Happy fall y'all! I am so thankful for the weather change and enjoy opening the doors of my home to bring in the crisp air. Fall brings the beginning of a wonderful holiday season, and I have already begun to plan and prepare for Christmas. My gift list has been put together, Christmas cards started, dates for decorating already on the calendar, and more. The best defense against chaos is preparation, so lower your stress by creating a schedule you can follow and accomplish as many holidays tasks as you can before December. Last month Get Organized! was nominated for a Done Deal Award through the Women's Business Council Southwest for doing business with other women owned businesses. This nomination acknowledges unique ways in which women connect, build a relationship, and decide to do business together. We consider it a smart decision to do business with well-run women owned businesses. Get Organized! continues to grow in territory coverage and breadth of services, and now we have our first full time employee. On October 1, 2013, Dana Bilbray, my Executive Assistant of over 4 1/2 years, committed her full attention to Get Organized!. I am so thankful to Dana for the brand protection she gives Get Organized!, and for the energy and enthusiasm she brings to her work. Our dedicated team will continue to work together to provide the best service to our clients. If you are a fan of GO and have a question about getting organized, email me directly at Lorraine@GetOrganized.ws. I am dedicated to making our clients and fans excited about being organized! |
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Innovative Ways to Store Your Fall and Christmas Items
Here are some practical ways to store your holiday items for easier accessibility. Every organizational situation is different based on storage availability versus the amount of items to be stored. Often storage is in a closet or spare bedroom, while some items are organized in the garage or attic. Sometimes there is not enough storage in a home, so there becomes a need for rented storage units.
Wherever you choose to house your holiday decorations, here are some basic suggestions for organizing in the designated spaces.
Start by gathering your decorations, purging items you do not plan to use or that have become old and worn out, then categorize by holiday. Purchase medium to large totes for sorting and later for storage. This will help save time and energy when the holiday approaches, and allow you to reuse what you have instead of buying more of what you cannot find. If you currently have all of your wrapping paper together, divide it by holiday and store with the appropriate décor. Candles or heat sensitive items should be kept in a climate controlled environment. Once items have been separated, choose boxes, shelves, closets, or attic area for each category based on the amount to be stored. It is a good idea to store all items for each holiday together. So, all Christmas items together, all Easter items together, etc. Birthday items should be within easy reach as it may be used more frequently.
If the attic, garage, or storage unit is your choice,  using containers with colored lids can be helpful. Green/Red for Christmas, Orange/Brown for Fall, Blue for Easter, etc. Labeling each container on the outside will help you access the current holiday quickly. If you have to stack boxes or store multiple rows deep, rotate the next holiday box to the top or front when you store the most recent.
If a spare closet is your choice, take the largest category first and put these items on shelves/floor together. After all the holiday items have been placed on shelving/floor in the closet, label each shelf/container accordingly. Decide locality based on accessibility and how frequently you will use these items. Birthday and general party items should be on lower shelves, while those one-time-a-year items can be in the harder to reach locations.
This may seem like a large project, but the results will be worth the effort. Holiday decorating/planning can include the whole family. With well-organized spaces, there is no more digging, no more buying items you already have, and the freedom to come up with new ideas using your favorite pieces. If you are not up for the task before the holiday, try doing it after each holiday while returning these items to their proper storage area.
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Why Shop Till You Drop?
Make shopping for family/friends fun and exciting this year. Why wait until the last minute? Try planning early and making it less stressful.
One idea is to take a certain amount of money per month and put it in a holiday gift folder. Once the holiday gets closer, divide the dollars up by the number of family/friends on your list.
Taking your kids out shopping can be a lot of fun! Kids can give you great ideas for their siblings and they love to shop for mom and dad or grandparents. They see the value of money, the gift of giving, and often learn more about their family likes and dislikes.
It is a good idea for parents to provide some extra chores for the kids to earn their own shopping money. Draw names for gifting and help kids plan shopping trips and look for holiday sales.
Help kids brainstorm gift ideas that fit within their budget and allow them get to know their family members. Offer some simple guidelines such as gifting items that will stand the test of time: a personalized photo album, a hand-written coupon for a date with dad/mom, a coffee cup/t-shirt printed with a family photo, a keepsake novel with a personal note inside, or something made by hand. Other ideas include a gift that is a need rather than a want, an item brother/sister has been asking for, or a game or gift that could be shared with the entire family. What a great way to keep the holiday spirit alive within the family all year long!
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Planning Your Menu This Holiday Season
Thanksgiving and Christmas are seasons of fun, food, and fellowship for our family and friends. Having your menu planned and the shopping divided into smaller bites can help you control your budget, as well as lowering your anxiety level.
Why not start today! Choose the meat, vegetables, fruit dishes, desserts, breads, and salads for each holiday/party. Make a running list for each event.
Under each food choice write all the food items that are included in the recipe. Then on your normal scheduled grocery shopping days by a little at a time. Before you know it you will have it all.
Remember to plan the shopping for fruit/vegetable dishes closer to the date of the event. If some recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer, consider that a huge time savings. When freezing foods, be sure to label each package with the event date, name of dish, and maybe even basic reheating instructions. These erasable freezer labels are perfect for this task.
 A favorite part of holidays is the bonding in the kitchen. Cooking together, trying new recipes, and enjoying the wonderful aromas of holiday baking bring families closer together. Plan to have mom and dad make a special dish with each child. Teaching your kids how to cook is a dying art, but necessary in order for them to be successful once they have their own family. Turn on the Christmas carols, use a recipe that has been passed down, and get cooking. Don't forget to take pictures to create lasting memories once all the food is happily eaten.
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Can You Find Your Spices?
Most kitchens need help with spice organization. If the current organizing system in your kitchen is not working for you, try these helpful hints. 
- Store spices near the stove, but away from too much heat or moisture.
- Keep spices in alphabetical order to help with productivity.
- Measure your spice location before buying any organizing tools.
- Choosing the right tool is imperative for satisfaction and maximizing space.
Where you choose to store them is a preference. On the counter provides quick accessibility (but can look cluttered), in a cabinet keeps them out of sight, and in a drawer next to the stove gives you even easier access. Insert a spice drawer organizer to prevent rolling or install a handy spice wall organizer to add more storage space.
Here is a guide that can assist you in learning more about spices and how to use them.
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Become a Professional Organizer through our
Affiliate Program
Get Organized! is interested in connecting with individuals throughout Texas who are naturally organized, creative with space planning and organizational systems, have business smarts, self-motivation, and an understanding of the importance of excellent time management. Organizing skills are often learned or enhanced through tasks and hobbies you have done both in the corporate world and in your own home. These skills, in addition to the branding advantage and professional training from a successful organizing company, can launch you into a profitable organizing business.
Our Affiliate Program allows you to focus on working as a professional organizer while you save both time and money utilizing the experience, brand recognition, and proven processes from one of DFW's finest organizing companies - Get Organized!. The initial investment includes: your time, travel expenses (for training in the Dallas area), general liability bonding insurance, and insurance for business use of your vehicle. There are no other startup costs.
We look forward to hearing from you about starting your own organizing business anywhere in the great state of Texas.
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Savvy Ways to Save
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