Bye Bye Christmas Decorations

It’s the first Saturday of the New Year which to me means doing a seasonal or monthly chore. So I’m packing up Christmas. Bye bye tree and ornaments. So long decorations. Hasta la vista  Santa chotchkies.

I have a couple tips for packing and storing your Christmas paraphanelia:

1. Don’t re-pack what you didn’t put out for display. What is the sense of using valuable storage space on something you didn’t use? It doesn’t give you any pleasure staying packed away, so why keep it?
2. Don’t pack what you don’t love. Unless the thought of getting rid of something will literally make you cry, don’t keep it.
3. Dust and clean before packing. You don’t want anything permanently stained.
4. Use the same-sized boxes. Although it’s easy and convenient to use whatever storage boxes you have, using boxes that are the same shape and size will help you utilize your storage space to the max.
5. Label, label, label. Clearly indicated the contents of the box on the outside. I also like to put the year on the box too so I know that the items were used. Every so often, I purge my storage areas. And if a box was labeled a few years ago, obviously I didn’t need or want the contents – so it goes.
6. Cheap packing material: shredded paper. Yep, I grab the paper shredder bin whenever I’m packing items and use the shreds as packing material. Much better for the environment than the styrofoam peanuts – and cheaper!

I use hinged-lid boxes for storage. I get them at Wal-Mart for cheap. They stack quite nicely. And the added bonus – I NEVER LOSE THE LIDS. I also use specialized storage containers for my ornaments and my wrapping paper. I also have a special bag for storing the artificial tree.

Well, time to get de-Christmasing.

Gift Idea: Coffee!!

Every year I ask for coffee for Christmas. Why? BECAUSE I {HEART} COFFEE! Do you have a coffee lover on your gift list? or tea? or chai?

RONA coffees is having a 30% Christmas blow-out on select items. I hope that someone shopping for me will take a peek and think the Egg-Nog ground coffee would be a good gift!

Tuesday’s Tip Jar: Resolutions

Sure it’s only 9 days until Christmas, but I’m thinking about New Years already. Are you? I’ve been thinking about my resolution for 2009 (to quit smoking – yep, BAD CARA!).

In a study done last year in the US, these are the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Earn more money
2. Lose Weight
3. Get organized
4. Manage time better
5. Spend more quality time with family
6. Reduce debt
7. Help others
8. Find soul mate or work on marriage
9. Find a better job
10. Quit Smoking

Most resolutions are abandoned by the second or third week of January. Why? Because the key to keeping your resolution is to HAVE A PLAN!I have two resources to help you create a plan keep your resolutions this coming year!

First, here is a new free report about reducing debt that I got my chubby little hands on. I read it last night and it’s so helpful! You can create an action plan to reduce your debt. And if you need more help, there is a link to a program that can help you. Download your free report Powerful Debt Reduction Strategies. <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>

I’m hosting a live teleseminar on December 30th. On this call I’ll be answering your questions and helping you Get Organized in 2009! Spots are limited, so if you are at all interested in attending, reserve your seat now! For more information go to Get Organized in 2009 Teleseminar.

For more Tuesday Tips, head on over to Blog Mommas and join the fun!

Cookie Swap!!

My sister and I have next weekend scheduled to be our marathon cookie baking session for Christmas. Yep – we load up the CDs and listen to festive holiday music while we spend 3 full days making, cutting, rolling, baking, and decorating cookies. We break out the cutters and the press (totally old school!). We trash the kitchen with flour and colored sugar everywhere – having a great time! The cookies become home-made gifts, trays for work and parties, and breakfast for Christmas morning.

Each year we try a new recipe. So I thought to myself “Hmmm, maybe I should do a cookie swap on my blog?” This would be an awesome way to have some fun with my online friends!

So, this Friday I’m hosting a Virtual Cookie Swap!

Share a recipe on your blog and come back here on Friday – I’ll put up a Mr Linky for you to enter your URL. If you don’t have a blog, you can share a recipe in the comments section.

I know there are a few other Virtual Cookie Swaps going on, but that just means more recipes!! I’ll include the links of the blogs that are hosting them so we can enjoy even more!

See you Friday!

Recommended Gadget: The Plastic Surgeon

I hate items that are packaged in a “clamshell” – you know that darn plastic casing with fused edges.

Regular scissors just don’t cut it. I’ve heard that a hand-held can opener works – I didn’t have success with that tip. Usually we grab a utility knife to get the job done – not a very safe option.

Well look what I discovered! The Plastic Surgeon. It safely cuts through the plastic, keeping your fingers away from danger. I think it’s a must have for Christmas!

The Plastic Surgeon is available at leapsandbounds.com for just $9.95. (Psst: free shipping on orders $100 and more AND I have a coupon code for items in the the Favorite Toys category, valid for one day only: November 3rd. Enter code SAVE35EK at checkout)

Olive Kids Growth Chart Giveaway

To celebrate the launch of their new Personalized Canvas Wall Art and Growth Charts, OliveKids.com is going to give some away!

Fantastically fun and brilliantly colored, these growth charts and prints make a wonderful gift! Each and every one is made to order and handcrafted in our studio. You’ll love the value of these works of art and your kids will love to see their names on these great products!

Click Here to enter!

You bet I entered! Little Dude’s room is all decked-out with Trains, Planes & Trucks. He loves his room! The colors are bright, and the quality of all the products is impeccable. They stand-up to the daily wear-and-tear of a little boy flawlessly!

Tip: In order to be able to get everything we wanted to re-do Little Dude’s room, we asked my mother-in-law to purchase the bedding set as a Christmas gift. Talk about a frugal way to shop – plus, it’s a practical gift. We really didn’t need another toy! Then we ordered the other stuff to finish the room.

Friday Freebies

So, how are your holiday plans going? Do you have the Halloween costumes planned? Where are you going for Thanksgiving dinner? And, what’s the status of your Christmas gift list? NEED HELP? Sign-up for my Holiday Countdown today!

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Receive a free 8-pack sample of the new Gerber Graduate Yogurt Melts

Participate in this campaign and you can win up to $1,500 worth of groceries and will also have access to great coupons for such products as Windex, Yoplait, Hamburger Helper and much more!

Download your FREE Hot Mama Makeover ebook

Free guide to have a close and happy relationship with your children – click here.

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Gift Wrapping: Let’s Discuss

I recently gave my friend her birthday present – a trilogy of books she has wanted. Instead of wrapping them in paper, I purchased a cute tote bag to use as a gift bag (canvas with multi-colored butterflies).

It was brought to my attention that my friend felt that I was being lazy by not wrapping the books in paper. Seriously? I thought the tote bag was super cute and useful. I figured she’d be able to use the little tote for the beach or to go to the gym. I did use tissue paper inside the bag and put a bow on to fancy it up a bit.it

I’m not big on wrapping paper. Don’t get me wrong – I love a beautifully wrapped present as much as the next person. But most wrapping paper is such a waste. It’s not recyclable. I prefer to “wrap” presents in something cute and useful. For example, at Christmas I gave my sister-in-law personalized stationary in a decorative box that could store the stationary. I didn’t wrap it – I just added a fabric bow and a tag. It was pretty.

In fact, most of our Christmas presents were wrapped in brown craft paper. I was able to personalize the wrapping with bows, stickers, etc. Presents that were not wrapped were put in gift bags, which can be reused. Not only did I save money, I helped the environment.

But back to the issue: was I lazy to not wrap my friends books? What do you think? Let’s discuss.

Tell Me Thursday

My friends Chele and Annette have started a new meme – Tell Me Thursday.

“We’re just two moms who are sick and tired of seeing all these cool Wordless Wednesday pictures out there on the web and want to hear the stories behind them!”

So here’s the story behind yesterday’s Wordless Wednesday:

Hubby has a fancy-schmancy digital camera (Canon Rebel EOS XT) and we got a new lens for it. Little man wouldn’t sit cooperate, so I decided to test it out on our train table. I was being goofy by setting up the piggies to ‘break free’ and take over the farm house!

Over the Christmas holiday, hubby dug out all his train boxes and we’ve all been spending lots of time playing with them. It’s become a wonderful hobby that all of us are enjoying – together! Hubby is having fun working on the cars and engines (some are older than he is) and little man loves watching the “Choo Choo” run. I’ve been doing the set-up. It’s been wonderful spending so much time with my boys!

Here are some more pictures so you can see the whole table.

Happy New Year!

I can’t believe it’s 2008! Time flys, doesn’t it? We plan on staying in our PJs today, finish the cookies and other goodies filling our kitchen, and begin watching Stargate Atlantis from the beginning (hubby got the DVDs of the first two seasons for Christmas). Then tomorrow it’s back to work!

I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year filled with much happiness and love.

This past weekend we did Christmas all over again with my brother and his family. We had a wonderful time! I’ll share more about our visit later, but I wanted to show you the gift I received from them. It brought tears to my eyes.

It’s a tote bag made from my brother’s uniform, including his patches. It is the most heartwarming, thoughtful gift! I just love it and plan on using it every day – it’s the perfect size to use as Little Man’s diaper bag. It’s the perfect size to hold a couple diapers, wipes and his juice and snack. And it’s a great way to show my support and love for brother.

A little link love is in order – this was hand made by Sylvia, my sister-in-law’s cousin. Her website is http://www.sewtaylorddesigns.com/. Sylvia and her sister make these tote bags as well as purses and diaper bags from uniforms. My bag was made from my brother’s uniform that he wore during his first tour in Iraq (2003-2005). The fact that he was willing to give me one of his Calvary patches (the shield with the horse) shows how much thought he put into this gift too.

Dont tell hubby, but this gift might now be the favorite over my new purse!