Chrissy’s 2022 Holiday Season Checklist
Summer is in the rearview mirror, and the first few months of school is on the books, so now it’s time to think about our favorite time of the year — the holidays!
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanuka, Kwanza, Christmas, and New Year's are all here and gone, and the only thing longer than the list of holidays to celebrate is the to-do list to make sure the celebrations are done in style.
So get your pen and your pad, pour your favorite pumpkin spice beverage, and let Chrissy the #DentonRealtor guide you through another holiday season!
Clean & Organize the House
No matter how much thought, preparation, and care you put into making sure your holiday events and parties go smoothly, there’s always going to be a little bit of chaos.
It’s part of what makes the holiday season so exciting! But if you’re unprepared, it can derail even the most amazing plans.
That’s why it’s super important to make sure your place is as neat and tidy as possible before the holiday craziness takes over.
The first step to getting things cleaned and organized is decluttering.
Use this as an opportunity to get rid of some items and donate to a local thrift store. In Denton, we have tons of options that also support local nonprofits:
Ruth's Room benefits Habitat for Humanity
Twice as Nice benefits Woman to Woman
Once you’ve donated the stuff you don’t need, it’s time to focus on the things you do need… just not for the holidays.
This could mean taking down picture frames where you might want some decorations to go, moving any furniture that may be more nuisance than necessary, or just packing away any items you can’t trust to be out once the eggnog starts flowing.
Another way to make life a little easier is to find stuff that can transition easily into the next holiday — for example, pumpkins for Halloween and Thanksgiving, or greenery that can work throughout the holiday season.
Traditions
It's never too late to start a new tradition — just pick something and get started!
This could be as simple as baking cookies together, wearing ugly sweaters for parties, or playing board games. You name it!
The best part about setting new traditions is that nothing is in stone! Try out a couple of ideas, and if you don’t feel like it’s right for your fam, you can try something totally new next time.
Remember, the goal with traditions is spending time with the people you love — don’t force it!
Meal Prep
Things get busy during the holiday season — a little meal prep goes a long way toward happy bellies and easier evenings.
Make a few extra meals that you can toss in the freezer to take the load off when the schedule starts getting hectic. Having a few go-to meals that can be served in minutes instead of hours will help keep you on top of things.
Another way to ensure mealtime isn’t too much of a burden is to keep your pantry fully stocked with non-perishables.
You’ll be amazed at how much time you’ll save and how many headaches you can avoid if your pantry is packed to the brim with quick, easy, and tasty last-minute meals.
Be Smart and Safe With Electricity
There are a few mistakes people make with holiday lighting.
The first mistake? Some people think that, just because each individual light is relatively low wattage, they can fill up an entire power strip.
Make sure you distribute the light usage around the house as evenly as possible so you’re not overloading the circuit and risking a blown fuse. Also, by concentrating all your lights on just a few outlets, you’re significantly increasing your risk of an electrical fire.
The second mistake is using indoor power strips for outdoor lighting.
Outdoor lights are usually more powerful than indoor lights, so indoor power strips won’t be able to support as many as them.
Another issue is that indoor power strips aren’t weatherproofed, so you risk shorting a fuse when it rains or (let’s hope not!) snows or gets icy.
Focus on the High-Traffic Areas
Adding the perfect holiday decor doesn’t necessarily mean decking out every square inch of your house. Focus on just a few areas where the most people will be, and then use some of your afterthought decorations in low-traffic areas.
This means your entryway and living room should get the most attention. For places like upstairs hallways or secondary bathrooms, just a little spritz of holiday spirit can go a long way.
Some other places where you can add that holiday cheer include benches, mantles, couches (pillows are a small way to add pizazz), and tabletops.
Get to Know Chrissy the #DentonRealtor
Chrissy Mallouf has lived in Denton community for over 32 years and has become an integral part of Denton’s fabric. Chrissy obtained her real estate license in 2008 after spending over 16 years in the banking industry in roles ranging from consumer/commercial banking and director of sales.
She was recognized as the #1 buyer’s agent at Keller Williams Realty Denton in 2015, 2016, and 2017, has won the Denton Record Chronicles’ Best of Denton for the past 6 years, and was awarded Best of Denton County in 2017 and 2019. Chrissy is extremely passionate about mentoring and helping others achieve things they did not think were possible.
In 2001, she was voted one of Denton’s most influential people. Chrissy graduated from the Texas Association of Realtors Leadership Program and serves on the 2020 Greater Denton/Wise County Association of Realtors Board of Directors.
She is married to John Mallouf and has two beautiful children, Madison and Holden. Chrissy loves to spend time traveling with her family and making memories, supporting her kiddos in their various activities, volunteering, and cheering on her favorite football teams.
When she’s not being a super mom or a top-producing realtor, you will find Chrissy giving back to the community by serving on several non-profit boards. She serves on the Denton Parks Foundation Board, is involved in Denton ISD, is a member of Denton Benefit League and supports major community events like Denton Holiday Lighting, Kiwanis Fireworks Show, and Arts & Jazz.
She is a member of the Denton Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council.
She is your #DentonRealtor!
