Now you may use either one of these wonderful plans I've adapted from Cynthia Ewer at Organized Christmas (I pray she doesn't mind but her plans are simply excellent for year round use in my opinion.) or adapt one for your family's individual needs but whatever you do, USE IT! All of the suggested forms and reading material links can be found at her site. We may not always be able to complete the plan each week but every little thing we do now is a blessing to ourselves and our families when we aren't running around with our hair on fire everytime company arrives or an occassion comes up. Life will get in the way, but don't give up. Simply start where the plan is when you can get back to it and keep moving forward. These plans will repeat from now until the kick off of the holiday prep season in August so don't fret if you've missed something the first go round. Do this for you!
I will post as many of them as I can until I have completed the first round. This may take me a few days so please be patient and focus on this week.
Holiday Grand Plan - List/Front Porch
During this week, we can finish up our Christmas binder by entering in what worked, what didn't and any notes you may want to incorporate or modify for next year and put it away for now.
It's time to freshen up or build your Household Notebook just as you did your Holiday Notebook. Printables can be found at OrganizedHome.com and many other places on the web or create your own customized version of these forms and calendars.
Take this time to purge all 2012 records and receipts and get them ready for taxes or box them up for storage (save only what is necessary for an audit). Get your files ready for 2013. It's a new year!
This week's cleaning focus is the front porch: I know most of you are buried in snow so you may have to adjust this for your situation.
For the rest of you let's:
1. Get those holiday decorations down and stored properly.
2. Remove everything that does not belong on this porch and put away.
3. Sweep off dust and webs that have formed on the ceiling and walls.
4. If you have windows on your porch shine them up so that what little
sunshine is available can filter through nicely.
5. Give the flooring, whether decking or concrete, a good cleaning.
6. Put a nice thick welcome rug to catch all of the winter snow and muck.
7. Just because the holidays have ended it doesn't mean that you can't place a beautiful welcoming wreath on your door, nice decorations on the exterior walls, throws on the seats or even artificial greenery arrangements in your window boxes or planters to help the dull dreary winter days look inviting at your home. Down here it's the kick off of Mardi Gras so of course all of our Christmas Decor is replaced with everything Mardi Gras. If your area celebrates a specific event for that month then go for it by decorating for that event or regional holiday.
House and Holidays Plan
Week 1
lanning and Paperwork
To make a good beginning takes planning. Where do you go to dream, to budget, to plan? This week in the House and Holidays Plan, we turn to our home's planning center. How is it working for you?
This week, we'll clean, organize and declutter the home office or, and begin the basics of staying organized year round with small adaptions to the values(goals), our budget and gift giving throughout the year for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, baby showers, weddings and so on.
Recommended Reading from the Web: Although some are geared specifically towards Christmas you can certainly use the concepts for year round activities.
Declutter 101: Cut Clutter at Home
The ABCs of Household Paper Management
To Early to Think Christmas? Start Now!
Simplify Your Holidays: Make A Christmas Planner Notebook
Before the Season: Family Values Check-Up
Create a Christmas Holiday Planning Center
Make A Master Gift List
This Week's Household Checklist:
Declutter and clean the home office or paper handling area.Think STOP--Sort, Toss, Organized and Put away--as you clear clutter from your space. Once free from clutter, clean the workspace for a fresh start to the Plan.
Set up a basic household filing system. A clean and clutter-free workspace is half the battle; next up in the war on paper clutter? An efficient household filing system. Get up to speed on the ABCs of household paper management in your organized home.
This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist:
Now would be a great time to update that address book using all those current Christmas cards you received.
If you don't have one, establish a budget. Do not forget to include things like annual fees such as license renewals, insurance, Christmas, Birthdays and so on. I get so irked when someone tells me that a holiday or event caught them by suprise and they're running so short. There is no excuse since these events and holidays happen the same time every single year.
Complete the values worksheet in the form of "goals" for this year. What is your goals for this month, next month, personally, family, financial and spiritual? What steps will you take daily, weekly, monthly to achieve each a every goal? Be specific and put it on your new calendar or it will get overlooked.
Use the master gift list form to be prepared for all of the inevitable birthdays, showers, anniversaries, housewarmings, and so on. Gift giving does not begin and end at Christmas. If it did we'd all probably be wealthy. LOL Decide now exactly how much is allowed for each.
Gift Giving: Many of us will purchase things throughout the year as we find that perfect gift and sale for each person or occassion. Instead of shoving these gifts in the bottom of your closet go ahead and freshen up that gift closet for year round use. Keep your wrapping supplies at hand whether it's Christmas or a little token for back to school. I utilize an armoire to keep my gifts and wrapping supplies on hand for all occassions by using solid colors and enhancing the bows to depict the holiday or event. A roll of pearl white paper and a roll of brown craft paper can take you through every single event with alot less clutter. The key is in the embellishments.
Crafters: Don't forget to get started on those Valentine Plans.
Gardeners: The new seed catalogs have arrived and there's gardens to plan.
I will post as many of them as I can until I have completed the first round. This may take me a few days so please be patient and focus on this week.
Week 1 - January 6th - January 12th
Holiday Grand Plan - List/Front Porch
During this week, we can finish up our Christmas binder by entering in what worked, what didn't and any notes you may want to incorporate or modify for next year and put it away for now.
It's time to freshen up or build your Household Notebook just as you did your Holiday Notebook. Printables can be found at OrganizedHome.com and many other places on the web or create your own customized version of these forms and calendars.
Take this time to purge all 2012 records and receipts and get them ready for taxes or box them up for storage (save only what is necessary for an audit). Get your files ready for 2013. It's a new year!
This week's cleaning focus is the front porch: I know most of you are buried in snow so you may have to adjust this for your situation.
For the rest of you let's:
1. Get those holiday decorations down and stored properly.
2. Remove everything that does not belong on this porch and put away.
3. Sweep off dust and webs that have formed on the ceiling and walls.
4. If you have windows on your porch shine them up so that what little
sunshine is available can filter through nicely.
5. Give the flooring, whether decking or concrete, a good cleaning.
6. Put a nice thick welcome rug to catch all of the winter snow and muck.
7. Just because the holidays have ended it doesn't mean that you can't place a beautiful welcoming wreath on your door, nice decorations on the exterior walls, throws on the seats or even artificial greenery arrangements in your window boxes or planters to help the dull dreary winter days look inviting at your home. Down here it's the kick off of Mardi Gras so of course all of our Christmas Decor is replaced with everything Mardi Gras. If your area celebrates a specific event for that month then go for it by decorating for that event or regional holiday.
House and Holidays Plan
Week 1
lanning and PaperworkTo make a good beginning takes planning. Where do you go to dream, to budget, to plan? This week in the House and Holidays Plan, we turn to our home's planning center. How is it working for you?
This week, we'll clean, organize and declutter the home office or, and begin the basics of staying organized year round with small adaptions to the values(goals), our budget and gift giving throughout the year for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, baby showers, weddings and so on.
Recommended Reading from the Web: Although some are geared specifically towards Christmas you can certainly use the concepts for year round activities.
Declutter 101: Cut Clutter at Home
The ABCs of Household Paper Management
To Early to Think Christmas? Start Now!
Simplify Your Holidays: Make A Christmas Planner Notebook
Before the Season: Family Values Check-Up
Create a Christmas Holiday Planning Center
Make A Master Gift List
This Week's Household Checklist:
Declutter and clean the home office or paper handling area.Think STOP--Sort, Toss, Organized and Put away--as you clear clutter from your space. Once free from clutter, clean the workspace for a fresh start to the Plan.
Set up a basic household filing system. A clean and clutter-free workspace is half the battle; next up in the war on paper clutter? An efficient household filing system. Get up to speed on the ABCs of household paper management in your organized home.
This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist:
Now would be a great time to update that address book using all those current Christmas cards you received.
If you don't have one, establish a budget. Do not forget to include things like annual fees such as license renewals, insurance, Christmas, Birthdays and so on. I get so irked when someone tells me that a holiday or event caught them by suprise and they're running so short. There is no excuse since these events and holidays happen the same time every single year.
Complete the values worksheet in the form of "goals" for this year. What is your goals for this month, next month, personally, family, financial and spiritual? What steps will you take daily, weekly, monthly to achieve each a every goal? Be specific and put it on your new calendar or it will get overlooked.
Use the master gift list form to be prepared for all of the inevitable birthdays, showers, anniversaries, housewarmings, and so on. Gift giving does not begin and end at Christmas. If it did we'd all probably be wealthy. LOL Decide now exactly how much is allowed for each.
Gift Giving: Many of us will purchase things throughout the year as we find that perfect gift and sale for each person or occassion. Instead of shoving these gifts in the bottom of your closet go ahead and freshen up that gift closet for year round use. Keep your wrapping supplies at hand whether it's Christmas or a little token for back to school. I utilize an armoire to keep my gifts and wrapping supplies on hand for all occassions by using solid colors and enhancing the bows to depict the holiday or event. A roll of pearl white paper and a roll of brown craft paper can take you through every single event with alot less clutter. The key is in the embellishments.
Crafters: Don't forget to get started on those Valentine Plans.
Gardeners: The new seed catalogs have arrived and there's gardens to plan.