This post is sponsored by SC Johnson. All comments and opinions are my own.
My days are never boring, my guys always make things a little more interesting. Around the holidays when more folks are added to the mix there is a good chance that things won’t go quite as planned. You know those are the things that make life a little more interesting…the things you remember the most. Let’s face it—if Thanksgiving day went by without a hitch, it would be a boring day! Those little hiccups and blunders are what make the day the most fun!
Like many of you, I work hard to get my home ready for the holidays and the arrival of guests. I might spend an hour or more cleaning, trying to make sure my house is perfect.
Every year it’s the same thing…I’ll grab a bottle of Windex® Original Glass Cleaner and some paper towels and go around to all the doors and window wiping them down to make sure that all the dirt and grime is gone before my guests arrive. The funny thing is, as soon as someone pulls up, my pups are jumping up to look out the window and they rub their dirty wet noses all over my freshly cleaned glass.
Then of course my mom will arrive planting kisses on the front door glass as soon as she sees the boys through the glass.
By the end of the day all that cleaning is replaced by smudges from pups, kisses from grandma and tons of sticky fingerprints from a bunch of kids that don’t believe in using napkins! You know what, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
This year will be no different, I’ll still grab that bottle of Windex® Original Glass Cleaner and walk around cleaning my doors and windows in preparation for my family. Then I’ll smile as I get the chance to wipe away all those sweet, sticky memories once they leave again!
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Don’t forget, you can enjoy great savings and get a nice perk when you stock up at Publix! Simply pick up your favorite SC Johnson products in preparation for your holiday fun and get a gift card to boot. You’ll earn a $5 gift card when you purchase any four participating SC Johnson products from 10/1 – 11/30.
Getting your gift card is very simple. All it takes it three easy steps!
- Purchase FOUR participating products in a single transaction at Publix.
- Snap a photo of your receipt.
- Submit your photo to happythanksgathering.com
I have more great news! One iHeartPublix reader will get to stock up on great SC Johnson products to help them make their holiday great thanks to a $100 Publix gift card!
Entry is simple. You just need to complete the mandatory task below (answering my question). You can gain additional entries by completing any of the other options as well! View the Giveaway & Sweepstakes Rules.
- Share some things that you do to start to do to prepare for the holiday or for holiday guests.
Having company gives me an excuse to clean the whole house!
I start by decluttering, and then move on to deep cleaning and finally the basic, moping, vacuuming and dusting
I start with a deep cleaning of the house and then pulling out the seasonal candles, apple, cinnamon, hazelnut, pine! Puts me in a festive mood!
I clean the house, change out my candles to fun scents, decorate and look for fun new recipes!
I’ve started already. Decluttering, dusting and putting away all the knickknacks so that the little hands of my grandkids don’t break my ornaments. I’ve made some pumpkin decorations and I am just looking forward to having the guests over.
I buy a new tablecloth and wash the curtains and ceiling fans.
Change holiday scents from Glade
We don’t have guests for the holidays.
I do clean the house everyday and change the scent for holiday
Meal prep the weekend before the holidays.
I will clean up the kitchen more before we start making a big mess fixing that big Thanksgiving dinner.Then after will need the cleaners from Publix to clean again .
I start with the bathrooms because nothing is worse than forgetting to clean the bathroom before company comes!
Put away all the every day decor to make room for the holiday stuff and then I start cleaning the house room by room so that all is left if a basic tidy up before everyone arrives.
I start planning menus and buying in everything I’ll need for all those recipes!
change the scents for the holiday
We do a lot of shopping and a lot of cleaning!
Putting away my fall decor and putting up my Christmas tree!!!
Put away regular decorations to make room for fall/Christmas decorations. Also, I start looking for deals on party-type foods that will freeze or keep until New Year’s – we’re always invited to last minute parties, and it helps me to already have that stuff on hand!
I clean out the refrigerator.
I try to have all my gifts bought by early December so I can just enjoy the rest of the time.
I have started putting out my Thanksgiving Day decorations including my adorable Publix Pilgrim family salt and pepper shakers.
I start by making lots of lists. Food, serving dishes, decorating, etc. Then start with serving dishes and make sure I have all I need and get them all washed and ready to use
Not much any different from the rest of the year. We stay organized and ready for anything.
Decorate for Christmas- make sure the house is clean and smells like the holidays! Thank you!
The house is pretty much clean..
Touch up only
Now thinking of guests and friends, family
Getting some if their favorites
Get the guests rooms ready..flowers, linens etc
Make priority lists and declutter!
I try to do as much cleaning ahead of time as possible
We don’t have guests, but we like to get the house cleaned up and ready. We also start a list of what we want to do for dinner together as a family
always make sure my house is clean but not too clean so everyone can relax.
Make a list of everything I need for the holidays, make the house warm and comfy with Fall and Christmas décor, put new fragrances, and ready the guest room with new linen and lots of pillows!
Bake and freeze cookies,brownies,and cake layers!
In order to begin preparing I make lists, lists, lists!
Cleaning up clutter and scrubbing the floors!
We have family coming in from NY for the holidays so I have a big cleaning list!
I start getting the guest room ready and the beds washed and remade.
cleaning up and organizing and decorating
I change all the decorations. Start baking and cleaning.
Putting out seasonal scents and de-cluttering.
Some things that I do to start to prepare for the holiday or for holiday guests is start baking and cooking early and getting foods put in the freezer. I also clean my carpets and stock up on paper products for the bathrooms and kitchen.
When I have guests coming I do a thorough cleaning to every room!
Cleaning and changing my decor. I love fall and Christmas decor.
My job is cooking. I am in charge of about 95% of it so that is my focus. So my prep is all about the food, buying it prepping it and cooking it.
I hate to admit it but, I use this time of year to do my spring cleaning! Windows, wash my curtains & dust the door tops.
I change up the decor in my home and I clean.
I clean, clean, clean.
We clean and declutter the house. I shop at the store for our meals. I also start to prep some of the food I’ll make.
Cleaning house and baking cookies to make the house smell nice,
I buy gifts and other things when they are on sale.
When family comes to visit I wash all the guests room bedding with downey. I make sure all bathrooms have a new can of Lysol and new clean hand towels.
I try to always have fresh sheets on the guest bed for unexpected company.
I prepare for the holidays by trying to prepare snacks, cookies and other items ahead of time. I also try to keep the house clean in case any unexpected company shows up.
I start my gift wrapping early.
I bake cookie and some holiday food and freeze some of the holiday food
Declutter the house and buy some holiday candles
We have started talking menu ideas already – we like to try something new each Thanksgiving.
Cleaning the house.
Get my list out
menu planning is crucial
Each holiday season, one of my first calls is to make appointments for our little dogs to have a ‘spa day’ (aka: groom) so they’ll be all fluffy and smell delightful for our guests! Of course, we enjoy clean, yummy smelling dogs too!
prep food and cook what I can the day before
Get the pumpkin roasted, which is already in the freezer with pie crust ready to roll out
I start decorating the house AFTER giving it a good deep clean. Then I start baking.
Clean all the windows
Bring out the decorations!
I clean my house thoroughly and put up decorations.
Lists, list and more to do lists. Cleaning, shopping, grocery etc feels good to check of things as I get them done in advance.,
Start buying extra groceries and cleaning the china.
Cook food ahead of time and freeze for when unexpected guests show up.
I don’t leave anything until the last minute, prep as much as possible, and keep lists =)
I think the holidays are for spending time with family. I do not want to be standing and cooking and not able to spend time with family. I prepare most of my food ahead of time. If I do not cook it before the holiday, I prepare it and refrigerate it so I can cook that morning. I sit and enjoy my family.
All this after cleaning my house.:-)
I go shopping 2 days prior to the holiday, the night before I make up my yeast rolls, prepare the turkey for baking, make sweet potato pies – the next morning finish cooking everything else, have the table set and ready for our family and friends for dinner.
Cleaning and putting up Christmas decor.
Buying gifts now and wrapping them, doing grocery shopping a few days in advance, and cleaning.
I watch for sales on items I’ll need and start stocking up far in advance.
Making the list of groceries I need for the casseroles I make ahead, and then organizing my coupons so that I can save as much as I can. I love using the Publix coupons so all I have to do is add them to my list and then put in my phone number at checkout so that they are automatically applied.
Clean and organize the house first, then get the menu together!
I clean the windows , mirrors and more with Windex. Check the house, and put away things. Add decor with Fall color. Buy all my groceries at Publix ! Taking advantage of sales and coupons on here, 2 for ones, other sales and more. Make many TO DO lists, and do them.
We keep the house clean and neat year round.
Cleaning is a definite in preparation for company and/or the moving in of holiday decorations (and that ‘deep’ cleaning, too…not just a little dusting, lol). Usually it’s an ordeal: getting into the shed and pulling out all of our seasonal items, cleaning them off and fluffing them, decorating (and this usually includes several craft days with my young ones as well). Lots of planning for grocery runs, of course, and TONS of baking!
Lists, lists, lists.
This would be a wonderful prize (especially this time of year!).
I’ve already started the lists. One for gifts, cookies, cleaning, and meals.
I get as much cleaning, shopping, cooking and baking done in advance to keep things under control!
Straighten up and wipe down bathroom counters
Declutter house and shop online!
I decorate and do a deep clean of the house, so I just have normal cleaning when it’s time to entertain!
Always keep stuff cleaned up and picked up everyday, so want have so much to clean. So can just enjoy the holidays.
I start decluttering right after Halloween so decorating will be easier
I always plan a elaborate menu to treat my guests with some yummy food!
Mop the floors… epic event at my house!
Decorations for the holidays and start cleaning a bit.
Baking cookies and cleaning house.
I starting cleaning and menu planning.
We won’t be really having any holiday guests this year so I don’t really have to do much preparing other then try and keep the house tidy and have some holiday scented candles and quick snacks for any surprise visitors.
Decorate and a more detailed cleaning.
I like to do a fall decluttering to prepare for the holiday rush.
I take the grocery lists and go pick up all the food from Publix.
Stay on top of the cleaning and begin to decorate!!!
Freeze some zucchini bread and get out the decorations.
holiday candles get me in the mood
Giving the house a good cleaning so I only have to pick up before family arrives.
Candles and decor!
If I give the house a deep cleaning and get everything put where it belongs it seems to make the holidays much smoother and happier for me!
I make sure my house is clean and organized.
Start shopping early and clean the house
I try to keep to a cleaning routine so I don’t get overwhelmed!
I have a check list to keep up with my cleaning routine. I want my house to look and feel spotless when company comes. I also stock up on my favorite cleaning products and Glade air fresheners to help me keep my home smelling good.
A lot of cleaning and cooking
Pick up, sort, sell or give away extras. Always trying to clean as I go so I don’t get backed up!
I check that the table linens are clean and the silver polished, lists are made and items purchased for dinners.
i start cleaning and organizing weeks ahead. I get out what I will use and make sure it is clean and/or works.
I begin by preparing my holiday meals menu. I search for a few new recipes and make my lists.
I make a list and check off something everyday. And learn to delegate.
Clean & decorate.
Clean the windows, floors and bathrooms. change the beds for guests. Buy food items just for the holidays each week to spread out the cost.
Deep cleaning one thing at a time for a few weeks
I get my center pieces and decorations done early.
Lots of cleaning and I bring out fall decor and make sure my home smells great.
i make some items in advance and freeze them, it saves me time so i am not overwhelmed on t-day
I start cleaning and grocery shop!
I clean and put decorations up.
Clean the house and stock up on seasonal products.
I do a thorough cleaning and set up my holiday decorations before guests arrive.
I try to go through all the busiest rooms in my house and streamline those and I give things to charity. I stock up on sales for the pantry so I’m ready for the holidays. I like to put up Fall decor so it looks more festive in the house.
I make sure things stay clean and also go on pinterest to pick out and plan easy meals.
I like to have all of my christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving so that I can just enjoy the holiday season (and stay out of the stores when it’s so crowded everywhere!)
Cleaning for holiday guests
Make reservations
I get out my best linens, light scented candles, put new toiletries out and get the wine & snacks ready to roll.
make room in the garages for more cars
We work together to make a plan so we can break up all of the work into smaller more manageable chores.
I keep an assessment of what needs to be done buy my non-perishables and pull out all of my cookware and dishes I need.
I get out the fall decorations and clean, clean, clean.
I make lists . Who to invite list, what to buy list, what to clean list, what to organize list, what to cook list, and what gets prepared first and last list, and all other things I need to do. I am sure there are some similarities on my lists to yours, and some differences.
Clean up the kitchen, it’s the hardest area.