Simplify Your Holidays

Posted on by Mandy

Are you looking for a way to simplify the most stressful time of the year? Feeling like it’s impossible to keep up with all the demands of the coming holiday season? Marcia Ramsland, The Organizing Pro and author of Simplify Your Holidays, has found a way to change seasonal stress into intentional success! She believes everyone can find that calm and peace they are looking for.

Every year the holidays come around and we face them with mixed emotions. You have a great book title of Simplify Your Holidays, but how do you simplify the holidays?

I love the dictionary definition of “simplify” – “To make something less complicated and therefore easier to do.” I can’t think of a more complicated time in the year than the holidays. Why? Because we are already busy 24/7 and then we add another layer of complexity to our lives – the holiday season.

In my view as a Professional Organizer, simplifying your holidays is all about having a meaningful Christmas without feeling overcommitted or underprepared. And my motto is: If you do anything more than once in life, organize it and simplify it. That’s especially true for the holidays that come year after year like clockwork.

I can’t think of a more complicated time or emotionally challenging season, but I also know you don’t have to stress to get through it.

Were you always ready and organized for the holidays?

No way! Before I became “The Organizing Pro” I struggled with holiday pressures big time. I was stuck in the mall shopping for gifts at the last minute, standing in the rain looking for a “real” Christmas tree late in December, and staying up Christmas Eve wrapping presents. That was a stressful life I decided to change and did years ago.

One day I sat down at the kitchen table determined to get control of the season. Looking at my calendar, it suddenly dawned on me — there was an easy way to manage it all! It all hinged on one date and no, it wasn’t Thanksgiving.

Many people, myself included, have used Thanksgiving to trigger serious action steps for Christmas. It just didn’t seem right to commercialize Christmas by purchasing gifts before Thanksgiving. But that’s the problem. Waiting until after Thanksgiving does commercialize the holidays and puts us smack dab in the middle of a mall with throngs of shoppers.

So how did you change from frazzled to peaceful… and you now have a beautiful new three-ring notebook, Simplify Your Holidays? And Sam’s Club just bought 15,000 of them! Good for you.

My first personal turning point came when I discovered one particular holiday occurs exactly eight weeks before Christmas — and it’s NOT Thanksgiving. It is Halloween. That event is important to note because the next day you can kick off your holiday plan on November 1 every year.

Noting that November 1 is your springboard to begin the holiday season means you have eight weeks until December 25. Now you have a structure to easily organize and prepare — with a good plan. You’re back in control whatever day it is.

Once I figured that out, I found you can organize your holidays no matter how many weeks you have left before Christmas. In my book, I have an 8-week, 4-week, 2-week calendar plans you can choose to guide you whatever day you start. The Plans are like a “holiday compass” that people use year after year to stay focused and take the stress out of the holidays.

What else can you tell us to ease the calendar stress for the holidays?

My second discovery came when I noticed that almost all holiday events landed the three weeks of December right before Christmas. Children’s school parties, the neighborhood cookie exchange, church events, civic symphony concerts, friends’ Open Houses, and an office potluck luncheon the last day before vacation. ALL fell into the last three weeks before Christmas. No wonder we are stressed trying to buy gifts and partake in the busiest social season of the year. All these things are good, but it’s plain stressful to be listening to the Hallelujah chorus thinking about how many things you have to pick up on the way home and still get online to purchase gifts with “expedite shipping” costs involved.

Ok, but the thing I dread is going to the attic and basement dealing with all those holiday decorations that take up so much room. What can I do?

I agree. My third discovery came when I tried to simplify my holiday decorations after the holidays. It just seemed too much to put it all up so I thought I’d simplify it. But alas, I found even charities would not accept holiday decorations after December 25. They had nowhere to store them until next year. That was the next discovery – if I store holiday decorations for 11 months of the year, then why do we hesitate about getting them up?

A recent poll showed most people take down their holiday decorations the weekend after New Year’s Day. If that’s the case, what date do we need to put them up to enjoy them for 4-6 weeks? Especially when they are taking up valuable space for 11 months of the year.

The answer? Pick a date (or weekend) to put up your decorations early every year so they can be enjoyed. Typically it’s either the first weekend in December or even Thanksgiving weekend to be ready to turn the lights on December 1. I found I’m happier the sooner I start and get the full enjoyment of them for the season… and give some away each year.

Before you give us “A Dozen Gift Theme Ideas,” tell us what’s in your notebook and why is it considered a classic Christmas planner to pull off your shelf and use year after year?

Once I got organized I thought of every woman struggling to pull together meaningful holidays in an already busy life. So I created a hand made notebook years ago which my publisher picked up and is available right now on my website or wherever books are sold. This is a holiday planner you can pull off your bookshelf any time day or night and start the season.

The six tabs inside the three-ring notebook include The Plan, Gifts, Cards & Decorations, Events, December 1-25 Inspiration, and Recipes. There are almost 200 pages of charts, table talk topics for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, room for photos, and even journal pages of “The Best Things that Happened This Christmas.”

Within those six tabs I’ve sprinkled “10 Tips from 10 Experts” covering things like 10 Money Saving Tips for Holiday Gifts, 10 Super Simple Holiday Décor Tips, 10 Holiday Tips for the Working Woman, 10 Tips to Serve Fabulous Food and Impress Your Guests, 10 Tips for a Successful Event, and 10 Tips to Celebrate and Not Gain Weight!

Give us your plan to “Simplify with a Gift Theme” for this year, especially for the busy woman starting to think about the holidays.

Simplify with a Gift Theme(Excerpt from Simplify Your Holidays, Marcia Ramsland (Thomas Nelson 2008)

Simplify shopping by visiting only certain types of stores for everyone on your list. Choose a giving “theme” for the year. Get a different gift in that theme for each person so it is personalized. For example, all the women get jewelry, spa baskets, certificates or robes. Men get sporting event tickets, restaurant certificates, or tools. Sweaters, CDs, DVDs or books all make a great theme for the year, too.

A Dozen Gift Theme Ideas
1.Sweaters for everyone
2.Favorite Restaurant or movie gift cards
3.Gloves and mittens
4.DVD’s
5.CD’s or books
6.Tickets to a play, musical, or retreat
7.Photo Book or digital camera
8.A trip or the latest technology
9.Favorite magazine plus a year’s subscription
10.Chocolate, nuts, or gourmet food basket
11.Spa, massage, or bath items
12.Jewelry, purse, or accessories

Keep track of where you get your gifts each year and head there first. They will have new merchandise that will probably work well for you again.

Remember a gift shows you had the person in your thoughts and a note on your card tells them why you thought they’d like it. Gift giving is a skill to learn. Keep working to hit the mark of delight and surprise with the receiver. With all your lists in one notebook, you’ll be able to do just that as you see what worked well before.

Any last words of encouragement for the woman who wants to pull together a meaningful (and peaceful!) holiday season?

This is your year! The Simplify Your Holidays notebook will help you create that organized Thanksgiving and Christmas you’ve dreamed of with all your notes in one place! You’ll love its beautiful red cover, sturdy tabs, and attractive green charts.

To simplify your holidays, manage your time with our holiday plan and keep your notes all in this notebook. You will graduate from seasonal stress to intentional success!

Thanks for having me today. I truly believe you can simplify the coming holiday season and have a more meaningful season than ever!

Marcia Ramsland, The Organizing Pro
Speaker * Author * Media Guest Expert

P.S. Can you simplify your holidays this year? I truly believe so and am eager to know how you do it with my new book, Simplify Your Holidays. Start today by getting your notebook and downloading your FR*EE Master Gift List at http://www.organizingpro.com

Good, Clean Fun

Posted on by Mandy


Rub-a-dub-dub….my kid won’t get out of the tub. Especially since we recently introduced the new Kid Kleen Bath Blizzard to our nightly routine. This is a fun product developed by Spin Master that allows for tons of bubbly fun in the tub. The Bath Blizzard suctions on securely to the side of the tub and makes those bubble baths last extra long. E.B. loves it so much that he looks like a little prune by the time he is finished playing in the tub. The Bath Blizzard is totally safe, non-toxic, and tears free and recommended for children ages 3 and up. It retails for $19.99 at all major retailers.

Spin Master is also the brains behind the Aquadoodle line and we also love our Aquadoodle Draw N’ Doodle Mat. In my opinion, Aquadoodle products have got to be one of the most genius things ever invented because there is no mess. None. This mat is large enough for two or three children to gather around and create to their heart’s content. You simply fill the Aquadoodle pen with water and that’s it. Drawings magically appear on the mat and then disappear when it starts drying out. Sure beats wasting paper and cleaning up crayons. The Aquadoodle Draw N’ Doodle Mat retails for $24.99 at all major retailers and is recommended for children ages 2 and up. Extra pens for this mat can be purchased separately.

These two products prove that good clean fun doesn’t have to be boring.

Halloween At Our House

Posted on by Mandy

The stomach virus has found it’s way to our house this weekend. E.B. is fine so far…it’s me with the “issues”. So on that note, I thought we’d venture back to happier times. Like last weekend when we decorated the house for Halloween.

The first thing we did was make Pumpkin cookies. They come pre-cut and frozen. All I had to do was bake them. And they tasted disgusting. The end.

Next, we hung up our fall wreath on the door. We’ve had it for at least 4 years now and I am shocked to find it still holding up everytime I take it out. I’m a sucker for berries and vegetables and all of that stuff. On my wreaths.

We’ve also had this little sign I put by the door for a few years. The only problem is that the arrow points the wrong way. Oh well. I’m sure if we get any trick-or-treaters they can figure it out. Surely.

Little ghosts line the walkway and also sit in front of our crepe myrtle trees. I like these the best.

And finally, the ghosts. My mom “decorates” this tree for him outside on Halloween and Easter. On Halloween, it’s ghosts and Easter eggs for Easter. She does it while E.B. isn’t watching. He thinks they just magically appear. I personally hope it’s something he will look back on fondly when he is grown.

We’ve got several more things set out around the house, but this is probably overkill for you guys already, so I’ll refrain from taking pictures of them. E.B. is going to be Superman for Halloween so we are just counting down the days until he can go trick-or-treating.

That’s Just Scary.

Posted on by Mandy

I totally ripped this off from Lani’s blog. She found this website Yearbook Yourself that lets you upload a picture of yourself and it transforms that picture to what you would look like from 1950-2000 in a yearbook. It was hilarious! Here I am (supposedly) through the years:

1952:

1956:

1966

1976:

1986:

1996:

And now I know what I would have looked like with a jheri curl.

K’NEX Sesame Street Building Sets

Posted on by Mandy

sesame street k'nex
Sesame Street K’NEX Building Sets are hitting the stores now and you’ll definitely want to snap one up for your little building block lover. These 15 piece sets come with stickers, an educational activity sheet and even MORE ideas for turning your set into some unique and cool creations.

E.B. instantly fell in love with his Cookie Monster K’NEX set and has had so much fun making and showing me his creations. My favorite part? The handy (and very cute) canister that makes storage a breeze. And the fact that each set doesn’t contain a million little parts is just perfect for his age AND making clean-up so easy.

The Sesame Street K’NEX set is also very educational as it encourages imaginative play. It’s also a wonderful therapy tool for us. Part of E.B.’s treatment for his sensory processing disorder is working on fine motor skills and his pincer grasp, so these blocks are also giving him a great sensory workout while he plays. And retailing at $10.99, this is one toy that won’t break the bank.

To check out all of the awesome K’NEX Sesame Street Building Sets, click here.

At Ease

Posted on by Mandy

I think it’s probably safe to say that if you’ve been reading my blog for some time then you know how worried I was about sending E.B. off to preschool this year. With his language delay and sensory integration disorder, I worried that he would be miles behind the kids his age, even only at three years old. There was never a doubt in my mind about his intelligence…I worried about his behavior more than anything. I worried if not being around many children before starting school would impact his social skills. I also worried if he would be able to keep up with everything going on around him without becoming so overwhelmed.

Today after dropping E.B. off at school after his morning therapy session his teacher wanted to let me know how he was doing. I didn’t dare ask because I know her time as a teacher is precious and that’s what conferences were for. If she had to take time out of her day to talk with every mom all the time then she would get very little done. But she told me that she had been wanting to tell me something…and then proceeded to compliment my son in such a way that all of the worries I’d had about him starting school were immediately replaced with pride in how far he has come. I was, quite literally, taken aback and so pleasantly surprised that I floated back to my car to leave.

I know deep down that as he gets older E.B. will always be battling his sensory issues as long as he lives. It could be something he learns to cope well with or something that will make every single day a challenge for him. This could all get so much easier as the years go by or that much harder. We still have our very good days and our very, very bad days dealing with this disorder. But to hear his praises sung by his teacher (who is, quite literally, an expert in early childhood development) was just the thing I needed to hear to ease all of those worries.

Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker Review

Posted on by Mandy

Can I show you THE cutest new food play toy I’ve ever seen? It’s the JAKKS Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker. If you are just plain stumped for Christmas or birthday gifts, this is sure to be a hit! I can’t think of very many little girls who don’t enjoy cooking and helping out in the kitchen and now they can make their very own cupcakes with their very own cooking set.

cupcake maker

With the Girl Gourmet line, young girls can learn the essentials of baking with the easy to use Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker. Now kids can get in on the fun and whip up their own homemade cupcakes in 30 seconds. Just add water to one of the four scrumptious batter flavors, stir and pour into a cupcake cup, then place into our safe and sealable cupcake maker and microwave for 30 seconds. Simply remove the cupcake when cool and place directly onto the stand of the Cupcake Froster to perfectly frost each gourmet cupcake.
There are four delicious frosting flavors from which to choose. Just mix them with water and load the frosting into the frosting chamber of the Cupcake Froster. A simple push on the handle makes the cupcake twirl and creates the perfect swirl. Add the colorful sprinkles included in the set for a perfectly finished cupcake – ready for eating!
The Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker includes 1 safe and easy microwave container, the Cupcake Froster, 4 luscious flavored cupcake mixes featuring Red Velvet, Cinnamon Sugar, Chocolate and Yellow Vanilla, 4 delicious frosting mixes which include Cream Cheese, Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry; a tube of sprinkles, mixing bowl, spoon/spreader, multi-designed cupcake cups with cupcake cup holder, and recipe cards. Ages 8+, Suggested Retail Price $29.99

cupcake maker

E.B. and I gave this a try and it really does work! All you have to do is mix the batter with some water, pour the batter into a cupcake cup and place it inside the cupcake maker and microwave for 30 seconds! Fast and fun! Refill packs are also available for when you run out of batter and frosting.
This would be so much fun at a sleepover party or a birthday party. This is sure to be a hit for that little girl who loves to cook!

Social Anxiety- Preschool Style

Posted on by Mandy

I’ll take a dip into the shallow end and just go ahead and admit that along with worrying about how E.B. would adapt to preschool, I also worried whether he would make friends. I know, right? In preschool. But let’s be honest; the thought of your own child quietly sitting by on the playground watching the others play breaks your heart, right? I was never a big joiner growing up in elementary school and I’ll admit that my own memories fueled these fears for E.B. Several of his classmates were already familiar with one another from previous preschool and nursery experience and I wondered if there was room enough in their little worlds for new friends. I know….in preschool. I’m clearly neurotic in that way.

I was reading an article recently about praying for your children and something in it really resonated with me…praying for your child to just have at least ONE good Christian friend. A simple concept, yet it dawned on me how very true that was indeed. A friend and I were recently discussing how amazing it was that throughout high school our little group of friends never drank, smoked, or did anything considered “bad” and we never pressured one another to do so. I think the worst offense we committed was rolling yards and that’s pretty tame by today’s standards. But these Christain friends of mine? They’re my friends for life, despite the miles and sometimes slack communication because life gets so busy.

That’s all I want for E.B. And a few days later when I dropped him off at school, one little guy ran up to him and said, “Come on, E.B.!!! Let’s play!!” And I immediately felt better. Even moreso when while saying our prayers the following night E.B. began naming off his classmates. He has friends. And while I know that through the years these little relationships will wax and wane, it’s enough for now.