Organized Home

Will you surprise a special loved one on Valentine's Day? Try Cupid Poop!

Nothing more than a handful of candies or marshmallows in seasonal colors, this gag "poop" gift is easy to make. Place the candies in a food storage bag or treat bag, then decorate with printable Cupid Poop gift tags. '

Each page contains gift tags with a colorful graphic and the Cupid Poop poem. Trimmed and folded, they can be used as a bag topper or as a two-sided gift tag.

With three tags per page, it's easy to make in multiples for workplace gifts or classroom treats.

Spread the love!

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Bury the Ghost of Christmas Past!

By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

Welcome to the Rudolph Club: your once-a-month meeting for an organized Christmas!

At Organized Christmas, we know that the holiday season can be fast and furious. Solution? Take a day once each month throughout the year to plan and prepare for a more-organized holiday season.

On the 25th of each month, we'll bring simple assignments and easy tips to try now for a simpler, more joyous holiday season.

Over the year, you'll tackle planning and preparations to make the season lighter, brighter and less stressful come December.

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By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

It's a cheery gift for a dreary day: a Winter Warmer Jiffy Pop® Popcorn Topper!

Add our free printable template to a package of Jiffy Pop® brand pop-in-pan popcorn for an inexpensive "popcorn topper" craft gift.

Paired with Snowman Soup, you'll bring warmth and fun to a wintry day!

How To Make Jiffy Pop® Popcorn Toppers

Winter Warmer Popcorn Topper Template

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By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

It's over for another year!

Wild and woolly or sane and sedate, we've passed through the holiday season and into a new year. Breath caught, it's time to debrief.

You know debriefing, right? The astronauts do it, spies do it, pilots do it: a measured after-the fact evaluation of the mission or flight.

Smart holiday planners should do it, too--because taking time now to note what worked, what didn't will be a road map to a more organized Christmas next year. Here's how:

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By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

New Year's Eve ... a festive beginning to a new year. It's a good time to take stock and decide to move toward a happier, more organized life.

But too often, what looks so easy as the minute hand approaches midnight falls away in the cold light of January days.

For most of us, New Year's resolutions die a slow and quiet death. They're tossed aside, along with the party hats and noisemakers.

As January winds down, so does motivation, energy and desire for change.

New Year's resolutions wither along with the Christmas poinsettias because they lack strong roots in real life. It's not the resolution that's at fault--it's the follow-through! New Year's resolutions are easy to make, but much harder to make real in the noisy bustle of everyday chores and concerns.

Stop! Don't let those resolutions slip away so quickly! Each one represents a longing of the heart, a reach toward better health, happiness, knowledge or wisdom. Try these concepts to revive and strengthen your New Year's resolutions.

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By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

It's the day after Christmas, and every year at this time, the e-mails in my inbox tell the story: "I wish I'd found this site earlier!"

Each year, I hear from scores of readers who came looking for holiday help at the height of the celebration-and faced with the reality of Christmas chaos. Stumbling over our site, they see that it's possible to be organized--and joyous--during the holidays. They just wish they'd found us earlier!

So say you're starting now, the day after Christmas. What's the secret to a stress-free season? Plan ahead!

Try these five tips to get ready for next year.

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Ready to start the New Year from a clean and clutter-free home? Try these post-Christmas clean-up tips from sister site, Organized Home.

These simple, do-it-now strategies can reduce clutter and conquer Christmas chaos. We like this one:

Sort Before You Stow

Once the New Year arrives, most families take down holiday decorations and store them for the following year--but too often, there's a sense of "sling it in there and worry about it later" when it comes to putting away Christmas ornaments, holiday linens and outdoor lighting.

This year, pay it forward: sort and declutter holiday decorations, linens and specialty cooking items as you store them. Cut the non-working, the tattered, and the tired from the herd as you put away holiday decorations. Has-been decor items can be recycled or donated; stained linens can be repurposed as cleaning cloths.

Streamline holiday decorating next year: sort before you stow!

Post-Christmas Clean-Up

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Ready to ring in a fresh new year? It's New Year's week at the Holiday Grand Plan!

We'll record Christmas memories, prepare for New Year's celebrations, and begin to look ahead to a new start in the new year.

New Year's Week at the Holiday Grand Plan

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All good times must end; it's time to wrap up the Houseworks Holiday Plan and move into an organized New Year.

Sunday sees the arrival of Christmas Day. In the coming week, we’ll tie up the season’s loose ends, make New Year’s resolutions, prepare to store holiday decor, and set the stage for next year’s celebration.

Follow the Houseworks Holiday Plan on Facebook and Twitter to get a jumpstart on the 2011 Houseworks Holiday Plan. See you next year!

New Year's Week Assignments

He's sweet, sassy, and easy enough for children to make: a Candy Cane Reindeer!

Our little Candy Cane Reindeer makes a great craft project for school, scouts, church groups or Secret Santa gifts.

Using candy canes, chenille stems and google eyes from the craft store, Candy Cane Reindeer make great stocking stuffers--or add them to holiday gift wrap for a sweet touch!

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By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

Count your blessings with Christmas Blessings Mix! Small bags of snack mix, each ingredient reminds us of a holiday blessing.

Bagged in favor-sized gift bags and decorated with a holiday poem, Christmas Blessings Mix brings a festive touch to your Christmas celebrations.

Share them with church friends, co-workers or family for a meaningful gift.

We make it easy to create Christmas Blessings Mix with a Blessing Mix tutorial and free printable gift tags and bag toppers with the Christmas Blessing Mix poem.

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Time to celebrate! The height of the season is here, so draw close to family and friends in your clean and organized home.

This last week before Christmas, only minimum maintenance is needed in the house.

Holiday prep centers on those few chores needed to make a smooth move between Christmas and the New Year. Season's greetings!

Celebration Week Assignments

Welcome to Week Seventeen, Maintenance Week Two in the Holiday Grand Plan.

Nearly there! This week, finish up any last-minute chores as we enter the height of the holiday season. Only minimum maintenance needed in this last Maintenance Week before Christmas.

Celebrate Week at the Holiday Grand Plan

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By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

Santa knows if you've been naughty or nice, so what does he leave for naughty little girls and boys? Reindeer Poop!

A silly stocking stuffer (of dubious taste!), Reindeer Poop is easy to make with this simple recipe, Reindeer Poop poem, and free printable Reindeer Poop gift tags.

Mix up a batch today to get a seasonal giggle from coworkers or family members.

Reindeer Poop Recipe

To make Reindeer Poop, place a handful of malted milk balls or chocolate-covered raisins in a zipper food storage bag or decorated treat bag.

Seal and label with the printable Reindeer Poop gift tag of your choice.

Pre-printed with the Reindeer Poop poem, the tags below will give a professional flair to your handmade holiday gift:

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Making Candy Cane Soup hot chocolate in a cone for holiday gifts?

Make your presentation sparkle with this free printable Candy Cane Soup gift tag.

With a chipper blue color scheme and soothing hot cocoa graphics, it'll dress your handmade holiday gift in seasonal finery.

With six gift tags per page, it's easy to create gifts in multiple for Secret Santa exchanges or teacher gifts.

By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

Ready to give a Christmas spin to a seasonal favorite, Snowman Soup? Try Candy Cane Soup, layered hot chocolate in a cone!

A larger gift than single-packet Snowman Soup, Candy Cane Soup layers three or four servings of hot chocolate mix, fixings and a candy cane packaged in cone-shaped treat bags or disposable cake decorating bags.

Package this family-sized stocking stuffer in gift bags, add to movie gift baskets, or pair with a plate of Christmas cookies for an easy seasonal gift. Choose your favorite printable Candy Cane Soup gift tag to makes your handmade holiday gift sparkle!

Follow the tutorial below to learn to package hot chocolate in a cone for Candy Cane Soup:

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By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

We don't know where we get it, we don't know where it comes from, but lots of us will stumble over this holiday illusion: "There is one right way to celebrate the holiday season!"

This one's sneaky. It comes to us through images, songs and Christmas cards. It rears up between newly married couples, as they try to blend his way and her way and make their own way in the face of competing in-laws.

You'll see it working in tear-in-eye TV commercials: a happy multi-generational family (all in attractive, color-coordinated sweaters) gathers round a flickering fire.

A groaning table sits beyond, crowned with a glistening turkey. Angelic, shining-haired children lean breathlessly on Grandpa's knee. Mom and Grandma trade good-natured looks over their work in the bustling kitchen--and outside, it's snowing in the starlight.

Yeah, right.

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By Cynthia Ewer, Editor
Organized Christmas

Ready to share Yuletide greetings ... with a clever twist? This "We Whisk You A Merry Kissmas" stocking stuffer is a sweet surprise for the chocolate lover in your life!

A homemade Christmas gift, a "Kissmas Whisk" is easy enough for children to make and give--and with ingredients from the dollar store, it's inexpensive to make.

Makes a great teacher gift, stocking stuffer or office Secret Santa present.

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We're nearly there! Holiday parties, cooking and a growing sense of excitement mark this week before Christmas.

Around the house, only minimum maintenance is needed this week.

The week's holiday prep checklist includes the last few chores to get ready for the big day.

Are you ready? A clean and organized home for the holiday season!

Nearly There Week Assignments

Christmas is on the horizon and the season has begun with a bang: it's Maintenance Week! Week Sixteen of the Holiday Grand Plan should see holiday preparations coming to an end--and a clean and organized home, ready for the celebration.

Are we having fun yet? Only minimum maintenance needed this week as we bring preparations to the finish and enjoy the holiday.

Maintenance Week at the Holiday Grand Plan

Holiday Grand Plan: Maintenance Week

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