• A gift certificate for a session with a professional organizer is a great way to begin the New Year! Just send me your request by clicking on the e-mail address below.
   
• Consider giving organizing tools such as jewelry organizers, baskets, specialty clothes hangers, or decorative filing boxes.
   
• For those needing to downsize, the holidays is a perfect time to give some of those special treasures to loved ones.
   
• Give a gift of caring, a helping hand can be worth more than something bought even if it is just doing dishes, a car wash or a dog walk.

Having difficulty remembering what you wanted to give someone?  Can’t remember what you have already purchased?

• If you haven’t done so, start now to make a list of the people you plan to give a gift to. Keep it with you. Write down what you purchase as you go. This way you know what you have left to do and you won’t duplicate effort.
    
• Keep your receipts together in a file or Ziploc bag so that returns will be simple and warranties can be registered.

     Having company for the holidays?

• Start now to prepare a place for them. If you have a guest room, make sure that the linens are fresh and there are extra blankets and enough towels. A place to hang a few items in the closet would be nice.
    
• Make your guests feel welcome by providing a few amenities such as special soaps and shampoo or a radio or magazine.

 Need extra space for holiday guests?

• The new inflatable beds are a quick, reasonably priced solution. They come in several bed sizes, use standard size sheets and when not in use can be deflated to about the size of a sleeping bag.

Wondering how you can fit all of the cooking in with the celebrations?

• Dust off your favorite casserole recipe and make several in an evening and put them in the freezer.
    
• Have several of the “break and bake” cookie dough packages on hand for last minute invitations.
   
• Get the family to help. Holly Corbett states that “The act of preparing food together in the kitchen makes people feel secure and loved".
   
• Plan menus for several meals (including lunch and breakfast) and write them onto index cards. List the ingredients needed on the back so when the time comes, you can send someone off to the store for what is needed and you can easily get them involved in the preparation. When the family asks ”What’s for dinner/”, you can just pull out an index card and they can get started!