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Ok, so you missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  You can still give great gifts!

Here are some ideas for gifts that you can pick up this week. Lately there are a lot of gift certificates that you can buy online, and then print! Instantaneous.

Service Gifts

• Cleaning services – everyone could use this one!
• Car wash tickets or car detailing gift certificate – great gift to use during the sloppy winter months.
• Spa services – nails, hair, skin & massages.
• Personal chef package – I love having all that wonderful food in my freezer!
• Photography sitting
• Professional organizing services

Entertainment

• iTunes gift card
• ebooks – ebooks.com,  Amazon,  Google ebooks,  Barnes & Noble
• Balloon rides
• Tickets – Plays, movies, the symphony, concerts, sporting events – unlimited opportunity here!
• Movie tickets
• Netflix or Amazon Prime (this is on my list)

Memberships

• Museums
• …of the Month Clubs – they have everything from perfume to cigars to dog treats and peanut butter!

Consumables

• Restaurant gift certificates
• Coffee cards from your favorite local shop
• Homemade cookies – you can never go wrong here!
• Fancy chocolates – come on, everyone loves chocolate.
• Coffee or tea – create a nice basket with these.
• Jams, jellies, chutneys
• Williams-Sonoma
• Zingerman’s

Classes

• Cooking classes – great for the beginner and the gourmet cook.
• Art lessons
• Yoga
• Personal trainer

Financial

• Charitable donation in someone’s name – are they interested in art, the environment, education?  Just look at all the requests that you are getting on the mail for ideas. Check them out here before you make your purchase.
• Gift Cards – available pretty much in every grocery or drug store.

Hopefully this list will give you some last minute gift ideas that will make your life easier and your gift recipient happy! The extra bonus is that these gifts will not create or increase the clutter in one’s life.

If you have any other ideas, please let us know… we are always looking for new ideas.

Do you have closets filled with items that you have never used?  Is money a bit tight these days?  Does the thought of shopping in crazy crowds make you feel sick?  Consider regifting this holiday season and you can go shopping in your own home!

Did you know that December 15^th, 2011 is National Regifting Day?  What a great way to save some money and clear your closets at the same time!  Here are 3 valuable benefits to regifting:

1) You Save Space – Go on a scavenger hunt throughout your home for items that you have never used before and never plan to, or that you just don’t care for.  Why hang onto these things if they are just taking up precious space?  Unless it is a family heirloom, don’t feel like you need to hold onto anything you don’t want to.

• In the Pantry look for good bottles of wine that have been unopened and other non-perishables that have come from gift baskets like unusual  jams and mustards.  As for that mystery fruitcake that has been sitting on the top shelf forever, please throw it away…nobody wants it, probably not even the raccoons who like to dig in your trash can!
• In the Coat Closet look for unworn hats, scarves and mittens that aren’t your style or that jacket that you thought you wanted at the time, but that still has its tags on.
• In the Bathroom/Linen Closet look for unused jarred candles, body care gift baskets and makeup kits.
• In the Bedroom Closets look for sweaters that have never been worn.  Be sure though to check them to make sure no moths have taken a nibble out of them!
• In the Hall Closet look for small housewares that are still boxed and board games that have never been played.

2) You Save Money – Like most of us feeling the effects of the down economy, buying gifts can create a lot of financial stress.  By regifting, you can treat your loved ones and colleagues to great items that just aren’t right for you.  However, make the gifts personal by buying new festive wrapping paper or a gift bag and a card that will make them laugh!

3) You Save Time – Since you don’t need to brave the mall, you can spend a little time to add a personal touch, like slipping a recipe or article that you know someone would appreciate, into their card.

All in all, have a happy and warm holiday season and most importantly don’t forget to make sure you don’t give the gift back to the person who gave it to you first!

Dazzle your friends, family and maybe even yourself!  No more last minute holiday chaos for you.  Follow some of these tips and reap the rewards of a sane and organized holiday season!

Tip #1
If you use a lot of services, make sure you get them scheduled NOW.
•    Window cleaners
•    Carpet cleaners
•    Landscapers
•    Whoever installs your lights

Tip #2
Decide what date you will be decorating, set that time aside now. Many people do it Thanksgiving weekend. (Hopefully the weather will be good.)

Tip #3   Check & Order your wrapping supplies:
•    Personalized Wrapping Supplies
•    Eco Friendly
•    Bulk Wrapping Supplies

If you are having a party…

Tip #4    Choose your date (get it on the calendar and it will happen)

Tip #5    Create your guest list (you can always add and cut later)

Tip #6     Call your favorite caterer NOW

If you are doing a card…

Tip #7     Choose your photo now or, book your photographer holiday.

Tip #8    Review your mailing list

Tip #9    Choose how you are going to send your holiday cards:
Regular Card, Photo frame, or the greenest of all Paperless Post

Tip #10    Create a holiday notebook (it can be digital, or paper). Create sections for your party, your cards, your gift lists, entertaining, travel, decorating. This is a great resource for the various components: List Plan-It

Now you have some tools that will help you approach the holidays with a smile on your face! Once you have these accomplished you will have a framework to sanity and organization. You will DAZZLE those around you, and maybe even yourself!

Family and friends watching loved ones drown in their clutter and despair can frustrate and un-nerve the person, ending up with emotions & angered words flying about! I’ve seen some very heated interactions when family & friends step in to “help” or “save” their loved ones. They mean well, although most times I have observed that they feel they can take the decision making away from the individual and that their opinions rule!

As human beings in this world we live in, we feel we own our things and place a lot of value on them, which means we have the right to do as we please with these things, and nobody else has the right to these decisions.

As professional organizers, we practice non-judgment, patience, mirroring what the client says, pointing out other point of views to consider, and being a support through this difficult new process. We listen, empathize, give moral support, and partner with them in accomplishing their goals.

I am writing this so people can learn to heal themselves with this process. The process as I stated in one of my other blogs, has many hidden components. These components are comprised of layers of emotions and thoughts not always recognized consciously. The healing can start with the person taking a stand for themselves with a family member. What does that mean? This may be the first time they have stood up and expressed what they believe or set boundaries. This will alter and impact future interactions with them in a positive manner. Once someone has a breakthrough like this, life alters.  Asking for professional help to assist does provide healing in a loving, nurturing and non-judgmental way. It can be a cry for help, and an acknowledgment of self-love for the first time! So, if you don’t hire a professional, you will probably experience some version of this.

Take a moment to be grateful to the people who care, and notice your distress. These special people in your life mean well, and are only expressing their love, and support for you. The key is to understand their commitment to you, and your well-being. BUT, remember to stay true to yourself and express your needs in a loving manner!

professional organizer (noun)

1. A Professional Organizer enhances the lives of clients by designing systems and processes using organizing principles and through transferring organizing skills. (source: National Association of Professional Organizers)

professional coach (noun)

1. A trained professional who partners with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. (source: International Coaching Federation)

Professional Organizers’ work is extraordinarily valuable to many different individuals in many different situations.  Learning new ways to manage space and time can have a dramatic impact on improving the quality of peoples’ lives.

Professional Organizers’ work encompasses many different situations.  Sometimes Organizers:

• teach techniques and develop better ways to do things
• provide supportive guidance and assistance to work through accumulations of papers, files, toys, clothing, memorabilia and family heirlooms
• share ideas about better ways to use and enjoy existing spaces

But sometimes the actual act of organizing isn’t enough.  For some people it is important to delve into the “whys”.  With an Organizer Coach those clients can spend time:

• gaining clarity around the long term vision for one’s situation and how disorganization impacts their quality of life
• understanding why it is that being organized is important
• anchoring the actions of becoming organized with their long term goals

The synergy of organizing and coaching can bring dramatic results.  Coupling the WHY with the HOW helps to ensure motivation and commitment that leads to the completion of an organizing project.

If you think the combination of organizing and coaching is something that you’d benefit from, I urge you to consider a Professional Organizer who is skilled and trained in both of these areas.

Many members of the Greater Philadelphia chapter of NAPO are trained and/or certified as a Coach.  As with organizing, differing emphasis are found throughout the coaching profession, but all coaches trained to International Coach Federation standards will have competencies in ensuring the client’s work is congruent with their needs, values, and situations.

Looking for a calmer more relaxed start to the day? Consider starting your day by selecting your clothing and accessories from an Organized Closet.  Here are 10 Closet Organizing Tips to get you started.

1.    Use identical style hangers; wooden, clear plastic or tubular to give your closet consistency.

2.    Return metal hangers back to the dry cleaners as they leave indentations in your clothing and are not as sturdy as other style hangers.

3.    Purge, Purge, Purge.  If it doesn’t fit, is out of style, you never liked it, have no use for it, know you will never wear it – Donate It! This includes clothes, shoes, purses, and accessories.

4.    Do not hang your sweaters.   Neatly fold and store either in drawers or on closet shelving or neatly in containers.

5.    Have baskets or bins available for laundry and dry cleaning to keep laundry off the floor.

6.    Use shoe shelving to keep shoes organized in pairs and off the floor.

7.    Store small accessory items in drawers or small containers on shelves.

8.    Hang belts, scarves and ties for easy viewing and access.

9.    Do not store unrelated items in closets, such as; kids games with your clothes, husband’s clothing in baby’s room, kitchenware in coat closet.  Keep coats in the coat closets. Baby clothes in the baby’s rooms. Games with games, etc.

10.    Always take the extra minute to put things where they belong, such as hanging up a coat or putting shoes in a closet.

Remember:  Organizing is an on-going process, just like laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc.

New items are always coming into your home and other items are losing their function or style. You must continuously take stock of your inventory to keep it organized.

With an organized system in place, maintaining an organized space is much easier and more time efficient!