Have you taken down your holiday decorations yet?  Or do you prefer to wait until after the New Year?  We like to keep ours up until around the first or second week of January.  Whatever your tradition is, it’s always nice to have a proper organizational system for returning the decorations to their storage space. 

Returning items to their storage containers should be quick and easy if you have a good system.  It’s a great idea to have clearly labeled Christmas storage containers  for specific items, e.g. wreath box, miniature lights container, garland containers, tree ornament containers, etc. 

It is not recommended that you store holiday decorations, or any long term storage items, in cardboard boxes.  Cardboard attracts bugs and usually fall apart over time. As you are shopping for holiday organizers, consider color coding your storage.  Whether your Christmas decorations are stored inside a closet, in the basement or up in the attic, color coding makes sense. For the holidays, typical colors include red, green and gold, so it makes sense to have your holiday decorations inside holiday colored containers.

If you decide to organize your long term storage by color coding, don’t get lazy and start using holiday colored containers for non-holiday items, otherwise you’ll end up frustrated and confused when you open up a red and green container next year to find the extra bed linens you had been searching for a few months before!   Happy New Year!

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer, speaker and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007 and is presently the “Ask the Organizer” expert. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops and group presentations. Jacquie is also the author of Take Control of Your Clutter Before it Takes Control of You: 101 Tips to Success.  Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips at www.castawaytheclutter.com

It’s Christmas Eve and we’re counting down the hours to the big day!  If your house is on Santa’s list to visit tonight, don’t forget to leave him some milk and cookies! 

If your cookies are homemade, make an extra batch of cookies to eat as a treat on Christmas day or during the holiday period.  You’ll also want to be sure that your cookies stay fresh by storing them in either a plastic food storage container or cookie jar.   Cookie jars are great because they are decorative enough to leave on the countertop.  Cookie jars also come in a wide range of sizes, designs and styles. 

The following cookie jars are also multi-purpose containers because they include salt and pepper shakers!  These cookie jars are great space savers and can be an excellent solution for homeowners with minimal counter space.   
If you prefer the charm and simplicity of ceramic kitchen canisters, pick your favorite color and purchase a set of three.  Kitchen canisters can be used, not only store cookies, but to store sugar, coffee, tea and flour.

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer, speaker and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007 and is presently the “Ask the Organizer” expert. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops and group presentations. Jacquie also writes a column at the Baltimore Examiner, called Organized Families.  Contact Jacquie by clicking here. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips and learn more about her presentations at www.castawaytheclutter.com

All canisters and cookie jars can be found online at Home Storage Warehouse.

With a little over a week before Christmas day, last minute shoppers will be crowding the shopping malls this weekend trying to find the perfect gift.  Sometimes it’s just easier to save time and shop online.   Even though you may pay a little for shipping, you are less likely to impulse shop as much as when you shop in a physical store, saving you money in the long run.

Many online stores have special shipping deals and guarantee delivery by December 24th if you get your orders in now and select overnight or 2nd day shipping.  However, it’s important to check the store’s policy first before placing your order.  Sometimes a quick phone call or email will get you the answer you need in order to avoid disappointment. 

If shopping at the last minute creates undue stress for you, make a decision today to be more organized next year by planning your holiday shopping earlier!  Here are some gift ideas from Home Storage Warehouse :

All of the above gift items can be found in the following departments at Home Storage Warehouse:

All Occasion Gifts
Jewelry Storage
Men’s Dresser Valets
Cosmetic Organizers
Pet Organizers
Wine Storage

Another option is to purchase gift certificates.  Gift certificates can be shipped quickly and are usually always in stock.

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer, speaker and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007 and is presently the “Ask the Organizer” expert. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops and group presentations. Jacquie also writes a column at the Baltimore Examiner, called Organized Families.  Contact Jacquie by clicking here. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips and learn more about her presentations at www.castawaytheclutter.com

Jewelry boxes can be a special place for young girls to store and organize their jewelry, trinkets and valued possessions.  Many jewelry boxes are adorned with pretty pink ballerina designs that most girls will love. The fact that jewelry boxes are also functional and keeps their jewelry organized is a plus, but it’s not usually why girls love them!

A jewelry box, that is also musical, can be a special gift that any young girl would love.  If she loves ballerinas, there are many ballerina musical jewelry boxes to choose from.  I remember having a musical jewelry box as a child and it was something that I cherished for many years. I loved watching the ballerina spin as the music played. 

If you want to give a gift that your daughter or grand-daughter enjoy for many years to come, consider getting a musical jewelry box.  Click here to learn more about these girls jewelry gift boxes. 

Typically, most holiday parties are done in buffet style due to the large quantity of guests being served.  Being able to bake, cook and display buffet style also gives the host more time to actually spend enjoying her party and guests, and less time in the kitchen. 

To maximize the space on the dining or buffet table and also provide visual interest, use servers or caddies that are stacked vertically.  By using the vertical space, you will use less horizontal space, allowing you to get more food on the table, while eliminating a cluttered or cramped look.  You can find caddy serveware that hold sauces or dips, and plate caddies that elegantly display guest plates using wrought iron or metal holders. 

Getting everything organized for a holiday party, including decluttering surfaces and spaces, tidying, cleaning and decorating, can be stressful enough without the worries of how you’re going to get everything on the table.   Elegant iron serveware can make the simplest food appear fancy!

Plate caddy server

3 tray iron caddy

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer, speaker and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007 and is presently the “Ask the Organizer” expert. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops and group presentations. Jacquie also writes a column at the Baltimore Examiner, called Organized Families.  Contact Jacquie by clicking here. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips and learn more about her presentations at www.castawaytheclutter.com

Do you sometimes struggle trying to find interesting holiday gifts to give every year?  Searching for gift ideas can be time consuming and exhausting.  Yet, almost everyone has a wine lover on their Christmas or Holiday gift list, so why not give them a gift that they’ll appreciate and enjoy for years to come?

There are so many different wine organizers and accessories that will be happily received as gifts, because most people may not always think to buy them for themselves.  They can be used everyday or for entertaining and special occasions.   You could bring one as a housewarming or hostess gift when attending a holiday party this season, or simply buy one for your own home. 

The following wine bottle holders are unique, yet practical and fun and are also great conversation starters!  As you browse each wine holder, think of someone on your list who has a similar interest.

  
Click here to shop for all wine bottle holders and wine accessories.  Gift certificates are also available.

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer, speaker and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007 and is presently the “Ask the Organizer” expert. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops and group presentations. Jacquie also writes a column at the Baltimore Examiner, called Organized Families.  Contact Jacquie by clicking here. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips and learn more about her presentations at www.castawaytheclutter.com

Do the boxes and containers storing your holiday decorations blend in with everything else in your attic or basement, resulting in confusion as you sort through various unrelated items when it’s time to trim the tree? This year, instead of storing your lights, ornaments, knick-knacks and garland in cardboard boxes, invest in containers especially designed for holiday décor.

What’s great about these specialty containers is that they are usually trimmed with red, green or gold and are specially shaped or sized for most holiday décor. Some even include organized dividers for smaller ornaments and breakables. You can find organizers for almost any holiday décor, including tree ornaments, gift wrap and wreaths.  Here are a few to consider:

Find these and more at http://www.homestoragewarehouse.com/holiday-organizers-c-221_307.html

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she teaches homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers Time Management workshops to businesses to maximize productivity.  Jacquie can be reached at jacquie@castawaytheclutter.com. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips at www.castawaytheclutter.com.

A classic picture of Christmas is a group of holiday stockings hung by the fireplace. It is also a wonderful family tradition. It’s so much fun to see the excitement in a child’s face as they learn what Santa has hidden for them on Christmas morning, in their own personal stocking!

Christmas stockings aren’t only for children!  Every member can have their own. Stockings can be filled with fun, whimsical or sensible gifts, or simply filled with candy. For your organizationally challenged family member, consider including a gift that can help them stay organized. Don’t know what to give?  Here are a few stocking filler ideas with an organizational twist:

 Click here to shop for these and other holiday organizing gift ideas and products.

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she teaches homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers Time Management workshops to businesses to maximize productivity.  Jacquie can be reached at jacquie@castawaytheclutter.com. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips at www.castawaytheclutter.com.

Now that Thanksgiving is over and you’ve recovered from the overcrowded Black Friday sales, it’s time to get ready for the party you’ve been planning to have this holiday season. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your menu and decorate your home for the holidays. However, before you decorate, you may need to declutter! Now is the perfect time to take a good look at your home and decide on how you would like things arranged and organized on the big day. Unless you’re fortunate to have abundant space, you may need to move some things around and even remove some items to accommodate all of your guests. Here are a few tips to get organized as you approach the day of your holiday party:

1.       Mail your invitations 2-4 weeks before the party

2.       Plan your menu at least 2 weeks before the party

3.       Begin decluttering your entertaining areas, one space at a time

4.       Make sure you have enough serving platters and an area to serve beverages

5.       If families are invited, clear an area for children, so that they feel comfortable

6.       Decide on furniture arrangement before the day of the party

7.       Decorate your home for the holidays for a festive touch

8.       Follow-up with guests who have not responded at least 4 days before the party

9.      Begin preparing menu items that can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.    You’ll be so glad you did!

On the day of the party, if you were able to get most of these tasks done, you’ll feel far more organized and ready for your guests.  Click here to see some kitchen and bar organizers for entertaining.

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she teaches homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers Time Management workshops to businesses to maximize productivity.  Jacquie can be reached at jacquie@castawaytheclutter.com. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips at www.castawaytheclutter.com.