Fall Tips
Start the autumn season off with a bang with some fantastic fall tips! School is back in session, signs of cold weather are trickling in, sports events occur on a regular basis (yay football!), the holidays are approaching, and soon you'll be bundling up! Autumn, like spring, is a transition season perfect for tackling projects and preparing for the upcoming. This page will equip you with the information you need to do just that. Featured below is fall organizing information on tailgating, prepping for the holidays, and (soon) much more! School has started, pro football has commenced, and that perfect, enjoyable, want-to-be-outside-all-the-time weather is upon us. Now what can make our exterior activities even more enjoyable?? Being organized and prepared!!! Tailgating, like any other activity, is always better when nothing is forgotten and everything is easy to access. 
Use large, clear, plastic bins with lids to store all of your tailgating gear. This way all of your paper products, cooking tools, trash bags, etc. are together and can be easily transported from the basement or garage to the car. You can also see inside the bin to take a quick inventory of what's missing. (**Use this tip for your camping gear as well!**)You learn as you go. Every time you tailgate, you think of something that could have made the experience better and swear to yourself that you won't forget it next time. Well why don't you do just that? Create a running list of things that need to be remembered to enhance your outside fun. Take it with you for those moments of realization to easily jot down the item. Keep the list in a sheet protector, so you can wipe it off when greasy hands get a hold of it. 
Suggested Supplies: grill, grilling utensils, grilling accessories, oven mitts/apron, aluminum foil, paper plates, plastic cups, plastic silverware, toothpicks, napkins/paper towels, trash bags, ziploc bags, spices, matches/lighter, coals, bungee cords, folding chairs, canopy, cooler/ice, table/table cloth, bottle/can/wine opener, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, music/radio/boombox, blankets, rain/sun gear, GAME TICKETS!HOLIDAY PREPARATION Planning - PLAN YOUR DAYS, YOU'LL BE AMAZED 
The end of October around Halloween is a good time to sit down with your calendar and set aside days and/or times for holiday-specific tasks.Set deadlines for holiday gift shopping, wrapping presents, shipping gifts to friends and family, cleaning the house top to bottom, sending out holiday cards, putting up decorations, and so on. Be sure to stick to the plan once it's mapped out on your calendar. This will ensure you get things done without having to rush around at the last minute and allow you to actually enjoy the approaching holidays. :) Consider this: The holidays are approaching... (A) You are a stressed out mess who is picking up the in-laws from the airport, cleaning the house, preparing the food, setting the table, putting up the decorations, running to the grocery store to purchase forgotten ingredients, rushing to buy a replacement tablecloth (the one you have was torn to shreds by the cat)... OR (B) You are a calm being who has already done almost all of the above. If you prefer option (B), then read on! One of the most common ways people accumulate clutter is purchasing items they already have, because they can't see or find them. 2. Organize what you have. Use large clear plastic bins with lids to separate your items by holiday. Having a container for each holiday will make this process a lot easier next year! 3. Make a list. Jot down the items you need AND have room to store. Also, keep in mind the things you have used in the past that haven't worked out so well (i.e. the fresh, beautiful Christmas garland that the dog thought was grass). Now you are ready to purchase new holiday items! TABLEWARE: tablecloth, silverware, plates, water glasses, champagne glasses, wine glasses, napkins, napkin holder, napkin rings, candles, candle holders, table centerpiece, salt & pepper shakers DECORATIONS: lights, candles, window treatments, door treatments, yard treatments, ornaments, wreaths, tree, menorah OTHER: wrapping paper, bows, tape, scissors, holiday music, holiday cards Last minute holiday shopping is never fun - crowded malls, sold out items, increased shipping costs, not to mention throbbing headaches. 1. Write down a list of people you intend to buy gifts for. Whether it's recorded on the side of one of your calendar pages or on a folded piece of paper in your checkbook jacket, it needs to be handy at all times. No matter where you are, you can pull it out and write down a gift idea next to the corresponding person. (This will eliminate frantic can't-figure-out-what-to-get-this-person moments.) 
2. An inventory should be taken on all of your wrapping paper and accessories. Be sure to purchase the items you are running out of or don't have altogether. Also, don't forget who you are giving gifts to - those who celebrate Christmas? Hannukah? both? neither? don't know? (Universal wrapping paper is good to have anyway.)3. Don't forget about the out-of-towners. Waiting until the last minute to ship something across the country overnight never helps when you're trying to keep holiday spending at a minimum. The most inexpensive shipping method probably takes about 2-3 weeks to get to its destination. Set a deadline for all gifts to be sent by, mark it on your calendar, and stick to it! stay tuned!
|
