10 Christmas Hacks Every Gabby Lou Mama Swears By ♡

(because the holidays should feel like magic, not mayhem)

Hi sweet friend! Anne here, currently hiding in the closet with coffee while Gabby & Lou decorates the house with every shiny thing she can find. Christmas with little ones is pure heart-explosion chaos — twinkly lights, sticky fingers, and way too many emotions (mine, mostly). But over the last four Christmases, I’ve collected a few shortcuts that keep the joy high and the meltdowns low. These are the hacks that let me actually snuggle on the couch instead of stressing in the kitchen. Steal them all — I won’t tell.

1. Meal Plan Like It’s Your Love Language

Two weeks before Christmas, I sit down with hot cocoa and map out every meal. Write the menu, list ingredients, and check it twice. One big grocery trip = no more last-minute dashes with a toddler in tow. Bonus: Freeze pie crusts, chop veggies early, and let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting on the big day.

2. Wrapping Paper Tubes = Light-Saving Superheroes

Those empty cardboard tubes? Gold. Coil your Christmas lights around them, tape the end, and label (“tree lights,” “porch lights”). Next year you’ll thank past-you when everything untangles like magic instead of a giant knot.

3. The Gift-Wrapping Station That Saves My Sanity

Clear a corner (or the dining table when no one’s looking) and keep everything in one basket: paper, ribbon, tape, tags, extra bows (obviously). Wrap gifts the second they come in the door. No 2 a.m. panic on Christmas Eve.

4. Freeze Cookie Dough Like You’re a Baking Boss

Make dough in November, scoop into balls, freeze on trays, then toss into labeled bags. When cousins show up or you need a quick Santa treat, just bake straight from frozen. Fresh cookies, zero mess right now.

5. DIY Advent Calendar with a Shoe Organizer

Hang a clear over-the-door shoe organizer, number the pockets with cute tags, and fill with tiny treats, mini bows, notes (“dance party tonight!”), or a chocolate coin. Reusable, cheap, and way cuter than anything store-bought.

6. Holiday Card Scrap Book = Instant Keepsake

Grab a scrap book, slide every Christmas card you make inside. Flip through it every year and cry happy tears. I add a few Christmas Eve & Day pics so we remember what we did that year.

7. Slow Cooker = Your Holiday Bestie

Throw in cranberry sauce, hot cider, or even a whole ham in the morning. Come back to a house that smells like heaven and dinner that’s ready when the chaos hits. Frees up the oven for cookies and pies.

8. Label Gifts (Game-Changer for Big Families)

Print stickers or tiny photos of each kiddo (or use Polaroids) and tape them to the gifts. Christmas morning distribution is smooth, no “wait, whose is this?” drama. Color-code if photos or stickers aren’t an option.

9. Set Timers Like You Mean It

I set gentle timers for everything — 30 minutes decorating, 45 minutes wrapping, 20 minutes cookie baking with Gabby. When it dings, we move on. Keeps us from burning out and makes the day feel like it has breathing room.

10. The Holiday Emergency Kit I Keep Close

A cute little basket with stain wipes and Tide stick (for cranberry sauce disasters), extra tape, scissors, safety pins, a mini sewing kit, and spare headbands (because someone always needs one). It’s saved more meltdowns than I can count.

These hacks aren’t about perfect — they’re about protecting the magic so you can actually enjoy the sticky hugs, the off-key carols, and the way they look at the lights like it’s the first time anyone’s ever seen sparkles.

What’s your favorite holiday shortcut? Drop it in the comments — I read every single one while packing orders and always steal the good ones ♡

Wishing you the merriest, twirliest, softest Christmas yet.

All the love, lights, and zero stress,

Anne, Gabby & Lou (chief chaos coordinators and official cookie thieves) ♡