Countdown to Christmas: Home Week

This is my third week of Countdown To Christmas and it's Home Week and I'll be focusing my organizing tips around decluttering, cleaning and decorating.

I like to plan ahead and getting our home into shape before the heart of the busy Holiday season arrives. This allows me to get many tasks around the house out of the way early on. This helps to reduce some of the stress because I'm not rushed trying to get everything done at the last minute. I'm able to focus my energies on those things that are important to me and my family, like reflecting on the gift of Jesus, enjoying time with friends and watching a few Christmas movies.

The first task for me this week is to make a list of the cleaning tasks that need to be done by Friday before our guests arrive on Saturday. Then, I'll decide when I'll do each task. It does no good to make a to-do list without determining the when. I'll also be sure to enlist the help of family members.

I'm going to break my cleaning tasks down by room. Here's my Simple Household Cleaning Checklist. You can also organizing your cleaning by tasks (vacuum, dust, windows, etc).

So this week I'll do the Big Clean and maintain that throughout the month.

Countdown To Christmas: Shopping Week

This is my second week of Countdown To Christmas and it's Shopping Week.

Before you head out to the stores, take time to make lists. I have a few options for you so you can choose which form works best for you.

• Holiday Shopping List

It also pays to think about your budget ahead of time.

• Holiday Budget Sheet

Still deciding what gifts to give? Take some time to brainstorm ideas. Keep jotting ideas down throughout the year.

If you are cooking or baking for the Holidays, be sure to determine your menu and shopping list before food shopping.

• Grocery Shopping List
  
• Shopping List with Menu

Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Christmas Binder

Preparation Week

You can create you own Holiday or Christmas Binder to help you stay organized before and during this busy time of year. It's really simple.

1. Grab a 1 inch 3-ring binder and 6-8 divider tabs.
2. Label your tabs with the categories that I laid out HERE. Or, you might also come up with your own categories. Add a large envelope or a plastic page protector to store receipts.
3. Print out the forms that I have and will provide you throughout my Christmas Countdown and keep them behind the corresponding tab.
4. Keep anything related to the Holidays in your Binder so you know where to find that list, menu or form when you need it. Take it with you when you go shopping.

Countdown to Christmas: Get Your Calendar into Shape

Preparation Week

It's time to take a look at the calendar. This is so helpful in planning because it helps you get sense of how much time you really have to do the all the things you want to do for this Holiday Season.

1. Grab your calendar or planner and take a look at November and December. Or, you can print my November and December 2009 Countdown to Christmas Planning Sheets and keep them organized with your own personal Holiday or Christmas folder or binder as I talked about HERE.


2. Make sure you have upcoming events on your calendar, such as church programs, children's' school programs, parties and gatherings, cookie exchanges, planned shopping dates, etc.
   
3. Now think about the tasks you would like to do such as send out cards and packages, get the carpets cleaned, get haircuts for the kids, take a family photo, etc. Make a list of appointments that you have to make and once those are confirmed, enter them on your calendar. Book your babysitters now!!


4. If you are using your own calendar or planner, enter my Countdown to Christmas topics for each week. If you are using my planning sheets, they are already printed for you.


5. Take a look at the empty spaces you have left on your calendar. Is it enough for all those Holiday things you want to do? Make sure you have time for the most important ones, the rest is extra. Review what you wrote for you have-to-do traditions on the Holiday Values and Traditions Worksheet. If you skipped this step, go back and do it.
   

Countdown to Christmas: Preparation Week

This week is the first week of my Countdown to Christmas and it's Preparation Week. It's time to get your mind, heart and calendar in shape.

I find it helpful to time time to reflect on the Holidays before they arrive. I touched on this in my recent article, Prepare Your Heart and Mind for the Holidays.

To go even further, I've come up with a few more questions to consider.

• What three things are most important to you during the Holidays?
• What are you have-to-do traditions?
• What traditions would you consider letting go
• What stressors do you want to eliminate from your Holidays?
• What would you like to do different than from last year?
• What would you like to do the same as last year?

You can also find the same questions on my Holiday Values and Traditions Worksheet.

If you ready to be super-organized this Holiday Season, grab a folder or 3-ring binder and start creating your personal Holiday or Christmas organizing tool. Use it to keep all your forms (I'll have more for you) and lists in one place. I'll more about this on Friday.

Countdown to Christmas: Six Weeks of Organizing Tips for the Holiday Season

Does the holiday season overwhelm you or seem to come at your full force? Do you just not feel prepared as you would like to be? I want to help!

For the next six weeks I will be covering an area or topic to help you prepare (your home and your heart) for the holidays. Here's a sneak peak:

Week 1 (Nov 16): Preparation

Week 2 (Nov 23): Shopping
Week 3 (Nov 30): Home: declutter, clean, decorate

Week 4 (Dec 7): Cards and Packages

Week 5 (Dec 14): Wrapping and Baking

Week 6 (Dec 21): Final Touches

Reflection

I hope you will follow along with me as I share tips, ideas, forms and checklists to help make your holidays and Christmas more meaniful and less stressful. I hope your share your ideas and questions, too.

Christmas Cards: Paula's Easy Action Plan

If you have struggled with meeting your goal of sending out Christmas or Holiday cards this year, now is the time to lay out an action plan. I've broken down the steps for you. Start now and do one or two steps a day or a week.

1. Locate the cards/envelopes you will be sending out. Using a photo card? Decide on the picture you would like to use. Even if you will be getting prints made at a later date, you can still complete steps 2-6 in the meanwhile.
2. Compile your list.
3. Determine the date you will be putting the cards in the mail. Put it on your calendar!
4. Create a family letter if you will be including one.
5. Address envelopes. Break it down into smaller batches.
6. Buy stamps before the post office gets super busy.
7. Stamp and send the cards out by your target date.

Why not consider sending cards for Thanksgiving, New Year's or Valentines?

For more Works-for-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Organizing After the Holidays

If you are like me, taking down all the Holiday and Christmas decorations is a bit hard. The overall excitement is lower and there's LOTS to put away. To be honest, I tend to procrastinate a bit with this one. I thought I would provide you with some simple steps and tips to help get through the large task at hand.

1. If there are decorations that you did not use or just didn’t have time to put up, consider eliminating them from your collection. Donate items to charity or to your favorite college student.
2. Before you take anything down, snap a picture. Use the pictures as a reference for next year.
3. As you take down decorations designate a box for each room in the house and label it with the room name and its contents. Don't forget to include the picture you took of each area. This will make the following year’s decorating a breeze.

When do you take your decorations down? What organizing tips can you share?

Christmas and Holiday Card Sheet

Are you still determined to get those Christmas or Holiday cards sent out?

I created this simple Christmas and Holiday Card Sheet to help you keep track of

• What cards have been sent,
  
• Who you have received cards from
  
• Any address changes that you need to make in your address book

Be sure to update your address book as you become aware of any changes. I created an address book on my computer using Excel. This make referencing, updating and printing labels super easy!

I find that keeping track of projects on simple forms works for me! For more Works-For-Me Wednesday Ideas, stop by Rocks In My Dryer. You'll be glad you did!

Great Christmas Book for Children

I thought I would share a book with you. Last year I had the pleasure of attending a program that Cheryl Kirking, speaker, singer, song writer and author, presented. One of her songs, What Can I Give Jesus really moved me (to tears).

Cheryl created an a children's book based on this song and it comes with a CD. I listened to it (3 times) with my children this last week (tears again). I highly recommend it. It has a wonderful and moving message about the joy of giving, the faith of a child, and Christmas.

Ask Paula

What is your number one challenge when it comes to Holiday / Christmas organization?

If you could ask me any one organizing-related question about this area, what would it be?

Wrapping Checklist

It's Wednesday! For more Works-For-Me Wednesday Ideas, stop by Rocks In My Dryer.

I created this simple Wrapping Checklist form to help you keep track of the you need to wrap and where the wrapped ones are located.

Check out more Holiday Tips , including organizing your wrapping supplies, to help reduce your stress!

Holiday Time Saving Tips

Here are my five favorite time-saving tips for the holidays.........

1. Take advantage of charity gift-wrap stations at stores and malls. You will save time, eliminate some stress and at the same time you will be giving to a worthy cause.
   
2. If you are hosting a dinner, set the table the night before.
   
3. Have guests bring their favorite holiday dish to share.


4. Set out your and your children’s outfits the night before.
   
5. Lower your expectation of a "perfect" holiday season. Enjoy the time with your loved ones. Remember what is important to you and your family. Your children and family will most likely remember the time spent together as a family, not that your house was spotless and the table set perfectly.

Wrap It Up! Organizing Your Gift Wrapping Supplies in 5 Easy Steps

Gift Wrapping Organization work for me! For more Works-For-Me Wednesday Ideas, stop by Rocks In My Dryer.

Today I am going to share organizing ideas and tips on how you can get and keep your gift wrapping supplies in order. To make it easy, I am breaking it down into small, doable steps with my Stuff System™.

Sort: Gather all you wrapping supplies, including wrapping paper, gift bags, tags, tissue paper, ribbons, boxes, scissors, pens, and tape. Once you have everything in one spot, sort like items together; put all the gift bags together, all the gift tags, all the ribbons, etc.

Take Out: Get rid of the items that are in rough shape – those that you will just never use. Recycle wrinkled paper for packing material.

Utilize a Space: Where will you store all your wrapping supplies? It’s best to keep all the items together. Maybe you could use a section of a closet? Do you have existing shelving or do you need to add shelves? If you are fortunate to have the space, you might be able to have permanent wrapping station. Or, you maybe you could set up a temporary spot during the Holidays using a folding table.

Fill Containers: This is my favorite part. Now that you have gathered all or your supplies, sorted them, and determined where you will store them, you can now determine the appropriate containers and the sizes that you will need. Use what you have on hand. If you do need to purchase some, make a shopping list based on your items and the amounts. Remember to take measurements if necessary. Don’t forget to label your containers, too.

Here are some examples of what works for me:

(Left) I use an inexpensive plastic container and wooden dowel to keep my ribbon in check. You could also use an old shoe box, decorated in pretty paper.

(Right) I store my gift bags and tissue paper in an open container. That way I can easily see what size I am looking and grab it.

(Left) Here’s shot of my wrapping supplies. I keep them in a storage closet, along with a table that roles out easily when I need a work surface.

Follow Up: Maintain your containers and space by putting items back where they belong after using them. Everything thing will be ready for you the next time you need them. Stock up on items when they go on sale at the end of the season, but don’t go over board. If you are limited on space you will need to limit your supply.

As you are getting ready for Christmas, don't forget to take into account wrapping time and add it to your to-do list.

Check out more Holiday Tips to help reduce your stress!

Clutter-Free Gift Ideas: Expressions of Love and Gratitude

Tired of giving stuff? You can make the move away from the "materialistic focus" of gift-giving to a "love focus" with clutter-free gift giving.

Clutter-free gift (CFG) giving is the act of gifting items that do not add more stuff (often unneeded) to the recipient's' homes. Many CFGs also let the person know you were truly thinking about their likes, passions and interests.

I offered these 5 areas to think about: Experiences, Donations, Time, Consumables, and Expressions of your love and gratitude.Moving down the list, today I will be sharing a sampling of Expressions of Love and Gratitude.

If you really want to touch someone, tell them why they are an important part of your life. Let them know how grateful you are for who they are, the work that they do, or how they have touched your life.

Too often in our everyday busy lives we let these thoughts and words go unspoken.

Here just handful of ideas that I hope will help you on the path to expressive CFG ideas.

• Write a letter or poem expressing your gratitude. I am going to try this with my children's teachers this year.


• Create a picture slide show on a DVD.


• Create a photo book or calendar using an online program such as http://www.winkflash.com/, http://www.snapfish.com/, http://www.shutterfly.com/, etc.


• Make a memory jar. Think of all the wonderful memories you share with the recipient and write them on individual slips of paper. Then, fold the slips and place them in a jar or container. The person who receives this gift chooses and reads one slip a day (or opens them all at once because they just can’t wait, as my mom did).


• Give the gift of forgiveness to someone you had a falling out with and give it to yourself as well.

P.S. To make it easy and convenient for you, I have decided to put all of these wonderful clutter-free gift giving ideas, plus many more into one beautiful guide. I will be sending out this special gift with my December Newsletter.If you would like to receive The Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide, just go here to sign up for my free monthly newsletter or go to the sign -up box on the right side bar.

Clutter-Free Gift Ideas: Consumables

Clutter-free gift giving works for me! Check out more Works-For-Me ideas!

Tired of giving stuff? You can make the move away from the "materialistic focus" of gift-giving to a "love focus" with clutter-free gift giving.

Clutter-free gift (CFG) giving is the act of gifting items that do not add more stuff (often unneeded) to the recipient's' homes. Many CFGs also let the person know you were truly thinking about their likes, passions and interests.

I offered these 5 areas to think about: Experiences, Donations, Time, Consumables, and Expressions of your love and gratitude.

Moving down the list, today I will be sharing a sampling of Consumable CFG ideas (there are just so many!).......

Consumables are gifts that can be used up. Gift cards or certificates are typical consumable CFGs, but there are many more possibilities. You may come up with luxury idea or practical idea. Think about the items that someone might already buy for themselves.

Also keep in mind those things they have expressed an interest in, but for one reason or another, they don’t buy or do those thing for themselves. Moms are often known for “going without” for the sake of their family or they simply feel guilty giving themselves something, the time, or the permission.

Here are some ideas that I hope will help you generate even more unique consumable CFG ideas for those people in your life.

Gift cards or certificates for:

• Restaurants



• Retail shops



• Food stores



• Movie theaters



• Sporting event/recreation

Membership for:

• Zoos



• Museums



• Amusement parks



• Gift-of-the-month clubs

More great ideas:

• Make extra food to stock someone’s freezer. This is a great gift of time and consumables!



• Share your best assortment of homemade Christmas cookies



• Professional organizing services. Please make sure the recipient is comfortable with this idea prior to purchasing. This can be a sensitive area for many and you don’t want to offend. If this is an area you would love to have help with, be sure to let your loved ones know!
  
  To locate a professional organizer, visit The National Association of Professional Organizers at http://www.napo.net/ or contact me at http://www.stuff2borganized.com/ –I offer various levels of organizing services and would be happy to help you find the right fit.

Please share your consumable gift ideas! More clutter-free gift ideas to come.........

P.S. To make it easy and convenient for you, I have decided to put all of these wonderful clutter-free gift giving ideas, plus many more into one beautiful guide. I will be sending out this special gift with my December Newsletter.

If you would like to receive The Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide, just go here to sign up for my free monthly newsletter or go to the sign -up box on the right side bar.

Clutter-Free Gift Ideas: Time

Clutter-free gift giving works for me! Check out more Works-For-Me ideas!

Tired of giving stuff? You can make the move away from the "materialistic focus" of gift-giving to a "love focus" with clutter-free gift giving.

Clutter-free gift (CFG) giving is the act of gifting items that do not add more stuff (often unneeded) to the recipient's' homes. Many CFGs also let the person know you were truly thinking about their likes, passions and interests.

I offered these 5 areas to think about: Experiences, Donations, Time, Consumables, and Expressions of your love and gratitude.

Moving down the list, today I will be sharing 5 great CFG ideas related to time..

1. Volunteer your time at a soup kitchen.
   
2. Offer to help wrap presents for your family and friends.


3. Surprise a busy mom by offering to watch her children so she is can have an afternoon to herself.


4. Set up a day for your friends to finish their holiday shopping and preparations while you watch their children (see example below).


5. Offer to provide transportation for someone who is unable to drive them self so they can do their weekly shopping, errands or appointments.

Because it's a little tricky to wrap time in a box, you can get creative with how you present such gifts. For example, letters, cards, or coupon booklets work well. Here's an example of a letter I sent to three of our dear friends just last week.

Please share your time gift ideas! More clutter-free gift ideas to come.........

Holiday Meal Planning and Shopping

One way to curb the extra stress and spending during the holidays is to plan and prepare ahead of time. Here's just a few easy tips:

1. Take out your calendar and make a list of all the gatherings you will be going to or hosting.


2. Write out your holiday menus and make a complete shopping list for each occasion. If I am going to multiple gatherings ask for contributions, I try to take the same thing to each-that way I can make large batches of the recipe all at once or buy the non-perishable items all at once.


3. Don't forget to set a budget for your food shopping, too.


4. If you are hosting, ask each guest to bring their favorite. You can keep track of who's bringing what, but tend not to do this. I'm happy with whatever arrives and very rarely do we get duplicates.

Clarky Davis, the Debt Diva has great planning pages on budgeting, holiday menus and grocery shopping, Black Friday shopping and gift tracking that you can download. Thanks to Arlice at a Woman'$ Worth who posted about this on her blog.

Clutter-Free Gift Ideas: Donations

Clutter-free gift giving works for me! Check out more Works-For-Me ideas!

Last week I challenged you to move away from the "materialistic focus" of gift-giving to a "love focus" with clutter-free gift giving. Clutter-free gift (CFGs) giving is the act of gifting items that do not add more stuff (often unneeded) to the recipient's' homes

Many CFGs also let the person know you were truly thinking about their likes, passions and interests.

I offered these 5 areas to think about: Experiences, Donations, Consumables, Time and Expressions of your love and gratitude.

Moving down the list, today I will sharing ideas about clutter-free gift ideas in the area of donations. Make a donation in a loved one's name or memory. Also, think about giving for the benefit of others who don't even know you.

Local Food Pantries. Many households use the help of food pantries to provide meals for their families. Food pantries are reporting low supplies, especially at this time of the year.

Sponsor a Family. Is there a family who could use extra help this year making ends meet? Check with your local churches or agencies for ideas.

Cancer Research. Has a family member or friend been affected by an illness or cancer? Make a donation in their honor or in memory of a loved one.

International Groups. There are so many non-profit organizations that reach people around the globe that are truly in need of the basic life necessities, such as clean water, food, shelter, medicine, clothing, and education. Here are just a few examples:

1. Heifer International
2. Food for the Poor
3. ELCA Good Gifts
4. Play Pumps

Local Organizations. Don't forget about those non-profit programs that make a difference in your community, too. Here are some quick ideas:

1. Library (public and school)
2. Boys and Girl's Clubs
3. Women's Shelters
4. Soup Kitchens
5. Hospice

Please share your donation gift ideas! More clutter-free gift ideas to come.........

Prepare Your Mind and Heart for the Holidays

There are so many events, tasks, and meals that need planning for the upcoming holidays. Planning now definitely helps, but don't forget to also prepare your mind and spirit.

Many times we feel like we have to recreate something right out of a home magazine. That just isn’t realistic. We end up being so busy trying to make everything just right, we miss out on what is going on around us. There are so many "should do's" and obligations floating around in our heads.

Here's a great tip: You don't HAVE to do it all! Make time for those things that are most important to you and your family and cut the rest out!

I have another challenge for you. You knew I would.

What if you could go into the holiday season with your heart, spirit, and mind with a new focus-one that wasn't focused on the stress, to-do lists, and busyness? What would that look like to you?

1. Answer the question: What does my calm and spirit focused holiday season look like? Yep, that means writing or typing it. What are those things that cause you stress-can you cut those out?
   
2. What are 3 ways (your action steps) you can make that happen? Write those down, too! They don't have to be big ones. For example, "I will only put up those decorations that I really love", "We will go to 2 holiday gatherings", or "I will let go of perfection."


3. Let us know what your actions steps are!

On Thursday, November 13th, I will be sharing more strategies, tools, and actions plans to help busy moms like you make the most of their time and take back control from the busyness. Find out more now!