How to Get Organized for Thanksgiving

I wrote this post last year, but thought I would repost.

Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away so now is great time to start planning for it if you haven't already started.

• Create a Thanksgiving binder. This binder will hold everything you need from to-do list to meal plans. There are all kinds of checklist that you can search for online that will give you time lines of Thanksgiving prepping. I am not going to reinvent the wheel this year ;) and figured you could just do a quick search. 
• Write a to-do list. Make a list of everything you need to do this includes what you are cooking, linens you will be using, dishes you will be using, decorations, guests, gratitude notes, games, etc.
• Declutter. If there are dishes or decorations you have been hanging onto for years and you no longer have a use for or you just don't like them. Donate them. Decluttering will help you feel less stressed.
• Meal Plan. Plan what you will be serving and what dishes guests will be bringing.
• Create a grocery and liquor store list. Make a list of everything you will need from the grocery and liquor store, this includes food, flowers, beer, etc.
• Schedule to clean your house or hire a house cleaner. Get it on the books at least 2-3 days before guests arrive that way you won't stress too much about it.
• Order your turkey and buy non perishable items. Try to get items ahead of time that you know you can get especially canned or frozen items.
• Plan to finish 2 days before Thanksgiving. Obviously you will not have all of your cooking out of the way, but plan to wrap most everything up on by the Tuesday the week of Thanksgiving. This will give you ample time to think about all of the things you may have forgotten about. Make sure to set the table ahead of time as well.
• Label. Set out all serving dishes about of time and label what will be going in them. Make labels for the meals if you want guests to know what is in them. Make name tags. 
• Plan for to -go containers. I love these Reynolds Heat & Eat containers, which are in a blog post coming up. 
• Accept help. If you someone sees that you are overwhelmed and offers to help you, accept it! It will be a relief in so many ways. 
• Relax. Go get reflexology, pedicure, a massage or something to help you relax. 

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Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash

Made in the USA: 2017 World Series Pennant GO ASTROS!!!!

Well, it has been an exciting time for Houston. The Houston Astros WON the 2017 World Series on Wednesday, November 1st. We have so many excited folks all over Houston! My husband and I got this pennant last weekend at Minute Maid Stadium and love that it is made in the USA!! Now who is going to the Astros parade in downtown Houston today?

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A Professional Organizer's Morning Routine: Helen Schutz

I first met Helen Schutz at a NAPO Houston meeting and then got the pleasure of getting to know her a little more at the NAPO Conference in Pittsburgh this past year. 

Here is her morning routine: 

Monday – P/T OFFICE DAY - Wake up at 5:20, NEVER HIT SNOOZE, take shower, make matcha tea, eat yogurt, skim newspaper, get dressed and out the door by 6:15 – I usually lay out or have a mental picture of what I’m wearing to the office that day based on weather, work conditions, etc.

Tuesday – P/T BUSINESS DAY – Wake up around 6 (no alarm), make tea, eat yogurt, skim newspaper, work on computer, get ready for clients (grab folders, paperwork, etc.), take 30 min. walk (if I have time after working), shower, get dressed and out the door by 8:30a.  I usually have 1-2 clients on Tuesday.

Wednesday – P/T OFFICE DAY – Repeat of Monday – out the door by 6:15a

Thursday – P/T BUSINESS DAY – Repeat of Tuesday except I leave for my Sugar Land client by 9:30a.  I usually have 1-2 clients on Thursday.

Friday – P/T OFFICE DAY & P/T BUSINESS DAY – Repeat of Friday morning – out the door by 6:15a – PLUS I have at least 1 client on Friday.

I’m super regimented and my breakfast & schedule rarely changes M-F.  I’m definitely a “morning person”.  So that’s my morning routine. 

I’ve attached my photo and logo.  Here’s a link to my website:  www.aboveandbeyondbookkeeping.com

My specialty is bookkeeping and financial organizing.  I mostly work with clients that own multiple businesses.  I help them manage their money and all the administrative duties that go along with running businesses (filing taxes, payroll, generating reports, etc.).  I am also a Daily Money Manager and member of AADMM.  I do a lot of digital filing systems, cloud backup systems and records management.  I work mostly in River Oaks, Memorial and Sugar Land.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-schutz-a44900a/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hbsorganizing/

I mostly get clients through word of mouth or through other NAPO organizers.

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Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! Do you celebrate? Are you dressing up? Do you have to work today? I am working then passing out candy to the neighbor kiddos. Whatever you do be safe and  have fun!

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Learn Something New: Essential Oils

In 2014, I started this draft of learning something new each month, which was SO fun. It was funny to read what I said back then because now, I use DoTerra, Young Living and Gritman oils and I am no longer an oil loyalist, but use DoTerra the most. I think all of these brands are wonderful. I use some grocery store brands in some of my cleaning products from time to time. I love essential oils and will continue to use them. I love mixing blends and using them while I am working. Some of my current favorites are lemongrass, clove/orange/cinnamon blend, OnGaurd, Theives, etc. I love following Grapefruit and Gold on Instagram to get inspiration on various blends and what to do with oils. I got that EO box during Amazon Prime day. 

So here is my thoughts on EOs back then.....

I have been intrigued by essential oils for years now. I remember when I was younger my mom would have tea tree oil in various products that was supposed to be calming and I loved the smell of it. There are so many different brands and kinds of oils out there it is hard knowing which ones are "the best".

When we moved to the suburbs I decided to go exploring on many different days just to see what there was to do, where to go, etc in our area. I have some clients that love this detox place about 45 minutes from my house called Deer Lake Lodge, so I decided to go check it out. I was very interested in seeing what it is all about and possibly detoxing there some day. It is a very calming and beautiful place. When I went there they guy told me I could sit in on an essential oils class they would be having a few hours later, after some contemplating I decided to leave and come back for the class. I was super excited because I had always wanted to learn about essential oils. 

The woman who taught it, Sweet Mama, was super nice and informative. Plus, once again like my calligraphy class, it was a beautiful, sunny day. I really wanted to know what oils would help with stress and headaches along with other ailments Bryan or I would encounter. Bryan isn't always convinced of my "natural" ways of doing things, but he usually just goes along with it for the moment. I knew I wanted to use a really pure oil for my body and maybe something less pure, but good for cleaning products. I took a ton of notes and thought that it was great information. 

I ended up deciding on Doterra oils. I was debating between Doterra, Young Living and Mountain Rose. I have researched a TON on pure oils, so I know Doterra and Young Living have a rivalry of some sort, but from the beginning I was leaning towards Doterra after reading about them and then them being recommended years ago and then finally Sweet Mama saying she used them. So I decided to go with my gut. I don't use the oils every day, but so far I have been very pleased with them. Who knows maybe that will change in the future.

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A Professional Organizer's Morning Routine: Adonna Braly of Clutter Roundup

Since I love hearing the morning routines of others I asked some of my fellow Houston professional organizer colleagues to send what their morning routines are. Adonna Braly is the owner of Clutter Roundup and is a certified professional organizer in Houston. I met her a few months ago at the NAPO Conference in Pittsburgh and loved her energy. She is so much fun to be around and here is her morning routine. 

• I wake up at about 5:30a.
• Immediately head to kitchen for coffee!
• 30 minutes of meditation on outside patio. (I try my hardest not to check email)
• Come back in, make breakfast, and then check email while eating at my desk.
• After breakfast it’s back to bedroom to make the bed, without fail every morning.  
• Brush my teeth, and at the gym by 7 – 7:30ish.  

I work in Houston, Sugar Land, Rosenberg, El Campo, Victoria and surrounding areas.

I’m a generalist – home and office, coming from a more holistic approach, offering Feng Shui.    

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/clutterroundup/

LINK:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/adonna-braly-4092289

WEB:  www.clutterroundup.com

Eco Modern Concierge

Made / Assembled in the USA: Sheet Masks

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a huge beauty product person. I was reading online what one person did when they got off of a flight and it was use a sheet mask. I have to say I enjoy this little ritual now as well. Since I have a concierge company and do professional organizing, I have a TON of clients who use these as well. The Andalou brand is assembled in the USA and the YES brand is made in the USA. Granted the ingredients in both of them aren't completely clean, they are the more eco versions compared to some of there brands. I found these at stores in Houston, but know they are sold all over. Do you have a favorite sheet mask you use? 

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