Only takes me a few minutes! I have a pre-lit tree. Just plug it in. Stick SAnta's crocheted head on the door. Pull the nativity set out of the curio cabinet and go from there. Won't do that til next week though.

Gift cards!! I have to send up north. If you just have to wrap something there are all kinds of boxes decorated for gift cards. I got some Christmas cards with music (you know they play music when you open them up. you can put the cards in there.

I have a birthday in December so Christmas comes after then. This year I am feeling far more Christmassy than usual bug on your own it hardly seems worth the effort of putting up a tree or lights. Ido still get the food in and a drink. All different than the rest of the year.

Our Christmas decorating is a gradual process through the month. Usually put up the outside lights and wreath first, along with the Christmas quilts inside over TG weekend. Then the Christmas village and a few inside decorations. Tree doesn't go up till closer to Christmas, just because that's how it was in my childhood. Also, when the kids were home wanted the tree up early, they expected to see presents under it immediately! But I wasn't always ready for that!! Usually we leave things up till Jan. 6 to enjoy it for a while, since it takes a while to put it out. But this year, due to a sudden trip to a terminally ill relative and subsequent funeral and a 36-hour power outage Thanksgiving eve and day,due to a heavy, wet snow, my psyche is scrambled and have to push the "reset" button and figure out a revised plan! Maybe simpler will be better. And there is always next year!