The decorations and cooking supplies are already out in the stores. The holidays will be starting soon. There are a lot of things to think about and a lot of things to get organized.
Here's an article that was written some years back - it's time to read it again:
************************************************************
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! Last year I 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. 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/
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query thanksgiving. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query thanksgiving. Sort by date Show all posts
Monday, November 4, 2013
Monday, November 21, 2011
Another Thanksgiving....Are You Prepared ?
It's only a few days before Thanksgiving and people everywhere are rushing around trying to get everything done. They make food they haven't made all year, some of it most people don't even like.
Why? Because. That's all. Because that's what you are "supposed" to have for Thanksgiving.
So if no one in your family actually eats cranberries why do you continue to serve them?
Serve food that you and your family actually like and make the holiday something special for "you".
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.
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”.
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.
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.
By starting early and making lists and getting as much done ahead of time as possible you will avoid a lot of stress.
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.
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
Why? Because. That's all. Because that's what you are "supposed" to have for Thanksgiving.
So if no one in your family actually eats cranberries why do you continue to serve them?
Serve food that you and your family actually like and make the holiday something special for "you".
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.
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”.
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.
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.
By starting early and making lists and getting as much done ahead of time as possible you will avoid a lot of stress.
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.
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
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Thanksgiving advice
Thanksgiving is right around the corner.
For more information and great advice... re-read :
AN ORGANIZED AND STRESS FREE THANKSGIVING
http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/search?q=thanksgiving
For more information and great advice... re-read :
AN ORGANIZED AND STRESS FREE THANKSGIVING
http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/search?q=thanksgiving
Saturday, September 26, 2009
AN ORGANIZED HOLIDAY SEASON !
Yes, it’s getting to be “that time of year”…. And anxiety starts to build.
Why? Aren’t holidays supposed to be a “wonderful time of year” ? Of course they are…and they are also supposed to be about family and friends. Not “material things”.
Maybe with the current state of the economy people might now “get back to basics”. And learn to “enjoy” the holiday season.
That said I know that a number of my friends run around like maniacs and try to cram everything into the last minute right before the holiday. And the “joy” that’s supposed to be there….is only on T.V.
What goes into the Christmas holiday? Buying cards, sending cards, buying presents, wrapping presents, sending presents, decorating your house, decorating the tree, family dinners, holiday traditions….and so much more.
And all that is crammed into the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Why?
Where is it written that you can’t write Christmas cards until two or three weeks before Christmas? Why can’t you write them…..now? You can write out a few each day instead of cramming in a hundred cards in one sitting. The holiday police won’t come and get you!
Condense the time it takes to get cards ready by putting all of the people that you send cards to every year on computerized labels. It might be a bit time consuming at first but after that you can add, delete or change your list quickly. It will save you hours of writing out cards every year.
If you want to save even more time….get your cards pre-printed with your name on the inside.
If you want to save money….skip the (mailed) cards all together and send e-cards! One site that is free is http://www.123greetings.com/ They have cards for all occasions.
Take some time to sit down and make a “holiday schedule”. Put all of your parties, dinners, commitments on a calendar.
Plan your holiday meals and make a grocery list for each meal so that you aren’t scrambling at the last minute and forget something.
This year, instead of trying to do it all yourself divide the meal among your family / friends and have everyone make / bring something so that all of the work does not fall onto your shoulders. Yes, I know that “you” always do it all….but it’s time to let go and give yourself a break so that you too can enjoy the holidays.
Decorating the house and the tree. Some people go all out and decorate every room and multiple trees. Some people don’t decorate their tree until Christmas Eve. Some people don’t decorate at all. It’s all a matter of preference. But it should be a fun process and not a chore.
We have a tradition of decorating the day after Thanksgiving. It’s an all day process that includes Christmas music to get us in the mood. Singing at the top of our lungs. Champagne and snacks.
We talk about every ornament as it gets put up on the tree and my daughter whines about how embarrassing it is that I kept the ornament she made when she was five. I love that ornament. Almost as much as the one that I made when I was that age that I still have and proudly put on the tree every year.
The holidays are supposed to be about memories and tradition and keeping them is very important. No matter how horrible your year has been….by forcing yourself to follow tradition you too can find peace and a little happiness.
If you make it a fun day where everyone in the family takes part and helps it will not only get done faster but a tradition can be born and the kids will never know they had a “bonding moment”.
Holiday gifts….keep it simple and get back to the basics. I really look forward to my sister’s gift every year. She makes the best homemade pasta sauce and I am lucky enough to receive a gift basket of her sauce every year. One year she gave me something else and I was upset. She said she didn’t want to give me the same gift every year. But I really looked forward to it and a “ tradition “ was born. I make up a basket of dried herbs and herbed oils and vinegars that I make from my garden. Simple and made with love.
Everyone has a talent. Whether it’s cooking, baking, sewing, knitting or any number of other things. There is the ever popular “coupon book” idea. Kids can make up coupons for things like lawn mowing, babysitting, tutoring….
If you have a talent such as wallpapering or laying tile and your best friend doesn’t ….exchange your talent with her talent of decorating your house or having her cook you a few meals. You both get something you need and you also get the satisfaction that you helped a friend.
Gifts don’t need to be expensive and the most cherished ones are ones from the heart.
Wrapping gifts…. This is also a time consuming process. I don’t do it. I am the world’s worst gift wrapper. I stumbled across a sale of gift bags at Marc’s (3 for $1.00) and bought a ton of them in various sizes. Every gift is now put into a gift bag with tissue paper and I saved a ton of time wrapping and beating myself up over the fact that I am a terrible wrapper..
I always keep a supply of gift bags on hand….because you never know when you might need to give a gift throughout the year and wrapping paper is something that people tend to forget.
A good time to buy your supply is immediately after the holidays when everything is discounted 50 % – 75 %.
Wrap your gifts as you get them and have a spot set aside for them. But, you will need to keep a list of gifts that you already have so that you don’t forget what you have and who you bought it for. I keep a list for each family. Wrapping as you go is a lot more painless than sitting down and spending hours doing it at the last minute.
Start planning, organizing and putting your holiday plans into motion a little bit at a time so that you are not overwhelmed when they actually roll around.
Now that you have everything under control you can sit back and enjoy the holidays as they approach.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Why? Aren’t holidays supposed to be a “wonderful time of year” ? Of course they are…and they are also supposed to be about family and friends. Not “material things”.
Maybe with the current state of the economy people might now “get back to basics”. And learn to “enjoy” the holiday season.
That said I know that a number of my friends run around like maniacs and try to cram everything into the last minute right before the holiday. And the “joy” that’s supposed to be there….is only on T.V.
What goes into the Christmas holiday? Buying cards, sending cards, buying presents, wrapping presents, sending presents, decorating your house, decorating the tree, family dinners, holiday traditions….and so much more.
And all that is crammed into the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Why?
Where is it written that you can’t write Christmas cards until two or three weeks before Christmas? Why can’t you write them…..now? You can write out a few each day instead of cramming in a hundred cards in one sitting. The holiday police won’t come and get you!
Condense the time it takes to get cards ready by putting all of the people that you send cards to every year on computerized labels. It might be a bit time consuming at first but after that you can add, delete or change your list quickly. It will save you hours of writing out cards every year.
If you want to save even more time….get your cards pre-printed with your name on the inside.
If you want to save money….skip the (mailed) cards all together and send e-cards! One site that is free is http://www.123greetings.com/ They have cards for all occasions.
Take some time to sit down and make a “holiday schedule”. Put all of your parties, dinners, commitments on a calendar.
Plan your holiday meals and make a grocery list for each meal so that you aren’t scrambling at the last minute and forget something.
This year, instead of trying to do it all yourself divide the meal among your family / friends and have everyone make / bring something so that all of the work does not fall onto your shoulders. Yes, I know that “you” always do it all….but it’s time to let go and give yourself a break so that you too can enjoy the holidays.
Decorating the house and the tree. Some people go all out and decorate every room and multiple trees. Some people don’t decorate their tree until Christmas Eve. Some people don’t decorate at all. It’s all a matter of preference. But it should be a fun process and not a chore.
We have a tradition of decorating the day after Thanksgiving. It’s an all day process that includes Christmas music to get us in the mood. Singing at the top of our lungs. Champagne and snacks.
We talk about every ornament as it gets put up on the tree and my daughter whines about how embarrassing it is that I kept the ornament she made when she was five. I love that ornament. Almost as much as the one that I made when I was that age that I still have and proudly put on the tree every year.
The holidays are supposed to be about memories and tradition and keeping them is very important. No matter how horrible your year has been….by forcing yourself to follow tradition you too can find peace and a little happiness.
If you make it a fun day where everyone in the family takes part and helps it will not only get done faster but a tradition can be born and the kids will never know they had a “bonding moment”.
Holiday gifts….keep it simple and get back to the basics. I really look forward to my sister’s gift every year. She makes the best homemade pasta sauce and I am lucky enough to receive a gift basket of her sauce every year. One year she gave me something else and I was upset. She said she didn’t want to give me the same gift every year. But I really looked forward to it and a “ tradition “ was born. I make up a basket of dried herbs and herbed oils and vinegars that I make from my garden. Simple and made with love.
Everyone has a talent. Whether it’s cooking, baking, sewing, knitting or any number of other things. There is the ever popular “coupon book” idea. Kids can make up coupons for things like lawn mowing, babysitting, tutoring….
If you have a talent such as wallpapering or laying tile and your best friend doesn’t ….exchange your talent with her talent of decorating your house or having her cook you a few meals. You both get something you need and you also get the satisfaction that you helped a friend.
Gifts don’t need to be expensive and the most cherished ones are ones from the heart.
Wrapping gifts…. This is also a time consuming process. I don’t do it. I am the world’s worst gift wrapper. I stumbled across a sale of gift bags at Marc’s (3 for $1.00) and bought a ton of them in various sizes. Every gift is now put into a gift bag with tissue paper and I saved a ton of time wrapping and beating myself up over the fact that I am a terrible wrapper..
I always keep a supply of gift bags on hand….because you never know when you might need to give a gift throughout the year and wrapping paper is something that people tend to forget.
A good time to buy your supply is immediately after the holidays when everything is discounted 50 % – 75 %.
Wrap your gifts as you get them and have a spot set aside for them. But, you will need to keep a list of gifts that you already have so that you don’t forget what you have and who you bought it for. I keep a list for each family. Wrapping as you go is a lot more painless than sitting down and spending hours doing it at the last minute.
Start planning, organizing and putting your holiday plans into motion a little bit at a time so that you are not overwhelmed when they actually roll around.
Now that you have everything under control you can sit back and enjoy the holidays as they approach.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, November 1, 2010
STARTING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
The holidays are right around the corner. Before you know it Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here.
I am sure that you are all ready. All prepared. All organized. And calm.
Glad to hear it. Now that makes two of us !
I’m sure that you’ve already been exposed to Christmas ads and holiday stuff wherever you turn. And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet.
The stress is starting to set in. Some people already can’t wait for the holidays to be over. How sad.
It’s supposed to be a happy time. A time for family and friends to get together. But the pressure to put on a great holiday meal and have a festive house is too much for most people.
Don’t let the commercialism spoil things for you.
Dig deep into yourself and try to remember how much you loved the holidays as a child and try to re-create that feeling…without the commercialism.
Start by knowing if you are going to host the holiday meal this year or if you are going to someone else’s house and will only have to bring an item for dinner. If you are bringing an item be sure to ask the host / hostess what they prefer that you bring. Let them set the menu. Don’t force your ideas on them. You can have a chance later.
If you are hosting the holiday dinner then it’s time to get started on planning your menu. Write everything out and go over the menu with your family. Let everyone feel that they are participating in the planning of the meal. Holidays are a time for favorite foods. They will always be the best memory of the holiday.
When planning your desserts also think ahead for the Christmas holidays and plan on buying enough of the baking supplies that you need to get you through that holiday. You might as well get it out of the way all at once.
Once you have your menu set break it down into ingredients and put whatever you will need to buy on a shopping list. Remember, some things you might not be able to buy until right before the holiday.
If you’re like me and like to make enough food and desserts for everyone to take home be sure that you have enough plastic containers or cookies containers for everyone. You can buy inexpensive plastic containers because you might not get yours back for a long time. There are plenty of really cute holiday cookie containers available. Wait for a sale and grab a few. They make great gifts if filled with holiday cookies.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
I am sure that you are all ready. All prepared. All organized. And calm.
Glad to hear it. Now that makes two of us !
I’m sure that you’ve already been exposed to Christmas ads and holiday stuff wherever you turn. And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet.
The stress is starting to set in. Some people already can’t wait for the holidays to be over. How sad.
It’s supposed to be a happy time. A time for family and friends to get together. But the pressure to put on a great holiday meal and have a festive house is too much for most people.
Don’t let the commercialism spoil things for you.
Dig deep into yourself and try to remember how much you loved the holidays as a child and try to re-create that feeling…without the commercialism.
Start by knowing if you are going to host the holiday meal this year or if you are going to someone else’s house and will only have to bring an item for dinner. If you are bringing an item be sure to ask the host / hostess what they prefer that you bring. Let them set the menu. Don’t force your ideas on them. You can have a chance later.
If you are hosting the holiday dinner then it’s time to get started on planning your menu. Write everything out and go over the menu with your family. Let everyone feel that they are participating in the planning of the meal. Holidays are a time for favorite foods. They will always be the best memory of the holiday.
When planning your desserts also think ahead for the Christmas holidays and plan on buying enough of the baking supplies that you need to get you through that holiday. You might as well get it out of the way all at once.
Once you have your menu set break it down into ingredients and put whatever you will need to buy on a shopping list. Remember, some things you might not be able to buy until right before the holiday.
If you’re like me and like to make enough food and desserts for everyone to take home be sure that you have enough plastic containers or cookies containers for everyone. You can buy inexpensive plastic containers because you might not get yours back for a long time. There are plenty of really cute holiday cookie containers available. Wait for a sale and grab a few. They make great gifts if filled with holiday cookies.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, November 25, 2013
Holiday Cards - Start Now
It's not even Thanksgiving but already the stores are primed for Christmas. Sales and Santa's are everywhere.
You can't get away from it. It's sad. Thanksgiving is over before it even gets here and commercialism has taken over.
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 all of the kids activities that friends sometimes go by the wayside.
So instead of sending 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!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Have a great THANKSGIVING filled with lots of stuffing!
Wishing you and yours a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING !
Organizational Consulting Services
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Christmas Cards - A Lost Art
Thanksgiving is over and the stores are primed for Christmas. Sales and Santa's are everywhere.
You can't get away from it. It's sad. It seems that commercialism has taken over.
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 all of the kids activities that friends sometimes go by the wayside.
So instead of sending 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!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, November 27, 2017
On to the Next Holiday - 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
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, November 24, 2014
Holidays and Shopping - Should You or Shouldn't You ?
The holidays are just around the corner. The malls are busy with shoppers and even Santa has already made an appearance. Guess everyone forgot that Thanksgiving comes first!
I'll skip telling you that the holidays are about more than shopping - they are about family, friends and remembering the important things in life. The reality is - people are going to be shopping and buying and buying and buying..... STUFF !
Everyone has good intentions. Everyone is trying to make all the people in their lives "happy" by buying them gifts.
But - is it really what they want? Or are you buying what you want or think they will like?
People have so much stuff that they already don't know what to do with and really don't want - but they are afraid to tell you.
When buying gifts - think about the person (not yourself - not what you want - not your taste....). Will they really like it? Do they really need it? And the most important question -
" Do they have room for it in their home ???? "
If the person you are buying for has a small home or an apartment - they might not have room for your gift. If you have bought them things in the past - and you have never seen them wear it or display it - maybe you should re-think your selections.
A few ideas that take up little or no room:
* Fruit baskets (healthy and something that people don't usually buy for themselves)
* Any gourmet food that people would love to try and think it's too decadent to splurge on
* Gift card for a service - massage, car wash coupons, movie tickets....
* Coupon for babysitting, snow shoveling, grass mowing...
* CD's or movies (add popcorn for a great evening)
There are a lot of options that take up little room and get used up quickly and don't leave a mess.....
Don't add clutter to someone's home.... just because you feel that you need to give them a gift. Think about what they really need - in the most simplest of terms - and you will be amazed at how much happier they will be when they don't have to pretend that they like the sweater that you bought them.
Happy Holidays!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Sunday, November 25, 2018
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
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, December 7, 2020
Christmas is approaching.....Are You Ready?
Now that we have gotten past Thanksgiving - it's time to start thinking about the next holiday.
Now is the time to reach out to people and plan some holiday visits - virtually that is! It's not the same as being able to visit in person - but right now people need to stay in touch more than ever.
It's getting close to Christmas and a lot of people still haven't even put up a tree or sent out cards.
The
holidays are not a time to be stressed so don't beat yourself up over
not getting everything done. It you are running out of time you have to
decide what you can live without so that you don't drive yourself crazy.
Being
organized is about "time management". If you haven't finished
everything on your list give yourself the gift of "not finishing". Let
it go. Most people that I know haven't even sent out their cards yet,
so you are not alone.
BUT.... this should give
you some incentive to start earlier next year! If you have your 2021
calendar, open it up and put a note in the calendar for some of the
things that you need to accomplish for the holidays. For example:
* Write out cards
* Start Xmas shopping
* Decorate the house
By using your calendar and making "appointments" with yourself you will be more likely to get things done on time.
Time Management at home is just as important as in the workplace.
Schedule
some time each day to get the some of your projects
done, but allow some extra "breathing" time so that you don't get to the
holiday and just wish it would go away.
Anything
that you can't realistically get done at this point.... LET IT GO! For some people
being a perfectionist causes too much stress and actually wastes time.
Learn from your "disorganization" and last minute "craziness" and know
that you can do better next year.
And remember,
if your family wants a great holiday they should be willing to help you.
Don't try to do it all yourself. Assign tasks to everyone and work
together to make this holiday season a good one.
For more great organizing ideas during the Holidays:
Re-read: Holiday Gift Ideas.... or Dont's
http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday-gift-ideas-or-donts.html
Re-read: Planning Ahead for the Holidays
http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/2011/10/planning-ahead-for-holidays.html
Re-read: Organizing Your Closets for Christmas
http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/2011/12/organizing-your-closets-for-christmas.html
Happy Holidays!
Less Clutter = Less
Stress SM in
your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.
Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....
Monday, November 18, 2019
Get Ready to Start Writing Out Your Christmas Cards!
On to the next Holiday!
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!
OK - if you don't want to send out "real" cards - because of the cost of the card or postage - how about if you sent out an eCard ??? There are FREE sites that will allow you to send out FREE cards- and schedule when they are sent. You could send out a bunch of cards - with a note attached - all with the touch of a button. It's not the same as a card you can touch - but it's the next best thing.
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
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Sunday, November 27, 2022
It's Time to Send Out Those Christmas Cards.....
And now - the next holiday.....
Thanksgiving is over and the stores are primed for Christmas. Sales and Santa's are everywhere.
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!
OK - if you don't want to send out "real" cards - because of the cost of the card or postage - how about if you sent out an eCard ??? There are FREE sites that will allow you to send out FREE cards - and you can schedule when you want them to be sent out. You could send out a bunch of cards - with a note attached - all with the touch of a button. It's not the same as a card you can touch - but it's the next best thing.
So start now - one card at a time. And before you know it, you will be done.
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.
Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....
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