So you've already been going a million miles an hour and the holiday season is flying by you. This is your official reminder, from The Joyful Organizer and Elf on the Shelf, to take some time for you. Relax and have a cup of peppermint mocha. Meet a friend to chat about your year or go for a manicure. This task isn't about racing to the next event or spending a lot of money, it's about taking ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 11-Christmas Goes to the Dogs
This is your official reminder not to forget your pets when holiday shopping. Not only is it a great idea to get them something special for the holiday, it's important to remember to bring them in from the cold. Don't leave them outside if it's a cold evening and don't leave them in your car while shopping. If you would be cold outside, they are too.
Buying your pets presents doesn't have to ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 10-Wrap It Up
Wrapping is one of those tasks that some people love and some people hate. Regardless of how you feel about it, wrapping is a necessary part of the holiday. This year I want to offer you some wrapping tips to make it more bearable.
1. Use gift bags or boxes. Lots of stores (even discount stores) sell beautifully decorated boxes and bags that can be used over and over again. Simply put in a ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 9-Label It
So labelers aren't necessarily a holiday only item. They are awesome for ALL year though. However, the holidays are a great time of year to start using a label maker.
I love labeling my holiday decorations in their storage units. I label the strands of light as to where they go in my home. I never have to guess where I hang them year after year. I also label extra bulbs so I know what ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 8-Donate!
The holidays mean lots of food, fun, family and.....STUFF. You know it's coming. Even if YOU practice a clutter free holiday, your relatives and friends might not get the memo. So, the stuff they buy you is coming to your house.
While you can gently remind friends and family that you don't need things and that your kids would rather have a special memory with them, you're going to end up with ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 7-Stuff The Stocking
Stocking stuffers are tiny little, simply gifts right? We used to get things like oranges and life savers in our stockings. Now, it's a little more complicated than that. Make stocking stuffers easy this year with our tips.
First of all there are TONS of inspiration guides online. Pinterest has loads of unique and fun stocking stuffer ideas. Some of my personal favorites are:
iTunes ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 6-Take Your Best Shot
Photos are a critical part of the holidays. This is the perfect time of year to access, organize and finally get your photos in shape.
First of all, you want to make sure your camera and equipment are in great condition for the holidays. Do you need to buy a new battery or memory cards? This is a great time to do it.
Photos make great gifts. After all, they are unique and one of a kind. ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 5-Do The Dishes
If you use a separate set of serving or holiday dishes, now is the time to get them out. Start running them through the dishwasher, a little bit every day with your normal loads. There is nothing worse than having to race through cleaning all the dishes at the last minute. Doing this early also allows you to check what you have for inventory and gives you enough time to find replacements or ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 4-Christmas Cards
Most people don't enjoy sending out Christmas cards. I used to LOVE writing all those addresses, stamping, sealing and so on. Eventually, as I got busier and busier with work, getting the holiday cards ready seemed more and more like admin work to me. I was dreading it a bit this year. So, instead of doing it all at once like I used to, I changed my thoughts and process.
I first sat ...
Elf Gets Organized-Day 3-Cookie Goodness
Most of us bake something special during the holidays. I bake a lot of cookies. Then, I give them out as I see people. I should clarify, I bake a LOT of cookies. It takes me a day or more, I got through a ton of supplies and the outcome is trays and trays of cookies. (It's an Italian tradition I learned from my husband's grandmother called an Italian cookie tray.)
Anyway, I have learned ...
Bonnie Joy Dewkett is a nationally recognized organizing expert, author, motivational speaker, and internet radio personality. She began organizing as a child, and she has been organizing ever since. Her company, The Joyful Organizer®, creates and implements organizational systems for the home and office...