New Year’s Blog & Home De-cluttering Tips

Posted on by Mandy

to do list

It never fails.  After the holidays, usually the day after Christmas, I have the sudden uncontrollable urge to organize and de-clutter.  Everything.  In sight.  I just love the idea of going into the new year with a fresh start, and for me, that fresh start is all about no clutter and being highly streamlined and organized when it comes to my home and my work/blogging.

With that in mind, I compiled my own personal “to do” list that I’ll be working on until I go back to work next Thursday.  I thought I would share in case anyone else might be interested or looking for a project to tackle.

 

NEW YEAR’S DE-CLUTTER LIST

HOME:

I always take this room-by-room.  We live in an apartment, so I don’t have lots of big rooms to de-clutter, so this is what works for me personally.  Since we have so little space, I’m all about getting the most out of what we have to work with.

Living Room- Go through stacks of magazines and catalogs.  Toss what’s been read or not going to be read.  Go through stacks of DVDs.  Take those my son has outgrown to work so my students can enjoy them.

Bedrooms:  Go through closets and dresser drawers.  Bag up clothing to be given away.  Also bag up toys not played with in the last few months to be given away.  Go through books/magazines to give away.

Bathroom:  Pull out all products under the sink and toss what’s not being used.  Go through make-up drawer and toss old/not being used products.  Organize all medications and toss old ones out.

Kitchen:  Go through all cookware and dishes/glasses.  See what can be weeded out.  We’ve acquired some new kitchen tools and gadgets, so no need for two or three of the same.  My son has also outgrown some of his plastic dishes and cups, etc.  Check food in the pantry and fridge and toss anything old.  Organize the “junk drawer”.

Linen Closet:  This closet just needs to be organized a little better.  Bag up any old sheets/towels/blankets not in use to be given away.

Coat Closet: Check for non-fitting coats (my son) to be given away, find a better organizing system for the holiday décor inside.

Fill in new home calendar, being sure to note birthdays and special occasions.

 

LONG TERM PROJECTS:

Organize home files

Organizes our personal photos.

 

BLOGGING & COMPUTER:

Invest in a good blogging planner.  I’ve seen some free printable ones online, but I have my eye on a couple more.  I’ll keep you posted on what I decide.

Brainstorm and jot down post ideas for later.

Go though each and every bookmark.  Delete sites not being used or no longer needed.  Set up folders for different categories so locating saved websites is easier.

Go through all documents and files.  Delete those no longer needed.

Go through all pictures.  Upload and backup the ones needing to be saved, delete those no longer needed.

Clear out email folders.  Check each folder to see if the email is still needed.  if not, delete.  Print out anything important for tax purposes, etc.

If time allows, clean up following lists on social networking sites.

Go through feed reader and delete blogs I no longer read or are no longer updated.

Run a thorough virus scan.

Desk:  My desk is a nightmare.  Clean out drawers and get rid of what’s not needed.

Yes, this all sounds like a tall order, and truth be told, I probably won’t get to each thing on this list, but I’m sure going to try.

Christmas 2012 Is In The Books

Posted on by Mandy

I’m slowly coming out of the “holiday haze” over here.  I don’t have a better word to call it when you have your whole family together, good food, good times, etc.  It’s too bad it doesn’t last a little longer, but I did start putting up our Christmas décor yesterday.  I hated to do it, but I was feeling motivated and knew that if I didn’t take advantage of the moment, we might still be looking at it around Valentine’s Day!  However, the Christmas tree is still up.  I just moved it into the dining room.  There are two things I really, really hate when Christmas is over.  The first is taking down the Christmas tree because I just love the lights at night.  The second thing is the fact that all of the holiday music is no longer played.  I have an idea up my sleeve about the Christmas tree, but I’m going to think on it some more.

Here are a few shots from Christmas Eve this year.  I’m just going to go ahead and admit that instead of watching my child from behind a camera open Santa presents this year, I put the camera down and just enjoyed the moment.  Plus, he woke us up at 6:30 AM and I am just NO good before my morning coffee.  Ha!  We stayed up really late Christmas Eve watching the midnight mass on television.  I’m not Catholic (my husband used to be), but it’s a tradition we started a few years back after happening to catch it on TV.  I think it’s a beautiful service and I could look at the beautiful Saint Peter’s Basilica all night.

Here we are at my parent’s house looking a little tired after two previous houses of gift-opening fun.  E.B., on the other hand, is cheesin’ big time because he can’t wait to tear into more presents!

 

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Which he did with much gusto!

 

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Poor little guy started coming down with a cold on Christmas Eve, so we’ve been cozied up inside the house ever since while he recovers.  The weather was really nasty Christmas day (rain, tornadoes, cold…weird stuff) and it’s been freezing ever since, so I’m not getting him back out until he is 100% better.  Not that he’s complaining….the kid has a new TV, some new video games, and a new little recliner to enjoy.

Making Memories- Christmas Style

Posted on by Mandy

I *think* the shopping is finally finished and we are settling in as a family to enjoy our Christmas break.  I promised myself I would NOT get strung out about everything this year and just keep it simple so I can enjoy instead of worry about if everything is perfect.  I’ve made good on that promise so far and have even had time to sit and watch Christmas movies on TV and do a little baking with my son.

My husband and son attempted a gingerbread train.  It was messy and fun, and although the train is now leaning sideways on our dining room table, that’s still one of those fun things he will remember in years to come.

 

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We also made some Christmas cupcakes this afternoon. 

 

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The mad rush for us starts tomorrow evening when we will open presents with family at THREE different houses.  It’s always a fun time and we always come home completely exhausted!  That’s why I am being a little lazy today and conserving some of my energy. 

How are your holiday preparations going?

Start The New Year Off Right-LifeLock Membership Giveaway

Posted on by Mandy

lifelock protect

 

With the new year coming up, I’m sure you’ve probably thought of at least one positive change you want to make in your life or one thing you want to do to make 2013 even better.  How about starting the new year with identity protection and theft monitoring services from LifeLock?

When you stop and think about it, all it takes is one theft to ruin your good name and reputation, not to mention make you feel incredibly vulnerable.  I can tell you from the personal experience of having my wallet stolen that it is a huge inconvenience to have to change account numbers and replace stolen bank cards.  Along with making changes for the better, I would highly suggest that you consider adding identity theft protection services from LifeLock to ensure you are alerted to any fraudulent activity on your accounts.

 

GIVEAWAY

As a LifeLock Ambassador, I am so excited to be able to offer one lucky read a year of LifeLock membership, which includes the following services:

Alerts of potential threats–both credit and noncredit related
Online access to a personalized dashboard showing current threats
Relentless identity monitoring for exposure of your personal information
Member services with local phone support—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Stolen or lost wallet remediation services to help cancel and replace credit and debit cards*
Comprehensive recovery services if you become a victim of identity theft on our watch.
The option to extend your line of defense with LifeLock Credit Score Manager™ protection.

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway will end on January 1, 2103 at 12:00 AM EST.  U.S. only. 18+.  Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure and follow LifeLock on Facebook, where you can enter the LifeLock For Life Sweepstakes and also on Twitter. There, you will find even more great tips for keeping your identity safe.

I wrote this post as part of a compensated blogger ambassadorship for LifeLock. All opinions are my own.  Membership to winner provided by LifeLock.

Still Need Stocking Stuffers? Don’t Forget Mike & Ike!

Posted on by Mandy

Are you still trying to finish up your Christmas shopping?  If you’re still looking for the perfect last minute stocking stuffer, Mike & Ike has the solution!  The Original Fruits Theater Box Stocking Stuffer is sure to please anyone on your list!  It comes in a festive 5 oz. snowman box and is the ideal choice for any candy lover.

mike and ike

If you’re having a home or office holiday party and need some festive candy, be sure and pick up a bag of Mike & Ike Merry Mix.  Each 14 oz. bag includes Original flavors such as Lime and Cherry, plus new “Holiday Punch.”

 

mike and ike merry mix

 

Check out the colors:

 

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I never thought I would describe candy as “decorative”, but if you have a flair for setting up an awesome candy stations at parties, the Merry Mix is perfect for adding in some Christmas color to your table décor, as well as being an all-around great candy to snack on.  This candy is also very addictive!  I find myself reaching for a few each time I pass the candy bowl in our kitchen. 

Be sure to follow Mike & Ike at these social outlets:

www.facebook.com/mikeandike

www.tumblr.com

I was sent the above products to facilitate my review.  All opinions are my own.

See’s Candies- Indulge Your Sweet Tooth.

Posted on by Mandy

I can remember the first time I ever tasted a See’s chocolate bar.  This was probably 12 years ago, and the woman I babysat for gave me one as part of a Christmas happy.  It was the most delicious chocolate I had ever tasted and I had to have more!  Thank goodness for the internet, because at the time there were no See’s Chocolate Shops for hundreds of miles.  I purchased several more bars for myself and some to give away during the holidays that year.  Anyone who knows me well knows that if I go hunting something down on the internet, then I am seriously impressed!

Thought it had been a few years since I had last had a See’s chocolate bar, I recently got to experience the amazing taste and quality of some of their products all over again.

 

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My package of goodies included See’s Peppermint Twists, Gourmet Lollypops, Sugar Free Milk Bars, and Assorted Peppermints.  I was really excited about trying the sugar-free chocolate because I hoped it would be every bit as good as the real deal that I remembered from years past.  I am happy to report that it is.  Often times I find that sugar-free chocolate just doesn’t taste as good as the real thing, so I wasn’t expecting too much.  However, I was very pleasantly surprised that with See’s sugar free chocolate, I didn’t have to give up great taste!

I fell in love with the Gourmet Lollypops.  The assorted box includes Butterscotch, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Columbian Coffee flavors.  These are the perfect “grown up” lollypops!  They are rich and delicious and I can tell that I will have to place an order for more real soon!

I’m also a huge fan of candy and I’m pretty picky when it comes to peppermints.  I don’t like hard peppermint candy.  See’s peppermints literally melt in your mouth and don’t overpower you with an overwhelmingly minty taste, nor are they too soft.  These are just perfect.  I also foresee a re-order on these as well!

The Assorted Peppermints are also fabulous!  I love the taste of mint and chocolate together, so these are perfect when you want to enjoy your chocolate a little differently.

I was impressed before with See’s chocolate, but the fact that their candies and other treats taste just as great has me sold all over again!  In fact, I’m thinking Santa might enjoy a little treat like this instead of his usual cookies and milk this year.

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See’s is currently running a giveaway through December 24.   You can enter to win prizes each day and a chance to win the Grand Prize – 1lb of chocolate a month for 30 years! To enter, visit  http://www.seescountdowntochristmas.com/.

 

I received the above products to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

Hickory Farms- Delicious Holiday Treats & Giving Back

Posted on by Mandy

 

hickory farms gift baskets

If you’ve ever experienced the taste of Hickory Farm’s wonderful selection of foods, you are familiar with their commitment to quality and taste.  Hickory Farms Signature Summer Sausage was recently rated the #1 Summer Sausage in America, winning the Masters of Taste Gold Medal for Superior Taste, in 2011.

For over 60 years, Hickory Farms gifts have been a classic holiday tradition, bringing friends and families together.   It seems like as far back as I can remember, Hickory Farms has always been a part of my family’s holiday tradition.  Hickory Farms gift baskets are perfect for holiday snacking, party hostess gifts, and make wonderful gifts for just about anyone on your list.  Have you picked up your Hickory Farms products yet?  If not, you can order online at Hickoryfarms.com or visit one of their 700 holiday stores and kiosks across North America, as well as purchase them at select retailers.

 

Charitable Giving

Party Planner (Share Our Strength)

Hickory Farms has partnered with two great charitable organizations this holiday season to help two great causes.  Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization committed to stamping out childhood hunger, will receive $5 from Hickory Farms for every Party Planner Gift Box (pictured above) sold this holiday season.  To date, Hickory Farms and its customers have donated $1.9 million,  Isn’t that amazing?

Home for the Holidays (Military) gift baskets

Hickory Farms has also partnered with Operation Gratitude – a national nonprofit that creates care packages for military men and women and their families.  Know someone in the military?  Hickory Farms offers free shipping on eight products to APO & FPO addresses, including the delicious Home For The Holidays Gift Basket pictured above.

I mentioned in my previous post how much my family and I enjoyed the Hickory Farms gift basket we were sent.  It also makes me feel good to know that purchasing some of these great products also goes towards helping great causes.  Definitely a win-win purchase!

Don’t forget to pick up your Hickory Farms holiday gifts to enjoy and make a part of your holiday traditions.

 

Compensation and products for review were provided by Hickory Farms via MomTrends. I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review and to facilitate a giveaway. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hickory Farms.