Shopping, wrapping, Christmas cards mailed, parties to go to, parties to host, baking Christmas sweets, children's activities...and fit that all into two weeks!
Okay, first of all, if you haven't mailed your Christmas cards do it this weekend.
Next, spend some time this weekend finishing (or buying) your Christmas baking.
Teacher's presents must be ready to give this week as do any gifts from your children to school friends.
Spend a few minutes updating and checking your calendar for the next two weeks; fit in shopping and wrapping but also make sure you add in some relaxing time for you and your family and/or friends.
This weekend (that would be TODAY) and next weekend are all that's left for shopping time. Consider late night shopping with a well planned list and an idea of where you need to shop.
GO GO GO!
Oops, I mean...
HO HO HO!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Countdown to Christmas
38 days to Christmas!
According to the 'Countdown Lists' you should have already written a master plan...
What do want your Christmas Season to look like? Do you want to be wrapping presents at midnight on Christmas Eve or enjoying a nice bevvie and friends? Is your Christmas wish to spend the holidays with friends or family...at your house or theirs? When? Are you hosting a party, if so who's coming and what are you serving? When to do the shopping? Cleaning? etc etc etc etc etc...
First, fill in your calendar with parties you've already RSVP'd to, family gatherings, traditional plans, dates open to family activities (Christmas train, visit to Grouse Mountain for ice skating, shopping for a tree...). Now look at each one; do you need an new outfit? Hairdo? Hostess gift?
Second, budget. Choose a number, a dollar figure that you're comfortable spending this season. Think of different areas that you're likely to spend in the next month-
~Decorations & tree
~Parties
~Travel (gas, hotel, airplane, food on the road)
~Gifts and gift wrap
~Christmas meals
~Holiday baking
~Holiday activities
~Family trips or activities
Do your best to use cash for everything to ease the pain on January 1st; also keep in mind that everything will likely be up to 20% more than you've budgetted for.
Third, keep you waistline in mind. Plan a workout schedule. Even if it's only a walk and coffee with a friend instead of coffee and muffin.
More to come...
According to the 'Countdown Lists' you should have already written a master plan...
What do want your Christmas Season to look like? Do you want to be wrapping presents at midnight on Christmas Eve or enjoying a nice bevvie and friends? Is your Christmas wish to spend the holidays with friends or family...at your house or theirs? When? Are you hosting a party, if so who's coming and what are you serving? When to do the shopping? Cleaning? etc etc etc etc etc...
First, fill in your calendar with parties you've already RSVP'd to, family gatherings, traditional plans, dates open to family activities (Christmas train, visit to Grouse Mountain for ice skating, shopping for a tree...). Now look at each one; do you need an new outfit? Hairdo? Hostess gift?
Second, budget. Choose a number, a dollar figure that you're comfortable spending this season. Think of different areas that you're likely to spend in the next month-
~Decorations & tree
~Parties
~Travel (gas, hotel, airplane, food on the road)
~Gifts and gift wrap
~Christmas meals
~Holiday baking
~Holiday activities
~Family trips or activities
Do your best to use cash for everything to ease the pain on January 1st; also keep in mind that everything will likely be up to 20% more than you've budgetted for.
Third, keep you waistline in mind. Plan a workout schedule. Even if it's only a walk and coffee with a friend instead of coffee and muffin.
More to come...
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Autumn madness
Thank goodness September is over, what a busy month! For me, it was alot of changes in routine and schedules.
Everyone is different but sitting down at the beginning of each week and making a list of what you want / need to accomplish in the week is a great start. Then plan each day and slot in appointments, meetings, etc for each family member that you're responsible for. Last but not least, don't forget planning meals! Preparation will make all the difference to your sanity at the end of each busy day.
Well, there is one more very important detail to schedule...time for yourself! Coffee with friends, a long walk, exercise, time to curl up with a book...whatever your pleasure is make sure you schedule it to make sure it happens!
Have a great start to October!
Everyone is different but sitting down at the beginning of each week and making a list of what you want / need to accomplish in the week is a great start. Then plan each day and slot in appointments, meetings, etc for each family member that you're responsible for. Last but not least, don't forget planning meals! Preparation will make all the difference to your sanity at the end of each busy day.
Well, there is one more very important detail to schedule...time for yourself! Coffee with friends, a long walk, exercise, time to curl up with a book...whatever your pleasure is make sure you schedule it to make sure it happens!
Have a great start to October!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
What kind of attitude do you have?
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gifted ability, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace from that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play on the one string that we have and this string is, Attitude. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you....We are in charge of our Attitudes.
-- Charles Swindoll
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace from that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play on the one string that we have and this string is, Attitude. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you....We are in charge of our Attitudes.
-- Charles Swindoll
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Mother's Day Special
Four hours of Personal Assistance for the price of two!
Give your wife or mother some time off! Arrange for Car Detailing, Children's Party Organizer, Dry Cleaning Pick Up, Entertainment Arrangements, General Errands, Gift Baskets, Household Shopping, New Parent Service, Party Organizer, Personal Shopper, Seniors Service, Travel Arrangements, Wait Service...If it's not here just ask!
Give your wife or mother some time off! Arrange for Car Detailing, Children's Party Organizer, Dry Cleaning Pick Up, Entertainment Arrangements, General Errands, Gift Baskets, Household Shopping, New Parent Service, Party Organizer, Personal Shopper, Seniors Service, Travel Arrangements, Wait Service...If it's not here just ask!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Keeping The Flame (and Vibe) Alive
Vibe: feeling, flavor, emotional aura
The past few weeks have been so amazing in Vancouver; visitors from all around the world enjoying our beautiful city, the first gold medal won on Canadian soil, and the infectious vibe that has invaded the city.
I’ve spent a number of days around the city, either enjoying Olympic activities or just walking the city and being amazed at the friendliness of other Vancouverites and tourists. Everyone is smiling and chatting to strangers, having a wonderful time. I wasn’t too excited about the Olympics before they started but now I’m a bit sad to see it all end. I keep hearing the word vibe when the city, the crowds and the venues are being described. There really has been such an exciting atmosphere in the city and it will be sad to see it go too.
So, I’ve decided to try to bring that vibe inside. How to bring this positive energy into my house and my life?
How about some basics?
Light - clean those windows and open the blinds, let that sun shine in
Sound - turn on some tunes instead of switching on the TV, find some new blues music maybe.
Scent - candles, herbs, or just cheat and buy a great smelling air freshener.
Color - paint the walls, add some color with some new throw pillows, get creative with some family photos and an art canvas from the craft store.
For me the first step was buying some terra cotta window boxes for the kitchen window and filling them with herbs, I’m hoping the smell with inspire me to enjoy cooking just a little bit more. From there it’s really a decision you need to make. Every moment of your day make an effort to avoid those negative situations and really look for the positive. When encountering negative people, remember that they don’t bring you down– you lower your energy to match theirs instinctively. Instead, when they talk about what they don’t like, ask what they do like and continue to steer the conversation to the positive instead of falling prey to negative vibes.
By keeping our vibes high and our energy positive it will definitely keep this Olympic spirit and vibe going strong!
The past few weeks have been so amazing in Vancouver; visitors from all around the world enjoying our beautiful city, the first gold medal won on Canadian soil, and the infectious vibe that has invaded the city.
I’ve spent a number of days around the city, either enjoying Olympic activities or just walking the city and being amazed at the friendliness of other Vancouverites and tourists. Everyone is smiling and chatting to strangers, having a wonderful time. I wasn’t too excited about the Olympics before they started but now I’m a bit sad to see it all end. I keep hearing the word vibe when the city, the crowds and the venues are being described. There really has been such an exciting atmosphere in the city and it will be sad to see it go too.
So, I’ve decided to try to bring that vibe inside. How to bring this positive energy into my house and my life?
How about some basics?
Light - clean those windows and open the blinds, let that sun shine in
Sound - turn on some tunes instead of switching on the TV, find some new blues music maybe.
Scent - candles, herbs, or just cheat and buy a great smelling air freshener.
Color - paint the walls, add some color with some new throw pillows, get creative with some family photos and an art canvas from the craft store.
For me the first step was buying some terra cotta window boxes for the kitchen window and filling them with herbs, I’m hoping the smell with inspire me to enjoy cooking just a little bit more. From there it’s really a decision you need to make. Every moment of your day make an effort to avoid those negative situations and really look for the positive. When encountering negative people, remember that they don’t bring you down– you lower your energy to match theirs instinctively. Instead, when they talk about what they don’t like, ask what they do like and continue to steer the conversation to the positive instead of falling prey to negative vibes.
By keeping our vibes high and our energy positive it will definitely keep this Olympic spirit and vibe going strong!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Organizational tool for your home
I just found the ultimate home organization website... www.KnowYourStuff.org . A great way to categorize and list all your possessions. You can categorize by room and even download photos! Here is a place that you can create a free online database of all your possessions and access it anytime, anywhere. Some great features of www.KnowYourStuff.org include:
1. Organize your possessions by room or category
2. View reports that you can easily export
3. Create an inventory calendar so you can schedule maintenance and organizational tasks.
This is a great tool to get organized!
1. Organize your possessions by room or category
2. View reports that you can easily export
3. Create an inventory calendar so you can schedule maintenance and organizational tasks.
This is a great tool to get organized!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Plans to improve
“Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.”
Colin Powell
If you want to make a change in your life recruit some friends to help you succeed. By surrounding yourself with friends who will help keep you on track you increase your chance to succeed. Whether it be organizing your home or getting in shape, people of a like mind will only help.
Whatever your goal may be write it down, then break it down into do-able parts with time guidelines. Next, share it with at least two friends and make a pact that you're accountable to them for this success. Check in periodically, maybe once a week over coffee (something to look forward to) and have predetermined goals for each meeting. Knowing that you're accountable to someone else will make it much harder to give yourself excuses for your lapses! Good luck!
Colin Powell
If you want to make a change in your life recruit some friends to help you succeed. By surrounding yourself with friends who will help keep you on track you increase your chance to succeed. Whether it be organizing your home or getting in shape, people of a like mind will only help.
Whatever your goal may be write it down, then break it down into do-able parts with time guidelines. Next, share it with at least two friends and make a pact that you're accountable to them for this success. Check in periodically, maybe once a week over coffee (something to look forward to) and have predetermined goals for each meeting. Knowing that you're accountable to someone else will make it much harder to give yourself excuses for your lapses! Good luck!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Decluttering your home
Do you always have pockets of clutter in your home? Certain areas that always seem to have a pile of mail, papers, bits and pieces? It can feel overwhelming, where to start? Take just a few minutes each day to declutter the main living spaces, use the time while the kettle boils or the coffee is brewing.
Are you a purger or a saver? I'm a purger and my Mom's a saver, you can tell the difference by what you have stored...me, I have kids craft supplies, camping gear, summer toys..you get the idea. My Mom...she has pine cones...in a box, really! She's had them for years. Purging for her is almost painful whereas for me it's cathartic. Unfortunately for me my daughter seems to be a saver also!
If it's hard for you to let go of larger items that you know in your heart you'll never use again, donate them. It'll make it easier for you to let it go.
Start small and you'll see the results! You'll feel so good in your newly decluttered rooms that you'll get inspired to start on the other rooms.
Are you a purger or a saver? I'm a purger and my Mom's a saver, you can tell the difference by what you have stored...me, I have kids craft supplies, camping gear, summer toys..you get the idea. My Mom...she has pine cones...in a box, really! She's had them for years. Purging for her is almost painful whereas for me it's cathartic. Unfortunately for me my daughter seems to be a saver also!
If it's hard for you to let go of larger items that you know in your heart you'll never use again, donate them. It'll make it easier for you to let it go.
Start small and you'll see the results! You'll feel so good in your newly decluttered rooms that you'll get inspired to start on the other rooms.