Cyber Monday Sale!

Thanksgiving has come and gone, you’ve braved the masses and endured Black Friday, but the real shopping has just begun.  For those of us who LOVE to shop online, Cyber Monday is the busiest  shopping day of the year, and when internet retailers fill their virtual stores with all kinds of  “be merry” sales. To take advantage of these sales, check your inbox for your fave retailer’s sales and organize a list of the online stores you want to be sure to visit on Monday. Make note of when each sale ends, so that you are not disappointed. It’s a great day to shop for Stocking Stuffer’s, Christmas Decorations, Decor, Entertaining and any items you may need early in the season.

If you love to bake, visit sites that offer those tools you’ll need for Christmas and Hanukkah Baking, as they are probably running Cyber Monday sales, as well. You will also be able to find a sleigh full or two of great gift ideas for under $10, this year. Don’t forget to add any hostess gifts that you might need for those upcoming holiday parties. I try to have a least six, wrapped and ready to go out the door with us.

For a real savings, check for sites offering Free Shipping. It is the number one item on most online shopper’s request list this year, so there will be plenty of offers that will deliver those boxes to your front door, at no charge.

This year, Organize.com is offering free shipping on all orders $39.00! The free shipping offer includes over 15,000 items and over 250 Stocking Stuffer’s.

Be sure to shop Christmas and Hanukkah at Organize.com this season. We added lots of Our Favorite Things and a Holiday Gift Guide filled with ideas for just about everyone on your list.

‘Tis also the season to think about Christmas Storage! If you are looking for tree, wreath, light or ornament storage, you might as well take advantage of free shipping on those items.

Happy Organizing (and shopping)!

-Mrs. O

No Comments November 30, 2009 on 5:06 am | In All, Christmas, Cyber Monday, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Special Events

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope your day is everything you hoped it would be.

For the last month I have shared my tips, ideas, must have’s, how to do’s and everything that I have learned over the years to help keep you organized for this Thanksgiving Day.  As organized as I try to be, things still do happen – even to Mrs Organized! When they do, all you can do is make the best of it and try to find the humor in them. My family and I had to do just that on our way to the Thanksgiving table this year.

It went something like this:

‘Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving

‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, but Mrs. O and her spouse.
The table was set just the way that I wanted,
As we all looked forward to our family around it.

I unwrapped the turkey to give it a wash
When suddenly I realized it looked like, “OH MY GOSH!”
Jason and Allie said “Mom don’t you worry”,
We’ll help you to make it all right, in a hurry,

Mr. O said goodnight and nestled in bed,
While visions of turkey dinner danced in his head.
Then ‘mamma in her Nikes, and Allie in her flats,
Set out to Von’s at midnight for another Butterball, and fast.

While in the aisles there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my shopping cart to see what was the matter.
Away to the cases we flew like a flash,
While Allie threw a 24-pounder over her sash.

The moon on the breast of this Thanksgiving eve,
Gave us the laughter we shared, which was surely our need.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a glorious daughter who brought me a smile and a tear.

With me by her side, Allie was lively and quick,
She knew in a moment this must be our new Thanksgiving “schtick.”
More rapid than eagles her coursers they came,
As she whistled, and shouted, “Mom we’re insane!”

Her eyes-how they twinkled! her dimples how merry!
As she aided her mom in her next “Lucy flurry”.
We ran the cold water to fill up the sink,
Then emerged the turkey to defrost quickly, as you would think.

“Now Stuffing! now, Mashed Potatoes! now, Biscuits and Gravy!
On, Cranberries, ! On, Yams! on, Pumpkin Pie! and another Turkey, baby.
To the top of the table! to the bottom of us all!
We made it all right and had a great Thanksgiving, after all!

I know it’s going to be a wonderful day. My family always makes sure of that, for me too. I hope yours is too.

From our house to yours…Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Organize.com!

-Mrs. O

No Comments November 27, 2009 on 6:30 am | In All, Thanksgiving

Countdown to Thanksgiving

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already upon us!

Thanksgiving marks the official start of the Holiday season and brings to mind so many wonderful memories. It also gives us a chance to create special, new memories with our family and friends.  And now that you’ve followed our “recipe for the perfect Thanksgiving” it’s time to look forward to a great weekend.

This weekend will certainly be filled with lots of food, family, friends, movies, games and for some of us, shopping on Black Friday for all those holiday sales. There will be some great deals this year, so watch your emails and take advantage of the extra savings retailers will be offering.

Our holiday shoppers put  “Free Shipping” at the top of their wish list again this year, so we checked our list twice and will offer Free Shipping on over 15,000 items and over 250 stocking stuffers. The sale begins Wednesday November 25….Don’t miss it!

I know you have lots to do, but don’t forget to relax, have some fun, and get some “me time” in during this hectic week.

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Photos from WomansDay.com & Hostessblog.com

No Comments November 24, 2009 on 4:24 am | In All, Holidays, Parties/Entertaining, Special Events, Thanksgiving

Tips for the Week of Thanksgiving

The secret to a really happy Thanksgiving Dinner is serving the classics that your family loves and looks forward to. With your menu planned and lists prepared, you should be organized and on your way to entertaining your guests. I’m looking forward to having our family and friends around the table and a wonderful weekend!

Two days before:

- Defrost your turkey and get all the fresh and perishable ingredients you need at your local market. If you are organized, this should be your last trip to the store
- Prepare a cooking and baking chart of what needs to go in the oven and at what time. This really keeps me stress-free on Thanksgiving Day
-  Organize all your cooking materials; including roasting pans, twine, gravy separator, baster, turkey lifters and thermometers

If you are having out of town guests, be sure the guest room and bathroom are in order. I include a luggage rack, extra hangers, a blow dryer, iron and ironing board and for a final touch, I always place a bottled water on the nightstands

One Day Before:

-Bake pies and desserts
-Peel potatoes
-Clean Turkey- prepare to roast and refrigerate
-Prepare stuffing, vegetables, casserole dishes and cranberry sauce
-Set your table, arrange your flowers, arrange place cards, put candles in holders and also place them around the house or in bathrooms. Don’t forget the guest towels!
-Prepare hors d’oeuvres and cold appetizer platters
-Make salad dressing, wash lettuce and store
-Organize your serving bowls & platters, forks, spoons, gravy boat and any other ‘special’ items you use for the holidays. I mark my serving pieces with post-it notes with what I am serving on each dish

This is also a good time to set out butter, salt and pepper and the water pitcher. Be sure that champagne, white wine, bottled water and soda are in the refrigerator or on ice.

The Morning of Thanksgiving:

-If you are serving breakfast, make it an easy one in preparation and cleaning
-Stuff the turkey and put in the oven while you prepare any last minute recipes
-Have all your cooking utensils in order and in reach of the stove and oven
-Keep your list posted to the oven or near the stove top and refer to it often
-Delegate tasks or ask your family to pitch in! Everyone should be able to get their own rooms in order and beds made for your final ‘walk-through’
-Set out cocktail napkins, appetizer forks, spreaders, small plates, cocktail, champagne & wine glasses and any fruits or mixers you might need. The ice bucket should be filled about 15 minutes before your guests arrive
-Forty-five minutes prior to your guests arriving is a good time to set out cold or room temperature hors d’oeuvres
-Twenty to thirty minutes prior put appetizers and hot hors d’oeuvres in the oven. Have serving plates, spreaders and garnishes ready

The Final Touches:

-Turn on the music
-Light the candles
-Take a few minutes for yourself and family to relax
-Greet your guests, serve dinner and give thanks!

I hope these tips help make your Thanksgiving Day everything you desire it to be.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

Photos from MarthaStewart.com

1 Comment November 18, 2009 on 1:39 am | In All, Holidays, Parties/Entertaining, Special Events, Thanksgiving

Setting A Thanksgiving Table

It’s almost time to feast and we have the ingredients for the perfect Thanksgiving dinner! Be sure to check out our Thanksgiving section where you will find our cook’s tools, baking tools, everything you might need to set your Thanksgiving table, china storage, and the perfect hostess gifts. Don’t forget to take inventory of the food storage you’ll need for the leftovers everyone looks forward to.

As you know, I love entertaining for any holiday, but when it comes to Thanksgiving, I definitely show my passion. I was really in the mood for a fall harvest setting on the dinner table this year and found the perfect plan. While in flight last month, I was scouring the November issue of Martha Stewart Living (as I usually do each month) – and there it was! A Harvest Table filled with wonderful splashes of color and warmth created with fresh fruits, dried gourds and whole walnuts filling the table. Dried and hollowed gourds are transformed into tableware and piled high with pears and walnuts.  They are also used as votive holders and even small salt and pepper servers. The napkin rings are made of grapevine wreaths and tied with simple velvet ribbon.

The finishing touch…that I absolutely adore…includes a very perfect Pear Place Card. They are simple to assemble and will complete the look that I’m after for this year.

Whether you are planning a feast for a crowd or something more intimate, get inspired by those natural elements around you this year.  Festive fall leaves, your personal style and all their favorite things on the table are really what your guests look forward to the most!

For these and other wonderful table setting ideas, visit www.marthastewart.com/thanksgiving.

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

1 Comment November 13, 2009 on 10:48 pm | In All, Holidays, Parties/Entertaining, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Prep Checklist

Thanksgiving is getting closer and so is the list of things you’ll need to accomplish to make it everything you want it to be. From your guest list and shopping lists to any additional items you might need for those extra guests, here’s our list to keep you organized and on track.

Two Weeks Before:

• Confirm your guest list.
• Order your turkey if it will be fresh or purchase a frozen turkey at your local market.
• Complete your plans for appetizers, side dishes and desserts on your menu.
• Prepare your final shopping list.
• Take inventory of the dinner table and other supplies that you might need to take out of the storage area and clean, borrow or rent. These include: tables, chairs, dinnerware, glassware, flatware and linens. If you will rent tablecloths and napkins, be sure to place your order this week.
• Decide on flowers, placecards, candles and other items that will make your table festive.
• Be sure that your kitchen is complete with “Thanksgiving Cook’s Tools and Must-Have’s.” Think about any items that were missed or that need to be replaced from last year.
• Make sure you see my “Recipe for the Perfect Thanksgiving” located on the top right hand corner of my blog page.  This “recipe” includes all the Cooking, Baking, and Tabletop Ingredients you’ll need for a successful day!

• What’s for dessert? If you are planning something other than pumpkin or apple pie (2 of my favorites!), do you have the right serving pieces ready?

• When you entertain for a large number of guests, think about a garment rack for coats and a boot tray to keep those wet shoes and boots where they belong. You’ll also need extra guest towels in the restrooms. I like to add fresh flowers and candles, too.

One Week Before:

• Wash and iron or dry clean linens (make sure to give yourself time to pick up from the cleaners).
• Polish the silver.
• Shop for anything non-perishable (a good time to shop for Costco items).
• Schedule a day for cleaning.
• If you are having out of town guests, get the guest room ready and don’t forget luggage racks, bathroom accessories and extra hangers.
• Prepare bathrooms with hand towels and fresh flowers.

We’d love for you to post a comment with some of your Thanksgiving tips and ideas.  Let’s hear it!

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments November 10, 2009 on 2:24 am | In All, Holidays, Special Events, Thanksgiving

Plan The Perfect Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the most celebrated American holiday of the year and absolutely my favorite. It brings our family together to share a fall harvest filled with tradition and family recipes that we all look forward to. This year more than ever, keep in mind that traditions, giving thanks and family and friends around the table are what will make for a Thanksgiving to remember.

As with any entertaining or party planning, the preparation time should be organized and done in advance in order to enjoy the event itself. With the right plan and checklists, you will be able to enjoy your guests and join in the holiday celebration and have fun.

It’s important to go back to basics this year and keep it simple. Delegate or graciously accept offers for guests to bring their favorite or specialty recipe. Whatever you decide your menu to be, the warmth of your home, good food, wine and conversation will give everyone something to be thankful for.

Plan a family game this year as you enjoy each other over dessert. Sharing memories of past Thanksgiving dinners, funny stories about a “famous” relative, or finding out just how much everyone knows (or doesn’t know!) about the story of Thanksgiving can be great fun.

Being organized will help you to prepare and plan for a stress free holiday. To get you started, we’ve put together some of my tips to keep you on track along the way. Also check out this wonderful recipe from Martha Stewart for a Perfect Roasted Turkey with a chestnut stuffing. Maybe I’ll shake things up a bit this year and try a new one!

3 Weeks Before
Confirm your guest list and choose the recipes you want to make.  Keep in mind the space you have in your refrigerator and oven when planning your menu. Once you have prepared your menu, you can decide what can be made ahead of time. Start a list of what you need to accomplish on each of the days leading up to Thanksgiving and be sure that you have all the right cook’s tools. We’ve put together a list that’s got you covered!

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

No Comments November 5, 2009 on 1:30 am | In Holidays, Parties/Entertaining, Special Events, Thanksgiving