Welcome 2010! Contemplate these Words of Wisdom as you look forward to the New Year and any resolutions you may make.
Motivation is what gets you started.
Habit is what keeps you going.
~ Jim Rohn
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Simplify the Season – Ho Ho Ho! Put away, here we go!
Just when you thought our series had ended, you find out there’s still more to this Simplifying the Season Adventure! We have reached Dec 26, my friends. Or what I like to call… dun dun dun… The Aftermath.
Whew! Christmas is OVER!
Why do we so often feel like this on Dec 26? We’ve just had a joyous celebration. Everything we planned and worked for is complete. Hopefully there were no major incidents/catastrophes and everyone even got what they wanted!
But then… We look around…
Wrapping. Boxes. Tissue Paper.
New STUFF that needs to find a spot SOMEWHERE in your home.
SO MANY New Year’s resolutions are made to De-clutter! It’s no wonder that January is National GET ORGANIZED MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the twinkle lights a few more days. Breathe deeply and remember the real reason we just celebrated has nothing to do with the clutter at your feet. Let’s just think up a plan:
Step 1 – Make sure there are no gift cards/checks/cash/etc in the gift wrap. You don’t want to lose anything of value.
Step 2 – Discard/Recycle all old gift wrap and packing materials. If you are a re-user, fine – put it ALL away NOW. If you don’t have room with your gift wrap to put it all away, choose the nicest and give the rest to your distant relative to re-use. (I’m just teasing!) What I’m saying is, if your gift wrap stash is already full, you don’t NEED to keep EVERYTHING from this Christmas too. Remember, this is about Simplifying! You can even shred the wrap into strips to use as packing material.
Step 3 – Separate gifts into “whose” piles or “room” piles. (This is a good time to use your empty laundry baskets for sorting.) If you have children you will want to do the piles for each person, most likely. Otherwise you will have piles for rooms of the house where the new gifts will go to live… kitchen, family room, play room, bed room, bathroom, garage…. Donate… return….
Step 4 – When you move these gifts from their piles to their more permanent homes, keep in mind the “one in one out” rule! For every new item that is coming in an old item has to go. Look at existing space. Decide what things you were just gifted that may replace an older item. Decide what things are in the playroom that need to go to make room for newer gifts. Decide what books you can pass on to make more room on your bookshelf. Are you getting the picture?
Step 5 – Donate the old. Cherish the new. Return the unwanted. Remember that many returns expire quickly. If someone was an early shopper and gifted you with an unwanted item, you will need to act fast! I say this with love and sincerity in my heart. Certain people will buy me clothing as gifts… and ALWAYS in the wrong size. While I am flattered that someone thinks I may wear a size Small… ha ha ha… Let’s just say that isn’t going to happen! Act quickly on returns.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Technorati Tags: simplify the season,the aftermath of Christmas,holiday,organize,one in one out rule
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
(Honestly had no idea this was Longfellow!)
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Merry Christmas!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this series and that you have been able to use some things to practically Simplify your Season. This is the last weekend before Christmas, so if you still have things to do, get to it!
I have one more thing to share with you before Christmas. This is the absolute, Number One, MOST important thing I could share with you about Christmas. This THE true meaning of Christmas - celebrating Christ’s birth, so I would like to share Scripture from Luke 2:8-20.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Thank you for joining me this Christmas Season on your journey to Simplify the Season. I look forward to hearing from you about what worked and what didn’t on your Christmas trek to a less complicated/less demanding holiday. May you find time to ponder things in your heart this season as Mary did on that very first Christmas.
Simplify the Season is not quite over yet. Stay tuned and you’ll see what I mean.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
~Author Unknown
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The BEST part of Simplify the Season is HERE!!!
This is quite possibly my favorite part of Simplifying the Season! It’s even better than shopping!!! I promise! Before we go any further I want to remind all of us that it is important to take time for ourselves… especially in this busy season.
For the longest time I thought I didn't have the time to do things just for me. I thought that it was selfish to make time just for me. I am a fairly low maintenance gal. The extra few minutes daily in the shower, wandering through my favorite antique store, or a monthly massage appointment… taking a few evening minutes to read a book or watch (even part) of a movie - all make me better. I'm a better servant, a better spouse, a better mom, a better friend, a whole better me when I do these things.
I’ve even heard from one mom of 4 who locks herself in the bathroom for 10 min with a magazine for a little peace and quiet. Another friend gets super crafty and spends time out with girlfriends scrapping or painting pottery. What is it that you can do that is special for you?
Don't forget about you this Christmas Season. Make a plan. Put it on your calendar. Don’t neglect time for you.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
Christmas waves a magic wand
over this world,
and behold,
everything is softer
and more beautiful.
~Norman Vincent Peale
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Simplify the Season – Wrapping
Thanks for joining us on the journey to Simplify the Season. We're on week 7 of our journey. Can you believe it? It’s DECEMBER! We’re less than 3 weeks away from Christmas. We’ve planned for making family memories with traditions, planned what to bake and when, planned for Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Dinner, and even NEW YEAR’s! We’ve gone shopping, simplified taking portraits and sending cards. Whew! We’ve been busy! Thankfully we’ve been able to do all of this at our own weekly pace. We are ahead of the crowds. This WILL be a Simplified Season. You can do this!
You’ve already shopped. You have all the gifts. How do you get the gifts wrapped and keep it simple? Set up a gift wrap central if you have the space. Many of these ideas will work in just about any space! Whether it is your dining table, spare bedroom, rolling cart, closet, under bed box, (Elli’s annual) folding camp table, Big Orange 5 Gal bucket- get all of your wrap, bags, tissue, ribbons and bows into one space. This will make it easier to wrap gifts quickly, say --- during nap time or Sesame Street? Or maybe, for you, it is the sacred quiet between the time you get home and the time you need to start dinner? My personal choice is thick under the bed type bins that house my gift wrap and ribbons. I am able to balance them across adjacent dining chairs as I carefully wrap all the gifts upon my dining table. I keep extra supplies (like scissors and scotch tape) in the gift wrap bin year round.
After gifts are wrapped you will need a place to stash them. Those needing hand delivery (like teacher gifts) can go into a box/bin in the car – if you have chocolates in there and it is going to be some time before they are delivered, you may need to find a cool dry storage place out of the way in the air conditioning – linen closet or laundry room… or maybe just in the corner BEHIND the tree. Just keep those “gifts on the go” separate from all of the other under the tree gifts… just don’t forget where you have hidden them. If you are likely to forget where you stashed them, make a note in your agenda/planner/PDA.
A note on keeping gifts separate….
· Wrap each person’s gift with a different wrap.
Snowmen for Sarah and Santa for Alex. This is especially useful if you have more than one child and do not want them peeking at their gifts. They will not know which ones to open!
· Wrap to go gifts in a different wrap than gifts that are to be opened at home.
If “home” gifts are in red wrap, then “to go” gifts are in green… it is easy to spot what needs to be packed up from under the tree.
What are my other handy gift-wrapping ideas for you?
- Some people need portability like bins that can be stashed away between wrapping sessions.
- Others need a permanent set up (like in the corner of the laundry room).
- Many moms need secrecy, like under-bed-storage-boxes that can be used on the bedroom floor and then stashed away quickly.
- Wrap while they nap, if you can.
- Sesame Street is a good hour of uninterrupted fun in our house! (Just make sure you start finishing up when you hear the Elmo’s World Theme!) Find your source of uninterrupted fun time and go!
What other ideas do you have for Gift Wrap Central, my friends?
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year.
~Charles Dickens
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Nov 29 – Simplify the Season – Portraits and Cards
Welcome to week SIX!! Can you believe we’ve made it this far together? I trust your Thanksgiving was filled with Turkey and family.
Wasn’t shopping so much fun?! What could possibly be left to talk about after all that shopping? Well…
Would you like to be able to Simplify the Seasonal Portraits? Schedule the Christmas portraits and Address the Christmas card envelopes early. Early, as in, the first week of December. Which is NOW!!! When scheduling portraits keep the time of day in mind.
It is ok if you cheat - like me - and have photo cards made which come with envelopes so that you don’t have to buy actual Christmas cards -- in that case, just make a list of card recipients. You can go one step further and make labels if you're super savvy. (Note: If you are planning to write a Christmas Letter, keep that in mind for addressing envelopes. You will not need card shaped envelopes. You will need letter sized envelopes. Wallet-sized photos will still fit nicely into letter sized envelopes.) And write that Christmas letter now. Keep in mind that office supply stores have envelopes in all different sizes. If you are crafty enough to make your own cards or in need of some extra envelopes, this is a great thing to remember.
I made a HUGE mistake when buying my own Christmas Cards this year. I did not notice that the envelopes are metallic silver. While pretty, even the Sharpie marker doesn’t show well. These will not be mailed, but will be used as cards we hand out.
Remember: addressing Christmas Cards can be done in the carpool lane or while watching a movie. Another way to build relationships this Christmas season is to have a card addressing party with your friends. You don’t even need a big kitchen for that! So you think your home is too unacceptable for a group? Meet at the local coffee shop for coffee and addressing cards. Do you sense my idea here is to include those you love in the tasks that you all must do? I knew you were catching on!
As soon as you have your portrait appointment, think about clothing choices for ALL who are going to be in the pictures. I am famous for dressing my son and husband well and realizing at the last minute that I put all of my effort into them. Think on this also: shoes often show in these pictures. I am not saying that you have to wear your finest dress shoes. But make sure what shoes you do choose (and that your children choose) are clean.
Here’s a rundown for you on this busy week:
Call to schedule portraits.
Plan wardrobes for all involved.
Make a list of card recipients.
Be sure you have proper addresses.
Buy stamps.
Get tasks done.
Have fun!
Feel free to share your thoughts on Portraits, Christmas Cards, New Years Cards, and the "family newsletter"… or any other randomness that you feel like sharing with us as we Simplify the Season!
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
The lucky winner of the Paula Deen…
is Jane!!!
Congratulations Jane and thanks for Simplifying the Season with us.
The next step is yours, so send your address to my email
(j u l i e b a v i a t g m a i l d o t c o m) and Paula will be on her way to see you!
Happy Thanksgiving weekend everyone! Enjoy those Turkey leftovers!
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Nov 25 - Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
It is Christmas in the heart
that puts Christmas in the air.
~W.T. Ellis
I thought this was appropriate as we are exactly one month away from Christmas Day.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Simplify the Season – Shopping Part Two
Still no luck even with the gift finders? Get a gift card. Make it personal. Think about the recipient's tastes on this one. For example, if the recipient is a luddite, a gift card for an electronic or computer store is probably not the best idea; however a restaurant gift card for that uncle who enjoys fine dining - a gift card to Aunt Emma's favorite boutique (I promise she’ll appreciate it much more than another frog)- some movie passes for the college student - and a bookstore gift card for the reader whose favorite author will be releasing a book past your holiday celebration deadline – all great ideas. Simple pairings make them personal by adding on some simple and inexpensive “tags” - a bag coffee candy (or bag of truffles) with a coffee shop card, a bookmark with a book store card, a bag of candy with the movie card. Now you’re thinking outside of the gift card envelope!!
As a family, we love to be generous and give to others, especially during the holidays. We try to Simplify our Season by only purchasing two gifts for our child. There are things that we would rather spend DOING with him than GIFTING (plastic toys) to him. We usually choose a small gift and a large gift. I also use this time to set up traditions. He gets an ornament every year and Christmas/winter themed pajamas. Those types of things are what I want him to have. They are necessarily things he would choose, so I do not consider them gifts. We have Christmas pictures taken. We usually choose a charity to give to - adopting an angel from the angel tree or filling a shoe box (or three) for Samaritan’s Purse, donating to Toys For Tots.
I have a friend who gives their four children each three gifts as a reminder of the three gifts of the magi.
When you are shopping, keep in mind that you are going to stay the course and have a Simplified Season.
Overbuying on gifts creates a post-holiday clutter problem for all of those who receive the overabundance of gifts. Shop smart.
Experiential gifts-passes to a theme park,the zoo, theatre tickets- are also a great way to keep the clutter at bay.
One final note on shopping. Let’s not forget about on-line shopping to save time and gas money. This is especially great if you can find FREE SHIPPING options. Some sites (like WalMart.com) will even let you ship to the store nearest you for free.
This week brings us a giveaway! I know that we’ve already talked about baking, but for those of you who are Paula Deen fans check out Paula Deen’s Holiday Baking! Not only does it have 155 recipes, tips, and ideas – it has gorgeous pictures, y’all! My mouth waters when I’m just flipping through it. It can be yours for free, just follow along with us.
Ways to enter the giveaway:
1. TWEET about Simplify the Season (be sure to include @juliebavi in your tweet!)
2. LEAVE COMMENTS on the blog this week and next week
3. Join our Facebook fan page
4. Invite friends to join us on Facebook
5. Leave comments on our Facebook fan page
Make sure to check back on Fri Dec 4 to find out if you are the winner!
Enjoy Thanksgiving with your family this week. Next weekend we’re going to talk about Christmas Pictures. Can that be Simplified? It certainly can!
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.
In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.
~ Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Simplify the Season – Shopping Part One
Welcome back! I am so glad you are choosing to Simplify your season along with us. So far we’ve discussed traditions, baking, party planning, and BOY have we had some fun! Now on to the commercial side of this season… shopping.
Could shopping possibly be a part of a Simplified Season? You betcha!!! And who doesn’t love shopping? I don’t mean the “sharpen your elbows, Black Friday, 3am” kind of shopping. Although if anyone can turn shopping into a contact sport those ladies sure can! Are you one of them? I can’t see this as simplified, only as an odd form of rugby.
My favorite thing about Christmas shopping is finding that PERFECT gift. The gift that you know that the receiver will open and love.
Where do you start?
Make a list of everyone for whom you will need to buy gifts. Include family, friends, neighbors, clients, your child's favorite playmate, service people (school teachers, nursery workers, babysitters, hair dresser, the staff members at an office you frequent regularly, postal worker, barista, whoever!). Even if the gift is "just" a plate of cookies, jot the person down. Great! So, my stress free friend, just by making the list of recipients, you may even get some gift ideas. Hooray for you! With just a little advanced planning, you are well on your way to a stress free Christmas Celebration.
Think about that list of people. Do you have to buy gifts for people whom you hardly know. Whether it is a brother-in-law or a boss, this can be a daunting task. Do you end up spending hours wandering the malls and marts to try to find that special gift that will please the recipient? Look no more I have the answer!
But first... THINK about giving “clutter free” gifts. For example, Aunt Emma – maker of the great sweet potatoes- may love frog figurines. BUT she probably has enough to fill her house and yours. So instead of giving Aunt Emma one more frog related gift, let's find something she could actually use. Instead of just giving one more generic bath set -- know the giftee. Find out if they have a favorite brand or scent and go with that. Novel concept? You betcha! Have I stepped on any toes yet? Probably. Sorry, we’re simplifying!!!
Where can you find unique gift ideas for everyone on your gift list (including you!)?
I call this the Ultimate gift finder. It is totally free to use. It will scour the internet (the WHOLE internet) for unique gift choices just for you. All you have to do is fill in a minor detail or two (gender, age, interests, occasion) about the gift recipient. The personality profiler is an amazing tool! Another perk of using this site is that you can get ideas without making a commitment. You can even go to the retailer sites from the gifts.com site and find more ideas! (Yes, it helps me find gifts for my "hard to shop for" brother-in-law year after year.) Aunt Emma will thank you.
Are you a parent or a grandparent (or an aunt) looking for toys for the tot in your life? Try the search features on www.target.com or www.toysrus.com for age appropriate toy ideas.
I love to hear the unique gifts people find along the way! Leave a comment or send me an e-mail and let me know if gifts.com or the toy finders have worked for you… or at least if you had fun trying it out! Want to have fun for a few minutes? Personality profile YOURSELF on gifts.com What a hoot!!
As you digest all of this, if you’re still feeling stuck, stay tuned. Never fear! We’ll continue shopping next weekend.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
I love the Christmas-tide, and yet,
I notice this, each year I live;
I always like the gifts I get,
But how I love the gifts I give!
~ Carolyn Wells
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Simplify the Season – Party Planning
Thank you for joining me on Week 3 of Simplify the Season. I hope you’re finding the information so far helpful. My hope for you is that you will be breathing easy once the holidays really do get underway. You will be so prepared! If you missed the first two weeks, just click for TRADITIONS or BAKING.
Ok friends, let’s take care of Thanksgiving!
Where shall we start? Let’s clean out the fridge and pantry. WHAT?! You heard right! Get rid of any old, stale, expired, and “we’re never going to eat this” foods. This gives you an idea of what ingredients you need to buy AND creates space for the wonderful creations you are going to make over the next several weeks. What a way to think and plan ahead, friends!
What next? It is time to make some decisions.
Which family member is hosting this year? Are you having Lunch or dinner? If you're the hostess, make a list of dishes to be prepared and dole out the responsibility! That's right. Let Aunt Emma make the sweet potatoes. That not only frees you up from cooking an extra dish here and there – let’s face it you can still cook your favorites-- it allows everyone to be a part of the celebration. It makes people feel welcomed and included when they are able to make an old favorite or try a new recipe. You may want to let the less experienced/less willing cook stick with being the ICE BRINGER. It is an important role.
How can you possibly keep all of the foods to make and guests who are coming and what they are making organized???
Option One - You COULD make a simple list. Take a sheet of paper. Fold it in half long ways to make two columns. In the left column: write guest name. In the right column: food/drinks that guest is bringing.
Option Two - This can also be accomplished by using a spreadsheet, if you want a cleaner look. Column 1: enter guest name. Column 2: enter food/drinks that guest is bringing.
If you have family coming in for the holiday the night before, would you like a great idea for what to feed these weary travelers? Wouldn’t you like it to be simple? How about an easy crock-pot stew, chili, or spaghetti? It will stay warm if traffic or a flight causes a delay… Plus it is GREAT leftover.
Keep these same things in mind when planning your Christmas dinner! Look at that! You just moved a month ahead of the game! Woo-hoo!
Since we’re talking about food… and we have taken care of Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Dinner, and feeding guests arriving from out of town… We may as well FAST FORWARD to New Year’s planning. No worries! We’re not done with Simplifying the Whole Season just yet. We’re just skipping ahead for a moment. New Year’s Eve is typically a time for parties with welcoming a new year in excitement and anticipation.
And it’s busy!!!
Consider hosing a New Year’s Day brunch with traditional good luck foods. New Year’s Day is still hectic for you and your family?
Consider hosting a party later in Jan if you must host. Three Kings Day is a wonderful celebration to share with friends. Does that still seem too soon?
Well, know that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
"I like spring, but it is too young.
I like summer, but it is too proud.
So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower,
its colours are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow.
Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring,
nor the power of summer,
but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age.
It knows the limitations of life and its content.
From a knowledge of those limitations and its richness of experience
emerges a symphony of colours, richer than all,
its green speaking of life and strength,
its orange speaking of golden content and
its purple of resignation and death."
~ Lin Yutang
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Simplify the Season – Baking :)
Last week we started out by talking about traditions. If you missed it, you can catch up with us by clicking HERE.
Week 2 is upon us and what a great time to talk about Baking! Before you rush out and buy lots of ingredients because they sound festive or look like what mom bought. Before you have a chance to pull out 10,000 cookbooks and reminisce about recipes that you KNOW you will not have the time to make. BEFORE the holidays are actually UPON us and you feel like you are drowning in commitments. (Let’s face it, no matter how much you prepare, something will come up.) Let’s PLAN.
Pick a couple of favorites and do them. It’s hectic trying to bake 7 or even 5 DIFFERENT goodies.
Schedule time – whether you do a little of prep/baking over the course of several days or you spend one huge weekend in the kitchen… PLAN IT. On the calendar. In pen. Say it is so.
Consider Baking with a friend. Each pick 2 goodies to make. Double the recipe to make twice as much as you usually would. Then split. Not only do you have more goodies to go around, you are building in fellowship with friends during an especially busy time of year. You’re also investing time in a fellow human being, which lets them know that they are important!
Even if you only bake one item with a friend, that is one less item you are baking alone, and one more relationship you have invested into.
When you’re baking at home, remember that even little (washed!) hands can help. It’s important to invest in those littlest hands as often as we can!
I used to LOVE baking with my mom. When I first moved to Jacksonville I missed that, but I started holiday baking with a good friend. At the time I was single and in college; she had 3 kids under the age of 5. We created lots of happy memories by learning about and investing in each other’s lives.
Have you have chosen WHEN you are going to bake and WHAT you are going to bake? Great! Make a list of ingredients you will need to purchase to do your baking. Now is the perfect time to inventory your spices. Old spices tend to lose flavor. If they don’t SMELL like their intended spice, they won’t TASTE like it either.
This week’s message to you, friend: DO NOT go overboard! Use your time wisely this season.
(I guess that’s actually two messages. It was worth it!)
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.
It's a way to live.
~ Jackie Windspear
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Technorati Tags: Simplify the Season
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Simplify the Season - Traditions
October is almost over! Elli excitedly guessed right last week; today is the day we start (drum roll, please!) Simplify the Season!!!
Whether you are brand new with us this year, or have been following along with Simplify the Season for the past TWO years, you will find new topics and ideas to help you stay organized this Christmas. I am a big believer in using a spreadsheet system to hold all of this data. One file with multiple sheets (one per topic) should keep you in step for a simple holiday. Not super computer confident? That's ok too. Grab a pretty notebook (or a plain old legal pad) and join us.
This is our plan by the week. Try to keep up. If you fall behind or join us late just keep on moving forward. Skip what isn't relevant to you. Use the comment section (or e-mail me juliebavi@gmail.com) with questions and suggestions. Get involved and let's have fun!!!!!!!!
There are all sorts of local events from festivals to school plays to participate in this time of year. That makes November and December even more hectic because we’re trying to fit in all this family favorite extra stuff on top of our normal life schedules and it is just too overwhelming so STOP. Stop right there. Talk with your family about the favorite NO MISS events for this season. Locally we have Winter Wonderland, Trolley Tours, lighted boat parades, church pageants, school concerts, ballet performances, live nativities, symphony… the list goes on and on. Sit down with your family calendar. Map out all of your normal every day obligations and PLAN for some fun time seasonal outings.
What are some of your favorite Christmas time traditions??
I’ve done a poll and enjoyed receiving these responses:
- trimming the tree
- baking
- caroling
- taking cookies to firemen, neighbors, shut-ins
- going on trips
- hosting/attending parties
Whether your family favorites are simple (caroling your neighborhood) or extravagant (going to the Nutcracker!) it is easy to feel discombobulated at the vast array of demands. Make some smart choices now.
My most remembered childhood tradition is attending the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with my family. Afterwards, Dad would drive around (ostensibly to make us sleepy) while we watched all the wondrous twinkling Christmas light displays. We would go home and excitedly open one Christmas Eve present. Then we hurried off to bed where we would lay awake and listen for Santa… until the vision of sugarplum fairies took over.
ENJOY making traditions with your family. Don’t let this be the season of over-obligated, hustle and bustle. Choose family favorites together and schedule for them now.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Words of Wisdom Wednesday
"One cannot collect all the shells on the beach.
One can collect only a few,
and they are more beautiful because they are few."
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Perfect thought for what feels like the end of summer.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The 100th Post!
Apparently there is a tradition among bloggers to post a “100 list” for their 100th post. This is my 100th post. Here is my list.
100 things about ME: on chores, life, and being a grown-up.
- If I do not fold the laundry at the dryer as I am taking it out of the dryer. It will not get done.
- I must write all things in the almighty planner. If it isn’t scheduled it, it doesn’t get done.
- I am a fan of lists.
- I love autumn. We don’t get much FALL here in Florida, but it’s still my favorite time of year. (Great weekend, huh locals?)
- Just because I am an adult and can choose to eat what I want, when I want does not mean I shouldn’t make smart choices.
- My husband has discovered my very rational need to have a wide variety of gift wrap (and accoutrement). The only hitch is that he does not see it as rationally as I do.
- I don’t trust easily.
- Friends are important in daily life. (Thank you friends!)
- Sometimes it is more important to spend the morning at the beach than it is to clean the house.
- Insomnia can be productive.
- I get more excited about Christmas than my child.
- I love massages.
- I severely dislike working out.
- I can bake Wheat Free/Dairy Free foods that taste good!
- My favorite color is green.
- I like things tidy.
- I have passed this NEED for tidiness onto my child.
- Words of Wisdom Wednesday is a great part of my week.
- I’m funny!
- I seldom wear jewelry.
- I have a weakness for chocolate.
- … and ice cream.
- … and baked goods. ;)
- I love Coca-Cola.
- Coffee, I can take or leave.
- I take my coffee as 2/3 coffee, 1/3 dairy, and 3 sugars.
- I usually drink decaf to make up for the amount of sugar.
- Of course we all know that “Caffeinated Julie is FUN Julie!”
- Legal addictive stimulants are the heart and soul of most Americans… including myself.
- I’m patriotic.
- I’m mostly an indoor kind of girl.
- I LOVE the ocean.
- I have been a professional organizer since July 2007.
- I have been a mom since February 2005.
- I have been married since April 2001.
- I have been God’s girl since July 1991.
- I don’t have a favorite meal.
- My favorite restaurant is Carrabba’s at 9A/Baymeadows.
- I find social networking sites slightly addicting. :)
- God is my refuge,
- my joy,
- and my strength.
- I name my cars.
- I’m on car #3. (Sheldon)
- I totaled the first car I ever owned. (Stefan)
- The second car I ever owned was stolen. Then returned. Then sold. (Kelsey)
- I truly miss the show “Gilmore Girls”.
- If I were a television character I would be Lorelei Gilmore.
- I like to travel.
- Sometimes I wish I were Samantha Brown.
- I dream of a NYC vacation.
- Hobby Lobby is my sanctuary.
- It saddens me that the nearest Container Store is in Atlanta.
- It bothers me when people wear sneakers with no socks.
- … even when they’re on tv.
- I wish I knew more about computers.. the hardware side.
- I like to sing.
- Our home is filled with music (and joyful noise) daily.
- I have a very narrow internal thermostat.
- I love to have parties.
- The best gift I have received this year is a fenced in backyard.
- I’m not sure what that says about other gifts I’ve received this year.
- … or about my overall state of general happiness.
- The best sound in the world is my child’s laughter.
- I am raising a happy child.
- I often pick my nail color by looking at the creative name rather than choosing by the shade.
- Can cook.
- Don’t cook.
- I don’t like my foods touching.
- I like fish
- … but not tuna
- … or sushi.
- I believe that contentment is a choice.
- I think I have read every book Charles Martin has written up to this point.
- … My favorite is “The Dead Don’t Dance”.
- It was also the first one I read.
- I’ve had grey hair for 14 years.
- I just had to do math to figure out my real age.
- I don’t eat candy.
- Chocolate is not considered candy in my world.
- I refuse to “Friend” people on Facebook whom I do not know in life. – Which is why Organize With Julie has a FAN page, please join us!
- I celebrate my Birthday for an entire week. Everyone should have such a celebration of LIFE.
- I believe in claiming and living the abundant life.
- On paper, I’m an introvert. (You decide!)
- I like to teach.
- I do believe that whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
- Being a part of Organize With Julie, LLC has been the BEST job ever. (Note: Follow your calling.)
- Being a mom is pretty cool as well.
- I’m curious enough that I will research tiny things of interest until I get closure. (Can my fellow Google Queens relate?)
- I got my first cavity at age 31.
- You now know that I’m over age 31.
- My least favorite chore is ironing.
- I have actually watched all episodes of “Jon and Kate Plus 8”.
- In our home we call this show “Screaming 8 Plus Kate”.
- I talk in my sleep.
- I’m NOT an OCD germ-a-phobe… but I could be.
- I get migraines weekly.
- I do NOT believe it takes a village to raise a child. (I have seen the village.)
- I miss college days. (Go Ospreys!)
- I LOVE “small world” stories. (Stories about degrees of separation between people.)
I hope you enjoyed learning about me. I certainly learned about me as I was compiling this list!
Next week begins “Simplify the Season 2009”!!! I am so excited I could burst; Lots of good things to share this year.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Technorati Tags: professional organizer,100th post,about me,family,craziness,more than you ever wanted to know
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom
Procrastination is Opportunity’s Natural Assassin!
~ Victor Kiam
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Organize With Julie’s Clutter Crusader Chronicles“Simplify the Season 2009” is on the way.
It is newer, bigger, faster, stronger… you get the idea.
Launching soon! Stay tuned!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Room of Chaos Becomes a Place to Learn.
In case you missed this on Tanna Clark’s blog over at Complete Organizing Solutions, this week’s Clutter Crusader Chronicles is a recap of a confession from a professional organizer. I am boldly going to share a BEFORE and AFTER sequence with you from the home of an actual professional organizer. This room was once a wet bar used for entertaining. It then became my office space when I as first starting out. As my son’s art collection and need for a place to creatively create and learn has grown, I have been “kicked out” of my office (which I gladly relinquished!) and he has taken over. I state all of this to let you know that you may have an under-used space in your home that would be perfect for a non-traditional use… like turning a 1980’s wet bar into a school room.
BEFORES:
View of the shelf and Counter top.
Close-up of the Counter Top (aka the hidden clutter).
The art cabinet.
The work/play area.
You aren’t seeing double, the walls are mirrored. (I actually like that feature! It helps me keep an eye on what is going on.) This is our school room. It needed a little attention at the end of summer, as usual. This year that amount of attention was compounded greatly by the face that we spent much of July and August doing renovations. Of course, everything couldn’t be done at once. The walls were completed the same week as half the flooring. The rest of the flooring was installed completely a month later. Everything was in flux for that entire time; I felt like we packed up and moved twice!
If you are saying “Where did you start? It’s so overwhelming!” Well, I’ll show you. It really wasn’t all that bad. It was just a temporary situation.
Counter top: Since that time I have gotten rid of toys and supplies that have been outgrown - like that whole big clear bin of play food for the play kitchen which is no longer played with. The blue plastic handled carry-all, on the right, was how I kept track of our current projects. Since we are doing more of a formal approach to education this year, I set up a 3-tiered desk top file system. All three slots have a purpose - two-week lesson plan rotation and a portfolio of completed work. The blue popcorn tin on the left? It’s not a tin anymore; it is a drum. It has a home with the musical instruments. The green bin (seen in the close up) was supplies that had to be packed up for the painting, etc. I just had to decide where to arrange things so that they could have new homes. You’ll see those lovely glass jars atop the green hutch. Now you can even see (and we can access) the sink. Used for cleaning up paint, Jell-o Art, glue, etc. Have I mentioned yet that our “school room” was actually once a “wet bar”?
Hutch: This hutch has been mine for as long as I can remember. Before it was mine, it belonged to my father’s mother. I have no memory of her. Although it has served many different purposes and been many different colors, it seems to always have a place of usefulness and I LOVE it for that. The games moved onto a shelf in the family room. That leaves more room on that charming green hutch for art supplies! My sweet label maker is out of commission and I’m not super crafty, but I did manage to label all of the clear supply bins. The top of the hutch was once a catch all for “things we don’t want the four year old to reach”. Now look how beautifully the craft supplies are displayed!
Art cabinet: The completed art work was disposed of. (If you read my blog for long you will learn how unsentimental I am. It isn’t heartless. They are only papers.) The stack of books from the top left of the art cabinet photograph are now nicely sorted in a bin on the counter top behind my desktop file system. I can still grab them for easy lesson planning. They are containerized! And the art cabinet now contains supplies for art, sorted and spread out for easy access.
The work/play area. The box of dress up hats has been relocated. Foamies have been corralled. Furniture has been replaced. (Sigh.) All is right with the world!
The new and improved countertop/hutch.
Inside the art cabinet.
Work/Play Area.
Temporary situations can lead to long-term or even permanent clutter issues when they aren’t resolved. If you are feeling stuck, contact a professional organizer near you to help you move forward.
If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie. Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi.
Not only is she graceful, thoughtful and amazing! Tanna Clark is a Professional Organizer and self-proclaimed office supply junkie. She’s the Owner of Complete Organizing Solutions in TN. If you are interested Tanna’s services or have any questions, she would love to hear from you. Contact Tanna at Complete Organizing Solutions by clicking here. You can also find Tanna on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TannaC or @TannaC.
Technorati Tags: home school,organizing is fun!,family,organizing,professional organizer,art,storage
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