Definitely cleaning. After thankgiving ... christmas tree, ornaments, exterior lights.

Even with construction going on within/out our apartment bldg. I could hardly wait until this week, my usual time each year, to put up my Christmas lights around windows and set out Christmas decorations! Also with perusing Houzz over the past few months I purchased a new electric fireplace media unit and enjoy it each evening. Thanks Houzz! And I have rearranged my furniture in my little space as well!!

My main priority is to get the reconstruction of my condo completed , since the flooding happened August 26, 2013, what a long long hall

Get the powder room tap/faucet replaced. The water has been coming out in a spray for weeks (filters dropped out) and the plug is discoloured. I have been trying to decide whether to replace it or redo all the fittings in chrome/stainless steel which I could do virtually for the cost of the replacement. Decided to go with the replacement gold tone.

This is the 2nd year in a row that I have scheduled a group of lady friends to come over for a holiday potluck (2nd Thurs). It makes me get all of the decorating done VERY quickly. That includes the 12 - 15 Christmas trees.............

I'm very tired of shopping &/or making special things for family only to never see said items again. This has happened even when they are asked exactly what they want, and get that item. The problem seems to be that whole families get way too much stuff, and do not really appreciate any of it. And some COAL in one particular stocking would be the most appropriate.

By the holidays, I would like to have my first floor done, but I don't see it happening. We are doing a complete first floor remodel opening up the entire area if possible. Hope to start within the next two weeks.

Oh I can't wait to put the tree up and the garland on the mantle!!! Something about seeing my kids faces when that last ornament is hung and the lights on the tree are turned on that first time!!! It's pure magical!!!

My job is to find all the gifts that I have stocked up on during the year and hidden in "safe" places (safe from me finding them before December 24th, on occasion).
Place a gift under the charity tree.
De-tangle the Christmas tree lights. Give up, buy new ones.
And baking Christmas cakes for 5 people, remembering to omit the almonds on top for the neighbors who are allergic (all the more for the rest).
That tires me out so it is time for a massage, facial and pedicure. Come to think of it, vouchers are a great gift idea.

Off course! cleaning first then i love to decorate my sweet home.

After a three week project to replace ceramic with travertine, I am looking forward to a clean house again! This year, it will include cleaning the carpets and washing the windows, inside and out! Nothing says clean like sparkling windows.

Prepare the house for the magic and awe that only grandchildren can bring on Christmas! Everything from the grandbabies very own Christmas tree in their room to reindeer food for Santa's reindeer!

A cool party for my design studio and retail store staff

You didnt say "paint, finish remodeling"! Then clean!

Decorating is a priority (in every room) AND that means deep cleaning first...

Finishing all the rooms i need to paint and then decorate them !

Decorations are the most important, I think. Everything else can be handled in a matter of time but actually setting everything up requires the entire family and a whole lot of patience! :)

Baking comes first, then cleaning and then decorating! Keep the best for last!

Definitely stocking the frig with good food and wine! Distract guests with food and they wont notice dust bunnies

Priority? It's an over rated concept that no matter how hard I try to prioritize my to do list, it never happens. I pray that this will be the year, but no, it just isn't happening at my house! Ah well, there's always next year to get it done. Then I can focus on doing it right! Can I pull it off again? Naturally not. I'm still trying to vision my priority. I guess it always boils down to the gifts!!!!!! Thank you open-all-night stores that carry As-Seen-On-TV!.

Recognizing, remembering, relinquishing, and reminding. Recognizing the holidays can be quite stressful for those who are struggling to makes ends meet, we remember those in need. So we take this opportunity to do our 'spring cleaning' and relinquish ourselves of items we can donate. We remind our children the toys never opened from the previous xmas, or birthday will make another child very happy and make room for new in the process!

My first holiday since my mother passed. Kids and their families all grown so we're going to las Vegas for a few days. So many top eateries and only four days to do them! After forty years I'm sitting back waiting for new great grandbaby. I love all of my houzz friends.

As long as there is plenty to eat and drink and lots of laughter, no one cares about the rest!

We just moved in a month ago so I think all of the above but it's just not the holiday season without decorations!! I found these DIY paper decorations on Pinterest so I'm going take a try

Because I miss mother, I have displayed all the kids Xmas cards through the years & mom's old christmas postcards from 1930s.

I need some help with getting my decorations out and decorating...A BIG JOB as I am getting older and crippled. Everyone thinks I should not put anything up, but I will show them..

Every year, it takes me long time to put the decorations and I always put them the first days in December and take them down on January 6th. I enjoy very much seeing them for the whole month but beginning of January, I am happy to take them down.

@Carolyn Olive - After my son moved out and was married I gave them most of the Christmas decorations, kept a couple of the 3' and 4' artificial trees and some baubles but for the most part they got the huge lot.

Living on my own I scaled WAY down - a simple wreath on the front and back doors, a battery operated candle in each window, the 3' tree and some baubles on the entry hall table with a small Nativity underneath, and the 4'er in the living room on the sofa table.

Four years ago I remarried and moved to my parent's native UK giving my son and his wife the few things I'd been displaying even though my new Scottish husband had ONE tree bauble and a string of fairy lights that he bought the first year fairy lights were sold (late 80s I think)!

We've worked up slowly to about what I had going on before I left for the UK, it works well for us and looks rather charming...

And a few weeks ago my son hit us with the bombshell that he and his wife are divorcing, he's getting custody of their son, and oh yes, his company is moving him to the same area we live in, shipping all his household goods - and he wants to live with us so his son has his grandmum in the house! (Insert thrilled and terrified Gran face here!)

He's bringing all that Christmas with him. He and my grandson (9yo) SWEAR they will help with the annual decorating. They'd better!

Guest room!

We have 5 pets (3 dogs and 2 cats) so deep cleaning before my family arrives is a must. Last year, we purchased our house from my parents who moved from Mississippi to California. They are coming back home for Christmas and I must get the house ready. We have made several improvements and I can hardly wait to clean up the place and decorate for them. This will be the best Christmas ever!

Install and decor the huge Christmas tree. So big and almost none of time :(

Paint the kitchen ceiling. It's a project that's been on hold for close to a year.

Decorate and have menus ready.

My biggest priority along with the one task that seems to cause the most stress is getting a good family/kid pic for our holiday cards. After the cards are sent out, decorating!

i always wait til the last minute and then i get all stressed out about putting up the tree and the decorations...i've spoiled a good time on many occasions being all stressed out about getting the house to look like 'christmas' with a scrooge there...ME :-)

Ooooh stocking up on yummy food !! Yes ! Yes !! YES !!!
It's all calorie free on the holidays you know !!!

Biggest task?? Love the comments...so many with which I resonate.
Music (broke it out yesterday as the first snow was falling....) -- cookies -- Nativities (never too many, for this is the entire focus of Christmas for me) -- books, dozens and dozens of Christmas books -- lights --
So many list all these great projects, but in the end, I just want my home to be warm and welcoming to my family and friends. So I will do less of house projects this year, and more of opening the door and saying, "Come in! I'm so glad you're here!"

This is my favorite season and as soon as fall begins I launch into the decorating mood. My sons and I decorate every room, and the front yard too. Putting up our huge Christmas village is the best part of this fun filled time of the year.

We can't wait to go hunt for a Christmas tree and tag it. The. Go back and find it after Thanksgiving and spend the evening decorate hand listening to Christmas music.

CONGRATULATIONS to @indianpatti for winning her very own pair of Houzz slippers! If you missed out on this one, you still have a chance to get your comments into our Favorite Color poll!
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/poll-whats-your-favorite-color-dsvw-vd~731059

Shopping for gifts is my biggest task. Not knowing what to buy.

Planning and making healthy meals and snacks for the diabetics in my family gathering but still enjoying old family favorites.

Check the anti fouling was done, that the the diesel, the refrigeration gas, the G.P.S. chart plotter, auto pilot, the R.I.B. inflation, the outboard fuel, that the water tanks, wine fridge and freezer are all as full a possible, check off the fishing gear, air bottles, dive gear, B.B.Q and cooker gas, sun cream & sun glasses and hats, that the toilet paper is hung over not under- in all five heads : )...... then cast off, remembering to unplug the shore power cable! The next person who speaks above a whisper does the dishes for a month : )

HEY ROSECAFE ! No one else does them here anyway !

"The next person who speaks above a whisper does the dishes for a month"

LOVE

Margo the leg lamp is sure making a lot of appearances lately :))

Must make

Decorating is great but without food and drinks we are just starving and unhappy

I start by going to Costco in October and get stocked up enough to get me through till the end of January. It's comforting knowing that I don't have to worry about TP, clothes soap, baking goods, cold meds, pet food etc and can just concentrate on the good stuff. I've also got in the habit of shopping mid January for Christmas wrap, bags etc, all on sale online.

Hello ravibala,

I second to what you suggest. Really I appreciate your idea that cleaning is must. Cleanliness is very essential for any establishment that gives a different kind of satisfaction.Nice sharing.