Christmas is seven weeks from today — and that time will go by faster than you can imagine. So the pace of our preparation needs to pick up.

Now, that doesn't mean that it's time to start celebrating already. I have no idea why I'm seeing Christmas movies all over the television. (I'm recording them so that I can watch them after Thanksgiving.) In the next few weeks, some radio stations will turn over to all Christmas music. This weekend, I even saw someone with a Christmas tree lit up in their front window. 

TOO EARLY, people. For goodness' sake, I just tossed my jack o'lantern into the compost pile this morning. 

But too early to celebrate doesn't mean it's too early to plan. early preparation will free you to celebrate when the proper time arrives.

So, what tasks should you focus on this week?

• Finalize your Christmas card address list and start addressing the envelopes. Buy your Christmas stamps and gather your address labels.
• If you want, you can even start writing your cards. I write a few each day in November so that I'm ready to mail them on the first Monday in December.
• Begin your Christmas shopping. This is especially important if you plan to purchase something that often goes on back order or if you need to ship gifts. You don't want to spend December 23rd standing in line and paying exorbitant rates to express ship a gift or have to pay overnight shipping charges on the gift you want.
• If you are hosting a party during the season, set the date and let the guests know. Their schedules will fill up quickly, so you want to get on the calendar as early as possible.
• Remember those inventories you made last week? Start purchasing things you need if you see a good deal. Schedule the household projects so that they will be completed on time.

These countdowns will become weekly from here on out, so try to keep up. The goal is a prepared and relaxed you on Christmas Eve.