Day 21: {Organized} Gift Wrap

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Whew!  I can't believe it is October 21!  Where has October gone?  I have been working on those white cabinets as much as I can.  I never realized how useful those could be!  Remember my master bedroom closet that I embarrassingly showed you that used to contain my craft supplies?

See the orange drawered organizer?  That used to hold my acrylic paints, adhesives, and other crafty stuff.  I brought it down to the basement to see if now that it was empty of craft supplies it could hold some of my gift wrapping supplies.  Guess what?  It fit perfectly in one of the other tall white cabinets down there!

At the top of the this tall cabinet are all of our photo albums.  I'm not quite done with those yet.

I made labels for each drawer.

I added fun contact paper to the back of this cabinet.  It added so much color and prettiness!  It took me about 10 minutes to line the back of the cabinet--I am going to see what else in my house I can put (removable) contact paper on!  I love that stuff!  I found mine at Marshall's recently-two rolls for $6.99!  I wish I would have picked up other prints.   The tall metal container holding the rolls of gift wrap was from my daugher's room.  She actually has two of these and we have never used both.   I don't think she has realized one is gone.  :)

I love how each drawer is labeled and I can find things so easily.  All of this stuff used to be in a shallow plastic container under my bed!  I am thrilled that it is so easily accessible and looks so much better now

How does organizing my gift wrap go along with my Less Stressed Nest series?  I'll tell you how.  Organization lessens stress and saves time allowing me to enjoy my family and other things more.  Pretty, organized spaces calm and relax me and make me happy.

What have you organized lately?  What's on the list?

Sharing this project with:
The Girl Creative:  Just Something I Whipped Up
Skip to My Lou
Not Just a Housewife-Show Me What Ya Got
Bloom Designs

Day 20: Starting to Think About the Holidays

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Whew!  My Post is l-a-t-e!  Been a busy Saturday.  Fun, but busy.

I actually did a little searching on the www today to start thinking about the holidays.  Christmas in particular.  Anyone else done that yet?

I know, I know, it's only October, but I have said every.single. year. that I am NOT procrastinating, stressing, rushing, or worrying during the holidays.  And every single year I do.  I am still out at the stores on Christmas Eve Day aimlessly gift or grocery shopping.   It totally takes away from the enjoyment, beauty, and reason for the season.  I'm taking a different approach this year, my friends!

I thought I'd share a couple links my sis sent to me that I went crazy for!

Here we go..

For great gift ideas that you can make in mass for neighbors, teachers, and the like...
The Fickle Pickle

There are so many cute ideas on just this one post.  Are are do-able, afforable, and can take care of lots of gifts you need to give.

For great new traditions and ideas you can start with your kids or family...

A sweet blog called Workman Family is behind this cute idea.  Wrap items filled with small toys, movies, family fun ideas that the kids open each of the 25 days before Christmas.  Many of the items in this bucket are ones that they already had.  It just adds to the excitement of the season!  You could adapt this to fit your family or traditions.

These are just a couple of the great sites I saw today.  I plan on doing more posts this month and next about how I am going to prepare for the holidays so my booty can stay home  and enjoy my family on December 24!  

Here is what I am going to tackle ahead of time:

Making a master gift list

Making as many gifts as possible--I always say I am going to do this-this year I am!

Nailing down cookie recipes

Shopping online as much as possible

Making or buying multiples of things I find that are affordable 

Organizing my Christmas decorations--this is a biggie!

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify---less is more--figuring out what that means to me and my family

This researching and thinking about the holidays has really gotten me excited to get organized and feel on-top-of-things this year!  I hope I've inspired you to think ahead no matter what holidays you celebrate.

Day 19: Calming Spaces: Eye Candy

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When we are overwhelmed with clutter and chaos, sometimes it's nice to have some calming eye candy to look at.  No, our homes may not look like this, but we can take ideas and clues from these spaces to incorporate piece and parts of them into our own home.  They are inspiring, beautiful, and just by looking at them, reduce my stress!  Enjoy all of these pics from the wonderful Better Homes and Gardens.

Beautiful, right?  Create that cozy spot in your home that makes you calm.

Most of these spaces I have pinned on Pinterest--feel free to click Pin It!  so you can too!

Have a happy Friday!

Day 18: I Heart Coffee, What's Your Vice?

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Mmmmm.  Coffee.  It's gets me out of bed in the morning just like the Folger's commercial.  I'm hooked.  Bad.  Mug, insulated cup, green straw,  I like it all.

Source

When I am stressed, tired, grumpy, or otherwise I want need coffee.  I don't smoke, rarely drink alcohol, and don't do anything illegal.  But I do drink an excessive amount of the dark stuff.  Cream and sugar,  please.

I think about what this habit of mine is doing to me and I justify that anything that it might be doing to my body is outweighed by the way it makes me feel.  That sounds bad, yes?

I mean if I am going to have a Less Stressed Nest, coffee is going to be part of it.

So, what's your vice?  Facebook?  Chocolate stashes in your home that only you know about?  Pinterest?  Sweet tea?  What makes you more calm than an hour of yoga?  Do tell.   My take on this is that life is short.  Yes, take care of yourself (my post title yesterday! ha!), but also do little things that you love to do (or drink, or eat..).   All in moderation of course.  :)

Day 17: Taking Care of Me

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Projects can wait, cleaning can wait, e-mails can wait.  None of them can be done effectively if you are tired and run-down.  I know as a mom and wife and teacher that I try to care of everyone and everything else.  Then I am a grumpy, tired, mess. 

Sleep well.

Eat well.

Try to clear your mind at the end of the day.

Know your limits. 

Listen to your body.  

Count your blessings. 

Look at all of things you did today instead of all of things you didn't. 

What are you doing to take care yourself?

Day 16: Thinking Ahead=Cutting Down on Errands

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Have you ever ran out to the store to grab snacks for soccer or  a folder your kid needs at school, or to the bank to get some cash out for the football game and realize the next day there was 3 other things that you needed for the coming week that you could have picked up when you were RIGHT THERE at the store?  Yeah, me too.  

It's not like I don't want to visit heavenly Target 3 times a week, but it takes tons of extra time and effort to go multiple times to get things that are needed for you or your family.   Plus, while there I usually end up getting more than what I came in for. That only happens at Target, right?

Source

I need to reduce the amount of time I am scurrying around getting those errands done.  I brainstormed some things I can do to help with this, and maybe these ideas will help you, too.

We can:
Look ahead.  Not to just tomorrow, but to the next two to three weeks.  Check our calendars, schedules, school and sports memos, and newsletters.  Make a list of everything that we may need to get or buy.  Keep a running list in one place, not on a gazillion post-its notes or lists.

*Look ahead on school newsletters and flyers.  Do we need special or extra school supplies?  Donations of items?

*Look at all sports schedules.  Do we need any special equipment/snacks/coaches' gifts?

*Think about work, whether you work at home or outside of the home.  Do we need items for upcoming projects or jobs?  Gifts for co-workers?

*Special occasions--what birthdays/anniversaries/other events are coming up?  Do we need to get a gift for an upcoming birthday party?  What cards need purchased?  Do we have stamps?

*Clubs/Church/Other organizations--what's coming up that will require us to bring a snack/item/donation?

*Cash--(I don't have cash often, I use my debit card for almost everything) What is coming up that we  will need cash?  Do the kids need any for school acitvities?  Do we need to go to the bank or ATM while we're out?

These are just a few areas of our lives that may require us to make a trip to the store to get items.  Wouldn't it be great if we were so prepared that we could get several tasks taken care of in one errand?  Imagine how on top of things we would feel!

 I know that rushing around and getting things last minute is stressful to say the least.  No, these are not rocket-science ideas, but if you are like me, when your head is spinning you tend to do what you need to do in the RIGHT NOW to survive.  :)

Remember, we're on this mission together, to create a Less Stresssed Nest. Are ya with me?

Day 15: Making {Little} to do Lists

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Happy Monday!

Today I wanted to stress (okay, not stress, emphasize is a better word) the importance of making yourself short to-do lists for the day.  If you work outside of the home during the day like I do, my to-do list is what I need to get done in the evening.

The key is:  make it short.  Pick 2 or 3 things that HAVE to be done or that really need done.....not those lofty ideas that you know need done but that can wait.  If I put everything on my to-do list that needed done in my home, the list would be a mile long.  

In the summer I posted about my Message Board that I made...I have one of these in the kitchen and as part of my organization station.  I make a little to-do list on the one on my kitchen counter--the couple things I would like to get accomplished that evening.  If you're a list-maker and love crossing things off, one of these would be perfect for you!  

Having an unending list is unrealistic and only leaves you feeling lousy that you didn't get more done and overwhelmed that there is so much to do.  Don't do that to yourself!  Make is manageable and realistic.  

What 2-3 things do you need to accomplish today?  What can wait?