The holidays are here in full swing. Everyone is having a sale. There are bargains to be had everywhere.
Are you getting carried away? Are you over-buying? Just because it's on sale?
Come on.... be honest. It's hard not to get caught up in the shopping frenzy.
But....there will be a post-holiday letdown. It's called "getting your credit card bill"!
So take a step back. Find a quiet place - I mean away from the mall! Sit down and take a realistic look at your finances.
Christmas is a time for family and friends. A time for giving of your "time" - not necessarily spending money. Especially if you really don't have the money to spare. The economy is bad and everyone understands that.
So be realistic about the amount of money that you can actually spend on "gifts".
Set a "per person" budget. Also set a "holiday budget". That would include gifts and all the extra's that go with it (wrapping paper, cards, going out to parties....).
Think about the person when you are buying your gift. Will they really like it? Can they really use it? Remember, don't just buy a gift that you will like, buy one that they will like. There is a big difference. And it's take a lot more time to find the perfect gift for each person. If you just buy a gift so that you can say that you gave them something - it will most certainly end up in the "clutter pile" and they will never use it.
Leave yourself plenty of time to find your gifts. Don't wait until the last minute. You will feel stressed and end up buying whatever is in front of you instead of what you really wanted.
Being organized for the holidays take a bit of planning. But if you plan things out and think of them ahead of time you will feel less stressed and you will be able to save money by buying only what you need.
Remember, don't just buy a gift because you feel that you "have" to. You should only buy gifts because you "want" to.
Stick to your budget and you won't feel the "after holiday shock" come January.
Happy Shopping...... and a Happy Holiday Season !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, December 3, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Traveling for the Holidays
A lot of people will be traveling for the Holiday. Take the stress out of trip by being organized ahead of time.
Make a list of things to take so that you don't have to think about it as you pack. Make sure that you put clothes and personal items on the list. Don't forget coats, gloves, scarves. Remember to put any medication that you need on the list. Don't forget your glasses or your phone charger. Two things that you really don't want to be without.
It might sound silly to put all of these things down on paper but if you are leaving right after work you will be pressed for time and can easily forget things.
Make sure that your car is ready and gassed up at least a few days before you leave. Don't forget to check your wiper fluid and make sure that you have a snow brush in your car and that your tires are fully inflated.
Depending on the length of your trip you might want to have snacks with you (especially if you are traveling with children). And also toys and books to keep the children occupied.
Why constantly re-create these lists..... do it once and you will always have it handy. You can tweak it after every trip and make your travels go much smoother.
Happy Traveling...... and a Happy Holiday !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Make a list of things to take so that you don't have to think about it as you pack. Make sure that you put clothes and personal items on the list. Don't forget coats, gloves, scarves. Remember to put any medication that you need on the list. Don't forget your glasses or your phone charger. Two things that you really don't want to be without.
It might sound silly to put all of these things down on paper but if you are leaving right after work you will be pressed for time and can easily forget things.
Make sure that your car is ready and gassed up at least a few days before you leave. Don't forget to check your wiper fluid and make sure that you have a snow brush in your car and that your tires are fully inflated.
Depending on the length of your trip you might want to have snacks with you (especially if you are traveling with children). And also toys and books to keep the children occupied.
Why constantly re-create these lists..... do it once and you will always have it handy. You can tweak it after every trip and make your travels go much smoother.
Happy Traveling...... and a Happy Holiday !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, November 12, 2012
Emergencies Happen - Are You Ready
Most people thing that "disasters" only happen to other people. Mostly people that live near the ocean. The East Coast just got hit with a major disaster. Most of the people probably weren't as prepared as they should have been.
Disaster can and usually does strike when we are the least prepared. So what can or should we do about it?
We need to get away from the "it won't happen to us" mentality. Even if you don't live near the ocean disaster can strike. The west gets their share of wildfires. The mid-west gets tornadoes. Disasters take all kinds of shapes.
But the bottom line is.... "Are You Prepared"?
Do you have supplies and more importantly "personal information" ready? Information such as your birth certificate and other identifying information, insurance information, bank information, contact information for family and friends....
Cash - because if the electricity is out your credit cards won't do you any good.
Gas for your car. Extra food and water to last you a while. Medication. Clothes.
There are a lot of things to think about. Don't wait. Start putting together an "emergency plan" today.
Just in case. Be prepared.
For more information re-read "Disaster - Emergencies and Everything In Between"
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Disaster can and usually does strike when we are the least prepared. So what can or should we do about it?
We need to get away from the "it won't happen to us" mentality. Even if you don't live near the ocean disaster can strike. The west gets their share of wildfires. The mid-west gets tornadoes. Disasters take all kinds of shapes.
But the bottom line is.... "Are You Prepared"?
Do you have supplies and more importantly "personal information" ready? Information such as your birth certificate and other identifying information, insurance information, bank information, contact information for family and friends....
Cash - because if the electricity is out your credit cards won't do you any good.
Gas for your car. Extra food and water to last you a while. Medication. Clothes.
There are a lot of things to think about. Don't wait. Start putting together an "emergency plan" today.
Just in case. Be prepared.
For more information re-read "Disaster - Emergencies and Everything In Between"
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, November 5, 2012
Thanksgiving - Organized and Stress Free - Yes, It is Possible
Yes, “Organized“, “Stress Free” and “Thanksgiving” can be used in the same sentence.
It all starts with the word “organized”. Don’t let it scare you. Embrace it. By being organized and planning ahead you can actually enjoy a holiday.
Start by deciding on what you want your holiday to be like. Do you really want to serve a sit down dinner for twenty (20) people? Or would a buffet be acceptable for you? Would it be acceptable for your “family”?
The pressure of trying to please everyone, especially parents and doing things “exactly” like when you were little and everything was perfect is how the “stress” starts.
It’s your house and your dinner party. You can start new traditions. I didn’t say that it would be easy or that you wouldn’t get some flack, but all “traditions” started somewhere. Make your own. You deserve some happiness.
If you really want a fancy sit down dinner party but twenty (20) people is too much for you to handle then cut the guest list down.
If you really want all twenty (20) people there then maybe you should consider a buffet. It’s much easier and your family will eventually come to terms with the fact that maybe you aren’t serving a formal sit down dinner, but the food is just as good.
You can make Thanksgiving as simple or as complicated as you want….it all depends on how organized you are willing to be.
A good way to keep the stress levels down is to divide and conquer. Enlist your family for help. Don’t take “no” for an answer. This is your holiday too and you have a right to enjoy it.
And we all know that old saying “if Mom isn’t happy, no one is happy”.
Start at least two (2) or three (3) weeks before Thanksgiving.
Decide on the type of gathering (formal or informal), the size of the guest list and the menu.
Don’t attempt to make something new for dinner or try out a new dessert that day. It could turn out to be a disaster and that would cause you more stress. If you really want to try a new dish….test it out prior to Thanksgiving.
Menu: Do you really want to serve cranberry relish and sweet potato’s even if you don’t like them and only serve them because “they are always served at Thanksgiving”?
Make up your own menu (yes, it is radical). Serve something different. Serve something you like!
If you are having a small Thanksgiving dinner don’t feel obligated to serve Turkey. I know, blasphemy! I once made stuffed Cornish Hen. It was wonderful and just as delicious as turkey. You can also stuff a small chicken or even a duck! Or be really different and have Ham! The possibilities are endless.
Start new traditions! It’s not easy to buck the system but once you make up your mind that you deserve to be happy and stress free on a Holiday you will wonder why you waited so long.
Remember, the whole point of a Holiday is family and friends and spending “quality” time together. Everything does not have to be perfect. Be thankful for what you have and not for what you don’t.
A great piece of advice: don’t attempt to clean your oven Thanksgiving morning before you put in the turkey. I did that once, years ago in my new house, when I was young and anxious to please. I then found out that after the oven is cleaned it needs to cool down and the oven will stay locked for another hour or so after it’s done. And you can’t open it! It certainly put a dent into my dinner timetable!
By starting early and making lists and getting as much done ahead of time as possible you will avoid a lot of stress.
Once you have your menu planned work backwards and make up a timetable to what needs to be done. For example: if you want your dinner to be served at 6 p.m., what time do you have to put the turkey into the oven? What time do the potato’s and vegetables need to be started? Just make a list and put it on your refrigerator door so that you don’t have to second guess yourself and aren’t panicking at the last minute.
When your family or guests start to arrive your mind and attention will be elsewhere….so a list can help you stay on track. Don’t leave anything to chance.
A few days before Thanksgiving:
* Shop for all of the essentials, including as much of the food as can be purchased ahead of time
* Make sure that you have enough spices and things that you will need for the food (and rarely buy)
* Do any of the baking or make any desserts that can be made ahead of time
* Thaw the turkey (the size will determine how many days it takes to thaw in the refrigerator)
* Buy the wine or any beverages
The day before Thanksgiving:
* Buy any last minute items at the grocery store
* Chop anything that can be chopped ahead of time (vegetables, bread for stuff…but do not stuff the turkey ahead of time) and put them in plastic bags so that you will be all ready to go the next day
* Make sure you have enough ice
* Prepare any of the food items that can be made ahead of time
* Make your family aware of exactly what you need them to help you with on Thanksgiving.
* Having assigned tasks for your kids and spouse ahead of time takes away some of the stress of what’s expected of them the next day.
The night before Thanksgiving:
* Set the table and get out all of your platters and serving dishes.
* Make sure that you have enough dishes and silverware. If you don’t, now is the time to call one of your guests and ask to borrow something. Don’t wait until the last minute to find out that you broke the gravy boat last Thanksgiving and never replaced it.
When I entertain I love to use all of my special platters and dishes. I love to fuss over my family and I love to set a very special table. I don’t consider it extra work or a hardship or stressful. It’s my way of telling my family and friends just how special they are.
But again…..the Holiday and family and friends are what’s important….not the china or the food. So if you aren’t the type of person to pull off a sit down dinner with all the decorations don’t beat yourself up. There are only so many Martha Stewarts around. And she has a staff to help her!
Thanksgiving Day:
* Wake up early so that you can have some “you” time to have coffee and relax before
the day starts (it will get stressful enough later, so the morning might be the only time you have)
* Read over your lists and timetable
* Gather all of your food and cooking utensils, pots and pans ....
* Measure out everything that you can ahead of time and set it aside
* Follow your time table and start making the food according to the schedule
* Once the food comes out of the oven let it rest a while (you can cover it with foil)
* Start cutting the meat and plating the food
* Have family members start their assigned tasks (setting out and serving food, pouring the drinks…)
ENJOY your meal…… sit and talk…..
After the meal:
Have a plan in place to clear the table. Since I always make a ton of extra food so that my guests can take home leftovers I start with portioning the leftovers into plastic containers and putting each family’s containers into a plastic bag and setting it near the door so that they don’t forget them.
Once I have the leftovers divided up and mine put away in the refrigerator and freezer I then start to collect the rest of the dishes and put them into the dishwasher. I don’t start the dishwasher until after they leave so that we won’t be bothered with the noise.
Again, this is where your family members can jump in and help clear and stack dishes. It makes quick work of things when you have other people help.
I need to have as many things cleared up and put away as possible before I start serving dessert. This also gives everyone time to rest and relax before they start eating again.
Some people like to leave the dishes and the mess until the next day. And sometimes I wish I could too, but its worse the next day when you get up and walk into a mess. I’d rather get it done and over with.
Make quick work of it (or as much as will fit into the dishwasher) and then sit and relax and spend time with your family.
Remember, a Holiday is supposed to be enjoyable. If it’s not, figure out why it isn’t and change it. Skip the big complicated meal, the fancy desserts and the good china and make it as simple as you are able to handle.
Start your own tradition….and make it about family!
Happy Holiday !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
It all starts with the word “organized”. Don’t let it scare you. Embrace it. By being organized and planning ahead you can actually enjoy a holiday.
Start by deciding on what you want your holiday to be like. Do you really want to serve a sit down dinner for twenty (20) people? Or would a buffet be acceptable for you? Would it be acceptable for your “family”?
The pressure of trying to please everyone, especially parents and doing things “exactly” like when you were little and everything was perfect is how the “stress” starts.
It’s your house and your dinner party. You can start new traditions. I didn’t say that it would be easy or that you wouldn’t get some flack, but all “traditions” started somewhere. Make your own. You deserve some happiness.
If you really want a fancy sit down dinner party but twenty (20) people is too much for you to handle then cut the guest list down.
If you really want all twenty (20) people there then maybe you should consider a buffet. It’s much easier and your family will eventually come to terms with the fact that maybe you aren’t serving a formal sit down dinner, but the food is just as good.
You can make Thanksgiving as simple or as complicated as you want….it all depends on how organized you are willing to be.
A good way to keep the stress levels down is to divide and conquer. Enlist your family for help. Don’t take “no” for an answer. This is your holiday too and you have a right to enjoy it.
And we all know that old saying “if Mom isn’t happy, no one is happy”.
Start at least two (2) or three (3) weeks before Thanksgiving.
Decide on the type of gathering (formal or informal), the size of the guest list and the menu.
Don’t attempt to make something new for dinner or try out a new dessert that day. It could turn out to be a disaster and that would cause you more stress. If you really want to try a new dish….test it out prior to Thanksgiving.
Menu: Do you really want to serve cranberry relish and sweet potato’s even if you don’t like them and only serve them because “they are always served at Thanksgiving”?
Make up your own menu (yes, it is radical). Serve something different. Serve something you like!
If you are having a small Thanksgiving dinner don’t feel obligated to serve Turkey. I know, blasphemy! I once made stuffed Cornish Hen. It was wonderful and just as delicious as turkey. You can also stuff a small chicken or even a duck! Or be really different and have Ham! The possibilities are endless.
Start new traditions! It’s not easy to buck the system but once you make up your mind that you deserve to be happy and stress free on a Holiday you will wonder why you waited so long.
Remember, the whole point of a Holiday is family and friends and spending “quality” time together. Everything does not have to be perfect. Be thankful for what you have and not for what you don’t.
A great piece of advice: don’t attempt to clean your oven Thanksgiving morning before you put in the turkey. I did that once, years ago in my new house, when I was young and anxious to please. I then found out that after the oven is cleaned it needs to cool down and the oven will stay locked for another hour or so after it’s done. And you can’t open it! It certainly put a dent into my dinner timetable!
By starting early and making lists and getting as much done ahead of time as possible you will avoid a lot of stress.
Once you have your menu planned work backwards and make up a timetable to what needs to be done. For example: if you want your dinner to be served at 6 p.m., what time do you have to put the turkey into the oven? What time do the potato’s and vegetables need to be started? Just make a list and put it on your refrigerator door so that you don’t have to second guess yourself and aren’t panicking at the last minute.
When your family or guests start to arrive your mind and attention will be elsewhere….so a list can help you stay on track. Don’t leave anything to chance.
A few days before Thanksgiving:
* Shop for all of the essentials, including as much of the food as can be purchased ahead of time
* Make sure that you have enough spices and things that you will need for the food (and rarely buy)
* Do any of the baking or make any desserts that can be made ahead of time
* Thaw the turkey (the size will determine how many days it takes to thaw in the refrigerator)
* Buy the wine or any beverages
The day before Thanksgiving:
* Buy any last minute items at the grocery store
* Chop anything that can be chopped ahead of time (vegetables, bread for stuff…but do not stuff the turkey ahead of time) and put them in plastic bags so that you will be all ready to go the next day
* Make sure you have enough ice
* Prepare any of the food items that can be made ahead of time
* Make your family aware of exactly what you need them to help you with on Thanksgiving.
* Having assigned tasks for your kids and spouse ahead of time takes away some of the stress of what’s expected of them the next day.
The night before Thanksgiving:
* Set the table and get out all of your platters and serving dishes.
* Make sure that you have enough dishes and silverware. If you don’t, now is the time to call one of your guests and ask to borrow something. Don’t wait until the last minute to find out that you broke the gravy boat last Thanksgiving and never replaced it.
When I entertain I love to use all of my special platters and dishes. I love to fuss over my family and I love to set a very special table. I don’t consider it extra work or a hardship or stressful. It’s my way of telling my family and friends just how special they are.
But again…..the Holiday and family and friends are what’s important….not the china or the food. So if you aren’t the type of person to pull off a sit down dinner with all the decorations don’t beat yourself up. There are only so many Martha Stewarts around. And she has a staff to help her!
Thanksgiving Day:
* Wake up early so that you can have some “you” time to have coffee and relax before
the day starts (it will get stressful enough later, so the morning might be the only time you have)
* Read over your lists and timetable
* Gather all of your food and cooking utensils, pots and pans ....
* Measure out everything that you can ahead of time and set it aside
* Follow your time table and start making the food according to the schedule
* Once the food comes out of the oven let it rest a while (you can cover it with foil)
* Start cutting the meat and plating the food
* Have family members start their assigned tasks (setting out and serving food, pouring the drinks…)
ENJOY your meal…… sit and talk…..
After the meal:
Have a plan in place to clear the table. Since I always make a ton of extra food so that my guests can take home leftovers I start with portioning the leftovers into plastic containers and putting each family’s containers into a plastic bag and setting it near the door so that they don’t forget them.
Once I have the leftovers divided up and mine put away in the refrigerator and freezer I then start to collect the rest of the dishes and put them into the dishwasher. I don’t start the dishwasher until after they leave so that we won’t be bothered with the noise.
Again, this is where your family members can jump in and help clear and stack dishes. It makes quick work of things when you have other people help.
I need to have as many things cleared up and put away as possible before I start serving dessert. This also gives everyone time to rest and relax before they start eating again.
Some people like to leave the dishes and the mess until the next day. And sometimes I wish I could too, but its worse the next day when you get up and walk into a mess. I’d rather get it done and over with.
Make quick work of it (or as much as will fit into the dishwasher) and then sit and relax and spend time with your family.
Remember, a Holiday is supposed to be enjoyable. If it’s not, figure out why it isn’t and change it. Skip the big complicated meal, the fancy desserts and the good china and make it as simple as you are able to handle.
Start your own tradition….and make it about family!
Happy Holiday !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, October 29, 2012
Are You Ready for Winter ?
It's getting colder! We've even had snow. Are you ready?
There are a number of things that you need to do to get organized and ready for winter. Starting with your car.
Do you have your snow brush in your car? How about a snow scrapper? Are they inside your car? Not in your trunk.
A shovel for digging yourself out when you get stuck?
How about a blanket - just in case.
Extra gloves? A hat?
A flashlight for flagging down help?
Flairs?
What about a bag of sand (or whatever your city allows) for putting under your tires for extra traction when you are stuck.
And don't forget some snacks for the kids if you have to wait for a tow truck for hours.
It might sound silly or depending on where you live it could be just common sense. But people tend to forget that they need to be organized for emergencies.
Unfortunately emergencies aren't usually written on your calendar....they just happen.
So be prepared - have extra supplies in your car..... just in case!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
There are a number of things that you need to do to get organized and ready for winter. Starting with your car.
Do you have your snow brush in your car? How about a snow scrapper? Are they inside your car? Not in your trunk.
A shovel for digging yourself out when you get stuck?
How about a blanket - just in case.
Extra gloves? A hat?
A flashlight for flagging down help?
Flairs?
What about a bag of sand (or whatever your city allows) for putting under your tires for extra traction when you are stuck.
And don't forget some snacks for the kids if you have to wait for a tow truck for hours.
It might sound silly or depending on where you live it could be just common sense. But people tend to forget that they need to be organized for emergencies.
Unfortunately emergencies aren't usually written on your calendar....they just happen.
So be prepared - have extra supplies in your car..... just in case!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Time and Priorities
Time is something that we can't control. I know. I've tried. I keep saying "if only I had a few more hours in the day....".
But, then what? You could cram more things into your life? Step back and take a look at what's important. Do you really have to do all of the things that you try to do? Really? Are you being honest with yourself? Or are you just trying to impress all of the people around you with how much you can cram into your day and your life?
I remember when the kids were little and one of my neighbors had her kids in gymnastics, ballet, basketball, piano lessons.....and on and on. I was exhausted just listening to her. I know that they didn't really have the money for all of the activities but it seemed like it was "expected" of the parents. Give the kids everything. But at what price?
Doing too much costs you time, money and your sanity. Let's be honest!
Kids get tired just like adults. They need "down time". They should be allowed to run outside and play, without being dragged from one "activity" to the next.
And adults...... same thing goes for you. Are you involved in too many activities that you don't have enough time for yourself? Or your family?
Are you on too many committees and trying to impress too many people with how busy and exhausted you are?
Step back and re-think your priorities. Family should come first. That doesn't mean that you drag them to every possible event. It means that you give them your time. Your undivided attention. That is more precious than everything else in their life.
Time..... It goes by too quickly!
Re-examine your priorities. Yes, you can have activities.....but don't go overboard. Do what feels right for you.... not everyone else. You don't need to impress your neighbors with how busy you are.
Have a great week and remember..... Less Clutter in your Life makes for a happier you !
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
But, then what? You could cram more things into your life? Step back and take a look at what's important. Do you really have to do all of the things that you try to do? Really? Are you being honest with yourself? Or are you just trying to impress all of the people around you with how much you can cram into your day and your life?
I remember when the kids were little and one of my neighbors had her kids in gymnastics, ballet, basketball, piano lessons.....and on and on. I was exhausted just listening to her. I know that they didn't really have the money for all of the activities but it seemed like it was "expected" of the parents. Give the kids everything. But at what price?
Doing too much costs you time, money and your sanity. Let's be honest!
Kids get tired just like adults. They need "down time". They should be allowed to run outside and play, without being dragged from one "activity" to the next.
And adults...... same thing goes for you. Are you involved in too many activities that you don't have enough time for yourself? Or your family?
Are you on too many committees and trying to impress too many people with how busy and exhausted you are?
Step back and re-think your priorities. Family should come first. That doesn't mean that you drag them to every possible event. It means that you give them your time. Your undivided attention. That is more precious than everything else in their life.
Time..... It goes by too quickly!
Re-examine your priorities. Yes, you can have activities.....but don't go overboard. Do what feels right for you.... not everyone else. You don't need to impress your neighbors with how busy you are.
Have a great week and remember..... Less Clutter in your Life makes for a happier you !
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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