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How To Organize and Protect Your Ornaments
Every year, our living room gets transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland. Snowmen get put out, Santas get displayed, and stockings are hung. But one of my favorite decorations we have is our tree. Every year we get a real tree so the whole living room smells so …. wintery.
Then, we add our decorations and ornaments. Our tree is full of symbolic ornaments. We have some that were made with little hands that are really special. Some are from vacations and trips that we have taken, Some are unique to different members of our family showing their hobbies and interests.
Each ornament is special. It’s fun to open up the box of ornaments and with each ornament that gets taken out, memories begin to come back.
Keeping our ornaments safe until next year is important to me. The last thing I want, is to open up or tote and box of ornaments and to find one that broke in storage.
Luckily, Hefty makes keeping your ornaments safe and organized easy!
For our more bulky ornaments (like Santa!) I use the Hefty bowls. Just place your ornament in one bowl, and tape another bowl to the top. Easy!
For our small ornaments, Hefty makes the perfect size storage containers. They are called Mini Me Cups. We drop our smaller ornaments inside a cup and then tape another cup to the top.
For taller ornaments like our circus bear, we use the regular size Hefty cups. Like the mini me cups, I just taped another cup on top.
We have several ornaments that are large, and a little flatter. That’s when the Hefty plates come in handy.
I trust Hefty to keep safe our ornaments. Even special ones like these baby shoes. Or salt dough ornaments from over 20 years ago.
I know that when we open them up next year they will be safe and sound.
Plus, the Hefty containers stack so nicely in the boxes making for an organized way to put away your Christmas decorations!
We have definitely created #HeftyHolidays in our house!
Want more ways to organize and protect your ornaments? Hefty has some great ideas!
They also have fun ideas like:
- Free, printable treat bag toppers
- Tips on freezing cookie dough
- Easy DIY Christmas tree ornaments
- Easy DIY projects for kids like making snowmen and even Santa Claus
Hefty brand products include trash bags and cans, disposable tableware and more. Discover how Hefty can help you with home solutions today. You will want to make sure to check out the Hefty website for lots of ideas and for a full line of Hefty products!
This post is sponsored by Hefty. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
November Free Printables
I can’t believe that October will be coming to an end this week! It feels like this month has flown by. Don’t worry though, we are back with more holiday help to get you through November!
And we’ve made it to the last week of October! Hopefully you’re nice and organized and well-planned and have been able to enjoy all the spooky festivities. I know our family has enjoyed not having a last minute scramble for costume pieces, treats, and pumpkins. Instead we’ve gotten to really enjoy the parties, decorating pumpkins, and getting to do all the fun things this Halloween entails. So now it’s time to set you up for the same sort of peace in November! Today we’re sharing a set of November Planning Printables. We’ve also got your top links from last week’s link party and a new, fresh link party for all your favorite printable and Fall fun!
We’re going to get you decluttered, organized, cleaned, decorated, and ready for all the holiday fun…without you needing to be committed to the looney bin before New Year’s.
It takes quite the team to pull this off, but we’re here for you! We’ll be here every Monday through the end of the year to make sure you’re on track and able to enjoy everything you have planned.
Ready to meet the team?
Sheri from Career Girl Interrupted
Dani from Dani Schnakenberg Studios
Katie & Jairus from KatieMarcum.com
Jessica from Jessie Bee Healthy
Kristen from From Son Up Til Son Down
Stephanie from Sharing A to Z
and our lovely co-host Amanda from It’s a Fabulous Life
Each week we’ll take turns bringing you something awesome to help you stay on track preparing for the major Holidays of the season. Be sure to come back and link up your holiday posts each week so we can share the fun!
Click Here to Download
Now, who’s ready to party? Share your Fall and Thanksgiving-inspired posts with us this week!
Link Party Rules:
- Follow all hosts: subscribe, FB, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter…whatever you prefer!
- Be sure to link directly to your specific post, NOT your blog’s homepage.
- Don’t link and run! Be sure to visit the last couple links before yours and let them know how you found them through #HolidaySurvivalGuide2014!
- By linking up, you give all hosts permission to pin and share your projects (with links back to you, of course). We’ll also be sharing the top three clicked through with each following week’s project!
- Be sure to follow the Holiday Survival Guide 2014 Pinterest board, too!
Top links from last week:
1. Five for Fall…PLUS Fall Home Tour! – The Road to Domestication
2. Recycle Broken Malibu Lights for the Holidays from Life With Lorelai
3. Christmas on a Budget: Tasty Gifts from Little Blog on the Homestead
[inlinkz_linkup id=460797 mode=1]
Get Organized Week with Moms Check In
Did you know that this week is Get Organized Week. Seriously! It’s on the calendar! No lie! That got all of us thinking and talking about our own homes. I don’t know about you, but my house can always use more organizing! So we want to talk this week about what area of your home needs the most organization help?
Our mail area and counter is the worst! Between mail and school papers it gets cluttered quickly and really easily. It’s such an eye sore too. I’ve been working on tackling it, but I’m learning quickly that it’s going to take everyone tackling it together! 🙂
– Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!
I need the most help in organizing the clutter. It tends to take over the house sometimes. Oh, and I think my kitchen cabinets need an organized makeover. I’m working on that now but my ears are open and ready for any tips from the organized mommas!!
– Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!
Oh please, which part *doesn’t* need help? Paper clutter is my biggest problem by far so I’m going to say my kitchen. That’s where all the mail comes in, all the school papers, and all my lists to myself. It piles up until I make the time to sort it. I’m a terrible filer and badly need an organization system for my paper problems. Send help!
– Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Twitter here!
Well…there’s this storage room in the basement that used to be empty. Somehow it has become a jumble of don’t-want-to-get-rid-of-this important fill-in-the-blank. It’s become a great rainy day project…except it might take a downpour like in the days of Noah before I’d get it finished.
– Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!
What about you? What area do you need the most help with? Or even better, what organizing tips do you have?
Holiday Survival Guide: October Planning Printables
It’s that time of year again. School has started, leaves are changing, there’s a chill in the air…and it dawns on us…the next three months will be a whirlwind of parties, events, visitors, things to make and bake and cook, traveling…and at some point we should probably clean and prep our homes for all of this activity.
How do you keep it all straight? How do you get it all done? And how do you do it without sucking the joy and fun out of the season?
Guess what? We’ve got you covered! We’re going to get you decluttered, organized, cleaned, decorated, and ready for all the holiday fun…without you needing to be committed to the looney bin before New Year’s.
It takes quite the team to pull this off, but we’re here for you! We’ll be here every Monday through the end of the year to make sure you’re on track and able to enjoy everything you have planned.
Ready to meet the team?
Sheri from Career Girl Interrupted
Dani from Dani Schnakenberg Studios
Katie & Jairus from KatieMarcum.com
Jessica from Jessie Bee Healthy
Kristen from From Son Up Til Son Down
Stephanie from Sharing A to Z
and our lovely co-host Amanda from It’s a Fabulous Life
Each week we’ll take turns bringing you something awesome to help you stay on track preparing for the major Holidays of the season. Be sure to come back and link up your holiday posts each week so we can share the fun!
This week Dani’s bringing you an adorable packet of October Planning Printables to keep you organized. Don’t forget to check out the awesome to-do list to get you going on having a clean and organized house this season!
Click Here to Download
Now, who’s ready to party? Share your awesome Fall/Halloween or Organizing posts with us this week!
Link Party Rules:
- Follow all hosts: subscribe, FB, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter…whatever you prefer!
- Be sure to link directly to your specific post, NOT your blog’s homepage.
- Don’t link and run! Be sure to visit the last couple links before yours and let them know how you found them through #HolidaySurvivalGuide2014!
- By linking up, you give all hosts permission to pin and share your projects (with links back to you, of course). We’ll also be sharing the top three clicked through with each following week’s project!
- Be sure to follow the Holiday Survival Guide 2014 Pinterest board, too!
[inlinkz_linkup id=451220 mode=1]
How To Prepare For Unexpected House Guests
There isn’t much worse than being caught off guard for visitors or overnight guests! You can easily make your home house guest friendly and ready at the drop of a dime! Simply by keeping a few things ready and handy, you can make sure that both your guests and yourself have a fun (stress free) time!
- A Go-To Recipe
It’s important to have a recipe that is your go-to recipe! One that you know how to make and how to make well! When company is coming over for dinner should not be the time to experiment in the kitchen! (Unless going out for dinner is an option!)For me, my go to recipe is lasagna. And as an added bonus, we usually have the ingredients to make it! - A Nice Bottle Of Wine
Keeping a bottle of wine kept back for when you are entertaining is always a good idea!
- A Clean Space
This is easier said than done, huh? But by generally straightening up throughout the day and before you go to bed you can keep your house tidy.If guests are stopping by unexpectedly, don’t worry! They expect things like the kids to have their Lego’s out or your laundry basket sitting on the dining room table. There is a difference between lived in and dirty!Even if your house is ‘lived in’ you want to make sure that your guest has a clean space for spending the night. No one wants to feel like a burden. It’s embarrassing for the host and the person who is staying if you have to go clean out a room for them. Keep the guest room reserved for guests. Keep clean sheets, a few extra pillows and an extra blanket ready for them.
- Create a Guest Basket
We’ve all been there before. You start to unpack to realize you forgot your hair brush, blow dryer, toothbrush, deodorant, or headache medicine.By creating a basket filled with items like this will mean a lot to your guests! You can use sample size items (a great use for those freebies that come in the mail!) or purchase full size products. As an added bonus: when you are packing for your child or yourself you know that you have extras!Some ideas of items to include are:
– Shampoo/Conditioner
– Body Wash
– Soap
– Razor
– Shaving Cream
– Q-Tips
– Face Wash
– Lotion
– Toothbrush
– Toothpaste
– Blow Dryer/Hair Straightener
– Deodorant
– Tylenol/Aspirin
– Chapstick - Wifi Ready
By writing down your Wifi password you can help your guest from even having to ask! Plus, you help yourself from having to rattle off that long password!Consider keeping a copy of the password to keep in your guest basket! - A Quick Cleaning Plan
You just got the phone call! Your mother-in-law and sister-in-law are in the neighborhood and going to stop by. You’ve got about 10 minutes!What are you going to do? Load the dishes in the dishwasher? Maybe run the Swiffer quickly? Chose a quick chore that can be done in just a minute or two. The rest of the time should be spent quickly picking up and decluttering. Most people will notice clutter but won’t notice that you didn’t just wash your windows. Do a quick glance as if you were the guest. And remember – we are our own worst critics! Things that are driving you crazy are things that others may not even notice!
Guests coming over? No problem! You are ready! By having a few things ready ahead of time (and a plan!) you can be ready for guests in minutes. How do you prepare for house guests?
How I do it: Part 3 Meal Planning
How I do it – part 2 – Cleaning Schedule & printable
I list my daily cleaning items.
1 load of laundry – start to finish (finishing laundry is the hardest for me. I like to either keep it in the dryer – and keep resetting the dryer OR fold it and keep it in the laundry basket. Don’t ask why putting it away is the worst it just is)
Make the beds
Pick up the clutter
Clean up the dishes after each meal
Clean up the counters/table after each meal
Then, I have a schedule (told you I’m completely a type A person..with a little OCD. I’ll leave it at that so I don’t embarrass myself).
Monday: Master bedroom
Tuesday: Bathroom
Wednesday: Josh’s room
Thursday: Living room/Hall
Friday: Kitchen
Saturday: Outside
Each room has a few specific chores that I do in it. We have a small house – just 2 bedrooms and 1 bath so it works out that I just have to do one room a day.
And don’t forget that calendar! So today. Today was Tuesday. I did my daily items and I cleaned the bathroom. (Yuck). On my cleaning calendar I have things listed that are more deep cleaning things that maybe don’t get thought of too often. Today it was clean the shower curtains. Check. (Tomorrow is clean the washing machine in case anyone cared!)
If you want to download and print my cleaning schedule go here. I made sure to save it in a way that you can change anything on there and personalize it the way you want!
Come back tomorrow for more on my planner – and I’ll share about how to have the easiest meal planning system EVER!
How I do it – Getting organized my FREE printable planner
Anyways.
