Please read using your most serious reporter's voice.
This just in. Oval holiday buckets were spotted today at a Target Dollar Spot. According to Danielle, a fellow bucket enthusiast "My Target brought the buckets back! I now have all three colors, red, blue and green. Woo Hoo!" This report has not been verified at other Target stores, so please shop at your own risk. (And, uh, save me at least one green one.)
Happy Monday to you! I hope you had a great weekend.
Let's start things off by announcing the winner of the buttoned up goodies. (Drum roll please....) The winner is Maggie who said the area she most needs to button up is “My menu planning...” Congrats, Maggie! (By the way...check your email Maggie, I've already contacted you.)
Next, let’s check in on Finish It Friday! Here is my update.
In addition to the above, we got our tree and put it up. One of my favorite holiday activities. So, it's starting to look and feel a lot like Christmas…and I love it.
I’d love to hear how your weekend went. Did you get your Finish it Friday stuff finished? Anything else fun or exciting to report? I’d love to hear.
In addition to Freebie Friday, I thought I'd do a quick Finish It Friday post today...just in case anyone else has a long to do list and wants a little extra motivation to get it done. ;)
Here's my list for today and the weekend:
I think that'll keep me busy! I'd love to hear what's on your list. :)
Have a great weekend.
Oh, happy day! It’s Freebie Friday…and a holiday organization themed one at that! If this doesn’t put you in the holiday mood, well then I just don’t know what will. ;)
So…what’s up for grabs today? Some fun and colorful organizing products from buttoned up®—many of which would make excellent stocking stuffers! A special thanks to the folks at buttoned up for providing the products for today’s giveaway. And by the way, they didn’t just provide for a great giveaway, they’ve also shared the following special offer with you:
From now until 12/26/09, Creative Organizing blog readers can save 25% off a purchase of $20 or more at the shopgetbuttonedup.com site. To take advantage of this special offer, use the code 25OFF. Isn’t that awesome?
For today's giveaway, one person will win the following items from buttoned up. (The italicized text is right from the packaging; non-italicized text is my stuff. All photos in this post are courtesy of buttoned up.)
One Birthday.book. This cute little book makes it simple to remember someone on their special day. This simple date book has space for each day of the year so that you never forget someone’s birthday, anniversary or other special day. For those of you who have taken my Paper Clutter workshop, this would be a great thing to slip into your monthly tickler file folders. At the start of each month you can remember all the special events in the month ahead. Love that.
One Greetings.stash.So now that you’re all organized and remembering birth-dates, this next goody makes it simple to take action on your good intentions and send out a card. This package contains 12 little greeting cards, so you’ll be sure you’re never without the notes you need, when you need them.
One ButtonedUp.coupons. I think this is a super cute idea, too. Give the gift of time to someone you love! Enclosed (in the package) are 20 coupons that enable you to lighten the load of someone you love – mom, dad or roommate. Give one coupon at a time or the whole book at once — and put a smile on the face of someone you love. Included are coupons like “I will do laundry for one week.” (Who wouldn’t love that one?) Or better yet “I will do the grocery shopping.” Okay, I sure would love to get one of those coupon books tucked in my stocking on Christmas morning. Wouldn’t you?
One File.starter.This package contains 12 brightly colored, pre-labeled file folders. Cute file folders…enough said. :)
So that rounds out the giveaway! If you’re interested in throwing your hat in the ring, simply leave a comment telling me which area of your life you most need to get buttoned up. I’ll leave the comments open until Sunday at 9 PM Central, and draw a random winner on Monday. Good luck!
Oh, and before we say goodbye, don’t forget about the terrific savings offer. Here are two other fun choices to consider for under your tree…or the tree of someone you love.
Tax.filer. Now, when you think of taxes, the word fun probably doesn’t come to mind. But, if you’re anything like me colorful file folders = fun! So, since you have to do your takes anyway, why not have as much fun as possible in the process? That’s where the Tax.filer comes in. Here’s what the buttoned up website has to say about this handy product…
This pre-labeled accordion file makes it a snap to wrangle all those forms, receipts and records that accumulate like weeds between January and April. Tabs are written in English, not in complicated financial lingo, so it’s easy to follow –“Money In,” “Money Out,” “Money Saved.” Use it to go from W-2’s to completed returns with sanity intact. It also easily serves as the annual organizer for those tax files you need to retain for 7 years in case of an audit.
Collision.kit. Again, car accidents probably don’t top your list of “fun times” but I love the idea of this product. The Collision.kit contains everything you need in case of an accident like:
Thank you again buttoned up for providing the goodies for this giveaway. And a special thanks for the special offer!
Happy (Freebie!) Friday!
**Edited. Comments now closed. Winner to be announced Monday. :) **
Are you getting in the holiday spirit yet? I am, and it feels good. I must admit, however, the season kind of crept up on me this year. Sure…I have been thinking about the holidays since Halloween weekend. So December didn’t really come as a surprise. But with two birthdays, Thanksgiving, a busy work schedule, and all the kid’s extra curricular activities, I have to start getting ready for the holidays in early November if I want any chance of peace on December 25th.
But this year some unexpected things have already popped up…as they always seem to do during this time of year. Some of these unexpected things caused me to take a last minute trip to Michigan, and bring my Mom back here for an unplanned visit. Good choices all the way around. But certainly spending three days driving, two entire days away, and five days with an overnight guest in my home…well, some of my normal holiday prep time was allocated in different ways this year.
So I’m feeling a bit behind this year—at least behind where I usually am. Things won’t happen quite as early as they normally do, but there is still plenty of time to get the important things done. The trouble has been this: when I feel behind, it’s harder to really feel in the holiday mood. But, I woke up this morning realizing there is still plenty of time to get the important things done, and there is still plenty of time to enjoy myself in the process.
The last couple of days I have been doing a few things to rev up the holiday feeling. But I’d love to know which activities or preparations put you in the holiday spirit. Is there any particular event that triggers that holiday feeling? Or do you have any coping strategies you use to keep the spirit alive when things start to get crazy? I’d love to know what works for you.
Here’s what works for me.
1. Remembering what matters. My focal point during the holidays is joy. I truly believe that the most important gift I can give my family throughout the holiday season is a joyful, happy me. Sometimes this is easier said than done when staring down a twenty mile long to-do list! Subtle reminders about my intention really help me.
Earlier this year, as part of my preparation for my holiday online workshop, I created a decorative gift box. I pulled this out on Sunday with the rest of my holiday decorations, and placed it prominently on a cabinet in our dining area. I can see this little package at every meal, and any time I walk into the kitchen. It sits there reminding me to lighten up, enjoy the journey, and give my family the gift of a relaxed and joyful Mom.
2. Distinguishing between must dos and want-to-dos. This morning Jay and I had a talk about our holiday plan and to-do list. We distinguished between the must do tasks, and the want-to-do tasks. Doing this provided an instant sense of calm. The must-do list is really pretty short—buying and wrapping gifts, painting Kailea’s bed / dresser / bookcase thing, and making some food. All quite manageable given that it’s only December 3rd! If you start to feel overwhelmed by your to-do list, I strongly encourage you to put your to-do list through this thought process. Decide what is a necessity and what is a nicety. After all, it’s really hard to get in the holiday spirit when you feel overwhelmed and stressed out!
3. Drinking hot chocolate. There is something about a hot cup of cocoa with whipped cream on top that makes me happy and puts me in the holiday spirit. Simple but true. It works for me.
4. Having a creative outlet. This one goes on my “want to do” list, but right at the top. I truly enjoy the process of creating during the holidays. It energizes me and relaxes me all at the same time. From knitting scarves, to wrapping gifts, to documenting the holidays via a scrapbook project, making stuff makes me happy.
5. Making a daily grateful list. When I spend five minutes early in the day making a list of what I’m grateful for, I feel better all day long. This holiday season, I’m making the commitment to make a daily list of what I’m grateful for that day. I won’t worry about repeats. My family (and hot coffee) makes my list nearly every day. And that’s okay. Because my family and hot coffee…well, they just plain make me happy.
I’d love to hear what puts you in the holiday spirit. Please share your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for sharing.
In celebration of Cyber Monday, simplify 101 is offering terrific savings on our instant download e-products and online workshops like How to Achieve Your Goals and Create a Life You Love and the January session of Organizing 101!
Or, if you’re in the mood to organize your scrapbook space, pick up your copy of The Happy Scrapper e-book for just $7.00! Also on sale is the instant download version of Get Organized for the Holidays—now just $14.95!
So, sit back, relax, and save, save, save! (But hurry because these special offers won’t last long!) View all sale items here.
Happy organizing…and happy saving!
Happy Friday to you! I hope you had a relaxing day yesterday...and that you're ready to get some things done this weekend. :) My Finish It Friday list this week is again short yet long all at the same time. (Short list with lots to do!)
1) Re-finish my daughter's new loft bed...which also includes eight drawers, a ladder, a bookcase, and a desk. I started sanding this baby today, and I have to admit, I'm kind of freaking out about the scope of this project. Did I bite off more than I can chew? Yikes...I'll keep you posted. Her birthday is two weeks from today...so you may see this on next week's list, too.
2) Start and finish decorating the house for Christmas.
3) Drive Mom to either Chicago or Indianapolis. My sister will meet me there and take Mom the rest of the way home to Michigan.
What's on your list this weekend? I'd love to hear...and if you didn't yet post what you did last weekend, please feel free to share that in the comments too. I'd love to hear!
Have a great weekend!
(A partial list. In no particular order.)
Today I am thankful for:
Happy Thanksgiving to you! I would love to hear what you’re thankful for today in the comments. Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful day, relaxing day.
Who is playing along this week? For me, it's another simple Finish It Friday.
Hope you have a great weekend, too! I would love to hear what you're finishing this weekend. I'll be checking in to see who's in this week once I arrive at my destination. ;) Have a great day!
With the holidays fast approaching, you may have an itch to do a bit of “spring cleaning” in anticipation of visits from family, friends and possibly even over night guests. So, I thought it would be fun to tap into the newsletter archives and rerun an article from April 2007 for some spring cleaning ideas.
The article suggests that you create a list of potential cleaning projects. I think this is particularly relevant during this time of year when your schedule is probably overflowing with extra to-dos. So if you’re itching to spring clean your home, start with a list and then prioritize it based on what’s on your holiday calendar. If you have guests coming to stay over night, you may want to give higher priority to getting the guest room and guest bathroom in order. On the other hand, if you’ll be hosting a dinner party, spring cleaning your living room, kitchen or dining room may be a higher priority for you. The bottom line is this: consider your schedule and what is realistic to do. Then, then start with a cleaning project that gives you the biggest bang for the buck.
I hope you enjoy this blast from the past. If you'd like more cleaning ideas, check out this spring cleaning tip on my website, and this prior blog post. (Be sure to check out all the fabulous cleaning tips in the comments.)
* * * * * * * *
Bring on the Sparkle!
by Aby Garvey
Although I’m a firm believer that organizing and cleaning are two different things, I’m also a believer that cleaning helps any organizing project sparkle. In fact, one of the steps in the simplify 101 organizing process is to clean the space being organized. If you’re like me, though, cleaning isn’t the fun stuff. Bring me a binder or a bin and you’ve got yourself a deal. A broom and a dust pan? Now that’s another story.
If you find yourself with a whole lotta’ dust and whole *little* enthusiasm for cleaning (like an organizer you know) read on! We’ll get you motivated to clean, clean, clean in no time! Here’s how.
Focus on the results. Like with any good organizing project, if you’re having trouble getting started, focus on the end result. Think about how good it will feel when you’ve got that cleaning project under your belt. Really dwell on that sense of accomplishment. It works! And here’s how I know.
This past weekend, Jay and I embarked on a cleaning project we had put off for a really, really (really) long time: windows. We washed the windows inside and out, removed and cleaned the screens, and scrubbed the grime off the window sills. Fun? Not so much. Rewarding? Beyond words. I can’t even tell you how good it feels to see those windows sparkle!
It was this feeling of accomplishment (and yes, when you’re doing something you don’t love to do, getting it done is a huge accomplishment!) that got me started and kept me going through the hours and hours of scrubbing and wiping and cleaning. So, if you’re having trouble mustering up the motivation to do some deep cleaning, just think about how great it’s going to feel when you can check it off your list!
Decide where to start. Take a quick tour of your home and make a list of possible spring cleaning projects. Here are some ideas …
- Wash windows
- Wash screens
- Wash window-sills
- Clean light fixtures
- Wipe down cabinet fronts (and tops)
- Clean range top or burners on your stove
- Sweep or vacuum behind the refrigerator or washer and dryer
- Remove lint from dryer hose
- Sweep the basement or garage
- Shampoo carpets
- Check your smoke detector batteries
To create your list, simply walk around your home looking high and low for opportunities to create more sparkle. Then, pick one project that will have a big impact on your place and more importantly, your sense of well being.
Gather your supplies. Gather the tools and supplies you’ll need to tackle your cleaning project and corral them into a caddy or bucket. This will make it easy to move from room to room, if your project requires it.
Stay focused on the task at hand. As with any other project, staying focused on your spring cleaning project will help you get it checked off your list faster. And while this isn’t always easy to do … you’ll be glad you did. This weekend at our home there was laundry to be done and when I pulled out the power washer, I had a burning desire to spray off my car (a cleaning task I actually think is fun!) But, it was important to stay focused on windows, and see the task through to completion which meant every screen back on every window and cleaning supplies put away. For your cleaning tasks, define what done is … and then, focus, focus, focus until you’ve reached done!
Enjoy the results. When you’re finished, sit back and relish the results of your labor. It feels good to create positive change in your environment. Doesn’t it? Drink it in. And enjoy the results.
With many projects, getting started can be the hardest part! But … by focusing on the end results and then really drinking in your success, you will fuel your enthusiasm to take on the next spring cleaning project on your list … next weekend!
One of the big tricks with the holiday season is balancing all of your regular to-dos, with the extra projects that the holidays bring with them—more cleaning, more shopping, more cooking and baking, seasonal decorating, and on and on it goes. This year I did some house spiffying projects in October, because I know it’s a challenge to simply keep my head above water during November and December without any extra cleaning projects. So, during these months, I stick to my regular one night a week cleaning routine, and in January, the house will get its turn once again.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Are you in the midst of some pre-holiday spring cleaning? What’s on your priority list? How do you balance these extra projects with your weekly cleaning? Do you clean once a week like I do, or do you do a little bit of cleaning each day? Thanks for sharing!
As I mentioned in Friday’s blog post, we celebrated Collin’s birthday this past weekend. Because both of my kid’s birthdays are right around the holidays, there are two primary goals with the kid’s parties: make it special, but keep it simple. Here are some of the ideas I used to do both.
Idea #1: Make a banner. It was really fun to pull out Collin’s birthday banner when I got out the fall decorations this year. There’s something special about having a decoration that is just for him, something we put up only on his birthday. And since it is used year after year, it fits the simple criteria. You can find step-by-step instructions via this blog post.
Idea #2: Tie balloons to a bucket filled with sand. Collin specifically asked for balloons, and I wasn’t about to disappoint. When I went to pick up the balloons I was reminded of a bib he had as a baby. On this bib was Winnie the Pooh holding a bunch of balloons and it said something along the lines of no one can be un-cheered when they have a balloon. That Pooh bear was on to something. To keep it simple, I used a little white bucket I already had and filled it with sand. The balloons were tied to the handle.
Idea #3: Use reusable items. Instead of getting a paper or plastic table cloth, I went to Target and picked up a white, hotel style table cloth. Now, I know, white table cloths with 10 and 11 year old boys may not appear to be my brightest move, but that’s what bleach and spot remover are for. We had one spill, and it came right out. So now…I have a table cloth for the next birthday party on the list, as well as through out the holidays. (By the way, the table cloth is from Target and is on sale this week…) Instead of purchasing disposable cups, I got some clear and blue reusable cups. Collin is really into going green, so these decisions honored his commitment to the environment, but it will also make future parties that much simpler by having everything already on hand.
Idea #4: Use a bucket to corral table items. We served the kids pizza for dinner, so I put all the necessary table items in one of my beloved blue buckets. Salt, paper, paper napkins (which I had on hand from a prior event), parmesan cheese and dried red peppers were corralled inside. This made for a simple but colorful table decoration, and kept all of these items looking tidy.
Idea #5: Keep party favors simple. You may recall my thoughts about party favors from this blog post. So…the goal this year was something that said thank you for coming to my party, but didn’t end up in the trash can fifteen minutes after the kids arrived back home. These are ten and eleven year old boys…so the days of die cast cars or boxes of crayons are behind us. The solution was a Dollar Spot popcorn bucket, a package of microwave popcorn and a customized Hershey bar.
To customize the Hershey bar I created a festive wrapper using Microsoft Publisher. The wrapper was printed, cut to size with my paper trimmer, and taped to the original Hershey bar wrapper. Simple, special and quite useful.
On that note, I’ll say this post is a wrap. (Ha ha.) But before you go, I have one more party on the horizon, so I would love to hear your ideas for keeping kid’s birthday parties simple and special. Thanks for sharing.
Happy Monday to you! I hope you had a terrific weekend. Mine was very nice. Collin had a terrific birthday—and three wonderful celebrations. (Thank you everyone who sent him happy birthday wishes.) Aside from the birthday festivities, I got a few things finished up, too. Hooray! Here’s my list:
So…that is the noteworthy stuff on the finished list. Okay, the noteworthy part is probably debatable…but none-the-less, there it is. So how about you; what did you finish this weekend? Hope you had a great one!
For me, Friday November 13th is one of the luckiest days of my life. It is on this day, eleven years ago today, that I became a Mom for the very first time. I remember going into labor, (after having spent the prior five days on bed rest in the hospital,) and saying “But its Friday the 13th. Isn’t there some way we can put this off until tomorrow?” I should have known at that moment that my life was forever changed—I was no longer in the driver’s seat.
So today, the first Friday, November 13th since the original one eleven years ago, I stand here knowing that indeed Friday the 13th is a very lucky day for me. I am so thankful for every minute of the past eleven years and look forward to all the years ahead with this bright, beautiful boy of mine. Happy Birthday, Collin. I’m so happy you’re mine.
I’m really excited for this weekend because my boy loves his birthday. Now, I know what you’re thinking—all kids love their birthday. True. But this one really, really loves his birthday. If you’re familiar with the book The Five Love Languages of Children
So…I bet you can guess what’s on my list of things to finish this weekend…birthday stuff. Most of it is done, but tomorrow is his party. So I have to finish making the cookie cake and fun stuff like that. So that’s my really short finish it Friday list for me this week: make cookie cake. (And maybe we’ll finish eating it, too.)
I’d love to hear what’s on your Finish it Friday list. Remember to include something fun on your list this week, too. Have a great weekend!
Can you believe it? Thanksgiving is just two weeks from today! This means a few things:
1) My son's birthday is tomorrow.
2) The "busy season" for the Garveys is officially in full swing!
3) Blog writing time is hard to come by right now!
So, today I'm going back to the archives. It's hard to believe, but as of this month I have five years worth of newsletter archives! The tips below are from October 2005. Hope you enjoy. :)
The holidays are a clutter-full time of year! More items and activities come into our homes and lives during this season than any other season of the year. To make sure the clutter doesn’t inundate you this year, take simple actions now. You’ll be sure to enjoy a clutter-free holiday season!
1. De-clutter your kitchen. Before the season breezes in, lighten up your kitchen. No need for a major overhaul (you can do that in January.) For now, just open your cupboards and pantry doors, looking inside for unused, unwanted and unneeded items. Get rid of plastic cups (you know, the ones that multiply in your cabinets while you’re sleeping?), appliances that haven’t seen the light of day in years, and food that’s outstayed it’s welcome in your cabinets. (A quick check of the expiration date will take the guess work out of this one.) By creating a little breathing room in your kitchen now, you’ll find holiday baking and cooking that much more enjoyable.
2. De-clutter your kids’ bedrooms or play room. Before the holiday’s hit, purge, purge and purge some more. You’ll know you’ve purged enough when you see open space, empty shelves or unused storage bins where once you saw toys, toys and more toys. This space will soon be filled by Santa and all his loot. And won’t it be so much less stressful to already have space carved out before new goodies even land under the tree? Plus, if you donate your lightly used toys to a favorite charity, you’ll help brighten Christmas for less fortunate children. Remember to summarize your donations and get receipts for your taxes!
3. De-clutter your calendar. If there’s one thing there’s not enough of during the holidays it’s time. Take action now to purge non-mission critical activities or at least defer them until after the holidays. Make room for shopping, baking, holiday cards, parties, and all your other favorite holiday activities.
With a little proactive de-cluttering, you’ll enjoy a clutter free holiday season. Plus you may even find space for some “you time” this year. You’re starting to feel merry already, aren’t you?
I'd love to hear your ideas! What decluttering do you do this time of year in preparation for the holidays?
How did you do with your Finish It Friday list? Here's my check-in. Next weekend my list will definitely include something fun. I saw that on Emily's list and thought "Yes, don't forget to have fun!" Thanks, Emily for the reminder. :)
1. (Started) and finished (within reason) holiday planning.
2. Finished planning Collin’s birthday celebration(s).
3. Finished putting away Halloween decorations.
4. Washed car – inside and out. Vacuumed the car and then went through the car wash. Saved about 45 minutes of time this way, and didn’t get wet. A really good $6 investment.
5. Laundry.
6. Cleaned the bathroom really, really well.
7. Helped Collin finish Veterans day float project.
8. Almost finished knitting a scarf. I think I just need to add some fringe...which I've never done before. :)
9. Ordered a Christmas gift.
10. Almost finished getting the kids ready for snow—new coats, snow pants, hat, scarf, gloves. Still need boots for one child. Now, let’s hope it snows here this year!
11. Returned library books.
12. Finished menu plan and grocery list for the week.
13. Emptied and cleaned the herb and flower pots.
14. Potted a few herbs for a window sill garden.
15. Played four-square. (This definitely counts as fun.)
16. Put the finishing touches on the Goals workshop. If you've been looking at that one, it is now open for enrollment. Hooray!
How about you? How did you do on your list? I hope you had a productive and *fun* weekend. :)
