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Welcome to Organized Christmas!

Our mission: to help you simplify your holidays and get ready for Christmas.

Browse our articles for great ideas to simplify the holidays. Choose a holiday plan, and print a free Christmas planner to get organized for Christmas.

Try easy gifts and crafts, recipes and free printables to celebrate the season.

organized christmas

Cutting Costs at Christmas?

Try these ideas to celebrate like Santa (but spend like Scrooge):

christmas countdown
Christmas is coming!
Will you be ready?

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.”

— Charles Dickens

Houseworks Holiday Plan: Wardrobe Week

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on October 3, 2009 - 11:50pm

Get out your high-heeled sneakers, Baby--it's time to think of holiday finery.  This week, our Housework focus will see us declutter, organize and clean clothing care areas and the clothes closets.

Will the family be able to strut their stuff all season long?  We'll do a family wardrobe check to make sure everybody's covered (literally) for the season's events.  Clothes closet decluttering helps us add needed clothing items to the gift list or shopping list in good time to replace worn or out-grown clothing--and we'll begin individual gift suggestion lists using the clothing sizes and preferences we discover.

Rounding out the week, we work on Christmas card chores, brainstorm ideas for Secret Santa celebrations and begin catalog or Internet shopping.

Ready? Time to get cracking ... on Wardrobe Week!

Wardrobe Week Assignments Read more »


Holiday Grand Plan: Kids' Room Week

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on October 3, 2009 - 11:50pm

Will Santa be visiting your house this year? Time to sort out the short stuff!

This week, we focus on kids' rooms for deep-cleaning, decluttering and organizing. Our holiday prep assignments include assembling freezer meals, working on hand-crafted gifts, and continuing to buy gifts and holiday supplies.

Ready? Let's get organized with the Holiday Grand Plan!

Kid's Room Week in the Holiday Grand Plan


Countdown to Halloween: Free Printable Spooky House Calendar

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on October 3, 2009 - 5:18am

halloween countdown calendarLooking for a colorful way to count down to Halloween? It's as close as your printer, with this free printable "spooky house" countdown calendar from FamilyFun.com.

To assemble your calendar, you'll print three different .pdf pages, for the house, doors and windows, and for a list of Halloween activities that fits behind each open space.

With 31 fun Halloween activities, the Halloween countdown calendar is a great way to bring the spirit of the season to your organized home!

Halloween Countdown Calendar Read more »


S'Mores In A Jar: Easy Holiday Treat!

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on September 30, 2009 - 12:08pm

S'Mores In A Jar! What could be better? Combining the flavors of the familiar campfire treat with the seasonal sweetness of Peeps ® brand marshmallow candies, our recipe creates a distinctive holiday gift in a jar.

To create this jar gift, you'll layer crushed graham crackers, Marshmallow Peeps, brown sugar and chocolate pieces in a clear glass canning jar.

Spiffed up with a fabric topper, pretty ribbon and free printable gift tags, S'Mores In A Jar make a happy holiday treat for all occasions.

Includes free printable gift tags for:


Read more »

Holiday Grand Plan: Master Bathroom Week

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on September 26, 2009 - 11:50pm

Week Five sees us into the master bathroom and linen closets for Master Bathroom Week at the Holiday Grand Plan.

We'll clean and organize personal care and linen storage areas, and continue working on seasonal clothing plans.

Holiday prep continues to move forward on to-make and to-buy gifts, and includes a wardrobe check for kids.

Ready? Let's get organized with Master Bathroom Week at the Holiday Grand Plan!

Master Bathroom Week at the Holiday Grand Plan


Houseworks Holiday Plan: House Room Week

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on September 26, 2009 - 11:50pm

Hospitality is a core value of the Christmas holiday season, so this week, we prepare for houseguests, focusing on the guest room.

No guest room? Take aim on the multi-function area that houses sleepover guests; otherwise, it's another bonus room week!

Our holiday prep focus turns to decor, as we begin planning seasonal decorations. A decor declutter clears surfaces in time to decorate for autumn.

Finally, we'll schedule houseguests and build a little "pamper basket" to welcome them, as we begin writing Christmas cards or signing holiday letters.

House Room Week Assignments Read more »


Witches Brew: Printable Halloween Drink Mix!

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on September 24, 2009 - 12:45pm

By Cynthia Ewer
Editor, Organized Christmas
Author, Houseworks: Cut the Clutter, Speed Your Cleaning and Calm the Chaos

witches brew snack mixIt's simple and sweet, a broom-shaped treat for Halloween: Witches' Brew!

Combining apple cider drink mix, Halloween candy treats and a free printable gift tag, Witches Brew is easy to make and give.

Using a licorice rope for a "broomstick" and a bit of creative packet-folding, Witches Brew treat mix looks like a witch's broomstick.

Print a free printable gift tag for a spooky touch. Fun!

Add Witches Brew to Halloween BOO baskets, share with co-workers or make it in multiples for Halloween party favors.

Ingredients

For each package of Witches Brew, you'll need:

  • Individual packet of spiced cider mix
  • Twizzlers-brand licorice candy
  • Gummi-brand candy worms
  • Seasonal candies--pumpkins, candy corn, mallocreme mix--for decoration
  • Clear plastic treat bag or food storage bag

Directions

For each packet of Witches' Brew, turn down top corners of drink mix packet and tape to licorice stick, forming a broom shape.

Place inside a clear plastic treat bag or food storage bag. Add Gummi-brand worms and seasonal candy.

Secure bag with ribbon or raffia; add printable gift tag, or add tag with the poem below.

Witches' Brew Poem

When Autumn leaves begin to fly,
A Harvest Moon shines full and high.
Cold wind chills you to the bone?
Do what spooks have always known!

Grab a cauldron (or a cup!)
Add mix and water, stir it up.
Garnish with a worm or two:
A warming cup of Witches' Brew!


Read more »

You've Been BOOed! Halloween BOO Poem and Signs

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on September 22, 2009 - 2:22pm

By Cynthia Ewer
Editor, Organized Christmas
Author, Houseworks: Cut the Clutter, Speed Your Cleaning and Calm the Chaos

halloween BOO signThey're popping up in a neighborhood near you: "We've Been BOOed!" signs that fly from house to house. What's behind it all?

You've been BOOed! Welcome to the wonderful world of BOO-ing.

It's a Halloween take on "Secret Santa" or May baskets: secretly leaving small gift bags or BOO baskets, a BOO poem, BOO instructions and a BOO sign at a neighbor's door.

In turn, the neighbor is asked to BOO two others, leading to a chain reaction--and Halloween fun.

To start a BOO, use our free printable BOO kit. We've got a one-page poem/instructions sheet, and three different BOO signs to make it easy to start a BOO in your neighborhood.

Print two copies of the BOO poem, and two copies of your favorite BOO sign. Add them to a small gift basket, then deliver the BOOs secretly to a friend's doorstep--and watch the BOO signs multiply.

Ready? Set? BOO!

Free Printable BOO Poems and BOO Signs
 Read more »


Haunted Gingerbread House: Patterns, Instructions and Inspiration from the Web

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on September 21, 2009 - 6:45am

haunted gingerbread houseWill you bake a haunted gingerbread house this Halloween?

Whether you're a gingerbread house novice or a seasoned pro, the Web has recipes, patterns, templates and ideas galore to inspire your spooky creation.

Try these links for fantastic, fearsome Halloween gingerbread creations:

Make A Haunted Gingerbread House

Haunted Gingerbread House

Gingerbread Haunted Mansion

Gingerbread Haunted House Photoset

Gingerbread Haunted House and (experts only) Haunted Mansion (includes recipe and templates)

Ready to try baking a gingerbread house for the first time? Find a complete guide here:

Build A Gingerbread House (.PDF format) Read more »


Holiday Grand Plan: Master Bedroom Week

Submitted by Cynthia Ewer on September 19, 2009 - 11:50pm

Week Four of the Holiday Grand Plan sees us move into the master bedroom to deep-clean and cut clutter. As the season changes, we rout out the closet and organize clothing. Our holiday prep tasks center on home-made gifts, and we'll begin budgeting "to-buy" items week-by-week.

Ready? Let's get organized with the Holiday Grand Plan!

Master Bedroom Week at the Holiday Grand Plan


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