Organize the Whole Shebang

Thanksgiving.... tips to keep it simple + sane

This Post is from Last year... I hope it inspires you to create a simple + sane Thanksgiving! Cheers~

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday as she really seems to have her priorities straight ;). Keeping it simple helps keep the focus on what's important. This morning on AMNW I shared my favorite tips. Take a peek!

WATCH THE SEGMENT NOW! click here

 

The Menu

• keep it simple- stick to the tried + true favorites!
• create a section for holiday recipes in your recipe binder
• try one new dish each year, but get the post-meal review..thumbs up or down?

The Table

• Set table the night or days before
• use beverage tags on glasses
• have serving dishes ready to go (make a post-it for what goes in each dish)

 

Lose Control! I double dog dare you ;)

• accept help
• create a "why yes you can help me" bowl (see above pic)

   

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Focus on Family

• Photo albums (have grandkids/kids place current year pics in album for you)

• Get out the family movies

• "I'm Thankful for..." Have everyone write + share their thoughts during the meal.

Party on my Facebook Fan Page!

My head is always spinning with ideas... and here's my latest! I'm having a "party" on my Facebook Fan Page for my local Chicaritas... of course you are welcome to crash the party! We'll be chatting about "Favorite Things" [think spas + home decor + organizing] and THERE WILL be party favors right here after the party!

Here are the details...

When: Monday, November 16th 8-9pm PST
Where: www.facebook.com/kristacolvin.lifestyle
Who: Local Chicas... Camas + Vancouver + Portland
Special Guests: Jamie of Bloom Organic Body + Andrea of Uppercase Living

Log on to Facebook + visit my fan page Monday at 8pm. You'll see the convo... join in by leaving a comment. That simple. When the party is over we'll head back here to wrap it up + make sure the local chicas get their party favors!

You can pop in anytime, take a break to tuck in the kids or refill your wine glass ;)

If you'd like to do a little prefunk...
Fan Me: kristacolvin.lifestyle
Fan Jamie: Bloom Organic Body
Fan Andrea: Uppercase Living Andrea McCarty check out her site too!

For Your Party Favors!
. Visit Jamie to get.... are you ready for this... Hot Stone Neck + Shoulder Therapy!!!!! YES... that's right... loddy doddy we know how to partay! click here  She'll personally contact you + send you your party favor details! [tell her you met her at Krista's party!]

. For Andrea's Prize... Leave a comment on her fan page about the coolio UL Photo Prints - what photo would you have printed? What questions do you have about UL Photo Prints? Who could you give a UL Photo Print to for Christmas??

. Can you say CABO... Donate $5 to the Gal to Gal Foundation where your money will help grant wishes to women with stage IV breast cancer + you'll be entered to win a trip to CABO. click here to donate  When they ask for your team... enter The Whole Shebang!

Holiday Planning Checklist

Yes, it's only a couple weeks til Thanksgiving... and then WAM! Christmas is in full swing. Recently I was interviewed by Kimberly Fusaro for a Women's Day article- here's what I found online today!  click here to read the article.

AND I Love it! My girl Aby Garvey + I are both in the article titled "Your Holiday Planning Checklist... Keep stress at bay with this six-week plan". 

Truth be told I don't print out a list + follow it... I look at them, ponder them + then do my thing as it happens. But I'm thinking this list is a bit different as it's broken down into major categories which is how I think. Take a peek + be inspired!

Cheers! Krista

To Attic or Not to Attic...

Daughter's Play Kitchen Set

Yes, it's stinkin' cute... but she no longer plays with it. She wasn't ready to sell it and deemed it banished to the attic til' her own children are old enough to play with it. Well if my little sweet girl takes the same route her mama + grandma chose... that will be approximately 30 years from now... can you say 2039?

Instead we've opted to make the set a loaner... she was just loaded up into the neighbors truck for her 2 daughters to love for the next few years.

What toy really wants to be banished to the attic... and what do you have that you don't play with?

Creating a Personalized Holiday Guidebook... as seen on AMNW

 
to view the segment click here

Create your own HOLIDAY GUIDEBOOK- it's easy + will help keep you a bit more sane this holiday season.

You'll need a Binder + tab pocket dividers. Create categories that fit your needs. Here are mine to get you started:

• The Festivities [invites + fun things to do]
• The Meal [recipes, coupons, your meal plan]
• The Decor [all the fabulous ideas you pull out of magazines, notes + pictures of how you decorated last year]
• The Gifts [your budget, receipts, notes/wish lists, ideas for hostess gifts etc]
• The Cards [address lists, labels, list of addresses to update + add to the list]

*plus keep a section in the front for note taking + other lists

The worksheets shown in the segment are from The Organized Life Guide to Less Stressful Holidays. Emily Wilska's e-book is fabulous! click here to check it out and a BIG thank you to Emily of The Organized Life for allowing me to share her tips.

Monday on AM Northwest!

Join me Monday at 9am for my monthly Lifestyle Segment
on Portland's Morning Show, AM NORTHWEST, KATU channel 2.

I'll show you how to Create a Personal Holiday Guidebook...

To view last years Simple + Savvy Thanksgiving click here