by kathilipp | Dec 6, 2015 | Blog, Christmas, Clutter Free |
Take some time today to meal plan every day up until Christmas as well as Christmas dinner (I promise you will thank me later). Spend time in the kitchen today taking stock of what you have, what you need, and what meals you will make your family each night for dinner. Be sure to look at your calendar for any nights you have plans. If you need to take a dish to an event, mark that on the meal plan, so you know how to prep and shop.
If you have dinner at another home or event, revel in a night off! Either way, it goes on the meal plan. Make life easier by utilizing LOOP (Leftovers On Purpose) meals and frozen meals whether they are yours or store bought. Once you are all planned out, make a list of ingredients you need to buy as well as perishable items you will need to buy last minute.
Another great idea to make your life even easier is to have a frozen meal swap with friends. You can do this one of two ways: One way is to invite (with Evite of course) your friends to your home. Everyone brings ingredients to make a meal of their choice that is freezer friendly (enough to share with however many friends are joining in on the fun). Then you all help with the cooking, family portions are placed into gallon zip lock bags ready to freeze, and everyone goes home with a variety of meals to freeze and enjoy throughout the month.
Another way is for everyone to make something at home (enough to share family portions with anyone participating), freeze them, and swap them with friends. This way, you might have made a huge batch of soup, but you might end up with soup, enchiladas, lasagna, and a chicken casserole.
Assignment: Spend some Time in the Kitchen
- Create your meal plan for the rest of the month.
- Plan your baking list so you know what you need to bake and when you’re going to do it.
- Plan out your Christmas dinner.
- Make a shopping list of all necessary ingredients. Divide list into non-perishables and perishables.
- Shop for non-perishables and the next few days’ meals.
- Make a list of things you will need to buy at the last minute.
Plan on making at least two LOOP meals a week. Cook twice, at four times.
Planning a party over the holidays? Be sure to include grocery items you might need. Need some party ideas, check out the possibilities over at Evite.
For More Details: Get Yourself Organized For Christmas – Page 102
Supplies: 1) Calendar 2) Meal Plan 3) Paper for Lists
Share Your Thoughts:
How did you feel about planning out all the meals? Did this make shopping easier? Any great LOOP recipes to share?
Having a party and want to add party supplies to this week’s shopping list? Check out this list from Evite to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. You’ve got this!
by kathilipp | Dec 5, 2015 | Blog, Christmas, Clutter Free |
Today my friends, is a fun day! You have permission to go surfing online to finish up your last minute shopping. You have the chance to sip coffee in your pj’s and shop for your loved ones all at the same time! No standing in long lines, feeling all hot and bothered with bag imprints going up your poor arms, no whining kids begging to go home already, no eye-rolling husbands waiting on you and no sore feet! No this is a day to celebrate, for we have this great invention called Amazon! YES!
Assignment:
Here’s your objective-find a great place to shop with great deals and shop away! (Don’t forget about places with free returns, free shipping or discounted shipping costs). This is going to be the best Clutter Free Christmas yet!
Here are some favorites:
*Amazon Prime
*Amazon Gift cards (printable, in e-form)
*Zappo’s
*Zulily
Need some more ideas? Evite has Instant Gifts you can purchase and send right from your computer.
For More Details: Get Yourself Organized For Christmas – Page 99
Share Your Thoughts:
Where do you like to go to get great deals? Are you one of those infamous Cyber Monday shoppers? Share with us your favorite places to online shop. Where do you find the best deals with the lowest costs on shipping and handling? Share with us on our page!
by kathilipp | Dec 4, 2015 | Blog, Christmas, Clutter Free |
Today is shipping day! Grab your packages, grab yourself a Starbucks, and brave the post office (the lines won’t be nearly as long this early in the game).
To make this day painless, take some time earlier in the week to familiarize yourself with USPS.com, print out labels, and pack everything up so it is ready to go for pick up (you can still enjoy a Starbucks if you like)! If you have never used USPS.com before, this may just be the most magical part of your Christmas this year.
Assignment: Ship Your Boxes.
- Learn how to ship using USPS.com
- Use Priority Mail Boxes
Priority mail can be picked up at your house the next day.
Check out Kathi’s Quick Tips in the book for ideas for packaging and sending.
If you realize after the fact you missed someone, check out the gifts over at Evite. They can be ordered and shipped directly to someone.
For More Details: Get Yourself Organized For Christmas – Page 96
Supplies: 1) Gifts 2) Priority Mail boxes 3) Mailing labels
Share Your Thoughts:
Did you have any gifts to send? Did you mail them or order online? Do you have any quick tips to share pertaining to packing and mailing gifts?
Speaking of gifts, here’s a question I get asked quite a bit every year and Evite has the proper etiquette down. “Should I bring a hostess gift to that party?”
by kathilipp | Dec 3, 2015 | Blog, Christmas, Clutter Free, Me, The Me Project |
When was the last time you made time for yourself? Like literally planning nothing? Now sure, you may write on your calendar ‘get pedicure’ (that counts) but there is this GLORIOUS thing on a calendar called white space. Have you heard of it?? It is literally that… space for nothing. You should try and add some white space to that busy calendar of yours! (for inspiration check out this podcast we did last Finding Whitespace during Christmas)
Assignment: Find one way to refresh and recharge yourself. Here are some ideas;
- get lunch with a friend
- take a long hot shower
- read a book in a cozy chair with a hot cup of tea
- browse Pinterest mindlessly for one hour guilt free
- watch a great Christmas classic on TV
- call a friend and talk for long enough it felt like a visit
- choose 2 days next month on the calendar for white space
Lest you be tempted, today is not a catch up day, it’s a RELAX day. You deserve it once in a while. Besides, you will be so much more effective when you do.
Need some fun inspiration for ideas for an upcoming gathering? Evite has a new look (similar to Pinterest) and you can just take one hour and aimlessly look! How fun is that? Click here to browse.
For More Details: Get Yourself Organized For Christmas – Page 92
Share Your Thoughts:
How did you do planning your ‘white space’? Did you do nothing? Did you get a much needed nap or pedicure? Share with us on Facebook!
by kathilipp | Dec 2, 2015 | Blog, Christmas, Clutter Free |
It is time to make a plan for stockings! Spend time today deciding how much you would like to spend for each stocking and/or how many gifts you would like to put in each. Next come up with a system for storing and keeping stocking gifts organized. Once you are planned out, it is time to start shopping. You can buy a few stocking stuffers each time you go out this month if you have not already started stockpiling. Online shopping is another easy way to shop for stockings.
Stockings are a great area to help us remember to be intentional. Be sure you are filling stockings with items the receiver will love and use. Getting a small amount of items you adore is much better than an overstuffed stocking where the majority of the items will soon find their way to the trash or donation box.
Assignment: Get those stockings ready.
- Make sure you know where the stockings are and that you have one for each person who will be there on Christmas.
- Make a plan (How many gifts you will need depends on the size of the stocking and gifts)
- Come up with a system of storing the stocking stuffers.
- Shop as you see things when you are out and about. Make it your goal to pick up one or two things for stockings each time you go shopping, and you will slowly whittle away at your list.
Check out Kathi’s Quick Tips in the book for ideas for stocking stuffers.
You can always include one small gift that is a bit more expensive in the stocking.
There are lots of cute things over on Evite that would be great stocking stuffers.
For More Details: Get Yourself Organized For Christmas – Page 88
Supplies: 1) Stockings 2) Small Gifts (You won’t need these today) 3)Hooks
Share Your Thoughts:
What are your favorite small stocking stuffers? When do you empty the stockings at your house? Do you have any family traditions surrounding the stockings? What item would you like to see in your stocking this year?
