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31 Days of Christmas Organizing Tips

Days of Holiday Organizing Tips – Day 30

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Looking Good for Your Holiday Party

Organizing time for self care - 31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips

I go to a hair stylist who specializes in curly hair. He’s the best in the San Diego area and the only one I’d entrust my curly hair. That means that if I want an appointment with him I better have it scheduled months in advance.

Even if your hair stylist isn’t that busy, make sure you schedule your hair cut and color, mani/pedi or any other self-care appointment way in advance. After all the hard work to make this holiday season beautiful for everyone you’ll want to be looking, well, gorgeous!

Don’t forget to take care of yourself! With all your holiday planning, scheduling, baking and decorating, it’s time to take a break for a little “me time.” Put your feet up, watch your favorite TV show or schedule a quick trip to your local spa for a little pampering.

While you’re at it, schedule appointments now with your hair stylist, nail technician or massage therapist. The holidays are busy times for most businesses and you’ll want to ensure you can get an appointment.

As the holidays approach, schedule time to get away and find a little peace and quiet every week. If you find yourself pulled in too many directions or feeling overwhelmed, ask for help. Your family would much rather spend a few minutes helping you clean up than face a mommy meltdown.

And remember, spending time with the people you love is always more important than having a perfectly tidy living room or a spotless kitchen.

Find readers’ favorite holiday planning posts here.

Looking forward to an organized Holiday Season?

Invest in the Home Management Binder Set and plan all you’ll need to have a joyful and well planned season.

 

31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips – Day 29

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Organize the Entryway – First impressions

Clean and decorate the front of your house, your front porch and immediate area by the entrance. A simple clean up and a fresh new doormat can make all the difference.

Even if you don’t organize anywhere else in your home, organize the entryway! Make sure the front of your house, your front porch and the immediate area around the entrance are sparkly clean and decorated.

Check if you need to power wash anything if you have to change a light fixture (ours was 25 years old last time I checked!) and even just changing the doormat will bring some fresh color to the front door.

Organize the entryway - 31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips

Curb appeal isn’t just for individuals looking to sell their home. First impressions make a big difference for holiday parties as well. Ensure your guests get a beautiful curbside view of your house by decorating your home’s exterior.

  • Clean the entrance. Wipe down your exterior door and clean the windows. Sweep your front porch to remove any debris like fallen leaves.
  • Choose a holiday doormat. Greet your guests with your favorite seasonal doormat.
  • Add holiday décor. For Thanksgiving, opt for a rustic, harvest theme with lots of fall colors. Later in the year, some simple pieces of garland and a few strands of holiday lights will brighten your home and make your entryway feel welcoming.
  • Decide on parking. If you aren’t able to fit all of your guests’ cars into your driveway, instruct guests on where they should park.
  • Make room for coats. If your entryway closet doesn’t have enough room, designate another space in your home for guests’ belongings.

Enjoy all the tips on the 31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips Series below!

 

31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips – Day 28

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Holiday Pictures – Say Cheese!

It’s the holidays and we all want to record our moments with loved ones, family, and friends on beautiful holiday pictures. This means you’ll take pictures, lots of them.

Make sure you have enough storage on your card and that you keep extra batteries tucked in your camera bag.

Organizing Tips For a Great Holiday Season - Getting ready for family photos.
You’ll take pictures, lots of them.

The holidays are sometimes the only time you see particular friends and family, so you’ll want to take plenty of pictures. Here are a few easy ways to prepare your camera for all the special moments you’ll want to capture.

Download photos from your camera

Transfer photos from your camera’s memory card onto your computer. To ensure your photos are never lost, use my recommended double backup system by using cloud storage like Carbonite and Dropbox, but never skipping on using a local storage as well.

Purchase extra memory cards

Don’t miss a picture-perfect moment because you ran out of room on your camera’s memory card.

Stock up on batteries

Keep extra batteries or battery packs in your camera bag. If your camera uses rechargeable batteries, make sure they’re charged before your big holiday party.

Buy a wireless remote

Don’t you hate it when one person is always missing from the photo because he or she was the one taking it? This year, include everyone with a wireless remote. You’ll be able to take the photo without being anywhere near the camera.

Do you have a favorite tip for picture-perfect holiday pictures? Share with us!

 

Enjoy all the tips on the 31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips Series below!


 

31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips – Day 27

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What Can You Freeze?

If lots of cooking and baking are on your horizon what about simplifying and freezing what you can ahead of time?

I’m a big fan of batching and freezing on a weekly basis to always have something yummy for dinner!

Organizing Tips For a Great Holiday Season - Cooking and Baking: what can you do ahead of time?
{Cooking and Baking: what can you do ahead of time?}

 

There a list of foods you can cook and freeze ahead of time. Check below my favorite cooking book (ever!) to see what freezes well or not.

Take a look at your holiday meal plan and make a list of the items you can make ahead of time.

You may be able to cook and freeze some recipes or ingredients weeks before the big holiday meal.

Clean Out Your Freezer

Make room for all the items you’ll be cooking and freezing ahead of time.

Decide Which Items You’ll Be Freezing

Pie dough, bread, and homemade chicken stock are easily made ahead of time, frozen and defrosted just before the holidays.

Turn Your Attention To The Fridge

Once the freezer has been organized, clean out your refrigerator. If necessary, adjust shelves to make room for large items like the turkey.

Make a Cook-ahead Schedule

Decide when you’ll be cooking specific items from your holiday menu. Pies and other desserts, as well as side dishes like mashed potatoes, can be made ahead of time and stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Do as much as you can ahead of time to avoid stress during the big day. The less time you spend in your kitchen, the more time you can spend with your loved ones.

Thanksgiving dishes – From appetizers to cheesecakes, there’s something you can make ahead in this list of recipes.
Check here a collection of things you can cook and freeze ahead of time and my favorite cooking book (ever!) Williams-Sonoma The Weeknight Cook: Fresh & Simple Recipes for Good Food Everyday

 

Kitchen & Pantry Organizing Products

organizing products

SimpleHuman Wide Pullout Drawers

These are my favorite pull out drawers! They have great quality and come with a divider, helping you group like items together. They also have a flat surface, easy to clean and that won’t allow items to fall through.

 organizing products

SimpleHuman Pullout Drawers

Maximize all the space in your pantry by using this narrow pullout drawer. Turn narrow, deep shelves into easy to use drawers.

organizing products

Bakeware Organizer

Avoid hard to reach and tumbling baking sheets on your cabinets. With this organizer you can neatly file your baking pans.

 

Shelf Risers

A must have in cabinets! Increase your vertical storage and make better use of the space under the sink with this versatile gadget.

Gravity Can Feeder

Stock all your cans in this handy organizing tool and have all stored in one place.

Handled Baskets

I love these handled baskets for high shelves! I have them in almost every pantry I organized.

 

shelf organizer

Tiered Shelf

drawer organizer

Cutlery Organizer

drawer organizer

Utensils Organizer

 

Elfa System Door RackI

love this system! It creates storage in unused areas and with baskets in several widths and depths you’ll be able to store from cans and bottles to canisters here.

Elfa drawers

Elfa Mesh Drawers Narrow (Deep or Shallow)

Great to store the “multiples”, like Tupperware and lids, baby bottles, sippy-cups, portable cups and disposable dishes and silverware.

Elfa drawers

Elfa Mesh Drawers Narrow Deep

In several widths and depths these drawers are a great addition. Make sure to measure your cabinet to buy the size that maximizes your space.

 

shelf organizer

Turntables

In several sizes, some large enough to hold heavy items, like beverage, in awkward corners in lower shelves and cabinets, turntables are very versatile and bring function to daily life. (10″ to 19″)

pantry organizer

Stacking Canisters

These beauties come in several stacking sizes and in Blue, Green and Red. See through containers make you a better manager of your pantry!

tea bag organizer

Teabag Container

From the pantry to the table this box is a favorite of mine (and neighbors!). In clear material, you can always see how low you are on your favorite tea.

 

Grocery Bag Container

Keep this handy organizing tool under the sink and store your grocery/plastic bags here.

Large Recycling Bin

Create a recycling station in your garage or kitchen with these super sturdy bins. Green, White or Gray. Small and Large sizes available.

Small Recycling Bin

Create a recycling station in your garage or kitchen with these super sturdy bins. Green, White or Gray

 

Enjoy all the tips on the 31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips Series below!


 

31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips – Day 26

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Plan Your Shopping List

Buying food ahead of time will help you avoid the pre-holiday shopping madness at your local grocery store. To keep your holiday budget under control, divide your food purchases over multiple shopping trips. Here are a few tips to avoid stress and save time.

Purchase Non-perishable Items Early

Stock up on items like canned goods, frozen dinner rolls and spices ahead of time. Keep in mind some produce items, like apples, have a long shelf life.

Order Specialty Items Now

If you’ll be ordering a pre-cooked ham, specialty dessert or other item, place your order as soon as possible. Visit or call your local specialty food store, schedule a pick-up date and time and mark it on your calendar. Be sure to ask for a receipt or confirmation number.

Shop Online

Many grocery stores now offer online ordering and delivery. Just log on to your grocery store’s website, check the items you’ll need and schedule your delivery time. It’s just that easy. Check Amazon’s Subscribe & Save Program.
Looking forward to have your kitchen, pantry and meals planned and organized?

Use the Kitchen-Menus Printables Specialty Set to get your kitchen and menu organized to have time for more fun!

It’s a great value and includes all the forms you’ll need to manage your grocery shopping & food storage needs. All files are editable and can be used for years to come

Here is what you’ll get in the Kitchen Printables Specialty Set:

  • Pantry Inventory
  • Fridge Inventory
  • Freezer Inventory
  • Menu & Grocery Planner
  • Grocery Shopping List
  • Favorite Take-out Places – for those days you can’t or don’t want to cook! 😉

Here are some of the files included in this Specialty Set:

Buy with credit card or PayPal

 

Enjoy all the tips on the 31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips Series below!


 

31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips – Day 25

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Filed Under: 31 Days of Christmas Organizing Tips, Entertain

Planning Your Holiday Dinner Menu

Plan your holiday dinner menu now so you have plenty of time to prepare. Planning ahead will help you feel in control as the holidays approach. Here are a few tasks to do over the next few weeks.

 

Decide on a Menu

Pull together a list of your favorite holiday dishes. Consider what you prepared last year and what you might like to add (or remove) to this year’s holiday menu.

Test New Recipes

If you plan on adding a new recipe to your holiday meal, be sure to test it ahead of time. Not only will you be able to decide if it should be included, you’ll master the timing and be able to make adjustments.

Ask Guests to Bring Items

If you’re hosting a large party of friends and family, reach out and ask guests to bring appetizers, side dishes and desserts. It will remove pressure from you and allow guests to share their family’s favorite holiday dishes.

Make a Grocery List

Create a master list of all the items you’ll need to pick up from the store. Then visit your pantry and determine what you already have.

 

Enjoy all the tips on the 31 Days of Holiday Organizing Tips Series below!


 

Looking forward to have your kitchen, pantry and meals planned and organized?

Use the Kitchen-Menus Printables Specialty Set to get your kitchen and menu organized to have time for more fun!

It’s a great value and includes all the forms you’ll need to manage your grocery shopping & food storage needs. All files are editable and can be used for years to come

Here is what you’ll get in the Kitchen Printables Specialty Set:

  • Pantry Inventory
  • Fridge Inventory
  • Freezer Inventory
  • Menu & Grocery Planner
  • Grocery Shopping List
  • Favorite Take-out Places – for those days you can’t or don’t want to cook! 😉

Here are some of the files included in this Specialty Set:

Buy with credit card or PayPal