For so many of us, the holidays equal stress. Stress from planning. We all want to be able to sit back and enjoy the holidays without a to-do list hovering over our heads. Here are some tips for outsourcing those to-do’s and, in turn, eliminating some of that holiday stress.
A Second Me Errand Service can help with all the tasks that weigh you down. Let the experts handle your shopping, wrapping, shipping, decorating and even cleaning up. Visit www.asecondme.com for details.
Chimney Cleaning Service: Make sure you get your chimney cleaned before you roast those chestnuts.
Firewood: Get a fresh supply delivered to keep guests toasty.
Gutters: It’s a good time of year to get those gutters cleaned before the snow and ice accumulate.
Lights: Local companies will hang those holiday lights while you’re at work. And bonus: They will take down and store your lights for you until next year.
Meal Planning and Cooking: Lynn’s Meals in Minutes offers delicious homemade meals for you to heat and serve that are prepared the same day as delivery to your home. Meals are always fresh, never frozen, include local produce whenever possible, and are made individually for you by Lynn (never mass produced). She prepares your meals to your individual tastes based on your personal needs and dietary requirements. Visit www.lynnsmealsinminutes.com to schedule your homemade meals.
Holiday Hosting: Does the thought of your disorganized house make holiday hosting seem overwhelming? Make the commitment to get organized and give yourself the gift of peace by hiring StressLess Spaces Organizing. They help you organize your home by facilitating the decluttering and organizing process. Whether you just need a room sorted or your entire home or office organized, they have the experience and they love what they do. Visit www.StresslessSpaces.com to learn more. They also offer gift certificates.
Cleaning Service: Have your home cleaned for the holidays with simple clicks of the keyboard at Maid to Please’s website (www.maidtoplease.com). Receive instant price quotes and choose your time slots for weekly, bi-weekly, or even one-time service, provide special cleaning instructions, and pay by credit card if you like. You can also choose the chores to suit your needs so you have more time to shop and enjoy the holidays!
Christmas Tree: Don’t have time to pick up a tree this year? Local companies will deliver straight to you. You choose the type of tree and size and they deliver and set it up for you, with evening and weekend delivery times as late as 10 p.m.
Decorating: Local services will use your decorations or bring additional touches to make your house festive. Call them back in January to reverse the process.
Shopping: Hire a personal shopper to purchase your gifts, and better yet, to deal with those pesky returns. Many will also wrap, label and ship them, too.
Holiday Cards: Many of the online photo sites will mail your cards for you. You pick the photos and type the note, then send them your addresses, and voila! Done!
Pets: Choose from a variety of local mobile pet grooming options to get “Fido” looking good for the holidays. And if Grandma is allergic to your furry friends, or you don’t want them underfoot during your holiday party, many pet boarders offer hourly puppy play times and day care in addition to boarding.
