Organize Your Holiday Decorations

Halloween is over, and Thanksgiving is coming, followed by Christmas, and more! Are you having trouble organizing all of your holiday decorations? Do you feel like you have more and more each year? Are boxes and bins of seasonal items occupying too much space in your home? Here are a few suggestions to trim the trimmings.

Plan and pare down. Decide which areas of your home you wish to decorate: the front door, the mantle, the stairs, the dining room table, etc. Then determine which decorative items will go in each space. Anything that doesn’t fit can be donated or given to family members.

Store wisely. Many seasonal decorations are stored in basements or attics. It’s best to store them in clear, plastic bins to prevent dampness and dust. Select bins that you can easily carry up and down stairs and through doorways. Label them well, and store all of one holiday’s items together. If you store your items in a sunny room, use opaque bins instead.

Consider displaying decorations you don’t have to store. If you are really tight on space, consider using plants and other temporary decor. For Halloween, use pumpkins, mums and bales of hay. Purchase pine cones, berries, poinsettias and evergreen wreaths for Christmas. When the holiday passes, you can dispose of these items easily in an eco-friendly way.

Concentrate on the meaning behind the holidays. When you think back to past holidays, was the abundance of decor what you remember most? The traditions and family memories celebrated among the decorations are what make your holidays special.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree

When the season is over, please remember to find the proper way to dispose of or recycle your Christmas tree. Visit Earth911.com and use their "Start Recycling" search tool to find Christmas tree recyclers in your area.

For more ideas about tree recycling, visit these websites:

http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/disposing.php

http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Dispose_of_a_Christmas_Tree

Enjoy the rest of your holidays!

Christmas Trees: Real or Fake?

Are you trying to decide whether to purchase an artificial tree or a real tree for Christmas this year? Even though a real Christmas tree may be a little more work, I think it has many advantages. The first is that you don't have to find a place to store it the other 11 months of the year. Also, even though you may think not buying a real tree is "saving" the environment, actually the opposite is true. Real trees help the environment while they're growing, and they biodegrade much faster than artificial trees. Read more at: http://www.christmas-tree.com/real/realchristmastrees.html.

2008 Gift Guide

Are you searching for that perfect holiday gift? Here are some ideas to get your family and friends more organized for the new year.

1. Gift Wrap Organizer
Do you know someone with a lot of wrapping paper, ribbons, and gift bags? Consider giving a gift wrap organizer as a gift. They come in hanging bags, flat boxes, vertical boxes, and more. The Container Store has the best selection I’ve seen.

2. Collapsible Colanders
It’s uncanny how much I love my collapsible colanders. They are constructed with combination of hard plastic and rubber, so they fold flat. They save space in my kitchen cabinets, and they take up less room in the dishwasher. I have a few from Bed, Bath & Beyond, but Target and Crate & Barrel also carry versions. They retail from about $15 to $30.

3. Mailmate Shredder
With the growth of identity theft crimes, it’s becoming more and more essential to own a shredder. I love my MailMate desktop shredder from Staples. It may be too small if you shred a lot, but I find it perfect to shred junk mail and personal forms once or twice a week. Because of its size, you have to empty it more often, but I consider that a benefit. I recently destroyed a shredder because I didn’t lubricate it often enough. With my little MailMate, I just lubricate it every time I empty it, using Staples lubricated shredder sheets. (Include these easy shredder sheets with your gift—they’ll thank you later!) The shredder costs about $60, and shredder sheets are $10 per dozen.

4. Method “Detox Your Home” Cleaning Kit
If you know someone who wants to go green but doesn’t know where to start, try the “Detox Your Home” kit from Method. The cleaning supplies really work, and they leave rooms with nice scents that don’t make you feel dizzy. I especially love the peppermint bathroom cleaner—very refreshing! Purchase it for about $28 from www.MethodHome.com.

5. Calendars and Planners
I usually don’t advise giving people calendars as gifts because they feel like they have to use the new one along with the five other calendars they already have. If you have someone who asked you for a new calendar though, consider these options:

• Taylor Planner. Designed by renowned time management expert Harold Taylor, this weekly calendar is a simple, straight-forward way to keep track of your schedule. Pair it with one of Taylor’s time management books for a great gift set. Order the planner for about $30 at www.TaylorInTime.com.

• Artalendar. Do you know a creative type who has yet to find a calendar that works for him? Professional Organizer Colleen Warmingham created a calendar called the Artalendar for people who like to “color outside of the lines.” It sells for about $20 at www.Artalendar.com.

• I’m FLYing Calendar. This family wall calendar from the FLYLady helps you complete your appointments and household chores. It even includes stickers and a dry-erase board. Purchase the calendar for about $18 plus at www.FlyLady.com.

If none of these gifts float your boat, consider “clutter-free” gifts such as gift certificates to stores, theatre, or museums, or donations to charitable organizations. Overall, remember what the holidays are really about, and have a safe and joyous season!