Christmas is only three weeks away.  The next two weeks are key to your preparations.  Here are this week’s tasks:

• Any gifts that need to be shipped have to go this week.  If they are going outside the US, you’re already pushing it.
• Finish up your cards and get them in the mail.
• Continue shopping. To avoid rush shipping charges or unexpected back orders, complete all online shopping.
• You might want to begin wrapping the presents you’ve bought.
• If you are hosting a party, confirm attendance and shop, cook, and bake.
• Decorations should be up this week (unless you keep to the German tradition of putting up the tree on Christmas Eve). You don’t have to do everything all at once. In fact, it can be very pleasant to do a little bit each day and slowly watch the house come alive with the spirit of Christmas.
• Make final decisions on Christmas baking and on your major holiday meals so that you can begin purchasing the non-perishable ingredients.