We’re just a few days away from Christmas, and in this house, that means I’ve basically turned into a crazy person.
I’m running around finishing all the last minute things that need to be done.
How do I always forget stocking stuffers until the very last minute?
Thankfully, I’ve been through a lot of Christmases, so I am a total Christmas-pro.
So I rounded up these 5 last-minute holiday hacks you’ll totally thank me for!
5 Last-Minute Holiday Hacks You’ll Totally Thank Me For
Last Kid Out of Bed Opens the First Gift
Okay, I just heard about this hack for the first time this year, and it’s flipping genius.
I’m not a morning person, so I can’t believe I didn’t think about it sooner.
Here’s how it works.
On Christmas Eve, you tell your kids that the last kid to get out of bed gets to open the first present.
This way, on Christmas Morning, all of the kids will do their best to stay in bed longer instead of bolting out of their room as soon as they’re pretty sure it’s morning.
This is especially helpful if you have to stay up late helping Santa place gifts. Heh.
Set Your Coffee-Maker Before Going to Bed
This should seriously be a hack every day.
Most coffee makers have a timer set up where you can set it up to start brewing at a specific time.
Set it up before you go to bed Christmas Eve so that when your kids wake you up way too early, you’ve got the coffee ready to go.
Because no one should have to handle hyped-up kids that early in the morning without hot coffee.
Set Your Toys Up Before Wrapping
Okay, this is actually a hack I stole from my parents.
Picture this: Your kids wake you up WAY too early, and you watch them tear open all of their gifts while you’re downing your coffee, waiting for the caffeine to kick in.
And then it happens.
Your preschooler got that toy they’ve been BEGGING for FOR-EV-ER, and they want it opened to play with it NOW.
So you grab the box to open it. Easy enough, right?
But then you find that it’s basically cemented into its box, tied with weird plastic holders that are way too strong, and you start fumbling through the drawers to find a pair of scissors.
All the while your kiddo is screaming “JUST OPEN IT!” and your toddler has decided that she needs her toy opened right now too…
I promise you’ll want to avoid this.
So before wrapping gifts, pick a few that you know your kids will REALLY love, and set them up ahead of time.
Take them out of their packages (you can keep the boxes to make wrapping easier) and cut all the crazy holders.
If it’s an electronic, add batteries and set up your kid’s profile. That way when they rip open the paper Christmas morning they can immediately start playing!
Which actually brings me to my next (and maybe the most important) last minute holiday hack…
REMEMBER THE BATTERIES
One Christmas morning, I got a digital camera. It was the COOLEST thing, and it was at the top of my Christmas list. I was so stinkin’ excited. I mean, I got my camera in time to take pictures at our big family Christmas dinner!
Except there were no batteries anywhere in the house it seemed.
Checked the junk drawer, nothing. Checked the box it came in, nothing.
Well, a huge meltdown later, and my dad was unscrewing the cover on the remote control so we could steal those batteries. It wasn’t pretty.
According to a 2016 survey by Energizer, 54 percent of parents run out to buy batteries last minute around the holidays. Don’t spend your holidays in line at the store. Stock up on Energizer® batteries for all the gifts on your list.
Even if you don’t get your kids anything electronic, you never know what grandparents, aunties, or uncles are going to get.
Repeat: Stock. Up. On. Batteries.
Overnight Breakfast Food
This goes along with setting up your coffee ahead of time. Once the gifts are opened and the kids have played with their toys a bit, you’ll all realize you’re starving.
Trust me, after the magic Christmas morning, you’re not going to want to sit down with a bowl of cold cereal. Heh.
There are tons of overnight breakfast ideas that you can use to have a super yummy breakfast ready for you in the middle of the Christmas chaos!
I love making super yummy peach cobbler overnight oats or apple pie overnight oatmeal, but you can make whatever your favorite overnight breakfast foods are!
Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries, the #1 longest-lasting AA batteries. That’s right … the longest lasting. The AA/AAA batteries also hold power in storage up to 20 years, and feature leak resistant construction to protect those shiny, new toys, gadgets and devices.
Moms make the world go ‘round, especially during the holiday season. From baking cookies to wrapping gifts to decorating the house. With all the hubbub, it’s easy to forget one critical item—batteries to power those holiday gifts. This year, stock up ahead of the holiday season— Energizer® batteries are perfect for all the gadgets and toys on your list.
The look of delight on your child’s face when they open their holiday gifts is priceless. And the moment is even more special when that gift is powered by the longest-lasting batteries around. This year, make sure your gifts are wrapped with Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries inside.
Don’t forget to pin this post to remember every year at Christmas!
For More Life-Saving Holiday Tips and Tricks, Check These Out:
How to Keep Your Holiday Stress Low
10 Tips for Getting Out of Holiday Entertaining
10 Things I Learned While Standing in Line for Santa
