Planning

Paper Clutter

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January is designated by the National Association of Professional organizers (NAPO) as “Get Organized Month”. The one area that I like to start with this month is the paper clutter. This is because we start receiving all those year end summaries from the banks, brokerage firms, our employers, etc. Tax season is right around the corner.

Most of these statements start coming in towards the end of the month but there is a lot we can do to clear out the paper clutter before then. If you have a pile of papers that didn’t get filed because you were busy with the holidays ( I know I do) then now is the time to file them. Getting all the papers off your desk and filed in the proper files (including the trash can file) is the first step to organizing your papers. Once they are cleared off the desk then you can start examining the papers in each individual file.

I will be blogging this month mostly about how to declutter specific areas of paper clutter. My “Tip Newsletter” this week will be addressing magazine clutter and how to reduce it. If you don’t already subscribe to this newsletter then please sign up on the right sidebar to receive it.

There are plenty of papers we keep just because we are not sure whether we need them or not for tax and other legal reasons. I will let you know which ones are necessary to keep and what can go. I will give you plenty of resources to look up more information if you need it.

So let’s make January the month we get rid of papers that are clutter and organize the ones we do need to keep.

If you have any suggestions, ideas, or know of any good web-sites that can help us know what to keep and what to get rid of, please let me know in the comment section.

Thanks,

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Renewed Dreams

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As 2008 comes to a close I’m looking back on the past year to see what has been accomplished and what hasn’t. My tendency, like most people, is to focus on the negative or what wasn’t done as opposed to the positive. We all look for excuses for our so called “failings”. Then get mad at ourselves for using them. Life is always throwing curve balls so many of these excuses are legitimate. I know I am too hard on myself. Are you?

The end of the year is a good time to absorb the meaning of the words in the serenity payer.

“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.”

~ Reinhold Niebuhr

There are many times where we don’t have control over our lives. There are also many times we do.

At the beginning of 2008 I made the decision to pursue my dream of writing by combining it with a long running interest in home organization. I set up this blog and started a website. I write a weekly and monthly newsletter. My goal was to write e-books with more in-depth information and sell them. Things were going according to plan until June when I was diagnosis with breast cancer. A big curve ball!

So my plans and goals for 2008 were force to be changed. A legitimate excuse. I have tried to keep up the newsletters but the e-books have not been completed.

I have finished the chemotherapy and currently am in the middle of radiation treatments. I will have a ninety minute IV drip of a targeted drug (Herceptin) every three weeks till next July. So 2009 will continue to be somewhat controlled by health issues. At least there is an end in sight.

So my plans and goals for 2009 will have to adjust to what did and did not happen the past year. I’m sure many of you have had to deal with curve balls in your life this past year. Whether it is health issues, economic issues, or any other problems you didn’t expect, remember that a new year is upon us. It’s time to renew our dreams and have the courage to change what we can to make them happen.

Happy New Year.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Holiday Baking/Cooking Supplies

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The holidays are upon us. Ovens are heating up and luscious smells are coming from them. Do you have all your baking supplies ready to go? Have you checked your recipes for ingredients needed? If not, now is the time to make that grocery list.

Make sure your ingredients are fresh. Most have “best used by” dates on the packages. If you put some of your ingredients into canisters, do you remember when you bought that last bag of flour? Flour gets rancid over time. Baking soda and baking powder get old and will not leaven your baked goods as well. Spices and herbs lose their punch.

CoolClips_food1025

If there isn’t a date on the package to go by you might be better off buying new. After all, you put your time and love into baking those cookies and cakes so you want the freshest ingredients to make them taste their best.

If you get all those supplies in the house now you will be able to bake up a storm when the weather outside is frightful.

When you start making that holiday meal (all or part of it) you’ll want everything ready to go. Plan ahead now so you won’t be heading to the grocery store for last minute items with all those unorganized people.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Only Ten Days before Christmas

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It’s hard to believe there are only ten days till Christmas. So much to do, so little time. Here is a list of reminders of important dates.

December 15, TODAY – according to the post office this is the last day to send packages by parcel post if you want them to get to their destination by Christmas.

December 17 is the busiest mailing day of the year. You may want to avoid the post office this Weds. if you can.

December 20, – the suggested last day to mail First class mail if you want it to arrive by Christmas. This includes all those holiday cards.

December 20, – last day for Priority mail to be sent.

December 22, – last day for Express mail.

December 20 and 21, – last weekend to shop before Christmas.

I bought stamps last Friday but didn’t finish writing out my cards this weekend. I think tonight will be a good time to finish them and mail them off tomorrow.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Addressing Holiday Greeting Cards

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While watching TV last night I started to address my holiday cards. Since I only send out around 40 cards I like to hand write out the addresses. If you have a large amount of cards to send you could print out address labels.

I did print out return address labels. I used the Avery Wizard for Microsoft Word to customize the labels with holiday clip art on them. They have a lot of designs you can use or you can insert your own. The Avery Wizard is a program you can download for free at www.avery.com/wizard.

Right now I am only addressing the envelopes. I will sign the cards and add any notes later. I like to do one step at a time. If I start running out of time to write individual notes then all I have to do is sign the cards, seal them, and put a stamp on. The important thing is to get the cards mailed out on time.

Remember that the post office recommends you mail your cards by December 20th to make sure they arrive by Christmas. The first day of Chanukah is December 21st so those cards should be mailed by the 15th at the latest.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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