2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Eco Products

Beauty Heroes Box: This is currently the only subscription box that I get and love it. It is always full of all kinds of eco beauty products.

Vivo Bento Box: I have had these boxes for many years and they are perfect for any lunch, picnic or snacks on the go.

Reusable Sandwich Bags: These are great to eliminate the use, or as much use, of plastic baggies. They are perfect  for sandwiches, snacks and travel.

Reusable Lint Roller: No more tearing off papers. A lint roller that can be washed off and reused.

Mosquito Spray: My absolute favorite mosquito spray out there.

Essential Oils: I have been using essential oils for many years and love them. Theives, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg have been on heavy rotation this holiday season.

Clean Cubes: These are great to use for all kinds of things. Personally, I use them for organizing projects to sort and for recycling items.

Majestic Pure: I read many years ago that castor oil is great for lash growth and I really love this stuff because it comes with the wands.

Recycle Bin: I have had this recycle bin for some time now and love it! It is compact and matches our kitchen appliances. I labeled the lids aluminum, plastic and glass. Our paper is in another bin.

Baby Washcloths: I gifted these to a friend and they are perfect for an eco baby.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser: Apparently I put this on my gift guide last year, so obviously I love it. I love almost all of Tata Harper's product. Worth every penny.

Eucalan Delicate Wash: I have been using this wash for years and it is great for all delicates and at less than $4 a bottle.

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All photos from the links provided for each item

2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Made in the USA

Bondic: I gave this to my husband last year and it really works. It is a liquid plastic welder that bonds things together.

Lewis Bag: For the martini lover. You put ice in the bag and then bang it with a mallet to crush it up.

Facial Hair Remover: I have seen so many people rave about these, but I have never tried them.

Ladies Pink Whiskey Glasses: I know I put Manready Mercantile products on here last year, but I really love this store.

Zippo Lighter: You always need a lighter whether you are a smoker or just love to burn candles.

Goode Company Pecan Pie: Some damn goode pecan pie. The perfect hostess gift.

Ulu Knife: Perfect addition to any kitchen.

Glass Pitcher:Simon Pearce has some absolutely gorgeous products.

Cocktail Napkins: I also included Hibiscus Linens last year and LOVE all of their products.

Ceramic Beaker: I first saw this in a Texas Monthly issue and thought it was so beautiful.

The Body Deli:I have several clients that use The Body Deli products and turned me onto them.

Bag tag: I also saw this maker in Texas Monthly and instantly swooned over all the leather goods.

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All photos from the links provided for each item

Thanksgiving / Friendsgiving

Are you hosting Thanksgiving or a Friendsgiving?  We try to host Friendsgiving every year, but as we get older life gets in the way. This year we ARE going to do it and make sure it happens. Thanksgiving is my husband's favorite holiday, so I want to make sure he has a GREAT one. This book is easy to read, funny and outlines why it is important to stick to traditional Thanksgiving meals. What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

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Utilizing a Personal Concierge During the Holidays

This time of year is super busy for so many people and you can get overwhelmed really quickly. I have many clients here in Houston who use me for various daily tasks and the holidays are no exception. Hiring a personal concierge is easy there are several in Houston and all over. Here are some things that they can help you with.

• Gift Research. I often times get hired to research various gifts, but have an extensive list of go to gifts that I like to give or that I know are a hit. Here in Houston there are various stores I know that I can find the perfect gifts.
• Shop. This is one of the biggest things I get utilized for during the holidays. There are so many gifts that get bought and given 
• Help Decorate. Sometimes you just can't do it all and need help. 
• Donation Drop Off. There is a ton of giving back during the holidays and I often drop off donations for others.
• Organize. Since I am a professional organizer, I often help with general organization in businesses and around the home. This really helps clients destress and not worry as much during the holidays. 
• Gift Wrapping. The key is to find stores like Kuhl-Linscomb that gift wrap for free, but if not then use a personal concierge. I often do this for clients and have so much fun.
• Shipping. I ship a TON during the holidays. The key is to ship early when lines are not as long. Many of personal concierges charge by the hour, so shipping early can save you time and money. 
• Write, Address, Stamp and Mail Holiday Cards. This gets outsourced a lot because usually when people send out holiday cards they send out a lot. 
• Corporate Gift Buying. Lots of companies give gifts to employees, clients and colleagues and this is something they use concierges to assist them with. 
• Party Prep. This is a big one because so many people host holiday parties. 
• Book Travel. A ton of people travel during the holidays and a concierge can help with flights, hotel reservations, car rental, booking activities, etc. 
• Grocery Shop. So many groceries to be bought during the holidays. 
• Guest Prep. If you have guests coming into town a personal concierge can help with prepping for their arrival from getting rooms organized to arranging pick up for them to buying gifts. 
• Basic Errands. I help clients with all kinds of basic errands they just don't have time to do. 

Virtual Concierge Help
I have had others hire me to help them with holiday tasks virtually as well. Here are some holiday things that I often get asked to help with virtually.

• Buy and Ship Gifts. If there are items that can be purchased and shipped online, then that is what I help with.
• Order and Mail Holiday Cards. This often times can be done anywhere.
• Arrange for Professional Services. I often help arrange for services like house cleaning, organizing, catering, etc. to come in and help during the holidays. 
• Book Travel. Just like above this is something that a concierge can help with.
• Send Alcohol and Flowers. I arrange for bottles of wine and liquor to be delivered for clients. As well as, flowers and plants. 

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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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