Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays: 28 Day Challenge — Day 25

Day 25:  Declutter Kids’ Spaces (or Your Own “Fun” Space)

Today’s challenge is to declutter your kids’ areas to create space for new things that are on their way from Santa and you and relatives. I habitually declutter my kids’ rooms this time of year, because in addition to the inflow of stuff from Christmas, both of my kids have birthdays during the holiday season. In years past (back when they were into toys) this time of year meant such an overflow of new stuff coming in, that I’d wake up Christmas morning to total chaos and a huge decluttering and organizing project. Once I got tired of ending the holidays overwhelmed, I started creating space earlier—in the months leading up to all my kids’ gift-receiving holidays. This makes for a much more relaxed Christmas Day for me. So it’s all worth the effort now.

 

This is a great time to pull out that timer and decluttering container again. Then, simply go into your kids’ spaces (bedroom, playroom, etc.) and look for things they no longer use or need. This is also a great time to bring your kids into the decluttering process. The earlier you get your kids involved in organizing and letting go of things they no longer need, the easier your life will be in the long run. As always, focus on progress. What can you get done, or how many items can you let go of, in just fifteen minutes? You may feel so encouraged by your progress that you decide to set the timer for another fifteen minutes. Do this as many times as you can between now and Christmas, and you, too, will be much more relaxed and happy on Christmas morning.

 

By the way, if you want even more ideas for decluttering and organizing with your kids, and involving them in the process, the content from my Organizing with Your Kids workshop is available for a limited time as an instant download. You can learn more here.

 

Now…if you don’t have kids living at home with you right now, I’ve got a little challenge just for you. That challenge is to declutter one of your “fun” spaces. What’s a fun space? Well, it’s the place where you keep things you think are really fun. Now, I’m not suggesting you get rid of all of your fun stuff (that would be mean), but rather, I’m suggesting that you creating a little bit of space for new fun stuff you might be getting for Christmas.

 

For some of you, your fun space is your craft room. Or, if you love to collect shoes or purses or clothes, your fun space could be your closet. And, if you love kitchen gadgets or cookbooks, your fun space is your kitchen. If you love to collect and read books, your fun spaces are your bookcases. (My guess is, you know where your fun space is.)

 

Alright my friends, we’re nearing the end of the 28 Day Challenge! Hope you and your homes are doing great and that you enjoy today's challenge. 

 

Happy decluttering,

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays: 28 Day Challenge — Day 24

Day 24:  Set Up a Quick-Clean Mini Zone in the Guest Bathroom

Today’s challenge is to set up a quick-clean mini zone in your guest bathroom. The idea is to corral into a bucket (or other favorite container) basic, bathroom cleaning products. Then, tuck the bucket under the sink or in another cupboard in your bathroom. (If you have young children, be sure to keep these items out of their reach.)

 

Once your quick-clean station is set up, if guests stop by unexpectedly, there’s no need to worry about the bathroom. You can discretely slip away into the bathroom and give it a quick clean. (How great is that?) Not only with this give you peace of mind during the holidays, but it will also simplify keeping the bathroom tidy every single day.

 

My quick-clean mini zone includes a small spray bottle of window cleaner, some Bon Ami decanted into a glass shaker jar, and some cleaning cloths. If you set one up, I’d love to hear what you put in yours.

 

Thanks for sharing, and have a terrific Saturday!

Six Little Words that Got Me Thinking: weekly quick tip

This blog post is a sample of my weekly organizing quick tip newsletter. If you aren't on the list yet, you can sign up here.

 

A few weeks ago, I was telling my daughter that I needed to get some new candles. She looked at me kind of funny and pointed to a perfectly good candle sitting on a nearby cabinet. “There’s a candle right there,” she said, in a way that let me know she was quite puzzled.

 

“Well…I’m saving that one because I really like it,” I replied. 

 

My daughter’s response stopped me in my tracks: “Then next time, don’t buy it.”

 

She has a point, doesn’t she? If we aren’t going to use it, what’s the point in having it? I did plan on using that candle, but for a special occasion. 

 

She really got me thinking. What else am I putting off using, or doing, or believing or feeling? And when will a special enough day come to use the white napkins, or the good dishes or the candle that you really love? How about today?

 

I did burn that candle that night and every time I see it, it reminds me that my life is now. Today is the day to use the candle I love (and so is tomorrow and the day after that.) Today is the day to do the thing that scares me a bit, because it stretches me out of my comfort zone. Today is the day to believe that dreams do come true. And today is the day to decide to feel happy and to share that happiness with the people I love. 

 

What are you putting off using, or doing or believing? Why not proclaim that today is the day to use it, or do it or believe it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Thanks so much for sharing. 

P.S. My online workshop How to Achieve Your Goals and Create a Life You Love is one my very favorites, because I get to share this kind of thinking with the workshop participants. I get to help others (and myself) explore ways to live an even better life. (And honestly, that kind of stuff gets me super excited.) If you’re interested in making 2012 a truly fantastic year, then I invite you to learn more and join me in this one-of-a-kind workshop.  

Let's Get Organized for the Weekend

Happy Friday! It’s time to get ourselves organized for the weekend with another round of Finish It Friday. I find my weekends are so much more productive when I make a to-do list, and a plan, on Friday. Want to join in the fun? If so, simply share your to-do list in the comments, and then, check back here on Monday to report your progress. It’s a fun way to get yourself ready for the weekend so you put your time to good use. And reporting your to-do list in the comments is a form of friendly accountability. When you go public with your list, you’re just that much more committed to getting stuff done.

 

So are you in this week? I am. Here’s what’s on tap for me:

 

Play List

• Boot camp. Someone asked last week what boot camp is, so I thought I’d explain. Boot camp is a group fitness class that is a mix of cardio and strength training for one fun-filled hour. (Okay, maybe it’s JUST fifty-five minutes, but who is counting, right?)

• Movie night with friends.

 

To Finish

• Decide on a snack for movie night. And then, shop for the ingredients and make it.

• Laundry.

• Hand-wash a wool sweater.

• Clean house.

• Plan meals for the week, including what I’m bringing for Thanksgiving. Darn, this means I may have to spend some time on Pinterest. ;)

• Take some forms to get notarized. 

• Work on gift lists and share with family members.

• Make 30 minutes of progress going through some old project files in my office. 

 

Yikes, better get busy! Hope you have a terrific weekend. Thanks for joining me for Finish It Friday this week. :)

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays: 28 Day Challenge – Day 23

Day 23: You Choose

 

Remember back on Day 2 of the challenge when you created a list of trouble spots? Hopefully by now we have addressed many of those through this challenge, but it's likely that you have some top-priority tasks on your list still left undone. Use today to review the list and tackle your own trouble spots. Let us know what you accomplish! 

 

Happy Cleaning!

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays: 28 Day Challenge – Day 22

 

Day 22:  Set up a holiday card mini zone

 
How did you do with yesterday's paper clutter challenge? I hope it went well and that it provided you and your home with a bit of relief.

 

Today's challenge is also about paper, but this time, we'll be setting up some simple systems to head-off paper clutter from holiday cards. For today's challenge you have a choice, you can either set up a spot to corral incoming holiday cards, or you can set up a card sending mini zone. (Or if you're feeling really motivated, you can do both.)

For incoming cards, designate one spot for your cards. You could use a basket or a pretty wooden box. If you like keeping your cards on display, consider hanging a pretty ribbon on the wall and attaching cards with clothes pins. I like to display my cards with magnets on an old jelly cabinet door that I use as a magnet board. It adds a festive touch to my office.  

 

If you're planning to send cards this year, you could use today's challenge to set up a card sending mini zone to simplify the process. To do this, simply corral together all the things you use to send out your cards such as address labels, addresses, pens, stamps, and, of course, your cards and envelopes. Put these items into a portable container like a metal bucket or a wicker basket. This little project will help keep your home organized by corralling all your supplies together. Plus, it will make it simple to work on getting your cards done in small bits of time.  

 

Okay...so you all have gone really quiet on me the last few days. Are you busy getting your home ready? How are things going? I'd love to hear from you (hint, hint.) :)

 

Happy organizing!

Looking for a Unique Gift Idea?

Do you have someone on your holiday gift list that is really hard to shop for? Maybe it’s your Dad who seems to already have everything—except a single Christmas gift idea for you to give him. Or maybe it’s your Mom. You want to pick out something unique and really special for her, so you can show her just how much you appreciate all she’s done for you over the years. But how do you find that just-right something? Give Red Envelope a try. 

 

Aside from helping you find that just-right gift for all of your hard to buy for friends and relatives, you’ll find plenty of unique gift ideas for everyone on your list. And Red Envelope makes it easy. They’ve organized their site by gift-giving occasion, such as the big one that’s right around the corner. (Here’s a link right to all their Christmas gift ideas.)

 

Recently I was offered a $75 gift card to Red Envelope so I could try out the shopping experience. (Twist my arm, right?) After browsing all the fabulous gift ideas, I selected the Mini Wish Ornament Set. 

 

(Image courtesy of Red Envelope.)

 

One of my family’s traditions growing up was for each of us kids to get one new ornament every Christmas. It was always so much fun to pull out our own special ornaments and put them on the three each year. And it was so fun selecting a new ornament every Christmas. 

 

As much as I loved my ornaments as a child, when I moved out this collection of ornaments had even more meaning to me. I started my adult life with a collection of Christmas ornaments that represented every single Christmas of my childhood. When my kids were little, I started the same tradition for them.

 

This year, both of them will get a Mini Wish Ornament from Red Envelope, and there will be one for Jay and me, too. How cool is this—everyone in the family can write hopes and dreams on the included strips of paper, tuck them inside the ornaments and hang them on the tree. The word "wishes" is engraved on the outside of the ornament. And the insides are enameled with the phrase "do come true." I love that! The collection includes five ornaments packaged in a really pretty red box with a bow on the top. So you could give the entire collection as a gift or give one to each of your family members like I’m doing.

 

Regardless of the exact gift you choose, Red Envelope is a terrific choice for your out of town friends and relatives. During the checkout process you can add a gift message and select the delivery date for your gift. (What a great idea, right?) This will certainly help simplify the holidays for you and add to the surprise for your gift recipient.

 

So if you’re looking for a unique and meaningful gift this holiday season, check out the gift ideas at Red Envelope. You’ll enjoy the shopping experience, and your gift recipient is sure to be delighted with your selection.

 

Do you have someone on your gift list that is challenging to shop for? I’d love to hear who it is as well as your favorite gift ideas for that hard-to-shop-for person. Thanks for sharing!

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays: 28 Day Challenge – Day 21

Day 21:  Declutter Paper

I find that one of the most common sources of clutter in the home is paper clutter. And the worst part about paper clutter isn’t how it looks, it’s how it feels. Stacks of paper create a very unsettling feeling, especially if you really aren’t sure what’s lingering at the bottom of the pile, or if you know an important piece of paper has gone missing somewhere in the stacks. This is anything from the relaxed and welcoming feeling we are in the process of creating for ourselves and our family members.

 

Today, let’s make some progress on this paper clutter. This is a terrific time to pull out your timer, and set it for fifteen minutes. Don’t worry if you can’t get it all under control today, any progress you can make today will make you feel better and make your home feel more holiday-ready.

 

If you haven’t done so already, download a free copy of my mini guide “How to Create a Home Reference Binder.” This guide shows you how to gain control of a very common form of paper clutter —papers you need to get your hands on and refer to often.   

 

If you already have functioning paper systems set up in your home, spend a bit of time today getting caught up on your paperwork by doing a task that is lingering in your midst (or maybe on your kitchen counter.) Do the filing. Make those lingering phone calls so you can file away (or recycle) the paper that’s sitting out reminding you to do it.  

 

I’d love to hear about your current paper situation. Is this a trouble spot for you, or do you get to pass on today’s challenge? Thanks for sharing!

Happy organizing!

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays: 28 Day Challenge – Day 20

Day 20 – Declutter + Organize Board Games

Over the holidays, I love to play board games and card games with my family. In fact, when my sister and mom come to visit, one of the big highlights is a spirited game of cards. So as we get our homes ready for guests and relaxing with our family, let’s declutter and organize the games today. Sound like a plan?

 

 

Today’s challenge keeps me in the family room, but you may be moving to another room in your home. Regardless, the goal today is to declutter your family’s games to create space for any new games that may come into your home soon and help get your home one step closer to guest-ready.

 

As you go through your games, make it your goal to make it easier to use your games and to create a bit of breathing room. If you have  games that don’t fit on the shelf, or in the cabinet, or in whatever  spot you store your games, see if you can let go of enough games today to make them all fit comfortably where they belong. Having all your games put away and in one spot may just cut some surface clutter and it will make it easier to pull out the games and play over the holidays.

 

Want ideas on how to organize games? Here are some links to prior posts on this topic.

 

Organizing Games

Organizing Games + Puzzles

 

Happy organizing!

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays: 28 Day Challenge – Days 19

Day 19:  Declutter the Family Room

In my home, the family room is a place we spend a lot of time during the holidays, and all winter long, for that matter. So as we prepare our homes for the upcoming seasons, today is the day to start giving this room a bit of extra TLC. Today, let’s focus on clearing any surface clutter. Recycle any old newspapers or magazines that may be sitting on the coffee table or end tables. Return items that don’t belong in the family room to where they do belong. Continue on with cutting the surface clutter by corralling remotes and game controllers into a bucket or canvas bin.

 

Then, declutter your DVD and/or CD collection. This will help create space for any new video games, movies or CDs that you or a family member just might have on your holiday wish list. 

 

How are you doing with the daily challenges? Is your home feeling more guest-ready? We'd love to hear! 

 

Happy decluttering!