Tips For Organizing Your Holiday Festivities

Making a List – Checking it Twice…

If only our lists were this easy?  Making list and keep track of what you are doing, what you have done and what you still need to do can be your survival for the holidays. I will be referencing Christmas, because that is what I celebrate – please just insert your own holiday. Thanks!

Preparing your Home

*With decorations comes moving things around, rearranging and cleaning.
*As you go through your decorations this year. Look in that box. How many things have not come out of that box to use in years?  Hint- It’s ok to get    rid of it. Just because it is from Christmas’s ago…doesn’t mean you HAVE to keep it. Take a picture with it…and let it go. This will make more room  if someone gives you more decorations, or there is something you just have to have in the store this year.
*Cleaning and sorting as you put things out, makes putting them away that much easier.

Holiday Meals – Things to Think of

*Which big meals will you be preparing and on which dates?
*How many people will be there?
*What will you serve? Along with appetizers, side dishes, desserts and beverages.
*Make out your grocery list.
*Look for coupons (big meals can be expensive! – this is one expense that many people don’t think to budget into their holiday spending
*If people ask what they can bring, give them an answer – salad, appetizer, dessert. Don’t hesitate to let them help.

Christmas Parties

*Be sure to write any invites on your calendar with times to keep track.
*Be curious and RSVP  (so many people don’t do this anymore. Let the hostess know how many to plan for)
*Plan what you are going to wear ahead of time.
*Do you need a gift for a gift exchange? Put that on your list
*Plan babysitters early (and get one for New Year’s Eve now if you need one!)

Christmas Cards

*If you still send them (and I hope you do…. I do) then purchase your cards if you haven’t already.
*Update your address list.
*They are great to take with you to appointments – sit in the Dr. office waiting room and fill out your envelops!
*Buy your stamps.
*Fill out your cards. Personally I love the letters (I save and open those last when I get cards) – but at least a short note is appreciated to let people
know that you are actually thinking of them when you write your cards.
*If you are ordering a Christmas card with pictures, be sure to order SOON if you haven’t done so.

The Christmas Gift List

*Decide on your budget! (before you start buying)
*Make a list of all those you need to buy for
*Write down what you plan to buy them, or thoughts of what you’d think they would like if you don’t know specifics
*Watch for deals!
*Suggest no gifts, just time together (if possible). You may be surprised – other family members may thank you for this!

 

This was originally posted on Dec 2, 2010. I’m revitalizing it for this year.

Organizing a New You! …but how do I start?

Organizing a New You….So what does that mean?   Organize your home, organize your schedule, your kids, your life? Does it seem like the impossible?  It can be done! But be careful not to bite off more than you can chew and end up in “it is too overwhelming and I don’t think I can do it” land.

Here is how to start.

Planning

1) Sit down with a pad of paper, pen, calendar and cup of coffee in a relaxed atmosphere.

2) Make a list of all the things you would like to organize.

3) Now number them in order of importance. (at least the top three areas that drive you the most CRAZY)

4) Put a date beside those top 3 of when you would like to have them completed by.

5) Block out at time on your calendar to start #1 on the list.

Supplies

Do not go out and buy a bunch of things to organize with. Until you know what you are going to end up with after your “sort” you don’t know what you will need. (unless you want to purchase some clear storage bins..but if you do be sure you have shelves to store them on and measure to be sure they will fit.

1) Black trash bags – trash

2) White trash bags – Donate  (separate colors so you don’t throw out your donate items in the trash)

3) Labels for boxes or bins (masking tape & sharpie marker will be fine)

4) Boxes for storage (my favorite are clear bins)

Sort

Make 5 signs for each of the piles you are going to make while sorting. Then for each item only give yourself 5-10 seconds to make your decision (no time to wander down memory lane). Be tough if you want to reclaim your space.

1) Keep – Love it, Use it, Can’t live without it.

2) Donate – Others would put to better use, doesn’t fit, don’t like it, don’t use it (use the white trash bags)

3) Storage – Holiday decorations, speciality items you use (camping, skiing)

4) Move – Items that need to be kept but don’t belong in this space.

5) Trash – Broken, un-donatable. Try to recycle if possible. Use the Black trash bag.

Tips

*It will seem messier before it gets better. Don’t get discouraged and keep going.

*This takes time, don’t think you will get an entire room done in 2 hours. Start with a small area.

* Once you have sorted your items you are ready to reorganize them in an orderly way.

Qlubb.com & Review & Giveaway *CLOSED**

Qlubb is wanting Moms to Be Smart and Simplify! I sure agree with that. They are calling it: Smart Mom’s 2010 Resolution:Simplify
Since their site is free they are being fun and offering a giveaway…you will have to see below to find out what it is.
I really like Qlubb. What is it? It is your own online organizational club tool. It is simple and basic and easy to use.
1) Members list with contact information including pictures for each person.
2) Calendar that anyone can add information to
3) E-mail ability to your Qlubb members
4) Privacy from others getting into your Qlubb (password protected)
5) Pictures – All Qlubb members can upload pictures for all of you to see in the slide show
6) RSVP for events and automatic reminds for events
7) And it is FREE!

I am in a Tastecasting group and they were using the Qlubb to coordinate all the tastings. I loved it. They switched to something else and I don’t like it at all. I feel like I can’t find the information I am looking for and I have felt like I am out of the loop with the group now.
I set up a Qlubb for my Bunco group. There are 12 regular members and then we have about 7 or 8 subs, so this is perfect for us. We were always e-mailing each other and someone was always short an e-mail or two and would have to ask someone else to please forward the e-mail. This will solve that for us.
Check out the little video I did. Oh…the music will start just a second or two after it starts. It is a fun CD we play at Bunco to be crazy fun!

They have added some new features to Qlubb:
1) The ability to only email event participants (as opposed to the entire Qlubb.)
2) Event-less To-Do Lists.
3) HTML email. So now Qlubb reminders are easier to read and there is a opt-out link at the bottom of each.

To Win: Qlubb is offering a $10 Oriental Trading Post Gift Certificate to one lucky reader. (You can get a lot for $10 there)

Go to the Qlubb Demo and tell me 2 different reasons that Qlubb might be good for a goup you have or know of.   **Be sure to come back here and leave me a comment. Your e-mail needs to be either on your comment or easily accessible in your profile.

For Extra chances to Win:
**Each of these HAS to have a separate comment written please. (I know its a pain, but other wise you won’t have as many chances if you don’t)

1) Subscribe to my Organizing blog with the feeder or by e-mail. (use feedburner button or go to www.organizewithsandy.com 5 extra chances.
Subscribe to my NEW Blog Chat with Sandy 5 chances
3) Follow me on Twitter
4) Follow me on Linked In
5) Tweet out this giveaway up to 3 times per day. Write a comment for each time you do with the link.
6) Add any of my 3 buttons (Organize with Sandy, Reviews, Chat with Sandy) to your sidebar and come back to let me know. Separate
entry for each one you add.

See….lots of ways to enter to win!

This contest will run until 11:59pm est on Thursday January 21, 2010  THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. ANY COMMENTS THAT CAME IN AFTER THE CONTEST DEADLINE WILL NOT BE COUNTED.
This is open to US mailing addresses only. One person per mailing address only.
You will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail if you win to be eligible. If I don’t hear back then I will go to the next winner.

Disclosure policy  I will be given a $10 Oriental Trading Gift certificate also.

Check Out my Other Giveaways Going on Now:

List Travel

For those of you who are going to be traveling soon (hopefully to Type A Mom Conference like me) this post is for you.

LIST

Make one!  Sit down with your cup of coffee and start writing down all of the things that you need to take with you.  Make sure you do not forget all those phone and computer chargers. (Best to label them with what they are for and your name and phone number in case you forget them in a hotel room.)

I made a list for what I am taking and when I think of something else I add it on.

I made a list today. It looks like this:

Monday Tuesday

1) Todays posts                                                           1) Car oil change

2) Do Bills                                                                      2) Clean out car

3) Get pouchee orders out                                     3) Write family itenary

4) Start packing                                                           4) Finish packing

Well..you get the point.  But if you plan out all you need to accomplish and get it on paper you are going to clear your head and keep from forgetting things.  Cross things out as you do them and you feel like you are accomplishing something and you can see clearly how much more you need to do.

Just one way to simplify what can be a crazy time…keep from staying up at night because you don’t want to forget to do ….(fill in the blank)

Lists = simple + free + organized

July 4th Weekend Plans? Don’t forget to Make Your List!

For many of us this will be a busy weekend, full of picnics, fireworks, family reunions and fun! This was a 4th of July weekend at our farm 3 years ago. My hubby was helping the triplets to make and paint their own birdhouses. We went canoeing, picked black raspberries and cooked out. Great time.
But busy weekends also entail planning things out so you do not forget to bring the brownies you promised!

Get out Your Paper and Pen and start your list for what you will need to have this weekend.
1)Cooler
2)Ice – Make your own ahead if there is time!
3)Food/Drink
4)Place settings/cups
5)Napkins/paper towels
6)Trash Bags
7)Bug Spray
8)Sun Screen
9)Lighter
10)First aid kit

Ok…now you add on to it. Think through what you are going to be doing for that day.

Check it off as you get it packed in the car.

Your day/weekend will go much smoother if you have it planned out and aren’t forgetting half the things you need.