Just into December, I thought it was time to write about sites for the holidays - specifically pages for party planning, clever wrappings, from-your-yard decorations and make-them-yourself cards.

These are all the ''must do early'' things to make life easier when the month gets hectic later.

http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/xmas/xmas.html. The ''So You Wanna'' site offers some practical as well as humorous advice for just about everything, including holiday parties. If you can get past their version of ''The 12 Days of Christmas,'' the rest of the site is definitely worth reading.

http://www.christmasfanatic.com. If you're looking for inspiration, who better to visit than the Christmas Fanatic? Great here are the photos of her outdoor decorations from the past and her new design for this year. Be sure to click on each photo to get the full screen versions. Then use the ''Light Fanatic'' link to trip through the lights fantastic.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/forestry/420-641/420-641.html. OK, this is a long address to mess with - and it comes from the department of forestry in Virginia - but there is a ton of tree info and advice here and nearly all of it is as good for the tri-state as it is for Virginia.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas. If you're looking for a way to involve young family members or students in the decorating process, Enchanted Learning has selected several dozen simple craft ideas - perfect for a classroom project or a nice holiday ''together time.''

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7134/Christmas/chrgoto.htm. Another long address, but it's perfect for anyone who wants to make their own cards, ornaments, gift tags or Christmas village using printed pages from your computer. Step-by-step in structions are included. There's a 3-D Manger scene to print out and build.

http://www.cardinspirations.com/demo.htm. If you're a crafter, or just in the mood to make your own holiday cards, this site will have you feeling like a pro. Techniques include decoupage, stamping, stenciling, quilling.

http://www.ehow.com. Interested in bringing a little of the outdoors in to help spruce up your home for the holidays? The eHow folks have all kinds of decorating suggestions. A quick sign-in registration and you have access to more than 15,000 how-to hints.

http://www.ivillage.com/food. To the left of the main food screen at iVillage you'll find sections for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. There are great recipes, menu suggestions and ideas for hosting celebrations.

Jan Perry is a Post contributor and one of Santa's helpers. Contact her with your favorite holiday site (or anything else) at SiteSeer2K@aol.com.