House and Holidays

Photo from smashingbuzz.com

It's the end of week two of the H+H plan over at Magical Holiday Home. The focus: organizing activities and setting up a creativity area.

This week many of us have been decluttering our creative spaces to make room for craft projects, writing lists, planning holiday meals, signing and addressing Christmas cards, wrapping gifts, everything.  The two areas where I do most of my creating, planning and whatnot are at my dining room table or at my desk in the guest bedroom.  I tackled my desk area a few weeks ago. Let me tell you, my desk area was a job and a half.  PAPER!!!  That's all I'm going to say about that. I know you know what I'm talking about.  But it's all good now. I can actually see my desk lol.

I do have several craft projects I will be working on - all decorations, no homemade gifts this year.  However, I have not been to the stores to pick up supplies needed.  Mainly because I have been focusing on fall projects that I am currently working on. My goal is to have the supplies by the end of this month. By then all of my fall projects will be completed and I can begin focusing on my Christmas projects.  I have to have them done before Thanksgiving weekend, which is when I start putting up my Christmas decorations.

In addition to creating a nice work area, we're working on our seasonal calendars. There's parties, family photo sessions, travel arrangements, maintenance schedules, school plays/concerts coming up.  Having all of that on a seasonal calendar is perfect to avoid missing something very important or worst, double booking.  My seasonal calendar has been done for weeks.  I just update as needed.  And as for traveling, I never travel during any holiday and I don't have any family coming in town.  Besides the majority of my family members live nearby.

Lastly it's time to get that shopping list together.  My list is tucked in my purse and I've already started picking up stocking stuffers.  I've also started my holiday layaway at Walmart.  I have a three page list so the sooner I started the better.  My list has everything from craft supplies, to gift ideas, to baking supplies.  Some of the ladies at MHH are almost done all of their gift shopping.  They were lucky enough to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones throughout the year.  Very impressive. Wish I could be that good.

It's Never Too Early

For planning, that is...

So I'm sitting here and I'm thinking of all of the things that will be going on for the remainder of this year.  Wow!  I already have quite a bit of stuff going on.  How WILL I cope? Lol  Anywho...

I was with friends last night watching our Ravens first pre-season game against the Carolina Panthers (We won!) and we got on the subject of birthdays and trips and even Christmas.  And I'm like, "I better make sure I get all of this new information written down so I don't forget and over book myself."  So glad I printed a few blank calendars the other day and started making notations.  I made notes of stuff like when I want to start shopping for Christmas gifts, the weekly Home&Holiday prep plans, when to purchase food for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, even doctor's appointments and truck emissions. You name it I've got it noted.  It's going to be busy around these parts real soon and I am going to need to be on my toes.  I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE to be rushing around, last minute, trying to get things done.

The calendars are just a rough draft for now.  When I can get some color ink for my printer I will dress them up so they will look pretty in my notebook. Or maybe on my fridge, hmmm.

March Madness

It's not really mad.  Well maybe a little.

The new carpet is being installed tomorrow. So glad of that.

Before the contractors come I had to move items that could easily break. They are currently being stored in the kitchen.  I tried storing some things on the shelf in the guest bedroom closet Friday, when all of a sudden, the pole gave way from the wall and everything came crashing down on me.  LOL.

(It was worse then this. I cleaned it up a little before I took this picture.)


Needless to say, I had to find somewhere else to put things.  Maintenance will come fix the pole hopefully later this week.

While getting the place ready for carpeting, I managed to do more decluttering.  I gave away two small tables, a small book case, a curio, my microwave, and a few other things to the Salvation Army.  Unfortunately, one of the small tables somehow got damaged during transport, so I don't think they will be re-purposing it.  I threw out some old picture frames that broke during the closet fiasco. I also threw out some Christmas wrapping paper that I didn't like anymore. Out went an old folding table and a plant stand that had seen better days.

My little palace is looking quite empty. Almost like it did when I first moved in.  lol

A New Year

So much has been going on since I last posted. All good for the most part.

January was the month to reflect on the holidays. What worked? What didn't? What new traditions were created? Things like that.  January was also the month to clean out my holiday notebook.

In February I did a lot of decluttering with my friends over at Magical Holiday Home.  It started out small but then turned into a major overhaul for me.  The reason? My little palace is going through a face-lift.

Yup, I recently had my kitchen completely gutted out and replaced with new everything: cabinets, appliances and flooring.  I am so happy with the results.  I can't wait to be in there baking and cooking away during the holidays.

Here's a few photos of before and after.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Now this is a kitchen I can cook in. I have more counter space to work on. Also having another wall of cabinets gives me more storage for my cookware that was previously being stored in the coat closet. You may have noticed a large opening between the floor cabinets.  That's where the dishwasher will be installed in a few days.

And let me tell you, they didn't skimp on the appliances either.  Top of the line (Whirlpool) fridge,  stove and built-in microwave.  I am really going to enjoy using this oven.  It's self cleaning, has a buit-in timer and can act as a warmer.  I was truly impressed.

I bought this island from Ikea.  It's great for storing larger items that can't fit into the cabinets and keeping extra dish cloths, towels, etc. close at hand.  This island also serves as extra work space as well as a serving area during parties. (Like a girls night which is in the very near future)



A new, larger light fixture replaces the old, small one making the kitchen brighter since I don't have a window.

Not only did I get a new light fixture in the kitchen, but in the dining room as well.  The finish matches the large mirror on the wall perfectly.

They also replaced the flooring in the foyer.  It's the same flooring used in the kitchen.

The kitchen is just the start. I'm also getting new carpet throughout, new flooring in the bathroom and all  the closet doors will be replaced.  So you know what that means...more decluttering.

I'll keep you posted.

January Goals

(An idea shared from member Chilli at MHH) Take a calendar for 2011 and enter as follows:

• Birthdays
• Vacations
• Already known family events
• All other important activities for you, family, friends, etc.

Work on Christmas notebook

• Make a new cover for my binder
• Print planner sheets from Organized Christmas
• Create and print pretty tab sheets

First part of "celebrate me", make the promise to spend some time on my word for 2011.  Second part is to do something special just for me.  I chose the 26th - which is my birth date - of each month to being nice to "me".  Things like treat myself to a pedicure, get my hair cut or colored, buy a new outfit, or just spend the day lounging around.  I would really like to go for a nice bike ride.  I have not been on a bike since I was a teenager. 

Pledge to declutter closets.  I'm working on getting rid of the ugly shoe boxes that clutter the floors of my bedroom closets.  While I'm at it, find a better way to organize my handbags on the shelves.

Purchase a holiday movie.  I really want to increase my collection as I don't have many of the favorites.

Answer debriefing questions about the holidays.

It's The Christmas Countdown

I'm late. CEO of Organized Christmas has yet another countdown. "Christmas Countdown" started Sunday.  It's six weeks of pure fun.   To learn more click here.  For the past two months I have been following the Holiday Grand Plan which focuses more on house cleaning before the holidays.  Well my place is as ready as it's going to be.With Christmas Countdown, I forget about house cleaning (Well not really) and focus more on holiday prepping.

This week we Get Organized. If you haven't done so already it's time to make lists, think about holiday meals, schedule professional cleaning (if needed), and schedule family photos. It's also a week to think about Christmases past. What worked?  What didn't? Any changes you'd like to make for this year?

Have a holiday planner? If not, this is the time to get one started. CEO has created lots of forms that you can print and add to your planner. Need to decide on what the family is wearing for the photos for the Christmas cards, this wardrobe planner should come in handy.  Having a potluck dinner?  Use this form to keep track of what each person will be bringing.

I've been doing the countdown since 2006 (The year I found Organized Christmas) and let me tell you it has really helped me enjoy my holidays more.

Here's what my planner looks like. It's a three ring notebook with a clearview front.  I just inserted a piece of scrapbook paper for the background. Then printed and inserted the cover on top. The cover is the work of Ms. Melinda.  There are some ladies at MHH whose notebooks are much more creative than mine. I tell you, these ladies are talented. I just have a simple book cover. Heehee.

My notebook is divided into 10 sections:

1. Activities.  Here is where I keep my calendars and the Christmas Countdown checklists.
2. House Cleaning. In this section I have the Holiday Grand Plan or Houseworks Holiday Plan
3. Crafts. In this section I keep a list of homemade gifts and decorations as well as ideas for future projects.
4. Autumn. All about Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving
5. Decorate. Decorating ideas, room by room planning, decor inventory.
6. Gifts. Gift list, budget, shopping list,Gift closet inventory, stocking stuffer and gift basket ideas
7. Foods/Recipes. Holiday menus, grocery lists, dessert recipes, pantry/freezer inventory
8. Entertainment. Holiday party planning, holiday movie/music/book collection.
9. Addresses. Names and addresses of folks I send Christmas cards to. Tracker form of cards sent/received.
10. Debriefing. Summary of the holiday experience as well as making a few new year's resolutions.

I keep a sheet protector in the back of the book to hold receipts. Some members at MHH use large envelopes. It's really up to you. I also keep blank lined paper for writing notes and reminders and keep the previous years forms for comparising and for guidence for the next year.

Get Organized week is pretty much done.  Being a big Christmas fanatic, I spend time here and there throughout the year planning. 

• All my lists are done (gift list, holiday menu, shopping list, address list, etc.).
• No travel plans for me. I like to stay home during the holidays. Luckily for me the majority of my family live here in Maryland. 
• No overnight guests visiting this year.
• I have a steam cleaner my step-dad bought me a few Christmases ago so I clean my own carpet twice a year.  I plan to spot clean the main traffic areas such as the hallyway and the livingroom. I also clean my livingroom furniture twice a year. The furniture is in great shape and doesn't need cleaning right now.
• No photo sessions to plan either.

Be sure to check out the weekly readings CEO has posted as part of the countdown. They are very inspirational and give great tips and advice.