12 Days to Organized the Holidays - pt4

The holidays are such a wonderful time of year! There is food, and gifts and we get to reflect on how thankful we are for our bounty. This is also a great time of year to seize the chance to begin anew with the welcoming of a New Year. In organizing your home, thinking ahead to the holidays can be just the nudge you need to get you off on the right foot.

     In the organizing industry, the term for clearing away unwanted or unneeded items is called a purge. Purging your home of items that you no longer use or no longer honor your home can be a freeing event! With an increase in shopping, more items naturally arrive in our homes. Between decorations, gifts, baking, etc. it can get down right overwhelming. Now is a great time to look around your home for items that you have that no longer work, either physically or spatially. Do you have a replacement on your list to Santa? If so, consider donating the item or passing it on to a local charity. Year-end is a great time to not only think of others in need, but rack up those charitable deductions for Uncle Sam.

• Donate or toss old bakeware, blankets and clothing that could be used elsewhere. Consider local animal shelters and women's shelters in addition to larger donation drop-off centers like Goodwill. 

• Stock up on storage containers for items that are out of season. Don't forget to use that label maker to mark the bins for easy access next year! Color coding works well too. Use orange bins for Halloween items, green or red for Christmas, etc. 
• Sort through papers on your desk or other work area (don't forget the junk drawer!) and gather receipts in a manilla envelope for tax time. Don't forget to label the envelope with the tax year and title for easy reference. Trash or shred other papers that you deem unimportant. 
• Be realistic  when it comes to your Christmas lists. Do you have a home for the items that you're requesting? Remember, on December 26th, if you don't have a home the gift can lose it's fun if it becomes clutter. 
• Encourage your children to get in on the fun. Are they asking for new action figures? Books? Games? Sorting through current toys and tossing or donating will easily make room for new. This is also a great opportunity to teach your children a valuable lesson on charity and organization! 
• Find the right home for gifts. Consider passing along those trinket gifts that can pile up from various parties or events. Uncle Ralph collects coffee mugs? He may love the silly reindeer one that your boss passed out to everyone in the office! 

     I hope these ideas will give you ideas on how to get a jump on the New Year and those organizing resolutions! If you are in the greater Atlanta area and would like help with those resolutions, contact us and let us know what your goals are and see how we can help!

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!

12 Days to Organize the Holidays- Part 2

Thank you all so much for your response to Part 1! I am also excited to see how this series will help you stay organized and hopefully reduce some of the holiday stress!

Today we are going to talk about festivities! This time of year brings a slew of parties and gatherings. Office parties, potlucks and family gatherings can fill your already busy schedule quickly. It can also add the demands of bringing gifts for the host or hostess or a dish to share. Here are a few tips on how to reduce your workload and enjoy the festivities!

Tip #1 - Hostess with the Mostess!

       A great host makes a great party. Unless it is a potluck style foray, the host or hostess has been generous enough to open their homes and their wallets to show their guests a good time. Hosting an event can be seriously stressful. It is always good manners to offer to bring something to the event, such as a bottle of wine, flowers or dessert. My mother always said to never arrive to a party empty handed, but be mindful of what you bring with these thoughts:
* Unsolicited food meant to be served at the party could throw a hitch into your hosts' plans.
* A bouquet of flowers can be lovely, but opt for an arrangement that is already in a vase or container.
* Consider bringing a homemade coffee cake or basket of muffins for the morning after. Your host will appreciate not having to cook the morning after a late party.


Tip #2 - Cook Once

     Everyone has a signature dish, even if it is cookies from the deli of your local grocery store! Taking time to double or triple a recipe that you may already be bringing to an event and  storing 2nd and 3rd servings in the freezer in disposable pans can be a huge time saver. The night before the event you can just defrost the item and heat it as you get ready. Baked goods using in season fruits and veggies is always a welcomed addition to any table, or as a hostess gift (see #1). I have pinned a few recipes on our Pinterest page to help!


Tip #3 - Don't Fill Your Dance Card

      During the holidays we can often over schedule ourselves which will always lead to stress. Parties and gatherings can be fun, but also taxing. Don't feel abrogated to accept every invitation. It is perfectly OK to politely decline with a simple, "Oh it sounds like fun, but I/we already have other plans that night!" Hot chocolate and catching up on your Netflix feed are legit plans!




I hope these tips will help you put a little more jingle in your bells! Tune in tomorrow for ways to declutter in a dash before hosting an event. If you want The Organized Stork to deliver a little calm and confidence to your home this holiday season, contact us and let us know how we can help!

12 Days to Organize the Holidays - Part 1

The holidays can be such a time of fun, food and family...but they can also be a time of stress.  This short series will address some tips for overcoming the stress of the holidays, and even for getting a jump start on your New Year!  Follow these simple tips to cut down on holiday stress and clutter.

Out With The Old, In With The New!

It is always important to begin at the beginning. The first step to becoming (and staying!) organized is to declutter. Making a home for items that no longer work for you or are honored doesn't make practical sense. By decluttering, we are weeding out those items that simply take up space without adding value to your life. When we declutter, we are able to take stock of the items we currently own (hello, 4 sets of measuring cups when you never bake!)

         * Begin by taking stock of items in your home that can be donated or may need disposed of if they are damaged. Making donations of gently used item to Goodwill, Salvation Army or other charities can often be a boost to your wallet in the form of a tax deduction. This will also make space for those gifts that Santa brings!

         * Make a list and check it twice! It's no secret that making written lists can help you stay organized. Lists help you gain perspective and focus. By taking stock of what you already have, you can make your Christmas wish lists knowing that you won't be duplicating items you already own. This will save unnecessary items from coming in to your space. Making lists of those gifts that you want to give is also very helpful. By making a list of who to buy for and exactly what you would like to gift, you will avoid making extra purchases. This will help to keep you on budget and feeling like the Grinch when your credit card bills arrive in January.

         * Be generous to others, without breaking the bank. Have Grandma's china taking up valuable cabinet space and you never use it? Pass it along to a family member who may have been eyeing it for awhile! Did Aunt Sally give you another set of fuzzy slippers? Perhaps a women's shelter is in need. Don't feel guilty for  regifting passing gifts on to a better home. Consider it spreading holiday cheer!

These tips should get you off to the right start organizing start this holiday season. If you would like our help in organizing your home, contact us today to see how we can help!


From our home to yours, Merry Christmas! 

Resurrected!

Oh organizing blog, how I've missed you!!!

It has been almost 4 years since I have posted here, but this blog has not been gone, nor forgotten! Life happened, many sad and trying times for our family, but with the help of God we have landed on our feet...in Georgia!

The quads are now on the downhill slide to the big 3, which accounts for the majority of my radio silence. The twins are now homeschooled and we love the new lifestyle. Homeschooling has provided a great learning environment for flexing my organizing muscles! Schedules, learning supplies and an unusual amount of craft supplies have entered my home. The most surprising result of all of this has been a softening of my Type A personality! However, a tiny blonde has also entered the scene in the last 3 years and she proves that organizing is in the blood!

Blogging has been on my heart lately. I have learned so much as not just an organizer, but as a mother since our 4 miracles have come into our home, and one was called to Heaven. I hope to provide some tips and tricks that I have learned along the way, but more importantly, to help YOU with your daily challenges. So, if you have a suggestion for a post or a question, feel free to post a comment. I promise you aren't the only one with that question. As moms, we should support each other and I hope that this is a place where we can do just that!

Next up.....LAUNDRY!

Are you feeling it?

As I flipped through my newsfeed on Facebook, one post jumped out at me. My friend who I would describe as organized, was feeling the holiday rush crunch. "Things won't be as hectic in January" the post read.  I couldn't help but think of how a post on how to create a productive To Do List may be helpful. If your thoughts are organized then you have won! G.I. Joe had it right....Knowing is half the battle!!

I love large sized calendars. You know, the desk top size that every teacher has! It's fantastic for jotting down due dates of projects, calls to return or doctors appointments. The main reason I love  them? The date boxes allow for a sufficient amount of information, but they don't allow for a mile long To Do List to creep in! If it doesn't fit on the calendar, it doesn't FIT!


The holidays are a great time to remember helping and supporting others, but we can easily get burnt out by the requests for cookies for this bake sale, assist with costumes for the Christmas play, create programs for the church social....it can quickly add up! Remember, it is OK to politely decline and if you need an excuse, see above!


For years senior executives and other time-crunched people have used an A.B.C. approach to organizing your To Do List. It is common to write out 15-20 items and tackle 70% of the list and not have accomplished the most important thing because we tend to chose the easiest or least demanding time-wise to tackle first. Set your page up with three columns; A, B and C. The most important items go in column A, then B and finally C. This technique will allow you to visually see the tasks at hand and in what order they should be tackled.

As a final hint towards feeling more productive, as you write out your list, add a few items that you have already accomplished that day, in the corresponding category of A, B or C and cross them off! I always write "Make To Do List" and cross it off! :D

Holidays, here we go!

No doubt that you have all been surrounded with scary witches, pumpkins and more candy than you'll ever admit to your personal trainer, so it looks like the holidays are upon us once again.

It is so important to keep the focus on what really matters; family, friends and being together to celebrate this fantastic season. Being organized will help to alleviate much of the stress that has been known to creep in around  the holidays. During the next few weeks, I'll be blogging about different areas of our homes and lives and give you tips for getting those areas organized.

Your Home

With an increase in shopping, more items naturally arrive in our homes. Between decorations, gifts, baking, etc. it can get down right overwhelming. Now is a great time to look around your home for items that you have that no longer work, either physically or spatially. Do you have a replacement on your list to Santa? If so, consider donating the item or passing it on to a local charity. Year-end is a great time to not only think of others in need, but rack up those charitable deductions for Uncle Sam.

• Donate or toss old bakeware, blankets and clothing that could be used elsewhere.

• Stock up on storage containers for items that are out of season. Don't forget to use that label maker to mark the bins for easy access next year! Color coding works well too. Use orange bins for Halloween items, green or red for Christmas, etc. 
• Sort through papers on your desk or other work area (don't forget the junk drawer!) and gather receipts in a manilla envelope for tax time. Don't forget to label the envelope with the tax year for easy reference. Trash or shred other papers that you deem unimportant. 
• Be realistic  when it comes to your Christmas lists. Do you have a home for the items that you're requesting? Remember, on December 26th, if you don't have a home the gift can lose it's fun if it becomes clutter. 
• Encourage your children to get in on the fun. Are they asking for new action figures? Books? Games? Sorting through current toys and tossing or donating will easily make room for new. This is also a great opportunity to teach your children a valuable lesson on charity and organization! 

Enjoy the start of this glorious season!