12 Days to Organize the Holidays - pt3

      As a slight piggyback from yesterday's post, today I want to talk about your home. The catalyst for this post is specifically preparing for a party that you are hosting, but the bones of these principles can really be applied throughout the year!

      I love a good party, but I rarely host them. I would love to have a get-together where all of my close friends just dropped by, I magically whipped up trays of delicious food in 30 seconds and all of my guests felt loved and welcomed because my friends and family love me 'as is'.

     Well, that doesn't happen! It's really a personal issue. As a professional organizer, being Type A can sometimes be a hindrance. It's true! I can drive my poor, sweet husband batty with all of the details. He is totally a Type A personality himself, but with a strange Type B streak that I just don't understand. I make lists upon lists for weeks leading up to the event. I try to balance a menu with healthy options and options that are allergy free. I think about what kids can eat as well as what would fit in my budget. What can I say...my parents owned a restaurant so I grew up with a great education on catering events!

     So between my early education in professional kitchens and catering halls to my skills as a professional organizer, allow me to pass on a few tips for hosting a successful party.


#1 - Make a list and check it twice!

     With our busy schedules, there is no way anyone could remember everything between menus and guests lists, written lists are a life saver. A little early number crunching will help to know how much food to buy, space for seating and ensure no one is unintentionally left out in the cold without an invitation. Begin with broad lists; Menu, Guests and maybe a rough list of decorations, all on separate sheets of paper. Then each list can be expanded upon and referred to to make your planning streamlined. Refer to the Menu list for grocery items and be sure to double check that with your Guest list for anyone you know that may have a food allergy.

     As a side tip, this week I was asked about the difference between heavy hors d'oeuvres and light appetizers on invitations. The simplest answer I can give is that an appetizer is a small bite of food that precedes a meal. If the invitation says "Heavy hors d'oeuvres" then there will be no meal served, but there will simply be more finger foods than if someone was doing "light appetizers." Something to consider when planning your invitations to your guests!

#2 - Pace yourself.

     Much of the party prep can be done in advance, especially if you choose items for your menu that will hold in the fridge or freezer. Pasta salads, rolls, cookies, pies and cold sides like cranberry sauce are good for this. Do deeper cleaning 24-48 hours in advance of the party like bathrooms and living rooms. That way the day of the party you can just do a 30 second wipe down and maybe light vacuuming.

#3 - Recruit help!

     I always say, "Behind every successful woman is a great team!" Superwoman is a myth and there ain't no shame in asking for help! (My husband is looking at me funny on this one. Perhaps I should practice this preaching a tiny bit more.) But seriously, let older kids clean mirrors while littles help dust with a cleaning wand. The house will shine in no time! And do not feel guilty about picking up party trays and letting KFC or Pizza Hut do the cooking!

#4- Remember the goal.

     "I'm so happy my loved ones had a great time and I am so glad I was stuck in the kitchen cooking and cleaning all night!"said no host ever! Set yourself up for success with a little preplanning and keeping in mind what is important...spending time with family and friends and enjoying their company.

     Add to these tips in the comments! What is your helpful hint to keep your holiday parties balanced?


To learn more about organizing your home, and if you are located in the greater Atlanta area, contact us today to see how we can deliver calm and confidence to your home!

Save dinner!

There is little worse at the 5:00 o'clock hour than realizing that you are missing one or two ingrediants required for dinner. UGH! No alfredo sauce, no shredded cheese for tacos..you get the idea. To avoid PB&J's, again, a few simple hints and tips will put dinner back on the table!

• Make a complete list of items regularly purchased by the entire family. Like this Deluxe list or this Vegetarian list. Just print out a few copies, stick them to your fridge and when you are running low on an item just mark it! When menu planning, just make a check mark. No need to make a second list for the store - just take the one from the fridge! Hint: Make a special notation, like highlighting an item, when you have a coupon. It will save time & money!
• If organizing your pantry in great detail is too much, try dedicating areas or specific shelves to items or categories.  For example, top shelf is for cereals and taller boxes, foil/plastic bags/etc. The right side of the second shelf is the "kid" shelf. You'll be able to see at a glance if you're running low on their snacks, mac n' cheese, etc.....you get the idea!
• Use bins to corral smaller items that may get lost between larger boxes or behind loose cans. There are so many great bins of all sizes and colors that will match your needs.
• Have a back up plan! For those nights that your schedule is so hectic and nothing seems to go right, keep a  pizza or homemade lasagna and a bag of veggies in the freezer. Just heat and eat!

Following these tips will help your family enjoy a less stressful evening, save money and time by eliminating last-minute trips to the store and save TONS of money by not eating out. Your waist line may thank you too!