It's Time to Start Writing Out Your Christmas Cards!

Thanksgiving is over and the stores are primed for Christmas.  Sales and Santa's are everywhere.

It's hard to enjoy one holiday at a time when they all seem to run together. But this is the time to remember your family and friends and reach out to people, your friends and family, that you have neglected over the past year. It's not entirely your fault. We are inundated with so many obligations that we can barely keep up with everything and friends sometimes go by the wayside.

So instead of sending out Christmas cards where you barely sign your name to the card - write a short note that really means something.  Not a "form letter" that you send to every person in your address book. Write something special and meaningful to each person individually. A few sentences mean a lot.

Start now. A few cards every day so that you are not overwhelmed. Make it personal.


With email and texting, cards and real letters seem to have gone by the wayside. But getting a piece of real mail means something. Something special!

So start now - one card at a time. And before you know it, you will be done.

Happy Holidays!

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

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Getting Your Family to Help with Clutter and Organization

One of the most asked questions that I receive as a Professional Organizer is "how do I get my family to help me keep our home clutter free and organized"?

Well - the answer is not easy. And every family will have a different way of doing things.

A few suggestions:


Start when the kids are young. Have them put away their toys and clothes. It's never to early to start them on the road to an organized life. They can start as early as 3 (yes, they can put away their toys - one toy at a time).

Near the end of the evening - stop whatever you are doing - and spend 10 minutes picking up after yourselves. Hang up the coats, put away the shoes, take the dishes & cups out of the living room and put them back into the kitchen. If everyone picks up after themselves - it does not fall on "the mom" and the house will look much better. 

Try setting an alarm for 30 minutes and have everyone clean one area. If everyone pitches in - the house can look spotless!

Make a chore list for each member of the family. Have a special treat for whoever finishes all of their chores.

If you have kids - and have a chore list - rotate the chores with the kids. That way they get to do different chores each week. Some they will like and some they won't. By doing this one person isn't always stuck doing the "yucky" chores.

Have a chore bowl.  Let everyone pick a chore out of the bowl and give them a deadline as to when it must be done.

Don't save all of the chores for the weekend. Spread them out over the week so it won't feel like you are wasting your weekend on cleaning.

Do something fun after a big cleaning episode!  Reward yourself. Something as simple as going out for a hike and enjoying nature. Or have an ice cream!

By breaking up the "must do because that's life" chores with some fun and rewards - it will help your family act as a family unit.

Everyone lives in the house - everyone works together.

That's what a family is all about !



Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

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Traveling for the Holidays - Be Prepared

A lot of people will be traveling for the Holiday. Take the stress out of your 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 all of the clothes and personal items that you will need on the list.

Don't forget coats, gloves, scarves. Also, a blanket in the car is always handy - especially in the winter.

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 future travels go much smoother.

Happy Traveling...... and a Happy Holiday !


Organizational Consulting Services

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life


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The Holidays Are Almost Upon Us - Get Ready For Thanksgiving

It's that time of year again!  The holidays are fast approaching. Everyone is already in a frenzy.  The stores are bombarding us with advertisements and sales. People have Christmas lights up already and it's not even Thanksgiving!

Take a deep breath. And let's get through one holiday at a time.

Re-read this Thanksgiving article:




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 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 Stewart's 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 it’s 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

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Getting Your Closet Ready for Winter

I don't want to put my shorts away! And I will probably still wear them - but it might be time to pull out a pair of long pants! When the wind blows at 30 mph - it gets a bit nippy!

I love the fall and sweater weather!  So - I guess it's time to take a look at your closet and get ready for the fall and winter.

If you are lucky enough to have a big closet where you don't have to change out your clothes with the season - then you might not have to go to the lengths that a lot of people have to go through.

With closet space being at a premium - and people having a "lot" of clothes - the winter/summer shuffle happens every year.

Be honest - and be realistic. As you take out your clothes - look at each and every piece of clothing and make the "big" decision. 

# 1     Does it still fit ?
# 2     Do I still like it ?
# 3     Do I still wear it ?  If so - when was the last time I wore it ?
# 4     Is it in good shape ?

If you can't answer "yes" to all of the above questions - Get Rid of It!

This is especially true for kids - as they tend to outgrow their clothes at an alarming speed! If the kids summer clothes still fit now - you have to judge it you think they will fit by next spring. It all depends on the age of the kids and their growth pattern.

Once you have cleared out all of your summer clothes and put them into piles of keep, donate, mend....  then it's time to put your fall/winter clothes back into the closet.

You should go through the same procedure as above. Make sure the clothes still fit and you still like them and wear them.  If not - why have them take up valuable closet space?

Putting things back in your closet by color (yes, I do that....) makes it easier to find something when you are looking for a certain piece of clothing.

An organized closet makes getting dressed and out the door in the morning easier and stress free!

Happy Fall!



Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

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It's Fall - Organize Your Garage - Winter is Coming

It's officially Fall! That means no more fun summer activities like tubing on the river, kayaking and all of the other summer activities we love so much.

The leaves are falling, the weather is turning windy and cool and we need to start preparing for winter!  That means clearing out the garage of all of the summer toys and getting ready for snow!

Start by emptying out your entire garage. Yes, it's a lot of work - but it needs to be done (at least twice a year!). 

Be realistic and take a good look at what you have in your garage. If there are toys for kids (skates, bikes, scooters.....) you will need to decide if they have outgrown the toys - or will have outgrown them by next spring. If so, now is the time to get rid of them (donate, give to another family.....).

If there are other things in your garage that you have not used or will not use again - get rid of them.

Sweep out your garage - now - while it's empty.

Make sure that your lawnmower, trimmer and any other machinery that you use is cleaned and empty out any fuel it might still have in it. Store them in the back of the garage.

Make sure that your snowblower is working and ready for winter.

Put your snow gear (snowblower, shovels, ice melt.....) near the front of the garage with easy access.

The snow will be coming soon!  Be ready!



Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

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Clutter - Keeping Memories

Clutter comes in a variety of disguises. Sometimes it appears as "important" objects that we feel the need to keep "because" someone special gave it to us or it meant something to "someone".

But the question is - does it mean anything to us?  Is it important to us?  Or - is it "still" important to us.

As time goes by - our life changes.  Our interests, our friends, what was once important to us - they all change.

So why are we keeping things that no longer mean anything to us?  Or things that never really meant anything to us - just to the people that gave it to us?

Friends and family mean well.  They give us things that they think we will like - or that they like - and they expect us to keep them and cherish them as they did.

But is that fair to us?  What if we really don't like what they gave us or if we have no room for the object or if the object doesn't really mean anything to us?

Do we really need to keep it - forever?

Sometimes things mean a lot to us - at the time. But what usually happens is that as we change - as our interests change - as our lives change - we don't get rid of things that no longer mean anything to us. Or things that have lost their meaning or value.

Letting go of sentimental things - memories - is really hard.  But keeping them doesn't really change the fact that we no longer have the same attachment to them.  Or that we no longer have the space for them.

Don't let the guilt of letting objects go stop you from letting them go.  You can keep the memories if they are good ones and pass the object on to another person that might care about it. Or if the memory is a painful one - let it go and reclaim your life.

You are not obligated to keep anyone else's "stuff".  Letting go is not always easy - but it is a part of growing up.

Let is go - without guilt. Reclaim your space and your own life.


Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

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