your cards.  Holiday stamps are available at your post office now.  The Post Office has also released a holiday "Forever" stamp featuring evergreens.  (Elves appreciate the subtle humor.) Buy them now and you can use them in future years, no matter how much postage costs.
• Gather all of your wrapping materials (paper, ribbon, tape, boxes, tissue, etc.) and put it where you can find it.  It's a bit early to start wrapping, but it's never too early to oragnizae.
• Set aside a spot for the catalogs that you are likely to recive.  At least once a week, try to go through them and mark anything you plan to buy.