Wow, you’re here! It’s our first big day together! However, before we get started making any merry magic for others, we ask that you first do unto YOURSELF. Think about allllllll the things you’ll have to do for your family this holiday season. Does it happen to look something like this?

• Clean the house to a non-embarrassing level, before decorating

• Drag decor boxes up from the scary spider basement

• Sprinkle the house with Pinterest-perfect holiday cheer

• Grocery shop regular

• Grocery shop for when you host your 1 million holiday guests

• Buy perfectly chosen gifts for each darling well-behaved child on your list

• Find a thoughtful gift that will make your spouse think, who is this Martha Stewart/Maxim cover model/everything in between person I have so luckily chosen?

• Not forget about the 100 other things you’re already juggling from all the time regular life

Phew. That made me tired just writing it. So today instead of adding one more to-do, we ask that you take one thing OFF your list. Here, let’s get started together…

• For Hosting: 
  • Choose a heat & serve holiday meal when hosting (many grocery stores and caterers offer good ones!)
  
  
• For Groceries:
  • Plan to Instacart your groceries just for the holiday season

• For Cleaning:
  • Hire a house cleaner for just this month or
  • Hire a house cleaner for a single deep cleaning
  
  
• For Santa:
  • Instead of waiting in the mad mall line, check out our list:

  Where to See Santa in Chicagoland. Here you can find an experience that suits you just right. And skip what doesn't. 

   

And that’s just a few ideas to get you started. If you’re looking for a few more, definitely check out our Holiday Survival Guide, as seen in our November/December issue! We’ve got plenty more there. So we’ll be back tomorrow to help you sprinkle holiday spirit all over your chosen people, but for today, put on YOUR oxygen mask first. 😉

 ♥️,

Lauren & the Chicago Parent team 

--- OR ---

And once you're subscribed, keep your 👁️👁️ glued to your inbox...
'CAUSE WE'VE GOT GIVEAWAYS!
Every week one of you will win one of these excellent holiday prizes.

• Dec. 3 Tickets to Holiday Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Discovery Center
• Dec. 6 Tickets to Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle at Lighthouse ArtSpace
• Dec. 9 Winter WNDRland: Iced In! at the WNDR Museum
• Dec. 12 Tickets to a Blackhawks game