I look forward to Christmas like nothing else. I am known to be working on holiday projects while my kids are splashing in the pools of summer. Over a period of months I will cram hundreds of ideas in my head and make lists of all that I want to do for the upcoming holiday season. And yet, a festive fall season usually includes lots of prep for a Christmas that never really comes together.

Somewhere between the carving of pumpkins, the dressing of turkeys and the trimming of trees things just fall apart for me. My one constant in Christmas tradition seems to be a nagging feeling that I’ve forgotten to do this or that in creating the perfect holiday season.

But last Christmas I had an epiphany. Despite the fact that the lights on my house were missing the icicle lights I love, and despite the fact that the special gift I was working on for my husband never came together because I ordered one part of it too late, and despite the Christmas tree that died too soon because I put it up too early we had a perfect Christmas. I laugh when I think about it now. My fudge was grainy, the kids got sick on the night of the Christmas play and Santa got caught in the act by my 8-year-old daughter. But it was a perfect Christmas.

Why?

Because the fun in Christmas is getting ready for it. Spontaneous things happen during the season that both aggravate and delight. But you can’t control the weather, relatives who drop in late at night or out-of-stock situations in the store. If you’re looking to organize December, forget it. It will just never happen. That is like trying to stop a wave. It is the before-December period when the real fun of Christmas happens for me and when Christmas really comes together. Remember these things:

1. Christmas doesn’t happen once a year -- it happens all year.

I usually start Christmasing as soon as the weather heats up. For me, nothing is more fun than working on something for Christmas when it is 100-plus outside. But I have learned that I need to start getting my act together sooner than that. Around President’s Day weekend every year I make my spring cleaning list. My spring cleaning list always includes a review of the entire year ahead and I start at Christmas and work my way backwards.

Christmas is always my biggest list of the year. I want to do it all. I want to bake, decorate, dress up the kids, attend events, shop, get the perfect gifts and FEEL GOOD through out the whole season. I want Christmas to be an event and I want the environment perfect. That all begins with my list of who, what and when.

2. Build on last Christmas.

Several years ago I was into making a theme for my Christmas tree. One year I had a teddy bear theme for my tree and the next Christmas I went with angels. Last year as we decorated the tree I had plans for another theme until my mother asked me about a particular ornament she purchased for me back in the year of the teddy bear. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, I found it and she put it on the tree, effectively “ruining” my theme for the year on our tree. And you know what? Our mish-mash of décor on the tree only made it better. We had teddy bears with sleighs, bells, angels and gingerbread men. It was our best tree ever and it never once made it to my list. What it taught me is that I don’t have to be so detailed and complex in my Christmas planning. Using what was used before in a different way makes for surprising and pleasing results.

It seems I keep piles of more stuff every Christmas. I know I don’t have to use it all and I know I can use bits and pieces in different ways to make each Christmas unique. I like not knowing ahead of time EXACTLY what Christmas will look like.

3. Connect with fellow Christmas crazies.

My husband teases me that I need a shrink to help deal with my Christmas addiction. I have learned instead to find solace, calming influence and advice online. There are lots of us Christmas-nuts out there and they hang out on Christmas websites year round.

There are more ideas floating around out there than you will ever have time to implement. And there are all kinds of people. I enjoy their company and I get great ideas -- especially when it is not Christmas time. For anyone struggling to get Christmas organized I suggest hanging with folks found on sites like My Merry Christmas, Christmas Organizing, and Magical Holiday Home.

4. Shop smart.

Money -- or rather, the lack of it -- tends to dictate how I have to shop for Christmas. I learned long ago that shopping has to happen year round, in small bites. For me personally, this feed my Christmas addiction and helps to keep that Christmas spirit all year.

There is a strategy, however. For example, I never buy for my kids before August unless I am really, really sure that what they want and talk about now will still be “the thing” come December.

For my husband, I’m always shopping. I start December 26th of every year because he is just so difficult to buy for. He says that any old tool will do or maybe a good book. That is a bunch of bull. I see his eyes light up at certain items through out the year as much as a leggy blonde might turn his head. I’m not blind. It is just that it doesn’t happen often. My biggest challenge is to prevent him from just buying “the thing” himself. Too often, he will invent a “need” for an item and just go out and buy it. So I have to watch closely, lecture often about what we cannot afford, and play “the game” when it comes to gifting for my man.

I love shopping for the women in my life because they love surprises as much as I do. And that, ladies, is a year round sport I can and do support!

5. Wrap it up as you go.

By the time Christmas comes around time is exactly what I don’t have. Some things can just be done in advance. One very proactive habit I got into years ago was shopping the post-Christmas sales for clearance Christmas items such as gift wrap and storing it away. Once a month I take a look at what I have accumulated for Christmas and wrap it up.

I must confess that by the time Christmas comes around I cannot remember everything I purchased. And I have learned to keep it that way. I just keep a list of who I have shopped for. Once a name is crossed off, I some times forget what I purchased or put together. That makes Christmas morning a surprise for both of us!

6. Lower your expectations.

There. I said it. Part of my problem with pulling off the perfect Christmas was the fact that my expectations frequently trend too high. My husband once teased that I wouldn’t be happy until I had the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on my porch singing carols.

Ok, I never got that grandiose. But I must admit to having too many last minute rushed excursions to Costco for veggie trays and some sort of hostess gift.

Lowering your expectations isn’t a mindset. It is a task. Usually around Labor Day I take out the list I made at President’s Day and really scrutinize it. Do I really need to make that weatherized paper mache snowman for the yard (we live in Florida)? Do the meatballs really have to be marinated for 48-hours? If I have four different trees do I really have to set them all up according to light, color, theme and coordinated music?

You think I’m kidding. But I’m serious. My lists are that ridiculous. By September I have to get off the caffeine and get real when it comes to what is possible with Christmas.

7. Make notes for Christmas-yet-to-come.

By Thanksgiving I’m making another list -- notes for Christmas “next year”. The truth is that there are more great ideas for Christmas out there than there will be Christmases in a lifetime. We can only do so much. When I find a cute idea or something that I really, really, really want to do I stuff my stocking with a list for Christmas-yet-to-come.

There is always next year.