What is your New Year’s Resolution?

Is today the day that you are making a list of your resolutions for the New Year?

Are you thinking about a change? Has anyone asked you about your resolution today?

Every year, getting organized or spending more time with family and loved ones are one of the top ten.

Getting organized is actually a “habit” that you can develop with conscious effort and commitment. It takes 28 days to develop a habit, so why not commit to one change in your daily routine to create a new you for the month of January!

Start slow, here’s a list of small, baby steps to get you started:

• Make your bed each morning. (Even if you pull up the covers to your pillow, your bed will look better than an unmade bed)

• Put your keys in one location every time you walk in your door

• Clear your kitchen table each night

• Put your dishes directly in the dishwasher instead of the sink or wash your dishes right after dinner

• Designate one location for all your mail and put it in the same spot each day

• Recycle junk mail as soon as you receive it-put it in the recycling bin right away

• As you become more organized in your daily routine, you will find you have created more time to spend with family and loved ones. “Being organized can save you time”, according to the Fast Company magazine, Executives waste 6 weeks per year searching for misplaced documents!

This is my New Year’s gift to everyone-work on one resolution and you actually succeed in making two of your resolution wishes come true!

Lurlene Anderson
Professional Organizer
www.OrganizeYourWorld.Ca

Last Minute Christmas Tips

Do you feel time is running out? Don’t stress... Don’t panic...use these tips to help you enjoy the holidays!

Gifts

• Gift certificates are safe purchases but could appear “last minute” and not creative. To spice up the certificate, tape the certificate to a box of chocolates, or a practical item such as a candle, favourite bottle of shampoo or hand cream. Another option is to tape a gas certificate to a bottle of engine oil or windshield washer fluid
• Purchase a Christmas themed platter and Christmas cookies or dessert. Put the items on the tray and wrap in clear plastic wrap with ribbon.
• If you are giving a bottle of wine and do not have a wine bag, decorate the bottle with a ribbon or bow.

Wrapping

• Gift bags are always quick, easy & simple solution to wrapping gifts. They are great for re-use and the tissue paper can always be re-used as wrap for storing delicate Christmas ornaments.
• Clear plastic wrap is also great for last minute items. The wrap is usually sold in a three pack with a decorative tie-or you could use your own ribbon if you have some handy at home.
• As an alternative to ribbons, decorate gifts with candy canes, peppermints or small boxes of chocolates or cookies
• If you run out of Christmas paper, make your own with printer paper. Print a design or paint, draw or crayon your own design on the paper-personalize it!

Don’t forget to enjoy the holiday. This is a time to socialize and share the love with those near and dear to your heart-family, friends or both!

Entertaing Overnight Guests

Tis the season to be jolly! If you are hosting a Christmas celebration at your home, it is a good idea to be prepared for overnight guests. Sometimes you plan to have guests, other times it may be last minute due to weather conditions or excessive drinking. Whatever the reason-be prepared!

If you have a guest room, you are one step ahead of the game. If you don’t have a guest room, any spare couch will do. Inflatable mattresses are an easy economical choice for a quick spare bed.

The following items will help you be better prepared and create a comfortable environment for your guests:

• Books or magazines
• Bathroom amenities
• Spare towels
• Over the door hook for wet towels or clothing
• Extra pill or blanket
• Alarm clock
• Night light (very important for guests who may have to find the bathroom in the middle of the night)
• Water or other refreshments in room or on kitchen counter for easy access

It is also a good idea to be clear about boundaries and personal preferences. Not everyone wakes up at the same time-ensure breakfast or snack items are easy to find in the kitchen.

Enjoy your party!