By Heidi Preslicka, Organized Thoughts

Imagine your entire history of Christmas seasons in one hand book. A journal. A record. A keepsake. Keeping notes and information from past Christmases is very helpful for future seasons.

That is why I developed Heidi’s Handbook of Holiday History (or what I refer to as 4H.) What is 4H? This handbook is a compilation of notes, lists, ideas and party information from the Christmas seasons - past and present. Creating your own holiday handbook is easy, you’ll need a three-ring binder, some plastic dividers with tabs and pockets, tab labels, and a three-hole punch. Label your tabs with the years. If you have information for prior years, make tabs for those. Otherwise make labels for 10 to 20 years into the future. If this is a system you think you will enjoy, make labels for many, many years into the future - then you won’t have to mess with making labels in the near future.

I like computer-generated labels. You can find file tab labels at your local office supply store. The companies that make these labels have free templates online. For those of you who are not computer savvy, simply hand write your labels in your best hand writing. Use tab dividers with pockets or page protectors with tabs to divide your sections. The pockets will be used to place items that you do not want to hole punch, such as your photo Christmas card or invitations.

Place information and notes that you collect during the holiday season in your binder. It might include: Christmas lists of gifts you gave, Christmas lists that your kids made, greeting card lists, a copy of your holiday card, tear out sheets from magazines with fun holiday ideas, invitations for holiday parties that either you planned or were invited to, a copy of your December calendar, party planning notes, notes of crafts and decorations, notes from holiday parties planned at your kid’s school, and favorite holiday recipes. Put anything that relates to your holiday season into your binder. Punch all your notes from the year with a three-hole punch and place behind the appropriate year. To make your notes for the year complete, finalize notes and lists after the holidays are over. Refer to your handbook when creating your gift list, when planning your parties, or when decorating.

Using a computer spread sheet is the most efficient and easy way to create your Christmas gift list. You can update the list as you purchase gifts anytime during the year. By doing this you will always have an updated holiday gift list and will be able to go shopping at a moment’s notice with your computerized holiday gift list ready. It will also prevent you from buying for someone that you had previously shopped for.

Keep your handbook available throughout the year; do not store your handbook with your holiday decorations. As you think of gift ideas jot them down on a list, and place the ideas in your handbook. You will always remember the ideas are in your reference binder.

Your handbook can also be used as a way to record special memories. Create a document on your computer with journaling prompts about the holidays - a checklist of questions to record memories from the season. Have your children contribute to your note taking as well. Their perspective may surprise and inspire you. Some journaling prompt ideas are: the weather was..., Christmas Eve was celebrated with..., reaction of the kids..., favorite moment..., special memories..., hopes for the new year... By adding journaling questions your binder becomes not only an informative reference handbook, but also a compilation of Christmas memories.

Enjoy your Handbook of Holiday History. Have a very organized, stress reduced, and blessed holiday season.

(Heidi Preslicka is a professional organizer, offering hands-on and consulting organizing services for families and small business. She can be contacted via her Web site at www.intherightplaceorganizing.com. Her column, "Organized Thinking" is one of several opinion and commentary pieces appearing regularly in this newspaper.)