Happy Holiday Shopping

Happy Thanksgiving! If you are like me, it's time to consume my body weight in food and pass out on the couch watching football or the Macy's day parade surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I love Thanksgiving! And what I love even more are the family traditions that happen during this holiday season. Come Friday morning every female in the house will roll out of bed around 4:30a, throw on whatever clothes are nearby, load up in a couple of cars, grab a morning coke from Sonic, and crash the "black friday" sales at the mall and surrounding retailers. For those of you that think I am crazy and would NEVER imagine waking up so early to fight the crowds, you will be glad to know that this post will be helpful to you as well. I am here to encourage you to be an organized Christmas shopper; whenever you choose to do so in the next 30 days. Here are some basics for successful holiday shopping this Christmas.

1. Make a list of gift recipients
2. Determine the appropriate amount for each recipient
3. Write down of few gift ideas for each person, allowing a back up plan if all the "Tickle-Me Elmos" are gone
4. By each gift idea, jot down where to shop for that item and go online to print off possible coupons
5. Map out your shopping destinations
6. Try and minimize your shopping to 3-4 days
7. Carry cash, if possible. This will help you keep track of your spending and allow maximum privacy.
8. Accept "Free" gift boxes and tissue whenever offered. Even if you dont use them all for Christmas, they might come in handy some other time.
9. Lastly, wrap the gifts as you buy them. This will keep you from stressing out Christmas Eve and allow you to really enjoy the joy of gift wrapping.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please feel free to share your holiday experiences and ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next week....Happy Thanksgiving! Hope to see you Friday morning. ;)

Tip of the Month: November

Can you believe that there is approximately 6 weeks until Christmas? It seems that by the time that I recover from one Christmas season its a few months away from another one. It's the large retail stores like Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, and Garden Ridge that introduce me every year, around the month of September, to the idea that Christmas is almost within reach. Now before you start assuming that I speak negatively about Christmas, I will have you know that I can sing just about every word to the White Christmas soundtrack and usually begin listening to Christmas music in October. For this year, my tree is already up and ready to be garnished with color. With all this talk about Christmas, have you started thinking about gifts ideas, your personal spending budget, holiday recipes, and Christmas cards? Now I know what you might be thinking..."Christmas!! I just want to enjoy Thanksgiving first." And you are right, but it doesn't mean that you can't prepare yourself for the time of the year that is the busiest for ALL retailers and can cause the most stress with family, cooking, parties, gifts and, for many this year, money! If you come prepared you will likely be able to actually enjoy your Christmas holiday. For this months' tip I want to propose that you put together a Holiday Planner. Last year I experimented with a Holiday Planner and found that it was ever so helpful. My Holiday Planner consists of a small 4"x 6" booklet that has 5 accordion pockets on the left side and a notepad/pencil on the right. In the accordion file I was able to keep track of all my receipts, holiday recipes that I might have found in magazines, coupons, purchased gift cards and even spare cash. I used the notepad to write down gift ideas, keep track of my spending budget, stocking stuffer ideas and even in comparing prices within similar department stores. Its a great item to keep by your bedside to jot-down gift ideas as they come into your head, especially when they are keeping you from sleep. For those of you that are a little OCD this might be old news to you because you couldn't have lived without something similar. But for those you that are wanting to try it out, here are a few ideas to get you started. These ideas range from most expensive to cheapest.

1. Purchase this Holiday Planner at Amazon.com - $16.50                           "Simplify Your Holiday" by Marcia Ramslan                                                                   Although I have not read this book, it appears to offer a long list of checklists and to-do's for a successful year-after-year experience.
2. Download and print similar templates that are found in the book to create a small and personal binder. Just purchase/find a 3-ring binder and follow this website to DIY (Do It Yourself).     http://christmas.organizedhome.com/printable/christmas-planner
3. Grab a small notepad from home and find an unused, enveloped-sized accordion file. You might even own a receipt organizer that can be temporarily emptied for a month or so.

For options 2 & 3 be sure to label the dividers specifically to your needs. Also, make it fun. Allow your creative side to come out by using modge podge to glue on Christmas pictures to the front or add red and green rhinestones. You want to be proud of what you have created.  If you take some personal interest in it, you are more likely to use it more and show it off to family, friends and coworkers. This might be a good way to encourage some family members to hop on the "organized" band wagon, making Christmas day even more enjoyable for everyone.

Lastly, be smart this year and really sit down and create a list of people that you need to buy for and how much you are looking to spend. Trust me, once you add up your list (and don't forget to include a decor budget and gifts for office exchange parties) you will be shocked by how much Christmas can cost.  Merry Organizing this Christmas!!! 

No Fear! Everyone is welcome here...especially "pack-rats"

Being that I am new to blogging, not organization, please have patience with me as I begin to join the wonderful world of all you bloggers and readers. As you can see in my profile, I am here to share my passion for organization and hand out tips, tricks and videos on how to SIMPLIFY your space.
I began my journey to help those in need of organization by working at The Container Store (TCS-It's the lingo...I will mention it a lot) in 2007. In the first year I was flooded with over 100 hours of training and diving deep into sharing my passion with customers, family and friends. Soon after I was hired as a part timer, I was privledged to be invited into the full time team. Gladly accepting, I quenched my desire to work one-on-one with needy customers day-in and day-out. I found satisfaction in complete customer service by sending customers home with what they wanted and more than they expected. It was during my first and only pregnancy, so far, that I thought it best to decrease my hours and support my family in some of its trying times and provide complete rest for my weary and growing body. After giving birth to a beautiful baby girl that has transformed my heart and changed my understanding of unconditional love I made the decision to walk away from my position in sales at TCS.
After a few months of organizing almost everyone around me, I decided to pursue a career in professional and personal organization. I have found so much joy and peace in my decision and I only want to share it with you. In the future, I hope this blog offers helpful ideas to making your home and lifestyle more organized.
Come back soon.