HOW TO :: 10 Week Christmas Countdown

Yes, it's true. Only 10 weeks to Christmas. If running around from one shop to the next with crowds of other frantic people is not your idea of fun, then try this rather...

Obviously the amount of planning required will depend on how you typically celebrate Christmas - is it a large family feast, or a small low key gathering? Perhaps it's multiple events with different groups of people? In our household we usually have a celebration with friends a week before Christmas, and then with different family groups on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Whatever Christmas looks like for you, planning ahead will avoid last minute rushing and stress, and make it all much easier and more enjoyable.

Step 1 - Write some lists

• For each event, you'll need a list of potential dates and venues, and a guest list.
• You'll also need a list of people you want to buy gifts for, and ideas of gifts to buy. (It's also a good idea to keep a list at the back of your diary or on your phone, to note gift ideas as you come across them throughout the year)
• Write a To Do list for each event. This again will depend on the scale and complexity of your events. Do you need to arrange for extra tables, chairs, and dinnerware? Do you need to plan a theme and source appropriate decorations? Do you need to plan the menu and delegate menu items to other people? Include everything on your list, even the obvious things, as we will use these lists to create a timeline in the next step. For example: Ask Mum if we can have it at her house this year; write the shopping list for the meal, do the grocery shopping; wrap the gifts... etc. Put it all on there!

Step 2 - Draw up a timeline

• Use a calendar / diary / spreadsheet - whatever works for you - to plot out the 10 weeks you have between now and Christmas. The trick here is to only use one timeline, regardless of how many events you're planning.
• Using a different colour for each event, start slotting in all the items on your To Do lists into the 10 week schedule. Doing this digitally (on your phone or computer) is an easy way to be able to move things around easily, but if you prefer a paper-based planner, try use different coloured Post-It notes (rather than writing in different coloured pens) to keep things flexible. This allows you to shuffle things around to find a schedule that's going to work, and also allows you to make adjustments if life gets in the way and things don't happen in the week they were supposed to! 
• Start with the most time-sensitive activities, and then work backwards from there to slot in other things which are dependencies (for example - if you want to have all your grocery shopping done 1 week before, you will need to have your shopping list done 2 weeks before, and your meal plan and delegation done 3 weeks before). 

Here is a simple example of a 10 week countdown:

10 Weeks - Write lists for venues and dates, and discuss with potential hosts. Write guest lists. Start gift ideas list (if not started already).

9 Weeks - Discuss dates, times and venues with guests and finalise.

8 Weeks - Decide on a theme and plan decorations and table setting. Write a list of requirements and delegate to guests.

7 Weeks - Arrange to borrow / hire additional furniture and dinnerware if required.

6 Weeks - Start buying gifts, wrapping paper, gift tags, and cards, as well as decorations if required.

5 Weeks - Check with guests for dietary requirements. Plan the meal and delegate ingredients or full dishes to guests.

4 Weeks - Put up the Christmas tree and decorations. Send Christmas cards via mail. 

3 Weeks - Do non-perishable grocery shopping. Gift-buying should be complete by now.

2 Weeks - Wrap gifts and write cards / gift tags. 

1 Week - Clean the house (and BBQ if required). Do the final grocery shopping.

1 Day - Do as much food prep as possible. Arrange the furniture and set the table.

Do you have any other fabulous ideas for a smooth running festive season? I would love to hear from you, just comment below!

101 Uses for Command Hooks

Being a renter, I have always relied on my trusty 3M hooks and picture mounting strips. But then through the wonders of Pinterest I discovered all sorts of creative ways to use them - from storing pot lids to hanging curtain rods, and everything in between, and subsequently I use them a lot with my clients. (Here is a little Professional Organiser's secret...Ssshhhh don't tell anyone I told you! If you are struggling to keep your horizontal surfaces organised - use your vertical surfaces! Hooks, hangers, wall-mounted hanging organisers, etc - piles can't form on vertical surfaces)

I have started my own Pinterest board to collate my findings, and would love you to contribute if you have any more clever ideas. I have no doubt we can find 101 uses! Please comment below telling me how you use Command Hooks and email me photos if you can - I'll pop them on my Pinterest board (crediting the source of course!!)

Visit my Pinterest board

How I use 3M Command Hooks 

Two of my biggest irritations at home... 1. rattling blind cords flapping about in the wind when we leave our doors or windows open, and 2. wet cloths hanging over the tap or left on the side of the sink.
Problem solved!!

Here are some other ways I have used them in my and my clients' homes:

The extra large hooks I used to store extension cords also work wonders for hanging large laundry baskets on the wall above the washing machine or laundry trough - great to get them out of the way and stop wasting valuable surface area in the laundry.

So please get commenting - I can't wait to see how you have put these fabulous little things to use!

* Please note this post is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with 3M - this is purely my opinion and experience.

How to Detox Your Home in 4 Easy Steps

This week I am thrilled to have Pearl from Resparkle as my first guest post. Enjoy!

Ok so perhaps you've embraced the organic lifestyle, an avid juicer or now a gym bunny, but do you still find yourself struggling with brain fog, sleeplessness or suffer from sensitive skin/sinuses? The culprit could be the quality of indoor air you breathe daily. Yes, indoor air is among the top 5 environmental risks to health according to numerous studies done in the US.

Common health problems that result from exposure to poor indoor air quality include: sensory and skin irritation; neurotoxic symptoms; hypersensitivity and odour and taste symptoms. Long term symptoms such as cancer and respiratory disease may be caused by long term, periodic exposure to chemicals.

While we do not have much direct control over the fumes & pollution we’re exposed to outdoors, we can take control in our homes. In this article, I share 4 easy ways to detox your home so it is a truly healthy sanctuary that you can retreat to after a long day.

(1) Rethink Artificial Air Fresheners/Deodorizers

I’m a scent junky so I totally get that you want your home smelling good but artificial air-fresheners are a toxic cocktail of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can cause nausea, headaches and even cancer. Did you know that at the back label of many air-fresheners actually says “Inhaling contents can be harmful or fatal”?? Check out a photo taken from a randomly picked air freshener from Coles:

Instead, scent your home with essential oils. It might be more expensive for that tiny bottle but a little goes such a long way.
Here’s an easy way to keep your toilet smelling great:

(2) Ditch the chemicals starting with the nastiest 

If you’re using chemical-based cleaners around your home, you are exposing yourself to unnecessary poisons. One of the most toxic offenders are bathroom or glass cleaners that often contain chlorine or ammonia. (Did you know mixing chlorine & ammonia was used as a weapon during WW1? Now why would you want that in your home?!)
Ditching chemical-based cleaners is perhaps the most impactful way you can adopt immediately.

A good resource when deciding on what cleaners to use is the EWG website (Environmental Working Group). It has a comprehensive list of cleaning products and rates them according to their impact on our health and environment. http://www.ewg.org/guides/categories/3-Bathroom

So start switching to natural cleaning products and it is important to make sure the store bought ones are made of 100% natural ingredients. Many “green” brands that position themselves as “natural” often still contain nasty chemicals. You don’t want to be forking out a small fortune only to be still cleaning with toxic chemicals.
Resparkle’s range of organic cleaners are made from 100% natural plant based ingredients and the best part is it does not cost more than most chemical-based ones.

(3) Improve Indoor air & energy with plants

Studies conducted by NASA confirms that, the simplest way to purify and revitalize indoor air was to introduce plants in your home. They absorb toxic chemicals through their tiny openings in their leafs, filter them through their root system and the release pure oxygen into the air.
For example, the Boston fern can remove up to 1.8mg of formaldehyde per hour (a common cancer causing chemical found in furniture and particle board). The Boston fern is also a low pollen plant so if you’re sensitive to pollen, this is the plant to get!

Read more about how plants improve your health and what plants to get here. http://resparkleaustralia.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/how-do-plants-improve-your-health-and-increase-the-flow-of-positive-energy/

(4) Detox your Garden: Don’t use pesticides: Use natural soap!

Yes, soap-based solutions have been used for centuries as all-purpose pesticides. They're nontoxic to the environment and to people — and they work on a wide variety of garden insects by disrupting their cell membranes and causing dehydration.
The key is not to use too much soap, or you'll also kill the vegetation near the pests. Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons liquid soap, such as Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Soap (do NOT use detergent) into 1 quart water in a bucket, then transfer to a spray bottle.
If you need to get rid of weeds, just pour hot water or vinegar at the roots. It will wilt and die in no time!

Pearl, founder of Resparkle – Australia’s first & only certified organic cleaning products that truly doesn't cost the earth. www.resparkle.com.au

PRODUCT REVIEW :: Hook-over Hanger - PLUS GIVEAWAY!

I first came across these hangers when I was looking for a solution for one of my clients. Most of you know I strongly believe that every person has a unique organising personality, and one of the most important parts of my job is to help a family full of different personalities find solutions to suit them all. This particular client had a young daughter who thought very differently to the rest of the family, and every attempt the mother made at organising her daughter's cupboard ended the same way - a pile of clothes on the floor and a frustrated young girl, feeling it was easier to find things in a pile than in her cupboard the way her mum had organised it.

I worked with both of them until we found a mutually-agreeable solution, which was to arrange her clothes in outfits. While this was not the most sensible option for the mum, she was more than happy to embrace it knowing that her 7-year old could now manage her wardrobe in a way that made sense to her, which meant no more frustration and no more piles. I then had to find the tools to make this possible - and that's when I found these hook-over hangers.

What I like about these hangers is that they allow you to see and access both garments individually, while keeping them together in an outfit. If you wanted to access just the skirt for instance, you wouldn't have to reach up under the top or remove it, like you would with many other "outfit hangers" used in clothing stores. It also allows you to turn any regular hangers you have into outfit hangers.

I sent a few to my client to try them out, and they all loved them so much she bought a whole bunch for her other 3 kids too! I also bought some for my son's school uniforms, and they work a treat! It's so easy to see how many days worth of uniforms we have washed and ready to go, and my son can easily grab a pre-assembled combo for the day, or select long pants and a short sleeve shirt if he prefers.

And here's the fun bit! I have a pack of 3 hook-over hangers to give away... all you have to do is comment below with your tale of cupboard chaos and why you neeeeed some of these fabulous things :)
If you can't wait, or need way more than 3 to make an impact on your kids' wardrobes, you can buy them in packs of 10 from my website www.homeandlifeorganising.com.au/shop

Get your comments in by next Wednesday 2nd October 2013 - winner will be drawn randomly from all entries, and announced on Thursday 3rd. Good luck!

www.homeandlifeorganising.com.au

HOW TO :: Avoid post-holiday chaos (and blues!)

Yes I have already done a 'HOW TO' post this month, but I decided to give you two for the price of one as school holidays are almost upon us! This post is actually Part B to my previous post on how to be better prepared for a family road trip, but applies to any kind of travel - business, pleasure, plane, train or automobile.

One of the biggest contributors to post-holiday blues is coming back to the drudgery of your normal daily life and all the undesirable tasks you have to do. If things have been frantic before you left and you are coming home to a messy house and smelly fridge, this is definitely going to be compounded. Here are a few simple tips to help ease the transition from holiday bliss into daily routine, by avoiding chaos and stress.

Images from freedigitalphotos.net 

Planning for the trip itself is obviously very important, but so is planning for your return, and this is unfortunately what many people fail to do. Having things all sorted and organised for the first few days after you get back home will extend the enjoyment of your holiday too.

1. Tidy the house - don't leave piles of clothes on the bed that didn't fit into the suitcase, and do a general tidy up around the house so that it is a pleasant space to return to
2. Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher
3. Have enough clean clothes, work shirts, school uniforms etc washed and ready for when you get back so that there is no desperate rush to do laundry
4. If you are going straight back to work or school, have the bags packed with the correct files, books, homework, or sporting equipment required for the first day back
5. If you will be away for more than a few days, clean out the fridge and dispose of any items which will expire while you are away 
6. Consider ordering some groceries online and getting them delivered on your return, so that you have some basics to get you through the first day back without needing to rush to the supermarket
7. Remember to empty all the rubbish bins, and place the big bins out for collection

Do you have any other great tips on how to ease into daily routine post-holiday? Please share them in the comments below - I would love to hear from you!

www.homeandlifeorganising.com.au

HOW TO :: Be better prepared for a family road trip

School holidays are just around the corner, and if yours is one of the lucky families planning a road trip, then these tips are just for you! Whether you are just taking a quick day trip, or heading off for a couple of weeks, better preparation and less stress will make for a much happier family experience.

The key is not having a rigid schedule and trying to ensure nothing can go wrong – rather it’s actually acknowledging that things can and do go wrong at times, but you can be flexible and equipped to deal with unexpected changes without the wheels falling off - figuratively speaking of course!

Plan Ahead:

• After you have plotted your route using your GPS / Google Maps / map book, check with your local road network authority, as close to your departure date as possible, for any road works or events which may cause road closures or delays along your route (eg. http://alerts.vicroads.vic.gov.au/)
• Plan frequent stops along the way at locations which provide the facilities you require – play equipment, baby change facilities, restaurant, petrol station, convenience store, ATM etc
• Check the weather forecast for the days you are travelling on, not just the days you will be at your destination, so that you can factor in longer travel time if it’s raining or snowing, or extra stops if it’s very hot
• Time your journey to avoid getting stuck in peak hour traffic when travelling through other main towns or cities
• Confirm your booking details and time restrictions which may apply for check-in and check-out, so that you can plan your arrival and departure times accordingly. You don’t want to arrive at your destination at 11am only to be told your room/campsite will only be available after 2pm! 

Things to remember:

• Charge the batteries for the portable DVD player, iPad, camera, phone etc, and pack the chargers and car adapters in an easily accessible place
• Make sure your travel insurance is up-to-date and covers you for the location you are travelling to, and any activities you plan to do while you’re there
• Make sure your car insurance is up-to-date and covers you for the location you are travelling to, terrain you are travelling on, and any other drivers
• Make sure your RACV / NRMA (or other roadside assistance provider) membership is up-to-date
• Make sure you have working tools and jumper cables, and check your spare tyre 
• Pack an ‘Emergency Kit’ in the car – First aid kit, water, toilet paper, tissues, wet wipes, non-perishable food, nappies if required, a towel, a change of clothing, and emergency contact details in case you lose your wallet or phone

Most importantly, remember...

www.homeandlifeorganising.com.au

Neat vs Organised

Spring is here! Yippee!! And with Spring comes a surge of motivation for people to Spring Clean and organise their homes. Here is a little nugget of advice - have a realistic expectation of what you are trying to achieve.

One of the comments I hear the most from people when I tell them what I do for a living is "your house must be beautiful / perfect / look like a show home", to which I always respond "I wish!". A family lives in my home - more specifically, a tornado disguised as a 5 year old boy lives in my home. And I have much better things to do with my time than follow him around with a vacuum cleaner all day. So no, my home does not resemble a magazine spread. It is, however, organised.

"Neat" does not necessarily equate to "organised". You can have a very neat pile of papers on the corner of your nice clean desk, but that pile could contain everything from your child's artwork to an overdue bill that you've forgotten about - and is therefore not organised. Being organised is about having a system in place to allow you to live and work well in your space. This may not look very neat and tidy, but that's ok, as long as it serves you well. I have worked with very creative clients and artists who think very differently to how I do, and their "organised" looks very different to mine, but it serves them well (and much better than my way would work for them) as they know where everything is and can work well in their space.

So as long as you have a place for everything, and everything is in its place (most of the time!) you're doing well. Don't strive for unattainable goals - it's just disheartening.  Have a Happy Spring :)

www.homeandlifeorganising.com.au