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Blog: Easy Organizing For Active Kids And Busy Parents
 Surviving the Holiday Aftermath And Making the Most of It
Santa may be long-gone and the dreidels may have stopped spinning. But if your home is like most kid-filled households, there are still signs of the holiday all around: toys with no place to go, sagging evergreens, tired decorations, and menorahs caked with wax. You may be MORE than ready to pack the season away, but before you do, take a moment to follow the following tips and tricks to get a jumpstart on the 2008 holiday season. Next year, when you are enjoying eggnog and gingerbread while everyone else is frantically racing around, you'll be glad you did!
1. Pack-up with a plan. If you were pleased with the placement of your decorations this year and plan to replicate the look next year, be sure to snap a picture before you tear things down. Pack all of the decorations for that room, along with the picture, together in the same bin (Yes, PLASTIC bin. Cardboard boxes will NOT provide adequate protection for your treasured items.)
2. Take time to inventory your decorations. They will not last forever, so discard any that have seen more than their share of holiday celebrations, and if you need a replacement, start a running list so when you are out and about you can take advantage of after-season clearances.
3. Speaking of clearance prices, take advantage of those major markdowns and stock up on the following supplies for next year: holiday paper plates and napkins, candles, wrapping paper, gift tags, greeting cards, gift bags, sugar cookie decorations (as long as they stay sealed and in a cool, dry place, they'll keep), menorah candles (again, store in a cool, dry place). Not only will you be prepared for next year, but you will be thrifty, too.
4. Take note of what you wish you could have done differently this year. Do you wish you had scheduled your portrait appointment earlier in the season? Were 25 people at your holiday open house too many, or too little? Jot down any notes that will help you next year as you prepare for the holidays and keep them in your Holiday Planner. Also, discard any recipes you tried this year that were less than successful (e.g., too difficult to prepare, not a big hit with your family and guests) and file away in your planner the ones you'd like to repeat next year.
5. Find a suitable "home" for all the presents your family received. For your kids', incorporate their new treasures into their existing storage system. If space is limited, enforce the one in, one out rule and donate the older items to charity. To help cut down on clutter and excess, view this year's gifts as replacements, rather than additions, for what you already own.
6. Re-Use and Recycle. IF you have enough storage space, be sure to save any gift boxes, bows, and tissue paper that is still in decent shape (ironing used, but un-torn, wrapping tissue will bring it back to life for a future gift. Personally, I don't have the time for this kind of perfection, so I make due with wrinkly tissue!). In this age of being "Green," it is the responsible thing to do. However, if space is at a premium, make sure you only save enough for the space you have.
With a little extra effort this year, you can save yourself so much extra work and hassle next season. You may feel like you just want to be done with it all, but before you know it, the calendar will be back around to the winter holidays once again. Make sure you're ready, and of course, organized!
Coming Next Week:
The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) has declared January GO Month (Get Organized Month)! Busy parents may simply not have time to devote an entire month to total re-organization. However, there are many quick and easy projects that will make a HUGE impact on your household. Each Friday in January, I will post some of my favorite, time-tested ideas for fast and efficient home and family organization. Until then, have a safe, fun-filled New Year's!
Simply yours,
Debbie
posted on: 12/28/2007 9:00:00 AM by Debbie Jordan Kravitz
category: Family
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Easy Organizing For Active Kids And Busy Parents
by Debbie Jordan Kravitz
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About Debbie:
Debbie Jordan Kravitz is a Professional Organizer, Author, and Owner of Virtually Organized by Debbie LLC. She is also a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD). Debbie's goal is to help her clients customize, organize and simplify their lives so they can spend less time searching for their things and more time doing the things they love.
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Visit my blog, "Virtually Organized," and be sure to leave me a comment to let me know you found me through www.OnlineOrganizing.com. "Virtually Organized" includes even MORE tips, ideas, and inspiration, as well as "Steals & Deals" (links to cool products at GREAT discounts, or even FREE!"
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