Christmas Clean-up

This is the week most folks pack away their Christmas decorations and find a place for the Christmas gifts. In with the new crockpot; out with the old.

Here are a few suggestions to help you start the New Year with a little less clutter.

Throw away damaged ornaments, burned out bulbs and wreaths that looked bad this Christmas and will look worse next year. You will waste energy packing them and take up space you could use for other things. Don’t listen to that little voice that lists all the crafty things you will be able to do with the rejects unless you ACTUALLY do those crafty things and do not have other boxes of damaged goods waiting for your creative talents to flourish.

If you received a gift that doesn’t fit your body or your style, decide what to do with it now. Don’t stick in the closet or stuff it in a drawer just to get it out of the way. Return it, sell it, donate it or start a re-gifting box, if you are so inclined. Make the decision and act on it.

If you receive something new to replace older or outgrown possessions, find a home for the older items. Charitable organizations are grateful for winter apparel, used pots and pans, and even crockpots. Mine will be going to a local church that runs a soup kitchen.

If you discover that your closet is getting too full or your jewelry box can't hold one more pair of earrings, consider getting rid of your least favorite thing. A crowded closet or drawer is much harder to maintain than one where everything fits comfortably.

The key is to do it now. Make a decision while you are dealing with the item and carry out your decision. It is a very effective way to stem the accumulation of clutter and to maintain an organized space. What a great way to end the year!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Ready or not, here they come! The Holidays are here. Chanukah has begun, Christmas arrives in a few days and the New Year will be here right after that. If you are one of the lucky ones who have everything done and you are just hanging around waiting to welcome guests and attend the gatherings, good for you! If you are like most of the rest of us, and still have a few things left to do, take a deep breath and decide what is important.

Priority setting is a fundamental tool for getting organized and staying organized. Knowing what is essential to accomplish keeps us focused and on task. To use this tool to maintain calm during the holidays, get a piece of paper or index card and write down the five most important things for you to accomplish. It might be prepare dinner, pick up Aunt Tilly at the airport, help Santa build a toy. At the top of that list put “Enjoy the festivities.” Once you have established these priorities avoid the traps that will keep you from accomplishing them.

Don’t get distracted by other urgent tasks. They might be important, but they are not the MOST important. Take care of the priorities first.

Don’t let others change your priorities to meet their own goals. You want to be helpful, but not at the risk of not getting done what you need to get done.

Don’t be afraid to change your priorities as you evaluate new things that develop. The difference is that YOU are the one deciding what is important to you.

Don’t pick up the slack for other’s responsibilities. It is a sure way to end up harried and resentful that you shortchanged your own priorities.

Refer back often to priority number one, “Enjoy the festivities.” Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. The ultimate goal is to experience the love and joy that the season brings.

Happy holidays!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Neat Gift Ideas

If you are still looking for stocking stuffers and last minute gifts, here are a few items that will please the most fastidious gift recipient and help your disorganized friends bring a little order into their lives.

For the sleeping beauty who enjoys watching television in bed, there is the Remote Control Pillow. The cotton twill pillow measures 7” by 12” and has three pockets to store remote controls on the back. (about $18)

The do-it –yourself guy or gal will appreciate the Magnetic Wristband. The adjustable band secures a small magnetic tray that holds screws nails, pins, needles or any metal object. They can say good-bye to tiny sharp objects littering the floor. (about $19)

Help the pessimist in your life prepare for the worst with the Collision Preparedness Kit. The kit contains a disposable camera for documenting damage, a checklist of information to collect from the other driver and witnesses, an envelope for insurance and registration and a pen. It is all packed nicely in a zippered binder that fits in the glove compartment. (about $15)

Your forgetful buddies will be able to find their car in the parking lot with the Key Chain Pocket Recorder. The 1” by 3” key chain has a voice recorder that will allow them to note what they came to buy and the location of their car with one touch. The built-in flashlight will even help them find it in the dark. (about $12)

For the student in cramped quarters who needs his cell phone charged and ready, try the Cell Phone Shelf. It takes up no counter space. Simply plug in the charger and rest the phone on the shelf, which is available in red or chrome. (about $8)

The coupon clipper in your life will love the coupon holder that accommodates up to 150 coupons in 12 divided compartments. Its Velcro closure attaches to the shopping cart handle to make coupons more accessible when shopping. (about $5)

When those creative friends wake up in the middle of the night with a brilliant idea, they will thank you for their Nite Note. This hand-contoured pad has a soft, focused light that turns on when the pen is removed. The “space pen” that accompanies it writes at any angle, even upside down. The package includes 72 note cards and 2 AA batteries. (about $30)

These items are available at many local novelty and department stores and at www.goldviolin.com

Happy holiday gift giving!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Plan for Easy Holiday Decorating

I just finished going through the weekend sales fliers, trying to decide if there was a bargain or two I needed to pursue. While none of the sales tempted me, I did notice that several department stores featured storage boxes for Christmas decorations.

It really is a smart idea to let consumers know that these convenient storage tools are available at the time that many of us are hauling out our decorations and finding that we did not do such a good job of putting them away last year. Lights are tangled, pretty tree ornaments are damaged and there is a piece missing from the nativity set (guess we will have to settle for we two kings of orient are)

In a few weeks, when it is time to put those ornaments away again, give yourself a break for next year. Try these simple hints:

Store decorations in see through boxes of uniform size or clearly labeled opaque boxes. Buy those custom decoration storage boxes while they are on sale and throw away the ratty cardboard boxes as you unpack

Roll strings of lights around coffees cans or similar sized cans with lids. Store the extra lights in the can with some paper towels or other batting to keep them from rolling around and breaking.

Store decorations according to the room in which they will be displayed. Next year you can choose to do one room at a time without lugging out all the decorations.

When you put the decorations in the storage place, go by the last in, first out rule. If you put the Christmas tree up first, put that closest to the entrance so you can remove it and get it set up as your first decorating step.

Next year decorating will be a snap!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net