Giving "Non-Toy" Gifts

I blogged about this last December, and I think I will continue to do it every December going forward. That's how important I think it is!

Kids these days have too.much.stuff.

 

Yep, I said it. And believe it or not, I'm as guilty as the next parent. I can't even tell you how many times I've said to my husband, "We have a playroom full of stuff that never gets played with!" Now, our family has scaled back quite a bit in recent years, but still, it's an ongoing process.

 

The kids & I evaluate their toys twice a year. (And sometimes, I do some small purging when they are at school!) We go through their toys / books / games before their birthdays, and before Christmas.

 

I tell them it's to

1) make room for new toys and

2) to give toys to those that don't have very many

 

Usually, it's a surprisingly painless task.

 

But herein lies the problem. Even if you have scaled back the amount of toys you buy your kids, there's always grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. that want to spoil them with lots of "stuff!"

 

So here's a few ideas for Christmas this year, for some non-toy gifts for toddlers.

Be sure to check out this blogger's non-toy ideas for Children, Teens, Teachers etc.

So this Christmas, consider asking family members to buy things like gymnastics classes, museum memberships, basketball tickets, zoo memberships, or ice-skating tickets (instead of a Barbie doll or another Lego set). If the gift is an experience that they can do with the child, it will make it even more memorable.

December Giveaway, and a New Year's Half-Off Special!

*Lots of exciting news today!*

 

I know December is a busy month for everyone. No one has time for a professional organizer to come to their house, when they are consumed with Christmas shopping and Christmas activities.

 

However, come January, I'm betting many of you will be overwhelmed with the clutter in your home. (Mainly all those toys & presents that made their way into your house over the holiday!)

 

So, here's your chance to take advantage of a great deal. Book your appointment now for any time in January, and you will receive 4 hours for the price of 2. That's a savings of $100!!! Hurry, because this special will only be offered to the first two people to contact me.

 

And as an added bonus, the first person to book their January appointment will receive
the above-pictured gift wrap & ornament box!! This organizer is great because it comes with a variety of interchangeable cardboard dividers. You can even use it to store ornaments!

 

 

I have a similar organizer, that stores my gift bags, ribbon, bows, tissue paper, boxes, and gift tags.

The possibilities are endless!

 

So, comment below or email me at organizingplus.123@gmail.com to book your January appointment. Check out the services I offer by clicking here.

Thanksgiving Travel Tips

This will be a quick post, because I'm sure no one has a lot of spare time right now. You're either prepping to have Thanksgiving at your house for a crowd, or you're trying to pack & hit the road. If you fall in the latter category, then you will appreciate some of these travel tips....

 Here are a few quick tips for families that are traveling this holiday....

 And, if you're bringing a side dish to a family gathering, here are some recipes that travel well. We don't usually travel for Thanksgiving, but I think some of these recipes sounds too delicious to pass up!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Holiday Meal Planning: Thanksgiving

Confession: I have never cooked a Thanksgiving Day turkey.

 

I know, I'm so lame. Every self-respecting woman has cooked a turkey before, right!? Well, I'm sure there will be a day when I will need to do it. But for now, my husband & father-in-law insist on taking over cooking duties on Thanksgiving. Who am I to argue with that?!????

That being said, Thanksgiving still stresses me out :) Our house usually hosts the event, and this year, we have 12 people coming! So, although I don't do the cooking on the actual day, there is still a lot to do beforehand to prepare for Thanksgiving. I thought I'd try to help you all out there become a little more organized when it comes to this stressful amazing holiday.....

 

First of all, you know I love a cute (and free!) printable. This one is my absolute favorite.

It has everything you need....

 

-A space for your Thanksgiving menu plus shopping list,

-A Thanksgiving Day schedule to keep track of what needs to go in/out of the oven and when,

-A space to list all of the housework that needs to be done, plus hosting duties & decorating,

-Stuff for the kids! Coloring pages plus a space to list all of your blessings.

 

This guide breaks down what you need to do and when you need to do it. Like I mentioned, I'm in charge of everything BUT cooking the turkey on the big day, and it's crazy how much there is to do. Menu planning, shopping, thawing, cleaning, decorating....the list goes on. This guide helps to keep it all in check & ensures you won't forget a thing! It's basically a Thanksgiving cheat sheet.

You're welcome.

Here is another great guideline, this one just for meal day prep & cooking a turkey plus a few basic side dishes. And it has built-in wine breaks....love!

I love this handy Thanksgiving calculator! Because there's nothing worse than not having enough food. This takes the guesswork out when helping to prep for a large group on Thanksgiving.

So, now that you have all of these great printables & guidelines, wouldn't it make sense to keep them for next year?? I love the idea of having a binder to hold all of your holiday planning items together. Check out this blog for instructions on making one.

If nothing else, just put all your stuff in a folder and save it for next year. That sure would save you some time & headaches NEXT Thanksgiving!!

Preparing for Holiday Visitors

Whether you have visitors coming into town for Thanksgiving or Christmas,
now is the ideal time to start your preparations.....

 

 

1. The first place you need to evaluate (and probably de-clutter!) is your guest room. If you don't have a designated guest room, then decide where your guests will be staying....in one of the kids' rooms, on a pull-out couch, etc. It's important that there is a place set aside for guests; a place to call their own and feel "at home" during their visit.

 

If your guest room is like mine, then that closet has been deemed the "catch-all" space of the house. Tidy that up (or completely pull everything out & de-clutter if it's bad enough). Make sure to have a few spare hangers at your guests' disposal as well.

 

Other essentials for the guest room:

-clean linens (!)

-extra blankets & pillows in plain view

-clock

-Kleenex

-small trash can

-magazines

-fan

 

2. The next spot to think about when preparing for holiday visitors is the guest bathroom. My son's bathroom becomes the guest bathroom when we have visitors, so I relocate all of his toiletries from the shower & vanity to our bathroom. Plus, his bath towel & washcloth! This allows ample space for your guests to hang up their towels, as well as spread out their toiletries, cosmetics, and hair tools. Clear off a nearby shelf or drawer if need be.

 

It's always nice to have a few extra toiletries on hand (and in their bathroom) in case guests forget an item at home. We keep an extra toothbrush & toothpaste, as well as shampoo, soap, toilet paper, q-tips, cotton balls handy.

 

3. Another thing to think about when you are preparing for guests is food!

What are their likes & dislikes? Do they have any allergies?

What is their favorite kind of coffee, alcohol, breakfast food, snack, etc?

 

4. Lastly, make a list of a few activities in town your guests might be interested in.....parks, museums, local restaurants, etc. Check the forecast and see if their visit will be conducive to outdoor activities.

 

**If all this seems a bit over the top or too overwhelming, feel free to contact me. I would be happy to assist you with all of your organizing needs!*

Tips for Getting Your Christmas Cards out on Time

Does your family send out electronic Christmas cards? 

A few handwritten cards?

Christmas cards with a newsletter? 

Or....are you like me, and a glutton for punishment?! I choose to send out custom Christmas cards each year, complete with a few family photos. Getting these cards out is quite the process, and I'm here to give you tips on how to do it in a timely fashion.

First of all, the key is to start NOW!!! Find a photographer or family friend with a nice camera and good eye. My family usually gets their pictures taken at the end of October or beginning of November.

Next, find outfits for your family that coordinate well together. Schedule hair appointments, nail appointments, or whatever you need to look your best.

The day of your photo shoot, pray for no rain if you will be outdoors! And it always helps if your kids are well-behaved and smile when needed. (Tip: Bribe them! Mine got hot chocolate with extra marshmallows this year! :)

Once you get the pictures back, it's time to create your custom card on a website like Snapfish, Shutterfly, Target, Minted, or Walgreen's.

Order your cards. Aim to do this around early December.

Email friends & family for updated addresses.

Create mailing labels in Microsoft Word. (This takes a bit of time the first year, but once you have it set up, you can reuse it year after year! I promise it's worth it.) Go to New Document > Mailings > Labels > Select your label type (mine is Avery 8160) > New Document. 

Print labels and stuff envelopes. Aim to have your cards in the mail by mid-December!

December Giveaway! Get Organized for the Holidays

Happy December!!

 

I'm pleased to offer an amazing giveaway today, the Chevron Holiday Wrap & Tote Organizer from The Container Store:

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The first person that books an appointment with me (for either an in-home consultation or my virtual organizing services) will be the lucky recipient of this giveaway.

 

Get a jumpstart on your New Year's resolution, and become more organized today! We can start small, and take it a room (or closet!) at a time. Click here to check out my Services page, and to see how I can best assist you.

**I can be reached at organizingplus.123@gmail.com**