Outsourcing Christmas - Effortless Holiday Celebrations

There’s something magical about Christmas time, the lights, the decorations, the smell of seasonal foods, the sound of laughter from relatives and carols in the background.... until about mid-December that is. That’s when the panic sets in. Sound familiar? The llatest approach to dealing with holiday stress is to outsource it.

What I mean by that is, let someone else take care of all the work, from cooking food, to picking up relatives from the airport and organizing their hotels, to wrapping gifts and even cleaning up after all the festivities are over.

New York Magazine compiled a fantastic list of services available in the New York area, but similar services are offered around the world. Their list included contacts for cooking Christmas dinner, professional interior designers to decorate festively,

And for all those men who dread holiday shopping, there are services that will literally do it all for you. Give them a list, and they’ll hit the shops for you, wrap the gifts and deliver them either to you or the recipient directly.

Those looking to splurge on “it” gifts this season can do so thanks to the help of services that specialize in getting their hands on the most in-demand products on the market.

“Before PlayStation 3 hit stores, Quintessentially (800-414-9840) had already secured one for a member. The concierge service has been able to land a pair of Chanel boots hot off the runway in Milan.” The $1,500 membership lets customers take advantage of the service for an entire year after joining.