Feeling the holiday home project pressure

It always feels like at the very moment that kids - and a fair share of adults - are sleeping off their Halloween-induced sugar coma, retailers haul out all the holiday displays and my seasonal to-do list ramps up.

November 1 really shouldn't be the start of the holiday season, but that calendar change always makes me feel like the pressure is on. And, because I'm a holiday traveller, as are many of my friends, the month also signals the start of those "quick, have a holiday party before everyone leaves town" bashes.

And, this year, in addition to holiday preparations - decorating, baking, shopping - I've got November house guests visiting the Jen-nasium for the first time. As always, I want everything to be picture perfect for their arrival, which means I'll spend the next week hanging pictures, shopping, cleaning and generally fussing about.

My basic to do list:

- Tackle those shameful blank walls, including hanging a candelabra above my bed, framing (and printing) some treasured family photos for a gallery wall and finding a home for my cute blackboard, which is currently just a great place to stub my toe.

- Buy shelves. And hang them. Hopefully on the level. Doing so will rescue my books from my closet (freeing up space for sweaters and stockings).

- Finally give in to my "decorganizing" whims and whip my cupboards into shape, with the help of all of those fabulous lifts, trays and sorters that a girl can't help but swoon over.

- Come up with a solution to the ugly rats nest of cords behind my desk. I love my technology. I love my clean modern lines. Why can't they all just get along?

But that's nothing compared to the projects other people have in store. Casual discussions bring up plans for ripping up carpets, refinishing floors, painting rooms and rearranging furniture before a single holiday trinket is put on display.

It's an awful lot of pressure to add to an already stressful time of year, but the flurry of pre-holiday renovation and decoration projects seems to be a habit for many. So, in the spirit of the season, I'll be sharing my project plans and progress over the next month, and would love to hear about yours! Please leave a comment, and weigh in on the home page poll.

Comments

[Lisa Canning]

I too am in major project mode, partly because I want a finished house for Christmas parties, but mostly because living in an unfinished house with a toddler tripping on paint cans is not cool. I'm decorating my living / dining, office and my son's room FINALLY after moving into this house almost two years ago. It is about time!