Kids rooms

This week our preparations for Christmas is a bit easier.  We are going to declutter and clean the kids room, or maybe a bonus room if you have one.  One thing you want to consider is cleaning out the toys, as new ones will be coming in.

Our holiday checklist this week consist of:

(below taken from Organized Christmas, Houseworks Holiday Plan)

• Seasonal Spruce-Up exercise.  Complete the seasonal spruce-up exercise to plan any pre-holiday home improvements. Make a realistic list of home improvement chores to complete before the holiday season.
• Declutter children's toys.  Work with your child to reduce clutter in the toy closet.  Assessing the remaining toys will help you make a good gift list.
• Begin collecting stocking stuffers.  Use a Stocking Stuffers inventory (get it here) form to remind you about stocking gifts on hand.
• Hit the back-to-school clearance sales.  After-season sales are a great source for stocking stuffers and crafts supplies.  Don't forget to load up on tape and scissors at bargain prices!
• Consult the kids and decide on Halloween costumes.  Schedule any sewing sessions in good time to be completed by October 10.
• Plan family Advent celebrations.  Look for creative ways to make the season come alive at the library or on the Web.  Order any day-by-day materials or Advent calendars now.
• Divide the Christmas card list (get your list form here) into five sections. Complete one section this week.  Goal:  to be finished writing, signing and addressing cards by November 1.

You can find other great internet inspiration  by visiting.

Don’t forget to print your weekly printables here for your binder.

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Do you have a holiday binder

I do, but unfortunately it is packed away this year due to a  upcoming move.  But never the less, I have a great place for you to check out one.  I wish I had mine to show you, but  Jill  over at Controlling my Clutter has a awesome tutorial on making your own. You can also find another one at My Sisters Jar. It’s a great way to keep yourself organized  during this hectic time of year.  Because I am a list maker, this really comes in handy.

Christmas Blessings

Me

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Master Bedroom & Personal Spaces-Week 3

This week we are concentrating on our bedroom.  Making it a retreat for the long days of holiday preparations.

Declutter, clean and decorate the Master Bedroom. It's a place for rest and renewal ... if you can find the space!

Tackle clutter in the master bedroom this week Use the STOP clutter method to sort the stacks and piles. Once you've cleared the items that don't belong, clean your newly-reclaimed private space. Use the "dry room" cleaning method to deep-clean the master bedroom in record time!

Finally, add decorative touches--candles, scent diffusers, flowers--to make the master bedroom a pleasant place to recharge your batteries.

Tackle the clothes closet. With cooler weather on the way, a seasonal clothes closet declutter is in order. Make room for holiday finery as you sort and toss summer's stained garments. Dare to dump it!

Our Prep list consist of:

• Inventory holiday cards, gift wrap, and mailing supplies.  Make sure you know what you have before you buy--and shop at home first!
• Make a Christmas card list. Pull out the address book or database, and make a Christmas card list.  Give thought to simplifying and reducing cards sent.  
• Use a computer address book for Christmas card envelopes or labels.  Harness the power of computer technology.  If your card lists is still kept on paper, convert it to a computerized form.  You'll thank yourself in years to come!
• Print address labels for Christmas cards.  If using address labels for your cards or letters, print them now.  You'll be ready to write, sign and seal!
• Order, buy or print Christmas cards or letters.  If you'll be buying cards this year, order them now--particularly if you'll be using the popular photo cards. 
• Plan personal pampering sessions, and add them to December's calendar.  "If Mama's not happy, nobody's happy"; your mood affects the whole family.  If you find the season stressful, plan now for some personal pampering sessions.  A massage, a retreat, or even a gathering with girlfriends can be a welcome break in a busy month.
• Set aside a gift closet or create a gift box; inventory any previously-purchased gifts.  The secret of organized (and frugal) gift-givers?  A gift closet or gift box.  If you haven't already, set aside a specific place in your home to hold all bought-ahead gifts.  A printable gift closet inventory form will let you know what you have while shopping or making out a gift list, so print one for your Christmas planner today.

Now you need to hop over to Organized Christmas Houseworks Holiday Plan to grab your printable for this week.

 

“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.”

Hugs,

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Calendar and Creativity Week-Week 2

In week 2 we are focusing on getting our “craft area or space” decluttered and cleaned.  There is nothing more frustrating that not knowing where something is when you go and try to work on a project. 

Declutter and clean creative spaces. Whether it's a corner of the kitchen table or a dedicated crafts room, what's the state of your creative space? Is it efficient and easy to use, or bulging and bloated? This week, take the STOP clutter method to areas where you wrap gifts, sew, work on scrapbooks or make crafts. When the clutter's conquered, clean your space for happy seasonal crafting.

Assess stored crafts materials. Time to head to the stash--fabric, paper or crafts--to take a look at household supplies. Will you need to replace crafts basics like tape, glue, paper or scissors? This week's school supply sales are a great time to stock up in the crafts close.

Some of the things we will be working on in Week 2 are:

Create a seasonal calendar. Take control of your time with a simple family calendar for the holiday months ... or beyond!

Plan holiday travel.

Hold a scheduling session. Little things mean a lot--and never more than during the holidays--so schedule furnace checks, carpet cleaning, a family photo session and chimney inspection now.

Start a set of tear files. As you read holiday magazines or browse gift catalogs, tear our articles with recipes, decor ideas, gift suggestions or holiday traditions. Staple article pages together and place in labeled file folders ("Decor", "Holiday Recipes", "Gift Ideas") or page protectors in the Christmas planner.

Start--and use--a shopping list. Tracking "to-buy" items in one place saves time all year, but is crucial during the busy run-up to the holidays. Get the list habit now!

Inventory unfinished crafts projects. Remember the Rule of Four: if you have more than four unfinished crafts projects, or if any single project is more than four years old, don't schedule any new crafts! Finish the old ones this year--you've already got a head start on the process. Rout out projects you've begun, and take advantage of the time already invested in them for happy crafting.

Begin a "Gifts to Make" list. Christmas crafters benefit by starting early. Begin working on holiday gifts, decor items and crafts now, for a stress-free season.

Take a look at Week 2 @ Organized Christmas, Houseworks Holiday Plan and grab the printables you will need. 

 

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Hugs!

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Holiday Tip of the Day

Organized Christmas states “Christmas magazines and catalogs are fabulous resources for seasonal decorating, gift ideas, and Christmas recipes—but en masse, they can become too much of a good thing. When the piles avalanche from every side table, finding an article or a recipe that caught your eye a few weeks ago can be an impossible job.”

How true.  Been there done that!  How bout you?

So how do I keep myself organized for the holidays without a avalanche of magazines, I created a tear file or a Christmas planner where I can tuck my ideas and pictures into it.

Organized Christmas says: Answer: a set of tear files.

Christmas Organizing Secret: Try a Tear File!

Christmas Planner

Christmas gift suggestions:
”To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”

 

Hugs,

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