Ready, Steady... Prep! - The Active Hands Company

First off, let us start with an apology… we’re about to mention the ‘C’ word in October and I know that feels early for some. But Christmas is approaching and this year, we are determined to start the preparations early so we can enjoy the festivities, rather than feeling strung out and over-worked! So, why not follow along with us as we outline our ‘Easy, Breezy, Christmas Prep Schedule’?

October

Starting slow with a couple of easy, but significant tasks around present buying. Firstly, the ‘big gifts’. If you can purchase a couple of the big gifts for your children, partners or loved ones this month, the mental load feels much reduced – and you spread the cost across a few months. So start asking them what they’re hoping for and spend a couple of evenings this month browsing the internet and getting the gifts squirreled away.

Your second task this month is to think of yourself! If they haven’t already, your family and friends will no doubt start asking soon what you’d like under the tree. So, get ahead of the game and create yourself a wishlist.

Did you know you can make a wishlist on our website and email it to your loved ones? Our range of gripping solutions cover all aspects of life and make the most fabulous, life-altering gifts. Why not take a browse and find some gift ideas for yourself, or a loved one? Take a look at our ‘how to’ video to create your own wishlist.

Image shows a screenshot of our website wishlist page with an insert of Jo talking to camera at the side. There is a play button indicating this is a video link.

November – food prep

OK, time to step up the pace just a little this month. So grab your favourite beverage, clear an afternoon and let’s start filling the freezer with some food we’ve prepped ahead of time. Did you know you can make gravy and Yorkshire puddings ahead of time and store them for up to three months in the freezer? And yes, we know Yorkshire puddings aren’t traditionally part of Christmas dinner, but it’s a non-negotiable in our house!

We have some brilliant kitchen gadgets that will take the stress out of cooking. Why not treat yourself to a new tool this month and test it out on your Christmas dinner prep? The Palm Peeler will make light work of peeling veg to roast. The Push Whisk will whip up the Yorkshire pudding batter without the need for a strong grip or wrist/arm strength and The Pan Buddy means you can feel safe and confident lifting and carrying saucepans, while supporting painful joints or weak wrists.

the push whisk is great for whisking eggs for scrambled eggs on toast

Get Crafty

Now is a great time to unlock your creativity. The evenings are dark and pretty cold by now so get cosy and enjoy some craft. Whether you want to make some home-made decorations, create gift labels or even some home-made gifts… we’ve got you covered.

The Nimble is the one-finger cutter we just can’t do without! Perfect for cutting craft paper and gift wrap, it will also open packages, mail, food packaging and more. Its tiny ceramic blade is tough enough to open packaging, but small enough to be safe on your skin.

Nimble - one finger package opener cutting packing paper. Adaptive kitchen equipment. Suitable for reduced hand function: tetra, quad, cerebral palsy, SCI, spinal cord injury, stroke and more.

We also have a range of scissor options, a variety of pen/pencil supports as well as gripping solutions to support painting, music making and all sorts of other creative pursuits.

Image shows a range of different scissors options for those with reduced hand functions. Scissors are all around the edge of the image with the words 'cutting options' in the centre.

Image shows three different options for pencils supporting those with reduced finger function

Last task for this month is to get your Christmas cards written. It might be too early to send them out, but if you have a list of neighbours, colleagues, school teachers and family to send to, getting them all written and addressed now means you can just smugly stroll to the postbox in a few weeks time.

Early December

This month is likely to get busy, and we all want to be able to relax and enjoy the parties, school assemblies and family visits, so I’m aiming to do a big clean early this month. Then, with a bit of luck, we can just do a quick wipe over, here and there, when needed.

If cleaning is tricky for you because of reduced grip or painful joints, we have a couple of adaptions that might just make the difference. Add-On Handles can be popped on to your existing brooms and mops to create right-angled, chunky handles. Use one, or two, to get a grip of otherwise heavy and awkward cleaning tools.

Our EasySpray is becoming one of our most popular items. It sticks onto aerosol and spray bottles to change that fiddly push button into a large lever to squeeze. Add it to your polish and air freshener (and then pop one on your deodorant and grab an EasySpray Mini for your perfume!). The Nano Tape used to stick it securely to your bottle is designed to be peeled off one bottle and stuck to the next, when you’ve run out of polish and need a new bottle.

The add-on handles being used with a mop

Blue easyspray on a yellow hairspray bottle

After your big clean, it’s time to further stock up your freezer. This time we’re making all the treats! Many sweet treats can be made ahead of time and frozen, so you can defrost something yummy whenever you fancy indulging. Enjoy the process with two of our most fun gadgets! The Egg-Cracker breaks your eggs, dropping the yolk and white into a bowl and holding onto the shell. You can even use its little attachment to separate the yolk from the white. Once you’ve baked, grab an Icing Pen and decorate with its range of nozzles. Ready, Steady, Bake!

the icing pen is a device for people with one-hand or reduced hand function to ice cakes and biscuits

Mid-December

Time to get those gifts wrapped – for me, a huge hot chocolate and a Christmas film are compulsory aids to this task! Don’t forget to post those greetings cards we wrote back in November and then, I think, we’re ready to relax and enjoy the festive season! Pour yourself a drink, grab a treat (from your freezer stash, perhaps?!) and invite some friends over. You’ve worked hard and you deserve a really wonderful Christmas.

Keep an eye out on our socials for some more Christmas inspiration… and why not share your favourite tips for keeping on top of the busy-ness of Christmas? We’d love to hear your hacks, see your bakes and find out how you’re making the most of Christmas.

Jo Smith