Destressing Christmas, Part 6, 2009 - Planning Holiday Meals

This is the first time in years that I will be cooking for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Other years, we have been off and have traveled to family for holidays. I'll enjoy creating some memories for our foster daughters, as well as having one of our daughters here. And we've invited others to join us as well. But it's a lot to think about, so it's important to be organized. Here are some thoughts:

- Determine which special holiday meals you’ll be preparing. Will you be hosting any parties?

- Decide what you will serve for each special meal or party. Make a list for each event. Make sure to have a balance of protein, starch, something green and something red/orange/yellow. Try to avoid a lot of last-minute or time-consuming recipes. (By the way, keep your list in front of you until after your meal. Have you every looked in the fridge after a meal and realize you forgot to serve something!?!)

- Do you have enough dinnerware, glasses, silverware, linens, and serving pieces?

- Are there some items you could prepare in advance - breads, desserts, cornbread for cornbread stuffing, etc.? Plan when you will cook some of these recipes and write it on your schedule, so you can space them out and avoid last-minute stress.

- If you are having guests, take them up on their offers to bring something!

- For each week during the holidays, plan your menus and make a shopping list. Try to go shopping only once a week to save those time-costly trips back to the grocery store. During such a busy time, try to piggy-back from one meal to another. Cook a roast, and use the leftovers for beef stroganoff, for example. Plan simple regular meals during the holiday season to reduce your stress level.

- Have some easy-to-prepare foods on hand if you have a disaster day: frozen ravioli, ingredients for wraps, and frozen chicken tenderloins, for example.

- Have some ideas in mind for using leftover turkey: chow mein, stir fry, pasta salads, etc. Use leftover ham in soups or pasta salads. Freeze extra turkey or ham in meal-size portions for a time when you are not weary of these meats.

Even though it takes time to plan your holiday meals and your regular meals, you’ll save yourself time and stress by organizing your menus. You won’t be making last-minute trips to the grocery store, you won’t forget ingredients, and you’ll have what you need.

You’ll be able to welcome your guests or have a special meal for your family without stressing! What a refreshing way to celebrate!

What are your favorite holiday recipes?

Leftover ideas:
Dinner in 10 - Chicken with Cranberry/Mandarin Sauce
Getting the Maximum Mileage out of Your Veggies
Cook It Once, Serve It Twice

Keeping Track of Gift Purchases

Have you ever bought the same gift for the same person two years in a row? Or totally left someone off your list? Laura, an amazing organizer over at I'm an Organizing Junkie, offers a great way to keep track of gift purchases:

"I use a simple notebook that I use year after year. Each year I write the new year at the top of a blank page and then write the names of all the people I will need to buy gifts for, including birthdays and Christmas.

As I purchase items I mark what was purchased into my notebook so I have a running list of what was bought and still needs to be bought. This system has worked well for me for years. It’s easy to use, I can bring the notebook with me shopping if I need to, and it keeps me from buying duplicates as I can easily look to see what I purchased in previous years.

Not only do I not want to rely on this brain of mine to just remember that kind of stuff but by writing it down I am freeing up all kinds of mental clutter. Awesome!"

Aren't those great ideas? Thanks, Laura! I'm thinking I need to put this system onto my phone!

How do you keep track of gifts you've purchased?

More on Christmas Shopping:
Destressing Christmas, Part 3, 2009 - Smart Gift-Giving
10 Ways to Streamline Your Shopping
TimeCoupon Sources

Christmas Shopping Ideas from 1-2-3...Get Organized Plus a 10% Discount

Now that Halloween is over, stores are filled with Christmas items. Many places I shopped had Christmas items out before Halloween! The fact is, though, we do need to think about buying gifts now in order to reduce the stress and chaos.

If you'd like to shop from home for useful gifts, here are some ideas. Or get yourself organized before the holidays. Or be ready to rethink your life in January. And do it at 10% off through November 30 plus free shipping on orders over $25.


Christmas shopping:
- for the new cook: Hassle Free Dinners, Three Steps to Planning Dinner

- for newlyweds: Three Steps to Organizing Your Kitchen, Three Steps to Clever Cleaning, Three Steps to Decluttering, Three Steps to Planning Dinner, Hassle Free Dinners (see our packages)

- for college students: Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student, Three Steps to Clever Cleaning, Three Steps to Decluttering, (see our packages)

- for recent college grads: Three Steps to Time Management, Three Steps to Time Management at the Office, Three Steps to Organizing Your Office, Three Steps to Clever Cleaning, Three Steps to Organizing Your Kitchen, Three Steps to Planning Dinner, Three Steps to Decluttering

- for new moms: Three Steps to Organizing Your Child's Room, Three Steps to Time Management for the Stay-at-Home Mom, Three Steps to Time Management for the Working Mom, Three Steps to Time Management for the Single Mom, Three Steps to Planning Dinner, Three Steps to Decluttering

- for the person needing to downsize: Three Steps to Downsizing to a Smaller Residence, Three Steps to Decluttering

- for the person in transition: Rethinking Life coaching session, any of the Time Management books

- for anyone: Gift Certificates


Getting Organized for the Holidays:
- Three Steps to Decluttering
- Three Steps to Clever Cleaning
- Three Steps to Organizing Your Kitchen
- Three Steps to Organizing Your Child's Room
- Three Steps to Organizing Your Office
- Any of the Time Management books


Rethinking Your Life in January:
- Any of the Time Management books
- Rethinking Life coaching session


Books are available as printed books and ebooks. If you'd like to send an ebook as a gift, write the name and email address of the recipient in the comment box as well as the date you'd like the gift to be emailed.

To get your 10% discount, use the code: 123NOV

Happy stress-free shopping!

Organizing Tips from College Hunks Hauling Junk

Meagan Mills, a college senior interning at College Hunks Hauling Junk, wrote to ask if she could enlighten you on the services they provide as well as offer some organizing tips. We could all stand to get rid of some junk at times! So here's her guest blog:

"With the holidays quickly approaching, we not only need to prepare our budgets but our homes. Either clearing out the old to make way for the new or creating space for your family, friends and guests, we all could use some tips on organization.

Who better to help then College Hunks Hauling Junk? The junk removal company has seen a lot of junk since they began in 2003. The Hunks focus not only on de-cluttering your home, but breathe new life into your unwanted items by donating or recycling them. Giving the gift of space and freedom never looked so good. Here’s a few of their tips and tricks to help you this holiday season:

First, define your idea of organization
Plan how in depth your organization will be. Either cleaning out a drawer or tackling an entire room, have a plan outlined.

Next, set goals
Don’t expect to finish everything in one sitting. Make your goals attainable and categorize each task you want done with the room you are organizing. You will feel great satisfaction when you scratch each task off of your list. Even if you don’t notice the work you’ve done in one day, you will see how many tasks you’ve completed from your list, and you’ll stay motivated.

Give yourself a time limit
Be reasonable, but don’t allow time for distractions. Put your cell phone on silent, take the dog out, and get to work. When you know how much time you want to spend on one project, you will be less likely to get off track.

Get the family involved
Designate jobs for everyone in the family. When they contribute to the goal, they will reap the benefits of enjoying the organization. Make it a fun activity. Crank up the radio, order some pizza, pass out the trash bags and get to work!

Look into recycling old junk
Tis’ the season of giving! College Hunks Hauling Junk is a helpful service that can take the unwanted items off your hands. The junk removal company’s clean-cut, collegiate Hunks donate any reusable items to local charities. They also recycle over 60% of all junk removed from homes and business.

Don’t put it off
Organization can be as easy as opening your mail near the trash can and away from any counter tops. Don’t wait to get things in order. When you think about it, do it! Thinking about tackling that dingy basement or attic? With just a call to College Hunks Hauling Junk, a team can come out for a free estimate. If you like what they have to say, they will get started right then and there.

Once you get started with some of these suggestions, you will feel like giving a sigh of relief. You’ll be able to sit back, relax in a de-cluttered home, and enjoy some holiday cheer.

Don’t want to go it alone? Call College Hunks Hauling Junk at 1-800-JunkUSA to schedule a free in-home estimate or online at www.1800junkusa.com. After all, who can resist a Hunk?"

More on junk:
Chopping Big Chores down into Bite-Sized Chunks
Decluttering in 5 - 20 Decluttering Tasks You Can Do In Five Minutes or Less
A Refresher on Recycling Plastics

3-Part Webinar - Three Steps to Becoming a Downsizing Professional

Three Steps to Becoming a Downsizing Professional

3-Part Webinar* (90 minutes each)

by Beverly Coggins

Please join me in a highly interactive and personalized webinar limited to 10 participants .

You’ll be as fully involved in the discussion as you wish.

I’ll give you a personal phone call before the webinar to ascertain your needs.

Why Consider becoming a Downsizing Professional?

- Downsizing is a relatively simple concept to learn

- 76 million Baby Boomers will be retiring in the next 20 years, many needing to downsize

- Starting a downsizing business requires minimal up-front costs

- Training can be completed in three 90-minute seminars

- Your work hours are flexible based on your own needs

- You’ll have the fulfillment of helping seniors transition gracefully

- Your growth potential is unlimited!

What Content Will Be Covered in the Webinar?

Part I - Starting Your Downsizing Business

(business structures presented by my accountant, branding, websites, methods of payment, fees, affiliations, hiring employees, strategic alliances and more)

Part II - Marketing

(a plethora of proven marketing ideas!!)

Part III - The Nuts and Bolts of Downsizing

(estimates, contracts, measuring/floor plans, the steps involved in the move, including check lists for you and your clients, forms, and recommended products)

Bonus Features Included with the Cost of the Webinar:

• Three Steps to Becoming a Downsizing Professional manual (pdf version)
• Membership to Downsizer Cafe, a members-only blog providing support, exchange of ideas, and continuing training
• Additional video training segments
• Continued one-on-one email coaching with Beverly Coggins following the webinar
  

Dates: November 10, 11, 12

11 am Eastern (10 am Central, 9 am Mountain, 8 am Pacific) - 90 minutes each

Deadline to register: Sunday, November 8

Cost: $499

Both one-time payment and three-part installment options (billed 15 days apart) are available . To register, click here.

*What is a webinar? A webinar is a teleseminar where your computer is linked to the instructor’s notes on your computer screen.

Destressing Christmas, Part 5, 2009 - Mapping Out Your Calendar

Have you ever found yourself flitting about from one holiday event to another, just because your were invited, or it seemed like a nice thing to do? Unless you plan out your holiday calendar, you may find yourself tossed about by everyone else’s agendas, priorities and events. By determining what is important to you and your family, you will be able to make sure your family's high-priority events get top-billing on your schedule.

Sit down as a family and talk about what each individual wants to have included in the holiday schedule – decorating, special outside events, baking, making gifts, reading stories, watching movies together, shopping, sending Christmas cards, hosting a party – whatever says celebration to each one.

At the same time, discuss all the holiday events from school, sports teams, church, work, friends and family. Which ones do your family members want to attend? Prioritize them, if necessary.

Take your list and schedule in those activities your family wants to include in their holiday celebration. Evaluate: Are your scheduled events going to allow everyone to get enough sleep and rest? If not, rethink things.

Create margins and boundaries. Know your own limitations as well as those of your family members. Make sure to schedule in some “breather dates” into your calendar so you don’t over-schedule. If someone invites you to do something else, you can honestly say you have something already scheduled – it’s true! Even if it's staying home and watching Christmas movies in your PJs with the fam!

Making a plan and writing it on your calendar reduces stress – it’s on paper for you and the family to see and anticipate. In addition, you are being intentional about how you are spending your holiday season and doing those things that are important and meaningful to you and your family. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

What do you like to include in your Christmas calendar?


More on destressing Christmas:
Destressing Christmas, Part 2, 2009 - Thinking Through the Needs of Your Family and Friends
Destressing Christmas, Part 3, 2009 - Smart Gift-Giving
Destressing Christmas, Part 4, 2009 - Organize Your Cleaning and Decorating

Declutter Your Inbox by Forwarding Responsibly

Have you been duped by an email hoax - urging you to sign a petition, promising money or a product, or predicting dire circumstances if you don't forward the email? I know I have!

Here are some tips from Hoax-Slayer:

1. If someone uses overly-emotive language, it is usually a hoax.

2. Signing an online petition is rarely effective or legitimate, and it puts your information out there for others to use in scamming operations. It's far more effective to write a letter yourself to the appropriate person or organization.

3. If you do forward, remove all previous email addresses and ask your recipients to remove yours before forwarding. Otherwise, your email address and those of previous recipients will be passed on to unknown recipients, increasing the likelihood of your address being misused.

Better yet, send forwards using the blind copy option (send the email to yourself, with your forwarding list in the Bcc section - just below the "from" line on your email). This way, your recipients will not see each others' email addresses.

4. To avoid irritating your friends, ask their permission before adding them to your "forward list."

5. If you receive unsolicited forwards from your friends and you'd rather not, politely ask to be removed from their forwarding lists. Others have told me that they receive scores of emails from the same person each day! What a time-waster, if you're not interested.

6. Before forwarding a questionable email, check it out at Hoax-Slayer. I found Hoax-Slayer to be more family-friendly than Snopes, especially if your kids will be using it.

More on email:
Decluttering and Organizing Your Email
A Very Simple Filing System for Email and Paper
Trivial and Strategic Interruptions

6 Ways to Prevent Swine Flu

My daughter sent me the material for both of today's blogs. Even though they don't address organization, it sure saves a lot of time when you and those you love are healthy.

The following tips come from Dr. Vinay Goyal, an MBBS, DRM, DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading the Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W), Mumbai.

"The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.* (Neti pots and sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and relatively inexpensive….under $15. )

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm."

I've not heard of these preventative measures, and thought they were worth passing on!

Know the Difference between Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

My daughter sent me the information on today's two blogs. Even though the topics are not strictly related to organizing, being healthy yourself and having a healthy family are certainly time-savers! Symptom Cold H1N1 Flu Fever Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu. Coughing A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough). Aches Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu. Stuffy Nose Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu. Chills Chills are uncommon with a cold. 60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills. Tiredness Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu. Sneezing Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. Sneezing is not common with the H1N1flu. Sudden Symptoms Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. Headache A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases. Sore Throat Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. Sore throat is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu. Chest Discomfort Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.

Review - AgendaWorks Planner

Clayton over at AgendaWorks sent me a planner to review and try out on my 13-year-old foster daughter. This will be her third planner for the school year - need I say more? The AgendaWorks people design planners for Sylvan Learning Centers, schools, ADD students, and for the general public. Their agendas are suitable for middle school through college.

The planner begins with a section on how to use the planner, how to prioritize tasks, and a daily action checklist comprised of reminders, focus-keepers, and work-ahead prompts. Next comes a section on study strategies and guidelines.

The next section has every kind of schedule you can imagine - yearly, monthly weekly, class schedule, grade tracking, and finally daily calendars - one page per day, except for the weekend where Saturday and Sunday share a page.

Each daily page has a column for an hourly schedule, followed by a to-do list. The other column has sections for six classes, including the assignment, its priority compared with other tasks for the day, when it is due and a box to check when the assignment is completed.

Following the daily calendar pages is a section called "Your Life Is Now," prompting the student to consider his/her purpose in life, multi-slacking(tasking), making a difference, building relationships, being aware of current events, and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset.

Learning Resources follow: a learning styles inventory with descriptions of each type of learning style, setting goals, test taking, reading to learn, guidelines for creating an essay, project planning, and note taking. "Cheat sheets" contain pages on equivalencies; formulas and equations for circumferences, surface, volume, algebra, geometry, trig, and physics; the periodic table; and world maps.

The final section of the planner is a personal directory for friends' names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

I must say that this is the most comprehensive planner I've seen for students! I wish I had written it! It provides students with a calendar that keeps them focused, and the resources needed to understand and use the calendar, as well as to be successful in school and life.

I highly recommend the AgendaWorks planner. I've not seen any other calendar that comes close to the way that the AgendaWorks planner helps students get organized, stay focused, set priorities and goals, and adopt life and learning skills.

We've tried the agenda for one day, and my foster daughter loves it! She got her homework done in record time yesterday. I think she likes the fact that she's using something college students use. I'm having both of our foster daughters read the Learning Resources section - a couple of pages a day.

Comments?

More on homework:
Getting Organized for School - Organizing Homework
Helping Your Child Organize Large Homework Projects
Getting Organized for School - Study Shows Flashcards Help Improve Memory

6 Ways to Reduce Stress by Getting Organized

Clutter, both mentally or physically, creates stress. And stress zaps your energy and creativity. By taking some time to organize yourself, you'll be re-energized and clutter-free.

Reduce stress by getting your mind, schedule, priorities, and clutter organized:

- List everything that is flying through your mind - your to do list, places you need to go, people you need to contact, etc. Jotting these items down on paper relieves the stress of having to remember all of them.

- Next, prioritize and assign a day and time to each task. By doing this, your sense of overwhelm will decrease. Breaking down your list into bite-sized pieces gives peace of mind because you're not faced with a never-ending, unprioritized list of things to do. Having a time assigned to each task prevents panic because you know there is time and place for everything on your list .

- If you are still feeling overwhelmed, evaluate whether everything on your list is actually important to you. In addition, ask yourself if you have over-committed yourself. Remove those things that are least important, least urgent, or to which you are no longer committed. If possible, delegate or get some help on the remaining items on your list.

- Practice saying, "NO!" to reduce the possibility of over-commitment.

- If you have tasks you need to do each day, make a daily routine list to follow in order to accomplish those high-priority items.

- Now, take a look around you. If your surroundings are disorganized and cluttered, it's hard to have a focused and productive mind. Take a few minutes and clean off a surface, putting each item away. If an item doesn't have a home, determine where it will be most useful and efficient. If your clutter is sizable, attack it in short bursts rather than a long siege. You can do anything for 15 minutes! Start in the corner and work around the room.

When your mind is clear of clutter and your surroundings are neat and orderly, your stress diminishes. Clutter is no longer stealing away your energy. The result: you are free to be creative and productive!

More on reducing stress:
5-Minute Stress Relievers - Taking a Mental Break
Reduce Your Stress - Say No
Foods that Relieve Stress
Three Steps to Decluttering

Information that Simplifies Your Life

I thought you might find this information useful in simplifying your life:

- Still Tasty: Still Tasty, the ultimate shelf-life guide, answers these questions: How long will your favorite food or beverage stay safe and tasty? What's the best way to store it?

- 800-GOOG-411: "If I need a business phone number and I'm not by a computer to look it up online, I call Google's free directory information service at 800-GOOG-411. Doing this, say, four times a month, instead of paying the usual $1.25 per call, saves $60 a year - in my mind, that's a 'free' dinner-and-a-movie date with my husband." (Donna Gallo Weppler, Articles Director, Family Circle Magazine November 1, 2009, p. 15)


- Trackle: "Trackle.com is a cool new site that can track - hence the name - stuff like local swine flu outbreaks, concerts and airfairs," says Contributing Tech Editor Christina Tynan-Wood. 'Right now I'm tracking a purse on eBags - Trackle will e-mail me if the price drops. I just had to set up a free account, then create "Personal Tracklets" for what I want to follow. The software does my virtual legwork.'" (Family Circle Magazine, November 1, 2009, p. 15)

Share with us information that simplifies your life!


More on information that simplifies your life:
Decluttering Mail and Phone Calls
More Family Organizing Sites
More Eco-Friendly Recycling
Three Steps to Decluttering

Creating an Incoming Paper Hub

Paper = clutter! At least in my humble opinion! With our office being in our basement, I know that every time I process a piece of paper, I'm not going down to the basement to do it. So I've created an interim incoming paper hub. When I first started researching what I would use, I thought perhaps metal wall files would work.
But when I looked at the prices, I decided against it. This one with seven pockets was $52, and since I needed about a dozen pockets, it was more than I wanted to spend.

Next, I found this set of mesh wall files from Target, only available online for around $35 for a set of two. I liked these. They either hang on the wall or stand on a surface.

I stopped in Stapes yesterday, just to see what they had. I found a set of 6 clear plastic stacking trays for $10. Since I have space in my first-floor closet to stack these, I decided to get them. I didn't want to wait for an online order, I don't have to open a file to put things away, and they were on sale. I don't think I would have gone for this option if they were to be seen all the time. But since they'll be hidden away in the closet, they work for me! They are sturdy enough to stack all twelve in one stack.



As you can see, I've labeled each tray: general mail, bills, receipts, shredding, my to do, my business receipts, my general business, my husband's to do, coupons, and those categories related to foster parenting. You might not need as many trays as we do, but if you find paper is cluttering up your home or office, this idea may help.

How do you manage incoming paper?


More on paper:
Managing Paper
Despite the Digital Age, Paper Consumption Keeps Growing! 10 Ways to Help Reverse the Trend.
Sorting Mail
Three Steps to Decluttering

Getting Organized for Winter - Swapping Out Seasonal Clothes

Where we live, here in Northeast Ohio, we seem to have skipped Fall this year. Today and tomorrow we're going to be in the high 60's, but then we're back down into the 40's and 50's! We've had almost no transition into chilly weather at all! So, we've swapped out our clothes a little early this year.

Fall is a great time to declutter and purge. First, go through your summer clothes as you take them out of your closet and drawers. Or, if all your clothes fit in one closet, move your summer clothes to be less accessible and your fall and winter clothes to be most accessible, if necessary. If you have closets like Paris Hilton (see related post below), however, you won't have to worry about moving anything. Purging might help, though! :)

Next, start on your winter clothes. For both seasons of clothes, ask yourself: Do I love this article of clothing? Does it make me feel fabulous? Have I been waiting too long to get into this size? Is it out of date? Is it shabby? Have I worn it in the last year? Do the same with shoes, purses, belts, underwear and socks. Make sure you leave out a couple of summer outfits for those occasional warm days.

As you purge, place your unwanted items in a giveaway stack or in a throwaway stack. My husband fills up his collection of rags at this time of year!

Thrift stores appreciate getting fall items at the beginning of the season. (If you're really energetic, they are taking Christmas items now, too!) Make a list of your donated items for tax purposes. Salvation Army has a valuation guide for donations to help determine the value of your donated items.

Next, organize your clothing according to style (casual, dressy casual, dressy), type (pants, sweaters, etc.), length (short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, long sleeve; long pants, capri length, etc.), and color - put like colors together in each category.

With a glance you can evaluate your shopping needs. When I moved my winter clothes to be more accessible, and made my summer clothes less accessible, I could see exactly what I had for the cooler seasons. And I realized that I needed to go shopping (oh darn!). Several items were faded or worn. Since we're off for a few days, my husband and I had a wonderful day yesterday of having lunch together and shopping.

When your closet is organized, getting dressed in the morning is so much easier! Now your closet will have breathing room, too - your clothes will not get wrinkled from being too crowded. If you go through this routine each year, it becomes easier and easier!

What are your tips for swapping out seasonal clothes?


More on Closets:
How Paris Hilton Organizes her Closet
Donating Business Clothing for Job Interviews
Get Oranized Month 2009 - Organizing Your Clothes Closet
Get Organized Month - Decluttering Your Tops/Blouses/Shirts

Destressing Christmas, Part 4, 2009 - Organize Your Cleaning and Decorating

I love having people in over the holidays! But that means my house must be clean and, of course, I’ll want to decorate. If I wait until the last minute, though, I’m stressed! Here are a few thoughts to help avoid that stress:

Cleaning

- Determine cleaning chores that need to be done for the holidays. Parcel out chores over the weeks remaining before Christmas, starting with the ones that are long-lasting: cleaning the silver or the carpet, decluttering and purging, etc. Save the surface cleaning until closer to your events. Or, if you haven’t cleaned for a while, just get caught up on your cleaning and do it every week.

- If your list of chores seems too overwhelming, work on them in 15-minute segments and do them 2-4 times a day. If they are still too overwhelming, eliminate some! Enlist family/house members to help with the cleaning chores.

- This is not a time for major home repair, sewing projects, painting, or other major projects!

Decorating

When the time comes for decorating, here are a few hints:

- If you have a lot of decorating to do, prioritize your list and schedule the individual items on your list.

- As you decorate, remove your regular decorating accessories and put them in the boxes from which you took your Christmas decorating items. That way, you won’t have to remember where you put them. I have a friend who couldn’t find her regular decorating items for a couple of months after the holidays one year!

- Take this opportunity to purge any decorating items or holiday items you no longer need or want. A great time to declutter! By doing this, the number of boxes you must get out every year decreases.

- Make holiday decorating a family affair, using items that have sentimental value to family members. Warm up some apple cider and put on some music!

- When you put your Christmas items away, make a list of what you have – decorating items, wrapping supplies, paper products, cards, extra gift items, dishes, etc., so you don’t duplicate them. Also make a list of items you need to purchase for next year and pick them up during the sales, if possible. This is a great time of year to get holiday storage boxes at a reduced price, too.

Do you have some great cleaning or decorating ideas you'd like to pass on?


Related Posts:
Three Steps to Clever Cleaning
Destressing Christmas, Part I, 2009 - Thinking Through Your Expectations
Destressing Christmas, Part 2, 2009 - Thinking Through the Needs of Your Family and Friends
Destressing Christmas, Part 3, 2009 - Smart Gift-Giving