Setting the Stage!

Tonight's 15: If possible, set the table tonight.

Casseroles

Tonight's 15: Go ahead and make your casseroles this weekend. They'll freeze great and spare you some time later on in the week. 

Tonight's 15: While you're in the crafting mood, let's do place cards tonight! It's fun to mix up company and have people sit next to someone they might not have chosen. What a great opportunity to get the family closer! Whether you purchase place cards or make them yourself (much more fun!), get them ready ahead of time and keep them with your linens. Here's a couple of great ideas from Real Simple.


http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-place-cards-00100000068245/index.html

Recipes!

Tonight's 15: Recipes ready to roll! I've had quite a few clients that keep their recipes in bags, boxes, drawers, etc. Only problem is, it takes a bit of time to find the ones they need. So let's spend tonight pulling those recipes out for the big day. If they are organized in a book or on your computer (yay!), take a look at them tonight, too. Once you have them in hand, double check that you have all of the ingredients in your kitchen or on your shopping list. If you don't, you know the drill...

Be Our Guest!

Tonight's 15: Having overnight guests? Where are they sleeping? Do you have enough sheets, blankets, pillows and towels? Tonight, do an inventory of what you have and what you need. Again, consider borrowing instead of buying. Then stock up the guest bedroom and bathroom - get it done and forget about it! Make room in the closet and a drawer. If they're staying for the weekend, what activities are in your area? Have some ideas ready to entertain everyone so you can enjoy their visit, too!

Linens!

Tonight's 15: Linens! Check for rips, stains, etc. Do they need to be pressed? Is it worth your time and money to send them out? If you're using paper (they have fancy ones now!), decide how many you need for cocktails, dinner and dessert. Do you need to make a special trip to a novelty store? If so, make a list of all the items you will need from there.

Silver lining...

Tonight's 15: Get out the silver and start polishing! I know a lot of my clients leave this for the last minute and they're always sorry. It may take longer than 15 so you can break it up into two nights or even better recruit some help. Older kids can help (let them pick the music tonight!). If no polishing is necessary, make sure you have enough serving utensils, turkey baster in good shape, carving knife sharpened,...?

Checking the Cupboards!

Tonight's 15: Let's check the dishes, platters and silverware. Do you have enough? (While you're in there, do you have too many??) Everything in great shape? If not, don't put it back - consider letting go. (REMINDER: You want to USE, need and love everything in your home.) If you don't have enough, consider borrowing from a friend or relative who isn't hosting the big day instead of purchasing (and storing!) more. Using your fancy stuff? Pull out that silverware for tomorrow's 15!

Countdown to Thanksgiving

Tonight's 15: Next up is the utensil drawer. There may be half a dozen cooks in your kitchen that day...let's make everything easy to find. Go through your utensil drawer and be BRUTAL. Do you really need 2 potato peelers (just in case)? How about that ice pick and all those things you saw on TV that didn't quite work out? Be honest and save only what you use. Try Organizing Expert Peter Walsh's trick: Empty the entire contents of the drawer into a box or container. Keep on your counter for the next month. When you use one, put it back in the drawer. After the month, well, you know...


21-times.com
peterwalshdesign

15 min. to Holiday Bliss!

Hey! We've been doing 15 minutes a night this week to get ready for the holidays!!! Let's catch you up and let us know how it's going....

Get rid of anything in the fridge that is expired, went bad or simply stuff nobody likes.

‎15 minutes tonight: a quick and dirty. You've decided what you're keeping in the fridge. Take everything out onto the counter keeping like with like. Do a quick wipe down of the shelves and drawers. Return everything to the fridge- again- keep like with like. Most importantly, make sure you can SEE everything you have. If you can't see it, you won't use it! If there's time, do a quick wipe down on the outside, too.

Tonight's 15 minutes: You'll need certain food items for the holidays and they'll be going on sale soon so let's get to the pantry. Decide what portion you will want to work on tonight, whether it's a shelf or a whole cabinet. Same as the fridge, empty items keeping like with like. Check all expiration dates. REMINDER: If it's something nobody likes or you can't imagine when you'll use it - this is a great time of year to donate those items! Do a quick wipe down. Put items back - like with like - and establish the one in, one out rule. (You have to use something before buying another.) Let the kids help!!

Tonight's 15 minutes: If you have a large pantry, keeping working on that tonight. You want to complete a task rather than skipping around. Plus, we want to make sure your pantry is in tip-top shape! If you completed your pantry last night, let's make a shopping list for the holiday. REMINDER: Shop at home first. Can you tweak a recipe and use what you have? Can you make cherry pie instead of blueberry? You get the idea... Once you're done- pop the list in your wallet so it's accessible in the store. When an item goes on sale, scoop it up! If it's not on your list, ask yourself do you really need it??

Okay...you're all caught up!! See you tomorrow!

Ready or Not!!

Starting your Holiday shopping list? Think experiences! Movie passes, a baking date, visit to the spa? Maybe something you can do together like a cooking class. Maybe it's time to share that secret recipe...you get the idea. As for the kids, they want your TIME- be creative! A picnic with mom? An afternoon video game marathon with dad? How many times have you asked what they want to hear "I don't know"? We all have enough stuff that we don't need or even use. Have a family meeting now and let everyone decide what "gifts" you can swap this year. 

Decorations!!!

Who doesn't LOVE decorations?? I know I do!!! I know I have had too many decorations in the past. I've also had sentimental items that weren't quite right for my decor but I still couldn't let go...so I kept them in the box and stored them year after year. 
And then I stopped. I gave myself a limit for each holiday. How many crates seem reasonable to you? And be reasonable. ; ) I then went through every single decoration one at a time and asked myself do I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it? AND would I buy it again? Downsizing was so easy to do with these two questions. 
If possible, have a friend join you in the process. My sister was right by my side, checking out every item. Did she just gasp at those skeleton tongs?? Here you go!!! So fun and easy to give away something when someone you love really wants it...She also snagged a very large, very funny chick candle. When she couldn't stop laughing, I couldn't hand it over fast enough!
Also, when you are checking out each piece one by one - you really see it. You see the chips, scratches, bad paint jobs, etc. Sometimes you find your not crazy about it anymore but it's what you've always hung on the door (without really thinking about it!). Let it go if it doesn't make you smile or make you feel great. Isn't that why we decorate? 
I had a ton of sentimental pieces that I photographed, scanned and then said goodbye to. You can put those pictures in an album that's displayed every holiday so that those sentimental pieces can be shared and enjoyed. Then tuck the album away with the decorations- it takes up a lot less space, doesn't it? 
I also think it's a lot more fun to decorate and un-decorate when there is less to do. It doesn't seem like such a chore and it's actually fun! Give it a whirl and let us know how you do!
Here, I'll start you off...Happy Holidays!!!

21times in New York December 15 - January 4!

21times is heading "home" for the holidays! The time will fly and we've already booked some slots! Give us a call to cull those decorations before and after, declutter and make room for the new or just start off 2012 with a clean slate! We can't wait to see you all! Call for your appointment today 917-502-7811. 

Greeting Cards

It's so great to receive a card, who doesn't love that? Always brings a smile to this gal. But if you've saved every card you ever received, it's time to think about letting them go. Grandma won't mind if you don't keep the card she sent you on your 5th birthday - I promise. I know, you think you're going to cozy up one rainy day with hot cocoa and a blanket and re-read those cards. Guess what? That's never going to happen! Too harsh? Ok, how about you go through that giant stack, box, chest of cards and pick out a couple that really are meaningful. Maybe somebody made it for you or wrote a really beautiful note. Then, sure, that might be a keeper. Now, where are you keeping it? If it's in a box in a closet, it's not going to make you smile. Put it in a frame or display it some place that you'll see it everyday...and smile. If it's special, treat it like it's special.  Now for the others...if you can't get rid of all the Number One Mom cards, how about scanning them? Now you can put them on your desk top in a slide show that can remind you all day long that you're a super mom! Oh, what's that, a smile? Make sure to recycle or find someone who'll use those old cards. During specific times of the year St. Jude's collects the front of greeting cards and the kids use them to make their own cards and earn some pocket money...try it, and pass along that smile. : )
www.stjude.org

Relax!! or....

Happy Fourth!! A great day to relax and celebrate!!! Of course, a day off is always a great day to declutter!!! Just sayin'....; )

Pack up the Holidays!!

Ok, we've had a great time with family and friends, we've enjoyed the decorations and the candy and the get- togethers...now let's put it away. Make sure everything is clean - those Easter baskets are empty, right? No stray jelly beans???? If anythings broken- let it go. If you didn't use something this year, why would you store it all year to not use it again next year? Can you think of someone else who might like it? If not, recycle or donate. The idea, as with the rest of the year, is to love, need or use everything you have in your home. Ok, wrap up the breakables and pack it all in a sealable (tape is okay!) box and label it Easter, Passover, Bunnies- you get the idea! Now put the box some place where you won't see it, trip over it, move it everyday. Maybe the garage, attic, a shelf in a guest room so that it's not in your way during the year. Now take some time to check out the pictures, remember your favorite moments and well, just smile! : )