15 Signs You Might Be a Christmas Fanatic

December is here and, finally, we are fully free to let our Christmas fanatic freak flag fly!

We survived October and all the Facebook posts bemoaning the early stocking of store shelves.

We soared through November and the cries of: “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!”

And now it’s December, the most wonderful time of the year.

Are you a Christmas fanatic?  Perhaps just a fan?

Here are 15 signs you might be a certifiable Christmas fanatic:

1.       You know your cookie sprinkles. 

2.       You’re annoyed when the stores wait so long to display Christmas product. 

3.       You give your storage boxes a “pat-pat” in the summertime and say:
“See you soon!” 

4.       Your Christmas cookies are too good to eat (you eat them anyway, of course).

5.       Your Christmas Pinterest boards have sub-boards. 

6.       You were secretly offended when someone decided Christmas sweaters were ugly.

7.       You love decorating for Halloween mostly because Christmas is soon to follow. 

8.       You know your blow mold from your blow-up. 

9.       You appreciate an occasional skinny Santa.

10.   Your favorite foods are candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup (and your favorite movie is “Elf.”)

11.   You’ve embraced colors beyond the red and green.

12.   You and the neighbors debate C9s versus C7s. 

13.   You’re nostalgic for melted popcorn decorations. 

14.   You take hot chocolate very seriously.

15.   You still feel a sense of excitement on Christmas Eve.  

Surely, I could list 100 more ways we Christmas fanatics celebrate the season. 

What’s the most over-the-top way you show off your Christmas spirit? 

5 Things to Stuff Besides Your Thanksgiving Turkey...

Stuffing, by far, is what I love most about Thanksgiving. Cornbread stuffing, sausage stuffing, stuffing covered in gravy – I love it all. Family, too, of course, and turkey and all the other trimmings, but stuffing…it’s just so incredibly good!

In recognition of the time-honored tradition of stuffing the Thanksgiving turkey, here are five more things to stuff to make your holiday season extra special.

1.       Stuff the Fridge with Healthy Snacks – every nutritionist I know keeps easy-to-grab portions of healthy snacks ready to go at all times. With a solid month of parties and cookies and constant temptations ahead of us, stuff your refrigerator with freshly washed fruits, cut up vegetables, small portions of healthy soups, and heart-healthy protein sources like hard-boiled eggs. Un-stuff the refrigerator of expired foods, sugary sodas and overly-processed treats. For more inspiration on food prep, visit my friend Nicole’s Blog.

Quality time at its finest: my dad helping my son season the turkey, circa 2003

2.       Stuff your Calendar Intentionally – productive people make time for that which is important. Make sure exercise, family time, fun traditions, and plenty of downtime feature prominently in your holiday schedule or your time will slip away with the demands of daily minutia.  Un-stuff your calendar by batching your errands, saying “no” to unnecessary meetings, and delaying anything that can wait until the new year.

3.       Stuff a Donation Box – take a walk through your house and fill a box or two, maybe even the trunk of your car, with clothes, toys, books and kitchen gadgets. Un-stuff your cupboards and drawers before the baking begins, and imagine how good it will feel to un-stuff your closets before the holiday guests arrive.

4.       Stuff the Recycling Bin – make room for holiday décor by ruthlessly purging those paper piles. Recycle the magazines and catalogs you aren’t going to read and shred the documents that don’t back up your taxes. While you’re at it, un-stuff your computer and mobile devices of old emails, texts and excess Apps. 

5.       Stuff your Gratitude Jar – if you’ve read anything about mindfulness, you know how important it is to have a thankful heart. If you’ve neglected to keep a gratitude journal, it’s not too late. Stuff a page or notebook or even a jar with all the blessings of 2016. Keep going. Prepare yourself: this act can dramatically un-stuff your heart of negative and hopeless feelings.

My goddaughter helps with Thanksgiving Dinner, circa 2013

Apparently, we aren’t supposed to stuff our turkeys anymore. Food safety experts say it increases the risk of food poisoning, plus it just looks better and tastes better when cooked separately, in my opinion. I fully intend to stuff myself with at least two healthy helpings of stuffing this week. But I like this idea of stuffing and un-stuffing a few other areas of my life, too, especially that gratitude jar – I have many, many blessings for which to be thankful. How about you? 

'tis the season...

The things on my list...

 

I've heard it said that when you love your work, you'll never work a day in your life.

 

Besides family, friends, and what promises to be an amazing feast - this Thanksgiving eve I am feeling especially thankful for my work with Totally Orderly. Eleven years in, and I 'm still so happy to make a living doing something that brings me such joy.

 

I am most grateful to my amazing customers, each and every one.  They teach me so much and I will always honor how they invite me into their lives.

 

Likewise I can't imagine working in this industry without the countless colleagues, mentors and leadership experiences I've enjoyed with the National Association of Professional Organizers.

 

I'm even feeling grateful for social media, with all its pros and cons, for the myriad ways I can learn and grow with others around the world. But especially for Pinterest - oh geez I love Pinterest!

 

Our work does not define us, but what a joy it is when we love it.

 

Today I count my work, my business, and all those involved, among my blessings.

 

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this product...

Of all the products I use with my customers, I think 3M Command Hooks might be my favorite. And based on the ever-expanding selection available, I think others feel the same. 

Photo from Command Hook

Once offered only in white, the plastic hook now comes in a variety of "finishes" - such as brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze - as well as clear (my favorite) and black (great for the garage). The strong yet easy-to-remove double stick table is also offered in clear. I keep a supply of these with me at all times and never seem to have enough - they can be purchased online or at nearly any home improvement, craft or variety store. Here are just some of the ways I use 3M Command Hooks around my own home.

In the kitchen: to hang oven mitts on a cabinet door
(easy access + saves drawer space, too)

Photo from Command Hook Projects

In the Bedroom Closet: to hang necklaces and belts

In the Office: to keep charging cords organized  

In the Bathroom: to hang a robe behind the door

  

Photo from Command Hook Projects

In the Mudroom: for car keys

During the holidays: to tuck away unruly extension cords

The possibilities are endless... how would you use a 3M hook?

4 Essentials to a Scrumptious Hot Cocoa Bar

Hot Chocolate

 – mmmmmm –

the perfect holiday indulgence. A rare and special treat back when I was a kid, my young seem to think it’s their daily entitlement. Inspired by internet photos, and a little bit of annoyance at the constant concoction chaos, I organized our first Hot Chocolate Bar. A fair number of kids have already bellied up, and I’m thinking this might leap straight from “first annual” to “annual tradition.”

  

These are the four essentials:

Mugs

Obviously a collection of holiday mugs would be appropriate, but these generously sized ones work well for us. A mug tree saves space and offers visual height, but a row of hooks or a vintage bottle rack would have worked, too.

Cocoa Mix

Choose your favorite and pour it in a nice, large container. You could offer a variety of flavors, if desired.

  Mixings

I couldn't resist these obnoxiously jumbo marshmallows (limit 1 per mug, of course).  

Candy Canes are a must!

I put peppermint syrup in this Italian bottle for easy pouring.

Décor

I swore I’d never surrender to a Made in China vintage-inspired piece of décor, but this little crate from Home Goods was just dying to reign in all our sprinkles.

 I swiped this chalkboard design right off Pinterest and used Chalk Ink – absolutely love that stuff – to create it.

Fresh greens, festive napkins, and even a Santa or Snowman would round out the décor.

I think I’ll expand my Hot Cocoa Bar to a full blown dessert station on Christmas Eve. Cookies and pies on tiered platters will surely distract little believers who can’t get their minds off Santa – and maybe the big believers, too!