Sign up now and then don’t worry about a thing knowing you’ve got yourself covered come January.

• I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you should you purchase product using my affiliate links below.

get organized in january

With a little help, it’s time to get a handle on all the clutter in your home. Because a less chaotic home makes for a much more calm home. It really does!

Yet lack of motivation and overwhelm are the two biggest roadblocks we face if we want a clean, clutter-free home that feels great. That’s where the “Organize Like a Boss” challenge comes in. Sarah will show you how to declutter and organize 5 hotspots in 7 days. And she does it in a way that’s easy and doesn’t cause stress.

Small, bite-size pieces that can fit in any busy schedule is the way to get organized.

Here’s how the “Organize Like a Boss” challenge works:

• Runs daily inside an exclusive Facebook group and on their website
  
• A video a day (under 10 minutes) in the dedicated Facebook challenge group
• Printable PDF workbook keeps you focused
• Step-by-step assignments outlining your tasks so you don’t have to plan ahead
• Daily Q&A with Sarah to get your questions answered in the Facebook group
• Only $20 to join!

An engaged and supportive community helps keep you motivated and Sarah has run this challenge many times before with great proven success. She only offers this challenge a few times a year and a January challenge is just perfect for getting organized in the new year.

It can be so overwhelming trying to find the time to organize. Especially if you are trying to do it on your own. That’s why I think a support group type challenge like this one is extremely helpful. It will provide some much needed accountability to keep you on track and set you up for success. I hope you’ll go on over and check it out. I always like to share any resources that I think will be valuable to my readers and this one definitely gets my recommendation.

Ready to give yourself a gift that keeps on giving? In one week you’ll learn all the steps you need to keep the momentum going to tackle all areas of your home. Like a boss! Sign up using the link below.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE OLAB CHALLENGE

And, as always, don’t hesitate to ask me any questions that you might have. I’m happy to try and help.

Happy organizing and Merry Christmas!

You may also like:

My Top 10 Best Organizing Products Revealed

The post Get Organized in January with the Organize Like a Boss Challenge ~ Sign up Now! appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

So I’ll share the free printables with you today and should a miracle happen where I do get to have fun festive times with my gal pals this year I’ll update this post with some pictures of us playing. We’ve always played it the traditional way in the past. You know where everyone draws a number to decide who goes first and then Player One picks a gift and opens it. Player Two can then choose a new gift from the middle or steal Player One’s gift. And on it goes from there. But this new way is fun too and unique because nobody opens a gift until the very end of the game!

I’m one of those people that just love playing Christmas gift exchange games each year and I think they’re just so much fun. I know not everyone does though. Maybe this version will be more your speed or just something new to try.

How to Play:

1. Cut out the cards and place them in the envelope

2. Place all the wrapped gifts in the middle of where you are playing

3. Each person chooses a gift (you can draw numbers to determine the order if necessary)

4. The first person draws the top card and reads it aloud. They follow the instructions on the card (example: swap gifts with someone wearing red)

5. The person that they swap with goes next and draws the next card. Continue until all the cards are gone.

6. Once the cards run out, everyone opens the gift that they have.

Pretty simple. And there are definitely way less fights and stealing playing this way. However what I always found with the old way was that if no one brought a “coveted” gift the game got pretty boring because everyone just kept whatever they opened.

With this Christmas Gift Swap game it’s left a little more to chance as to what gift you’ll end up with. But there is still a little wiggle room because if you have the card to swap with someone wearing red, you get to pick which person to go with. This is where packaging comes in for sure so be creative with it.

***********

Download your FREE printable holiday planner HERE.

Once the file opens in Dropbox, click on the three dots at the top of the page and then click on Download.

{for personal use only please}

Anyway I’d love it if you gave it a go and came back and told me what you thought of this version of the Christmas Gift Swap game. Or maybe you’ve played it this way before? Let me know!

Merry Christmas everyone!

You may also like:

Tips to Help You Simplify the Season (with free printable Christmas Planner!)

The post Christmas Gift Swap Game ~ Free Printables & Instructions appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Hello! Can you believe we are well into December already? Instead of simply doing a favorites list of last month, I’m going to combine and share my Nov/Dec 2021 favorites into one post. At this time of the year I hope you aren’t feeling stress but instead I pray that you are able to savor the season and take things slow. Not always easy that is for sure. That’s why I’m always hesitant to post more organizing projects in December. I hardly ever do because the last thing I want to do is stress people out by suggesting you do more on your already full plate.

The only thing I do highly recommend is taking a big ole box and tucking it away somewhere to use as a Donation Station. You’ve got to have somewhere to tuck the things as you come across them that you no longer need, use or love. Pretty simple but highly effective for sure for getting the clutter out of the house! Okay let’s move on and get into a few of my favorite things that I’m loving on last month and so far into December.

Nov/Dec 2021 FAVORITES

*I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. I’ve purchased everything myself unless otherwise noted.*

Before I jump into my favorites I wanted to highlight a recent post I did. I posted about how I made this delicious Easy Homemade Vanilla Extract to give as gifts to my girlfriends last year. So so good!

Currently drinking:

You know it’s been many years since I’ve had hot chocolate. So this year I found a few that had no refined sugars added to try out. And this is the one that I liked best. I purchased this mint chocolate one from Naturamarket.ca. It’s creamy with only a slight mint flavor. It does have stevia extract in it but it certainly isn’t too sweet. Goes along perfectly with the hot chocolate bar I created for my daughter. She threatens to not come home from University unless I make one, ha!

Currently Reading:

This advent season I’m reading and following along with this advent study. It’s called Prepare Him Room by Susie Larson. It is really beautiful and more than just a quick devotional each day. Each day’s reading is based on one chapter of Luke and really gives you something to think about and ponder over this month leading up to the birth of Jesus.

CURRENTLY WATCHING:

You guys I’m going to sound like a broken record but literally all I’m watching are Hallmark Christmas Movies. Seriously I have a problem and I’m not embarrassed to admit it. They are completely predictable and cheesy as anything but that just makes me love them all the more. I just watched my 14th one yesterday.

CURRENTLY LISTENING TO:

Well you know I have to say my Spotify Christmas Playlist! I’ve gone through and updated it with new songs and removed some others just to switch it up a bit. It’s so good (if I do say so myself, ha!)!

Go ahead and take a listen now!

Currently Loving:

First up I purchased myself a chocolate advent calendar by the brand Zazubean. I bought it directly off their website. No refined sugars, vegan and gluten-free and simply delicious. And fun too, I’m loving it!

Speaking of advent, I also found this Jigsaw Advent Puzzle for the family to do this year. Oh my goodness is this not ever the neatest thing. 42 pieces per box per day. We are all taking turns and even taking it up and notch and competing over who can do their day the fastest, ha! The best way to do a puzzle! It’s currently out of stock but maybe something to keep in mind for next year.

And this was my Black Friday purchase to myself…a new Lug Cable Car VL Crossbody Purse. It is AMAZING! If you are looking for an organized purse, this is it! So many pockets in this baby. The top pocket that you see is soft lined for your cell phone. Inside you’ll find another soft lined pocket for your glasses as well as more pockets and a holder for your water bottle. Seriously they thought of everything. And that strap! Oh my. You actually get two straps. A short one in the same color as the bag and the long one in the cute floral. The bag is actually a wine red color but in certain lights, like here, it does pull a bit purple. Either way, I just absolutely love it!

Next up are these new Ziploc Contain the Clutter bags. They are sturdier than regular Ziploc bags and therefore can take a bit more of a beating in your purse. Perfect for your purse or diaper bag to keep things separate and organized. Use those pouches ladies to get organized!

Finally is this compact little essential oil car diffuser from Revive. I love that it barely blocks the vents at all and kind of just blends in. No batteries, cords or water. Simple and easy are always my go to products!

Currently ORGANIZING:

All anyone is thinking about is Christmas right now. So I wanted to share once again my 2021 Christmas Planner with you. If you haven’t had a chance to print it off, you’ve still got time and it’s totally FREE to do so.

Download the 2021 Christmas Planner Here

(once you open the link, click on the three dots on the right hand side and then download)

Last month I shared a collection of tips for simplifying the season and I do hope you’ll take a moment to read that post right HERE.

Currently Purging:

Like I said, now is the time for purging out the old. It takes next to no time at all but the results are huge. I purged two boxes of stuff this past month of just random odds and sodds from around the house.

What have you been purging this past month?

My Amazon Store:

If anyone is wondering about organizing products and wanting to see more of my favorites, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve got them all together in one place. Check them all out right HERE in my Amazon shop. So many glorious things! And I’ve added quite a few new items this past month.

Current Sponsor:

Finally I want to thank Smead Manufacturing Company for being a long-standing sponsor of my site. Smead is a woman-owned company well-known for its high quality, environmentally responsible products and innovative organizational systems. For more than a century, Smead has been committed to one purpose: Keeping You Organized.

If you are working from home right now, you will find their round up of 20 home office organization ideas that will keep you organized in style super helpful. I especially think the Stadium File is brilliant! You can find Smead on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest as well as on their awesome Podcast and YouTube channel!

I hope you enjoyed taking this peek into my life and my Nov/Dec 2021 favorites. Tell me something that you are currently loving in your life. And if you’ve got any questions, let me know.

Never a miss a blog post. Subscribe below!

*******************

Previous Catching Up posts ~ click on the graphic below to go have a read:

The post Catching Up with Org Junkie #20 ~ Nov/Dec 2021 Favorites: Advent, Car Diffuser & Hot Chocolate appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

*I receive commissions for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.*

Okay so I want to start off by saying this is not my recipe. You’ll find the link to the tutorial I used below. Natasha even provides the adorable printables I used for free on her site which is incredibly nice of her. There are literally two ingredients in this recipe. Vodka and vanilla beans, that’s it. I used the Smirnoff brand of vodka and Native Grade B Tahitian Vanilla Beans from Amazon. These ethically sourced beans have excellent reviews and now that I’ve been using my homemade vanilla extract for a year I can honestly tell you that it tastes delicious!!

I really can’t get over how easy it was to make and will be making up some more batches for myself soon. You only need one and half beans per 4 oz jar so you can do 6 jars from one 10 pack of vanilla beans. Although if you want to make more they also sell a 30 pack of vanilla beans as well.

The jars I used I also purchased from Amazon. I choose to use 4 oz amber glass jars with lids for this project and they worked really well. I am just so happy with how these gifts turned out!

Here is an easy to read product list for you: (affiliate links)

• any kind of vodka (I used Smirnoff)
• Native Grade B Tahitian Vanilla Beans
• 4 oz glass jars with lids
• Avery High Visibility Round Labels 5294
• Red and white kitchen towels
• Mini cookie cutter set
• Red and white string

These do take 3 months to brew but you can still go ahead and make them up now for Christmas gifts. Simply mark on the label when they were bottled and when they’ll be ready to use.

I also loved how Natasha packaged these up for gift giving so I copied that as well. They are just so cute and festive!! I wrapped them up in a kitchen towel and tied off with a cookie cutter and ribbon. Adorable right?!

You can find a complete tutorial over at Natasha’s Kitchen. If you decide to make your own homemade vanilla extract, please let me know. I think you’ll be very happy with the results! Trust me when I say if I can do it, anyone can!

And if you haven’t had a chance to, don’t forget to grab your free printable Christmas Planner to keep you on track of all the holiday things!

Never miss a blog post, subscribe below!

PS: Want to know how I organize my Christmas craft projects? This method works!

The post DIY Christmas Gift ~ Homemade Vanilla Extract with Pretty Labels appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

So instead, my method of “getting it all done” is by being prepared and starting early! November I go hard and December I relax and enjoy the company of friends and family. Oh and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie or fifty, ha! So no I’m not super woman, I’m just organized and that to me is the secret to less stress and chaos and more simplicity and fun. So keep reading for my simplified organized Christmas tips and the link to my 2021 free printable Christmas Planner which will help you stay on track this season with all there is to do.

*I receive commissions for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.*

Be Intentional:

As I mentioned above, I do want to reiterate that when I mention the word simplify I don’t necessarily mean removing all the things from your schedule. Where’s the fun in that? And the holidays should be fun and special. They just don’t need to be harried and chaotic as well. It really comes down to figuring out which things you get most excited about and which you don’t. It’s acknowledging the things we do out of obligation and then either giving ourselves permission to let those things go OR find a new way of doing them. We all have these pressures we put on ourselves of how we think things are supposed to be. Maybe it’s the way you’ve always done it or maybe it’s just the influence of friends and social media.

Whatever it is, all I’m saying is to take some time each year at the beginning of the season to re-evaluate what you do and why you do it in order to be intentional about it. Because honestly no one can do it all. Something always has to give. And personally I’d rather be the one to say what that “give” is before it’s decided for me.

For me that meant giving up “Christmas” decorating. All the Christmas decorations always felt cluttery (I doubt that’s a word) to me and way overstimulated my senses. So I decided to do things my way. I now decorate for winter instead as soon as we get snow (often October or early November). The coziness of natural elements, twinkling lights and battery operated candles (that are on timers so they all come on at the same time!) is so calming and peaceful to me. Then in December the only decorating left to do is put up our Christmas tree. So simple and lovely.

What can you rethink and do differently this year to alleviate some stress and chaos?

Manage Expectations:

Every holiday season brings with it new challenges to contend with. Family pressures, work stress, financial instability, illness and so many more contributing factors play a big role. These things can be difficult to manage and often out of our control. We could easily let them trample our holiday spirit. One way around this is to meet these overwhelming challenges with new expectations. It can be so hard to let go of familiar family traditions and not be sad or grumpy about doing so. But it can be done and new traditions may even come of it.

Ten years ago my husband lost his job and we had to move to a new province and town where we didn’t know anyone. That first Christmas here by ourselves with just the five of us was tough. We were use to celebrating with a huge houseful of family around us. We were all so sad going into that first Christmas alone. However, do you want to know what happened during that time? We found ourselves making new traditions and one of those new favorites still exists to this day 11 years later…spending all of Christmas day in our new matching Christmas jammies! We don’t even get dressed for Christmas dinner. And now if we do have company for Christmas dinner, they have to come in their pajamas too. Yep, it’s the rule, ha! So many of our current family traditions came from that place of necessity.

In difficult circumstances, it can be hard to lower expectations or find the good, but, however small, there is always something to be grateful for. Constantly wishing things were different can make it extremely hard to find the positive. Please take some time over the next couple of weeks to consider the expectations you place on yourself or allow others to dictate for you. Or even the expectations you have of others. Be realistic about what you are capable of and what your circumstances will allow and be open to new possibilities and traditions. You may just discover a delightfully peaceful holiday that was more than you ever could have imagined!

Be prepared:

To help you coordinate and prioritize holiday plans I’ve created a free printable Christmas Planner that you can download below. It’s an updated 2021 version of the one I put out last year. There are twenty two different pages in the set including two different covers depending on your preference. I know some like to call it a Holiday Planner and some like to call it a Christmas Planner. Whatever you choose, I’ve got you covered (see what I did there?)! And I’m sharing it with you totally FREE as my Christmas gift to all of you. I sure hope you like it!!

Pages include:

• Two Covers
• Family Traditions
• Acts of Kindness
• Christmas Gift Ideas
• Advent Traditions
• 12 Days of Giving
• Holiday Priorities
• Christmas Party Planner
• Weekly Menu Planner
• Christmas Eve Menu Planner
• Christmas Day Menu Planner
• Baking List
• Grocery List
• Clean & Organize
• Gift Budget
• Christmas Gifts Purchased
• Holiday Budget
• Weekly Planner
• Nov/Dec Calendars
• Notes

I set up my Christmas Planner binder using a small white binder and pocket pages (affiliate links) from Amazon. This helps keep everything organized and in one place. A little bit of advance planning will mean the difference between a stressed out holiday season and one that you can sit back and savor. I know which option I prefer that is for sure!

Start by writing in the big events that you are hoping to attend and do into the calendar. Then take each event and make a list of all the little details you need to take care of to make that date happen. As an example let’s take a Christmas potluck party at a friends house that you want to attend on Saturday, December 12th. Here’s what needs to happen before then:

• Because you will be playing a gift exchange game, you need to buy a $10 gift to bring.
• You need to figure out what dish you will make for the potluck.
• You need to buy the ingredients for the potluck and prepare the dish.
• You’d like to bring a small hostess gift to give to the hostess so you need to buy that too.
• It’s also a holiday sweater party so you need to find and/or buy something to wear.

So as you see there are some details to work out. BUT what most people do is mark the big event on their calendar and then carry around a mental list of those things that need to be done beforehand.  What happens when you get busy and overwhelmed? All those tasks you’ve been trying to remember get forgotten about and then you are left to frantically try and get it all done at the last minute.  You arrive to the party frazzled and tired and just want to go home and crawl into bed.  Am I right? Trust me I’ve been there. The details matter because they add up fast especially if you have multiple events to attend. Keep that in mind.

************************

Download your FREE printable holiday planner HERE.

Once the file opens in Dropbox, click on the three dots in the far right column and then click on Download.

{for personal use only please}

Getting everything down on paper and out of your swirling mind is one of the best ways to combat overwhelm. My hope is that this little planner will also help you simplify your list so that only the things that bring you the most joy remain.

Please also refer to my post on holiday menu planning simplified to help you be further prepared this Christmas.

Use Gift and Budget Apps:

In my quest to help you have a simplified organized Christmas you need these two apps in your life. I have used these two apps every year to make my life so much easier and I can’t recommend them more highly to you. They assist you with both gift buying and tracking as well as staying on budget. They are sanity savers! You can check out that post right HERE.

Implement the PUPA Movement:

Also don’t forget to add your free PUPA Movement printable to your binder. What in the world am I talking about? I created this strategy to help you get in the habit of picking up and putting away the stuff in your home in preparation for a clutter-free holiday. You can read all about it and grab your free PUPA printable HERE. It’s awesome and helpful, go check it out!

Christmas Craft Projects:

Every year I like to make Christmas gifts for my girlfriends, but I am the worst procrastinator and in years past I found myself leaving everything to the last minute. But I finally figured out how to stop procrastinating though and actually get my projects done. Seriously if you are hoping to make some gifts this season, follow my method HERE for getting it all done in time without stressing out about it. It really works!

Turn up the Tunes:

To help you get into the spirit, check out Org Junkie’s Favorite Christmas Songs playlist on Spotify. I add new songs every year but Johnny Reid’s, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, still holds top spot though. However Carrie Underwood’s new Christmas CD (affiliate links) has some good contenders. Enjoy!

If you click on the circle in the top right corner on the player below, it’ll open up the playlist right in Spotify for you.

So there you go, I think you have everything you need now to help you have a simplified organized Christmas. Let me know how you make out and if there is anything else I can do to help!

Happy holidays!

If you found this simplified organized Christmas post helpful, would you do me a big favor and share it for me. Thank you!

Never miss one of my blog posts, subscribe to my blog HERE.

And if you need some gift suggestions for the neat freak in your life, check out all my organizing favorites HERE.

You may also like:

The post 6 Tips for a Simplified Organized Christmas with Free Printable Christmas Planner! appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Hi there! I hope you are all doing well and staying on top of the daily clutter that requires constant maintenance. It’s a lot sometimes. But don’t you worry, I’ve got so many resources on my site to help you. And with the holidays coming up, I’ve got the perfect place for you to start. With a 30 Day Declutter Challenge of course! I even have free printables to help you stay on track. Check it out and do a little bit of decluttering everyday. Then by the time Christmas rolls around, you and your home will be feeling so much lighter. Yay! And speaking of Christmas, I talk a little bit more about it below because I’m well on my way to getting things done in advance. Christmas organization is my jam! But first here’s a little peek into what’s been going on in my life lately and what I am currently loving on.

October 2021 FAVORITES

*I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. I’ve purchased everything myself unless otherwise noted.*

Currently EATING:

You all know how excited I get when a new snack shows up in my local grocery store (IGA if you are in Canada). These Sea Salt & Vinegar Pistachios from the brand Wonderful are SO good! And a wee bit addicting so you might want to have someone hide them for you. Or if you are my age then you can just hide them yourself because you’ll never remember where you put them, ha!

Currently Reading:

I’m literally reading the newest Nicholas Sparks book, The Wish, right now. So I can’t even tell you what I’m going to rate it because I haven’t finished yet. But I do love the way Nicholas Sparks writes and so far I’m liking this book. The reviews are pretty great on Amazon too. Have you read it?

CURRENTLY WATCHING:

Well did I ever get into this newest series on Netflix called Maid. Oh my goodness, I’m still reeling from it. What an emotional ride it is and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s been awhile since a show affected me like this. Hard to watch but so eye-opening with regards to domestic abuse. The acting is absolutely incredible by IRL mother and daughter duo, Andie MacDowell and Margaret Qualley. It’s a must watch.

What else did I start watching in October? Hallmark Christmas Movies! Cue the music, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”. Yay!! Will I beat my record of 50 movies watched last year? Stay tuned to find out, ha! Download your own movie watching checklist HERE. And if you live in the States, there’s even a Hallmark Christmas movies app. Unfortunately we don’t have access to it here in Canada.

Currently Loving:

I’ve only got one thing to share with you this month but it is a good one. These metal label clips by iDesign are just fantastic. They clip right onto any basket you want as long as it isn’t too thick. I use mine on this wire basket I keep in my office for the returns I have to do. A dedicated basket like this is especially helpful around Christmas time when gift purchases are coming in and going out. These label clips make me so happy

Currently ORGANIZING:

Christmas! I like to get the ball rolling and be completely done by the end of November. Then I can just sit back and enjoy December to the fullest instead of rushing here, there and everywhere. So far I’ve set up my gift storage area, organized my Gift List app for 2021 and printed off my 2021 Christmas Planner. I’ve already updated last year’s planner for 2021 and I’m giving it away FREE to anyone else that wants to use it. I’ll be doing a dedicated Christmas Planner post (with many more tips!) but for those reading today you get first dibs on it!

Download the 2021 Christmas Planner Here

(once you open the link, click on the three dots on the right hand side and then download)

Currently Purging:

I purged one box of stuff this past month of all sorts of randomness from around the house. Little bits collected every day and put into my donation station. Believe me, I don’t just preach this stuff, I do it too!!

What have you been purging this past month?

My Amazon Store:

If anyone is wondering about organizing products and wanting to see more of my favorites, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve got them all together in one place. Check them all out right HERE in my Amazon shop. So many glorious things! And I’ve added quite a few new items this past month.

Current Sponsor:

Finally I want to thank Smead Manufacturing Company for being a long-standing sponsor of my site. Smead is a woman-owned company well-known for its high quality, environmentally responsible products and innovative organizational systems. For more than a century, Smead has been committed to one purpose: Keeping You Organized.

If you are working from home right now, you will find their round up of 20 home office organization ideas that will keep you organized in style super helpful. I especially think the Stadium File is brilliant! You can find Smead on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest as well as on their awesome Podcast and YouTube channel!

I hope you enjoyed taking this peek into my life and my October 2021 favorites. Tell me something that you are currently loving in your life. And if you’ve got any questions, let me know.

Never a miss a blog post. Subscribe below!

*******************

Previous Catching Up posts ~ click on the graphic below to go have a read:

The post Catching Up with Org Junkie #19 ~ October 2021 Favorites: Pistachios, Maid & Countdown to Christmas appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Hey friends! Someone tell me where September went? It just seems to have flown by. My son’s volleyball has taken over my life and I’m loving every minute of it. It makes me so happy even if so much of my time is in the car driving. But it just feels so good to have a little normalcy back in our lives. It’s been so long! I’m also happy to be back today sharing with you some of my favorites from September even if I am a few days late posting it. I’ve missed you! I hope you enjoy this little peek into what’s been going on in my life lately and what I am currently loving on.

SEPTEMBER 2021 FAVORITES

*I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. I’ve purchased everything myself unless otherwise noted.*

Currently EATING:

In September I found a new delicious snack to eat. When you follow a limited diet it’s always exciting to find a new food. I think that’s why I love grocery shopping so much, the thrill of the hunt is so fun, ha! These Everything Bagel Cashews are yummy! I purchased them from IGA, my local grocery store here in Canada.

Now I want to tell you about something that although I clearly can’t eat it, my middle son with all the food allergies sure can. And he LOVES them! These Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen are gluten, dairy and nut free and such a great treat if you or your kids have food allergies. Although my youngest son who has no food allergies loved them too so there’s that :).

Currently Reading:

I read three books in September, yay go me! But unfortunately only one of them was worth mentioning here. I only like to share books that I rate at least a four or five. This one called The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth, I rated four out of five stars. It’s about two very different sisters and the secrets they share. It held my attention which isn’t easy to do since I have such a short attention span!

I’m also reading this new Organizing Your Home magazine that I picked up from Walmart last month. I always say I’m not going to buy another one of these and then I see a new one in the store and just can’t help myself. All that organizing eye candy is just really really hard for me to pass up!

CURRENTLY WATCHING:

Okay who else has watched Lula Rich on Amazon Prime? It’s a 4 part series and I was so fascinated by it. I couldn’t stop watching. It’s basically all about the rise and fall of the company Lularoe. The husband and wife team just seemed so clueless (or perhaps were really good actors!) with what was happening in their own company and how little disregard they seemed to have for those working under them. It was very sad to hear from the many women who lost a lot of money to this company. And yet as far as I can tell, Lularoe is still very much in business.

Currently Loving:

As always, every month I like to share with you three or four things that I’m currently loving on. And today we are going to start with fall! I love fall and all the beautiful colors that come with it. The only thing not to love about fall is that it leads into winter, boo! We did family photos in September with the colorful leaves all around. I don’t have those pictures back from the photographer yet but my son snapped this shot of me in our backyard after we got home. I think my expression on my face says it all. And also we can’t forget to talk about the most perfect fall dress. It’s from Grace and Lace, one of my very favorite clothing brands. The colors in the dress are just so pretty.

Next up is my USB Candle Lighter. The fact that it’s USB rechargeable is so awesome! I’ve always used one of those long “clicker” lighters with the fuel inside and I seriously could never get them to work. Such a pain! I’m happy to report that this one is not a pain. It’s easy to use on the first try without having to click it a million times. Please tell me that wasn’t just me? Highly recommend this one!

Thirdly is this cute little silicone pig for your kitchen. Why would you want a cute little silicone pig in your kitchen you ask? Why for your bacon grease of course! This solves an annoying problem we had of what to do with the grease after cooking bacon. This little piggy comes with a little strainer and holds the grease for you. Which is also kind of nice to have when you want to add a little dollop to your future cooking….mmmmm…..bacon…..yummy :). When it gets full (and has hardened) I just throw it out. So smart I tell ya!

Currently ORGANIZING:

Well the other day I was in my kitchen and couldn’t find something so what does that tell you? Tells me that I really need to go through each cupboard and cabinet and weed out the stuff I’m not using. Regular decluttering and organizing is so important for your sanity and peace of mind. It’s so frustrating when you can’t find what you need when you need it. What area of the house do you need to tackle the most right now?

Also I mentioned above that the candle lighter came with a USB charger. It makes me so happy to have the most PERFECT system in place for storing those types of cables and chargers. Isn’t my bin just lovely? Read more about my system HERE. Still in love with my gorgeous wallpaper too!

Currently Purging:

Here are the two different loads I took to our local thrift store last month. It’s all mostly clothes. Top picture is my stuff and the bottom photo is stuff from my youngest son’s closet because that kid never stops growing. But at least now he’s not rooting around his piles trying to find something that fits. Now everything in his closet actually fits him which is a huge time saver!

What have you been purging this past month?

My Amazon Store:

If anyone is wondering about organizing products and wanting to see more of my favorites, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve got them all together in one place. Check them all out right HERE in my Amazon shop. So many glorious things! And I’ve added quite a few new items this past month.

Current Sponsor:

Finally I want to thank Smead Manufacturing Company for being a long-standing sponsor of my site. Smead is a woman-owned company well-known for its high quality, environmentally responsible products and innovative organizational systems. For more than a century, Smead has been committed to one purpose: Keeping You Organized.

If you are working from home right now, you will find their round up of 20 home office organization ideas that will keep you organized in style super helpful. I especially think the Stadium File is brilliant! You can find Smead on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest as well as on their awesome Podcast and YouTube channel!

I hope you enjoyed taking this peek into my life and my September 2021 favorites. Tell me something that you are currently loving in your life. And if you’ve got any questions, let me know.

Never a miss a blog post. Subscribe below!

*******************

Previous Catching Up posts ~ click on the graphic below to go have a read:

The post Catching Up with Org Junkie #18 ~ September 2021 Favorites: Fall Leaves, Organizing Magazine & Lula Rich appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

I was feeling overwhelmed myself at the beginning of September. I was hardly home the months of July and August and didn’t keep up with my system. Then we jumped right back in to school stuff and sports and all of a sudden I didn’t know if I was coming or going. My official role as head chauffeur has officially resumed and to be honest I love every minute of it. However overwhelm can quickly rule the day when our brains try desperately to remember all the data we feed it. When all the little details that parents have to worry about swirl in our brains as we scramble to remember everything, well it can be exhausting and stressful.

Thankfully once I got back into following my system it finally felt like I could take a deep breath again. This system not only helps me manage life on a regular basis, but it’s especially helpful when going through challenging life seasons like a new school year, a new baby, a big move or managing an illness. Because let’s face it, while typical advice might be to just put down some of the balls we are frantically trying to keep in the air, that just isn’t always possible. Life happens and seasons don’t last forever. So instead, the purpose of today’s blog post is more about managing the chaos instead of the chaos managing us. Yes, let’s do this!

Organizing Strategies to Combat Overwhelm and Calm the Chaos

*I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.*

Many people think I’m organized because I’m just a naturally organized person but that’s not true. I’m organized because I manipulate my environment so that it lends itself to living an organized life. If it weren’t for that, I’d be a wreck and nothing would get done. Honestly. That’s why I follow these organizing rules and I implement routines and rewards as well on a regular basis. The next few organizing strategies are a must though!

Master List Notebook

Now this isn’t revolutionary but lists are the lifeline to my overwhelm. But not just any list or post it note reminder stuck to every nook and cranny. Nope it’s what I like to call my Master List Notebook that keeps all my to-do’s in one place. Otherwise known as my brain dump basket. You all know how I love to contain things! I’m an old fashion pen and paper kind of girl so this is what I keep going back to time and time again. It’s simple and easy to use.

My Master List Notebook is my container for my sanity and not only would I be lost without it but I definitely wouldn’t be sleeping at night either. My lined spiral bound notebook of choice is 7 x 5 inches big and I get them from the dollar store. I prefer this size because it’s big enough that I can get 20 tasks per page yet small enough to be left out right beside my computer or to fit into my purse if I want to take it places with me (and right now that’s not such a bad idea!). Spiral bound is also important to me so that it folds over on itself so I only have to see one side at a time. But listen any notebook will do, let’s not get hung up on logistics here!

Brain Dump:

I always start by writing the date at the top of the page. Then I write down every single task that is taking up more space than it needs to in my head. Basically it’s a daily consistent brain dump of all sorts of miscellaneous randomness from my brain onto paper. I believe we get overwhelmed when our brains are trying to process and remember so much information. By getting it out of our heads and written down, it eases the burden and allows the brain to slow down and focus on one thing at a time.

The trick to this brain dump is to list your tasks in detail and this comes in handy for batching tasks which I’ll talk about in a minute. So for example if you want to make end of the year teacher gifts, your list should include (as separate line items) all the various steps required to make that happen: buy craft supplies, have kids make cards, make craft, buy packaging, etc.. The more detailed I am, the less stress I feel. Mental clutter is bad news. It’s why we start forgetting appointments and locking our keys in the van…ahem…been there.

Batching Tasks:

Having a running master list like this makes it very easy now to batch tasks saving you all sorts of time, energy and money. When I need to run downtown to do an errand I can quickly scan my list to see anywhere I noted that I needed to purchase or pick up something saving myself multiple trips. Nothing is more annoying to me than making a trip to Walmart, only to remember when I get home that I forgot something. Making another trip is such a waste of valuable time. In addition to shopping trips, I also try to batch telephone calls I need to make etc.

Highlight Completed Tasks:

As I complete my tasks I will highlight the line item so I know it is done. It provides visual interest to the page and makes it perfectly clear which items are still outstanding. It also means I can still read the completed task. So many times I have gone back in my notebook to double check a date or task and this makes it easy to do so. But listen if you just want to be wild and crazy and cross those tasks off instead then you go right ahead and do what makes your heart happy. You’ve got to do what works best for you!

Starting a New Page:

Every week or two I’ll start a new page in my notebook with a new date at the top. I carry forward any outstanding tasks to this new date. Now all the outstanding tasks are clustered together at the top. The reason I don’t start a new page every day is because I would be constantly carrying items forward which is not a practical use of my time. However if you notice that you are consistently not getting the same tasks done week after week, it’s time to get honest with yourself about it. Either find a way to make it happen or just forget about it.

CALENDAR/PLANNER

Another key organizing component to decreasing overwhelm is utilizing a planner of some kind. Whether it’s a digital one or paper, it’s essential to organizing your time. Once you’ve had a successful brain dump, now is the time to take that master list and schedule those tasks into your planner. Each morning I go through my list notebook and source out THREE tasks that are my must do’s for the day. I may still fit in others as time allows, but first I select three items that are my top priority. I then jot those down in my planner along with any relevant sub-tasks required to make those three tasks happen.

If we aren’t intentional about this step it is much too easy to procrastinate the tasks believing that we have more time than we really do. Or put things off simply because we are too overwhelmed with the volume of items that need to get done. This last one is more my tendency. Be realistic about your time available to you. I think when we get over ambitious we set ourselves up for failure.

I use a combination of the Simply Yours Day Planner and the calendar app on my phone that I share/sync with my husband and teenage son so we can all be on the same page. There are many calendar apps out there and I’ve tried many of them. However I find that so many of them are just too complicated and “busy”. I keep coming back to the simplicity of my iPhone calendar app. Simplicity is the name of my game for me always. Read more about my favorite planners HERE. I would love to hear what you use.

If you’ve got younger children may I strongly suggest a large fridge calendar to keep everyone connected. It’s so important! More details about why and my favorite fridge calendar HERE.

REMINDERS APP

In addition to the organizing strategies listed above, I also utilize the free Reminders app on my phone. This tool helps alleviate the brain clutter that takes up valuable head space. I’ve set it up with all sorts of lists I want to keep track of. My memory isn’t so great these days so the Reminders app is a lifesaver! Do you use this app? It’s super easy to set up and simple to use. And yes I keep track of the Hallmark Christmas movies I watch because I would never remember otherwise, ha!

When You Run out of RESOURCES

If, after implementing these organizing strategies, you are still having trouble keeping up then it might be time to consider one or more of the following steps.

1. Ask friends for help (not always easy to do)
2. Hire tasks out (is it worth my time to pay someone else to do it?)
3. Simplify (eg: I will buy teacher gifts rather than make them myself)
4. Re-prioritize and delete (what can I cut from the list altogether)

Too many decisions in such a short amount of time is stressful. Having a system in place will help alleviate some of the tension that results when overwhelm hits. Remember, whichever organizing strategies you implement, if they aren’t simple enough to use you are just adding to the chaos. So always keep it simple and say no to brain clutter. You’ll feel so much better when you do!

Anyone else feeling overwhelmed right now and in need of utilizing a Master List Notebook? Of these organizing strategies, which one is your favorite?

The post Organizing Strategies to Combat Overwhelm and Calm the Chaos appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Hello! My summer of yes is officially over and September is here! September has always been my January which means it’s time to reset the house and organize all the things. After a busy summer of hardly being home, it will be nice to clear out some closets and drawers. In fact as you’ll see later in this post, I’ve already started! But first, I’d love to share with you a few of my August 2021 favorites. I hope you enjoy this little peek into what’s been going on in my life lately and what I am currently loving on.

august 2021 FAVORITES

*I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. I’ve purchased everything myself unless otherwise noted.*

After not seeing our families at all last year, we decided we’d like to try and see both sets of family this summer. Only problem is they live on opposite sides of Canada. So this past month we not only flew to Ontario from Alberta to visit my family but then we also drove 14 hours to Kitimat, BC to visit my husband’s family and some of my best pals too. We had such great visits with everyone! I can’t show you any pictures from Ontario since most of the pictures I took there are of family but I took a ton of scenic pictures in BC which is where I grew up. When the sun is shining it really is such a beautiful place. And we had quite a few sunny days too which was so great. And because Kitimat is right on the coast, I got to see the ocean and the mountains at the same time. Definitely my happy place!

Loved this rock message we found on one of our little hikes

I also found my initials carved into a tree as well. That was fun!

Kitimat is well known for its great fishing so of course my husband spent some time doing just that. I got hot watching him so my boys built me a sun shelter. It worked perfectly although the log I was sitting on wasn’t very comfortable, ha!

So many great memories made! And I haven’t even told you the best part yet. My daughter who I haven’t seen in 18 months flew to Kitimat to meet up with us so we got to see her too! That made my momma heart so very happy!

Currently EATING:

When traveling I always find it hard to keep my protein numbers up (I track my macros everyday as part of this program). So I was very excited to find this SUGAR-FREE beef jerky, whoot! It’s really delicious too. I found it at Save On Foods in BC so hopefully I can find it here in Alberta too.

Currently Reading:

Again I only read one book this past month. It’s called The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. A bit of a suspense as you try and figure out what is really going on. I liked that it held my attention and so I gave it four out of five stars!

CURRENTLY WATCHING:

I’m not sure if I’ve ever admitted this here or not but I’m a HUGE Big Brother fan. But not for the reasons you might think. I am really good at reading body language and a lot of that is thanks to Big Brother. Since there is a lot of lying going on I get to study the body language as it all goes down. It’s not often we get to know if what we perceive is actually correct. I love the show for this reason but also I love the household competitions too. At the beginning of every season my boys and I each pick two people who we think will win. This year we aren’t doing very well though since five of our six picks are already out. Oops. Do you watch?

Currently Loving:

As always, every month I like to share with you three or four things that I’m currently loving on. First up is the necklace my mom had custom made for me for my birthday from Freckle Face Jewelry (a Canadian company).  It’s a family necklace and each stone represents the birthstone of one of my family members. The daisy is simply because I adore daisies :). I love it so much, it’s such a unique gift idea.

Next I just have to share a favorite that now hangs in my beach themed bedroom. My mother-in-law painted it herself and I fell in love with it the minute I saw it in her house. I was so surprised when she said I could take it home with me. It makes me so happy every time I look at it!

My last favorite this month may seem silly to some of you but I really enjoy finding solutions to my little problems. And this book stand does just that. I love to eat my breakfast and lunch and read at the same time so this book stand was exactly what I needed. Would also make a great recipe book stand too!

My girlfriend just bought me this new lemon mug and that’s definitely a new favorite too!

Currently ORGANIZING:

Like I said I’m currently organizing all the things. But the biggest thing I’m in the process of organizing and purging is my closet. I’ve lost 20 pounds over the last few months (this program is awesome!) and I had clothes that fit mixed in with clothes that didn’t. Getting dressed was getting tricky as I could never remember which was which. So I followed my own clothes purging rules and started trying things on to determine what would stay and what could go. I purged so many items from my closet (see below) and I’m not even done yet if you can believe it!

Currently Purging:

Here is a picture of all that I let go of from my closet that either no longer fit me or was no longer my style. Whew! My closet can breathe again and my mornings will now be a little less frustrating, yay! And yes I save my big Dollarama bags to reuse for packing up my items going to the thrift store.

What have you been purging this past month?

My Amazon Store:

If anyone is wondering about organizing products and wanting to see more of my favorites, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve got them all together in one place. Check them all out right HERE in my Amazon shop. So many glorious things! And I’ve added quite a few new items this past month.

Current Sponsor:

Finally I want to thank Smead Manufacturing Company for being a long-standing sponsor of my site. Smead is a woman-owned company well-known for its high quality, environmentally responsible products and innovative organizational systems. For more than a century, Smead has been committed to one purpose: Keeping You Organized.

If you are working from home right now, you will find their round up of 20 home office organization ideas that will keep you organized in style super helpful. I especially think the Stadium File is brilliant! You can find Smead on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest as well as on their awesome Podcast and YouTube channel!

I hope you enjoyed taking this peek into my life and my August 2021 favorites. Tell me something that you are currently loving in your life. And if you’ve got any questions, let me know.

Never a miss a blog post. Subscribe below!

*******************

Previous Catching Up posts ~ click on the graphic below to go have a read:

The post Catching Up with Org Junkie #17 ~ August 2021 Favorites: Freckle Face Jewelry, Book Stand & Big Brother appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

• Affiliate links are included in this post. This means I make a small commission should you purchase product using these links. This is at no extra cost to you.

Hello! I’m back and my summer of yes is coming to an end which is actually okay because I need a rest, ha! I’ve been in three different provinces this summer from the east to the west. And while I loved visiting with family and friends and making so many great memories, this introvert is definitely peopled out :). More pictures to come on my monthly favorites post.

Menu Plan Monday Announcement:

Now for some sad news. Today will be my last Menu Plan Monday post. I’ve been thinking about this for awhile and I think it’s time to take a break from posting my weekly menu. It’s really not a popular post yet it takes me quite a few hours to write up each week. Can you believe I’ve been sharing my menu with you every week for the past 15 years? Wow, that’s a long time!

But I think it may have run it’s course now so I’m going to give it a break. I am slightly worried though that I may slack on doing my menu plan up without you all for accountability. So I’ll have to see how it goes. Also I hear now that providing a linky is no longer seen as favorable with Google so there’s that. I’m not techy though so I can’t say for sure but I won’t be adding the linky tonight (sorry!). Either way it’s time to put it on hold for the foreseeable future. Thank you to all of you who have been faithful Menu Plan Monday participants and readers. You are the best!

And don’t worry if you still need menu planning help because I’ve got just the resource for you. Keep reading!

Eat at Home:

One of the best tools I’ve ever come across for menu planning help is Eat at Home Meal Plans. And they are currently offering 30% off their annual memberships once again! For those that are busy and wish someone else could just plan your meals and provide you with the recipes and an easy grocery list, this service is what you want. The Eat at Home Meal Plans will make your menu planning life so much easier. Every week they provide you with four different menu plans to use and you’ll get the recipes and an awesome color-coded grocery list with each one. Super easy!

All Eat at Home Meal Plan members get:

• Four monthly menu plans to choose from (you get access to ALL FOUR: Traditional, Slow Cooker/Instant Pot, Wholesome and No Flour/No Sugar)

• 1-Hour Freezer Stash Menus – fill your freezer with 6 meals in 1 hour!

• 15-Minute Meals for your busiest nights

• Small family and large family recipes

• Color-coded grocery lists to make shopping a breeze

• Printable menus

• And more!

One dinner out with your family can cost you upwards of $50 – and you don’t even have to go anywhere fancy to rack up that kind of bill. And because all the recipes use common, everyday ingredients the cost of making these meals keeps your budget happy too. If Eat at Home Meal Plans saves you from eating out just once or twice you’ll have more than paid for a whole year!

And don’t forget that right now you can save 30% off the regular price by using the code EAT at checkout. Keep in mind that this sale ends Tuesday night.

Here’s what we’ll be eating for dinner this week.

My Weekly Menu Plan:

Monday: Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli with Mushrooms

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken served with rice and fresh beans from the garden

Wednesday: Keto Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf served with fries and fresh carrots from the garden

Thursday: Leftover buffet

Friday: Pizza Party Friday Night with bread machine pizza dough and for me California Omelet

Saturday: Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs served with baked potatoes and tossed salad

Sunday: YOYO (you’re on your own!)

Have a wonderful week everyone!!

WHAT ARE YOU EATING THIS WEEK?

More awesome recipes on my Pinterest boards here.

Don’t forget to join our growing Menu Plan Monday Facebook Page!!

Favorite menu planning resources:

Plan to Eat ~ helps you organize your own menu planning (affiliate link):

Eat at Home ~ they do the menu planning done for you (affiliate link):

The post Menu Plan Monday ~ August 30/21 Weekly Dinner Inspiration appeared first on I'm an Organizing Junkie.