3 weeks until Christmas!

3 WEEKS BEFORE: 

~ Start decorating. Check all your lights to make sure they work, choose a theme, check all ornaments and throw away broken ones, purchase any new ones. And turn up the holiday music or put on a favorite holiday movie and decorate!

 ~ Go ahead and wrap a few presents, or all at once. However it makes sense to you, if you are  a person who likes to get it all done at once, go for it, if it is too overwhelming do a couple at a time while watching tv and it is easier. Another thing you could do is hire a teenager to come over and wrap them for you! It gives them spending money and frees up your time. 

~ finish up any shopping you have not done yet. Don’t forget the stocking stuffers!

and yes I do look like this in real life! LOL We all dress like this when we go shopping don't we? hahaha. Oh I kid I kid.  Especially with the holiday treats that are starting to appear everywhere.






Hang in there! Only a few more weeks to go!
Happy Organizing,

Jen

4 Weeks Till Christmas. :)

 Welcome to my latest installment in my "Weeks before Christmas" series on how to  have an organized Christmas and be able to enjoy the season!

4 WEEKS BEFORE:

~ If you haven’t already mail out those Christmas Cards. 

~ Put together the gifts for your child’s teachers, coaches, & music teachers. Some suggestions might be a thank you letter from your child, a bouquet of flowers with a bunch of pencils wrapped around it,  check Pinterest for other creative inexpensive ideas. 

~ Bring out that baking caddy you put together and start your holiday baking, what a relief it will be to know that all of it is done and put in the freezer ready to go at a moment’s notice. 

~ Try on everyone’s holiday outfits and make sure all fits properly. Make sure all tights, shoes, ties, are purchased and ready to go. 

Happy Organizing!

Jen

Black Friday Sale!

                      Cleverly Organized Chaos   

                Black Friday Special!!!

                                                            

Black  Friday only from 12am- 11pm PST You can purchase a virtual organizing package for just $50 (normally $80) Here is what is included: 1 new space, 1 to do list, unlimited email support from me during your before and after picture, and 1 follow up to do list!  OR  purchase an in person organizing package for $100 (Western WA only) includes: Free assessment and 3 hours of organizing time. No limit on how many packages you can purchase and we do offer gift certificates so this would be a great stocking stuffer!

                                                Jen Kagan

                                             206-226-1098

                          Cleverlyorganizedchaos@yahoo.com

                          Cleverlyorganizedchaos.blogspot.com

Christmas Organizing Week 5..

5 WEEKS BEFORE:

~ Sit down and write the holiday cards, depending on how many you send out it may take a few days if you just do a few a day.  Put the stamps on them and keep them in a basket next to your car keys so you don’t forget to mail them. 

~ Check your extra chairs and the leaf in the dining table. Make sure you have everything in good repair.  

~ Pull out your Christmas dishes and check to make sure all are in good condition, washed, and replace any that need to be.

~Pull out your Table Cloth and napkins as well and launder those, iron them etc. then fold them all nicely and keep in a basket near your dining table for easy access.  

~ Start purchasing the gifts on your list. To help your budget go farther think  about things like the gift of experience…send your parents to a comedy show, or send your friends a gift certificate to one of those fancy movie theaters now, give an aquarium membership etc. to a family. These things are much more fun and don’t clutter up your friends and families house. 

~ Get your holiday music cd’s ready and put near the stereo, or download a Christmas station to Pandora or your ipod etc.

Happy Organizing!

Jen

Week 6 to an organized Christmas season!

I am starting a new series here on how to have a more organized Christmas season so you can enjoy the holiday season instead of feeling rushed and stressed out. :) Each week I will post a new tip! Also speaking of the holiday's coming up now is a good time to get stocking stuffers too. I offer Gift Certificates for my organizing services and remember I do offer virtual organizing, so you don't even have to live in my area. ;) Wouldn't it be great to give the gift of organization for Christmas? Email me for more details.  cleverlyorganizedchaos@yahoo.com!

~Put together a Master Christmas List  right now.  you will be able to keep track of what you buy and for who.  A big mistake a lot of people make is they shop ahead but then they forget what they bought for who. If you have a list cross everything off as you get it. 

~Set your budget now! This is crucial to an organized Christmas.  Set it now and avoid those nasty surprise credit card bills in January. Write the budget on the very top of your Christmas list and highlight it. Pay cash when you can and it will help you stay on budget. I realize this is not always possible but at least if you have a budget you can see it is easier to stick with it. 

~Put together a Master Christmas card list now. Here is the part you might be surprised to hear…You do not have to send a card out to everyone you have ever met. Really you don’t! J It is so easy to get sucked into the “I am a bad person if I don’t send a Christmas card to my friends little sister who once helped jump start my car” A good way to decide who to really send cards to is to send your cards to people who you remember you got cards from last year. Then this year start a list of who you get cards from so you know for next year.  Get your stamps purchased.

~Make any online purchases or catalog orders now so they have time to get here.

~ Check your baking supply list and cooking supplies. Make sure you have any special ingredients you need now while they are still in stock at the store. Use a carry all caddy with a handle and put all your baking supplies in it…cupcake liners, sprinkles, cookie cutters, rolling pins etc.  You will be able to grab the caddy when it is time to bake and see at a glance all you need. No more searching for all the things you need! 

~Now is the best time to go through toys, and things you don’t need. Just declutter a closet, or a drawer. One a day. By the time Christmas comes there will be room for all the new toys etc. ;) 

Have an Organized Day!

Jen

Really I am here!

Hello everyone! I am so sorry to have been gone so long. I did not intend to take a blog break but I got so super busy with organizing clients, my kids started their new homeschool year, sports started,and a new part time job. I was presented with an opportunity to teach preschool in the mornings at a local preschool and it was a chance I could not pass up. :) My heart is always with 4 things: God, My Family, Organizing, and teaching kids. Lucky for me they all go together!
One of the key things in this new season for me was good organization and time management. It was critical that I get my time management figured out and with good scheduling I did, however as any organizer will tell you...organizing and time management is a PROCESS not a quick fix, therefore I gave it a few weeks to work out the kinks and get into my groove. Unfortunately my blog posts were a casualty in the process, but it has been on my heart and I miss writing and sharing tips with all of you. So now that we are reasonably settled in, my blog writing is back on my radar and I have some fun post ideas that I can't wait to get to!

Starting with an idea of what my schedule looks like. I don't have a picture of my printed up schedule yet because I am still retyping it, however I will give you a peak into one day so you can see how it is set up. Each day is different as we have homeschool co-op classes, I have organizing clients, the kids have sports etc. So here is a screen shot if you will of a day around here.

5:30 rise and exercise (realistically it is rise and check email, take time to wake up etc. lol)
6:00 make breakfast, set out hubby's lunch for work, do any lunch and dinner prep for day
6:30 wake kids and eat together.
7:00 shower and dress for day and oversee kids morning routine.
7:40 go over assignments with kids and answer any questions.
8:00 work
12:00 Lunch with kiddos
12:30 take boys to chess class (while waiting call organizing clients, answer business emails etc.)
2:00 home and rest time for everyone
2:30 Schoolwork with the kids, going over any questions, and overseeing any work that still needs to be finished, as well as working with the kids with their one on one assignments.
4:00 oversee afternoon chores and start dinner.
5:00 Dinner
5:30 Cheer practice with daughter (while waiting write a blog post!)
6:00 stop by an organizing clients home and give suggestions on some shelving system for the room I am helping them finish up later in the week.
7:30 home and oversee night time routine
8:00 family time
8:30 kiddos in bed and they can read till 9:00
9:00 LIGHTS OUT for kids
9:00-10:00 time with hubby
10:00 bedtime. :)

There you have it. One day in my life. Each day looks different and some are not as busy as this day, others are about the same. What does YOUR day look like?

Have an organized day!
Jen