Clutter Conversions

Holiday Organizing Tips

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Gifts

Prepare a list: who you are buying for, what are you getting them and how much money do you plan to spend on them.  This will help you purchase items that are usable and wanted for someone and keep you within your budget.  Gift buying should be completed 2 weeks before the Christmas and wrapped one week before.

Decorations

Avoid stashing everyday household items in closets and cabinets, by storing them in the containers that your holiday decorations were stored in.  Think safety when decorating!  Do not set items in areas that people can trip over or knock off and break.

Entertaining

If you entertain during this time, make sure your walkway and entrance is well lighted.  Turn the heat down two hours before guests arrive.

Meal Preparation

Prepare your menu for Thanksgiving and Christmas now.  Make a list of items you need to prepare both meals and compare to what you already have.  Double batch anything you can and freeze if you are going to serve it for both meals.  Ask yourself what you can do before such as setting the table or cooking items the weekend before your meal.

Following these few tips can help you enjoy your family and friends more during the holiday season while decreasing stress and saving money.

New Class Being Offered

Simplify Your Life through

Effective Time Management

Presented by Kathryn McMillan

Hosted by Christina Rose and Dawn Hinde

Goal: To decrease stress in your life, increase productivity and find the time to do the things in life you truly want to do by learning and implementing “effective” time management skills.

Objectives:

1) Master Time Wasters:

1. 1. Interruptions by others
2. 2. Phone Calls
3. 3. Email
4. 4. Visitors

2) Stop Procrastination

3) Ways to Simplify My Life

4) Choose a Planner

5) Decide My Goals in Life

6) Establish My Life Schedule

***Class Requirements: you must bring your own calendar, day planner or whatever you use to keep track of appointments to class.

Date: Tuesday, December, 8th

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Jerry’s Alignment and Auto Care (next to Kieth’s Auto Sales on Rt 33 W)

6232 Spottswood Trail, Penn Laird, VA

Fee: $20.00

Registration Information: RSVP by Noon on Monday, December 7^th by contacting:

Christina Rose – 540-421-4266 or email - christina@jerrysalignments.com

Dawn Hinde – 540-4822 or email - dawnscleaningservice@comcast.net

Kathryn McMillan – 540-294-1523 – clutterconversions@yahoo.com

Change of Season = Change of Clothes

     With the change of the season comes the changing of the wardrobe and if you are like most people you do one of two things. You leave all of your summer and winter clothes in the closet and drawers all year long or you switch out the clothes from storage based on the season.

     Here are some tips if you switch out clothes for the season. When storing away your summer clothes only pack up the ones you actually wore and donate the rest to Goodwill, Salvation Army or other charity, sell them in a yard sale or put them in a consignment shop and make yourself a little cash. Storing clothes that you have not worn for the season takes up valuable storage space.

     Use colored containers for storage and place an index card on three sides of the container and on the top listing its contents. Be cautious storing them in attics or basements due to humidity, dampness, bugs or rodents. Place wooden cedar pieces inside each container which are available at most home stores. If you do not have a lot of storage space but you do have a garage, you can purchase overhead ceiling hanging shelves for your garage. They are very durable and can hold up to 300lbs.

     Use the "hanger trick" to decide if you should pack up an item this spring. When you pull out your winter clothes and hang them in the closet, place the hangers on the rod with the opening of the hanger facing out towards you. Once you wear the article of clothing and go to hang it back in the closet, place the hanger on the rod the normal way. At the end of this winter season any clothes that are still on the hanger with the opening facing you, it is safe to assume you did not wear the item through the season and you should be able to donate it.

Pay for Organizing Sessions Here:

Professional Organizing Services

One Organizing Session Two Organizing Sessions

Purchase Time Management Sessions Here:

Time Management Sessions

One Session

Back to School Organizing Tips for College Bound Students

*Space- Remember that they most likely will not have the amount of space in the dorm room that they had at home. Think compact.  Use multi-purpose containers and furniture.  Some colleges and Universities will not allow you to put holes in the wall or paint so check with them before you begin packing.   Also, if you are able, visit the college and measure the dorm room to see how much space you will actually have before packing things that will not fit.  Use a small cleaning caddy to carry personal items back and forth from the bathroom.

*Packing – use collapsible storage containers to put items into while moving and then they can either be used for storage in the dorm or folded down and stored away.

*Time management is key to success!  Use a calendar/planner to map out a routine.  College is supposed to be fun but it does need some structure to it if you are going to succeed without having a major melt-down at some point.  College can be stressful enough without adding the pressure of being late for class or not allowing enough time to write a term paper.

*Color code your things, label them, bring some pictures and a few loved items from home to make the room more comfortable and relaxing.

*The Container store has a couple of great articles to help you get through the college transfer.