5 ways to get organized for Christmas

5 ways to get organized for Christmas

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Emotional Clutter: Stress, Holiday stress

Too busy, too little time. I'll never get it all done "in time." My mind goes in ten directions at once. These thoughts can create emotional clutter in the form of stress, especially during the holiday season. Stress doesn't feel good. It makes the stomach roll and the head hurt. It wears people down.

Is there a cure for holiday stress? For me, I need to drop the perfectionism. The holidays will come and things will be "good enough." Good enough is just fine. Maybe I can drop the self-torture of perfectionism. It will be a smaller and simpler celebration at our house this year. I am going to try to take a deep breath, or several, and slow it down.

What about a little self care during this busy time? Humm? What would that look like? I think it looks a little different for each of us. Maybe it would be worth thinking about and implementing a little self care. Mine, today, looks like this: coffee and conversation with a dear friend, even though technically I don't "have time." And, flannel sheets! I installed the flannel sheets on the bed this morning. We live in a cold climate, and, with an unusually warm November, I hadn't taken care of this yet. These fresh, warm,  cuddly sheets give me something to look forward to all day!

Maybe you could give yourself the gift of self care today too? What helps you manage the emotional clutter of holiday stress?

Thank you for helping "Clutter Clearing Choices" book along

Wow. Yesterday was a very exciting day for this new clutter clearing author. And, I owe it all to you. Here's what happened: Clutter Clearing Choice's  rank on Amazon went from 750,000 (down near the bottom) up to 52,000 (a very good spot much higher up). Thank you! Each and ever order and review counts.

I also got to appear in the second half of a show on Blog Talk Radio! Here is the link:

Original Air Date: 12/9/2009 12:00 PM
The Longevity Club Radio Show Adriane Berg' Longevity Club Radio Show--Guests: Jerry Rhoads, Elder Abuse; Barbara Tako, Clutter Clearing Choices

Let me know what you think. And, again, thank you!

"Clutter Clearing Choices" now available to purchase on Amazon

As of last night, my book Clutter Clearing Choices: Clear Clutter, Organize Your Home, & Reclaim Your Life became available on Amazon. They have inventory! As a new author, this has been a long road, and I am very excited. It can even be ordered in time as a gift for the holidays! Here is the link to Clutter Clearing Choices on Amazon!

9 uncluttered Christmas decorating tips from 2 perspectives

9 uncluttered Christmas decorating tips from 2 perspectives

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5 ways to get organized for Christmas

5 ways to get organized for Christmas

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Simplify Thanksgiving or Christmas?

It can be tough to change holiday traditions because they involve other people's plans and wishes too. Thanksgiving can be used as a time to discuss simplifying Christmas while the family is gathered together. Maybe it is too late to simplify the holidays this year, but you can plant seeds to simplify things for next year!

Please share your thoughts of what works and doesn't work to simplify holiday get-togethers. Thank you!

One simple organizing technique: Think like a professional organizer

One simple organizing technique: Think like a professional organizer

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Turn Greeting Cards into Postcards

Turn Greeting Cards into Postcards from www.thriftyfun.com (see below)


November 07, 2009

Here's today's tip...

Turn Greeting Cards into Postcards

To recycle cards and save trees, I turn cards I receive into postcards and re use them. Usually people only write on the inside page so I cut off the front page with the picture on it and then write my own message or greeting on the blank back page along with the address and it is now a postcard. I always get asked where I find such fun postcards and with the price of cards being $2-4 and postage being cheaper for a postcard I save quite a bit each time I send a postcard greeting!

By Kate from Chicago, Illinois

Closet organizing tips

Closet organizing tips

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A dusting solution that wasn't as "simple" as it looked!

I found an idea at www.thriftyfun.com to dust flat lampshades with a lint roller. I have dogs, so by definition, I have lint rollers. Many lint rollers. Lots of lint rollers scattered throughout my home. This lint roller lamp dusting concept seemed like a good idea to me.

At 6:00 a.m. this morning, I tried it. Yes! I had just showered and dressed, and, you guessed it, grabbed the lint roller in the bedroom to get the dog hair off my jeans...I started working on the four-sided square shade with the roller. It appeared to be working! Unfortunately, the shade was turning in place as I was working on it, so I grabbed the finial and instead of tightening (okay, I am a lefty and I probably turned it the wrong way), it came off in my hand.

Next, I dropped the heavy metal lamp finial. On its way down, it broke the lamp's light bulb. Now I was standing barefoot in my darkened bedroom at 6:00 a.m. with electricity in a broken lightbulb and broken glass to clean up.

Of course, I "survived." I unplugged the lamp, cleaned up the glass...The whole incident just put a bit of a damper on the little dusting tip I had discovered.

Spouse Clutter: 5 ideas to deal with "their stuff"

Spouse Clutter: 5 ideas to deal with "their stuff"

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