Anyone heard of/follow Organized Christmas

[Noodlebrains]

Spelling not mine - it's an American site.

There's a few different plans but the general idea is you start on 28th August and do a few household things and a few Christmas things each week.

So de-clutter living room and write Christmas card list (although a bit more involved than that)

I like the idea as I'm due 22nd December and have a 3 year old so want to be slightly prepared and not running round last minute.

Anyone else interested? We could have a support group!

I haven't heard of this but love the sound of it. Do you need to sign up to anything

You don't need to sign up Bimbo, but there are email reminders I believe (I never have). Mostly though, the plan is on the website, you can print off the weekly lists to keep yourself on track, and just head off to do as much or as little as you want yourself.

I always look on it as a useful help to get me started and keep me motivated, rather than something I need to slavishly follow. Because it allows me to get organized calmly, in advance, rather than a last minute rush. Giving me time to enjoy the Christmas season because I have made that time - I know what I am doing, when it will be done by, and what I have decided I am not bothering with ahead of time too!

So I have downloaded week 1 checklist ready to start on Sunday......I'm stupidly excited about this and am using OneNote for all the checklists, calendars etc instead of the suggested binder. That way i can have the plan with me on my phone at all times. How is everyone else getting on?

I've tried this a few years ago but lost steam after the first week hoping to try it again this year. Keen to get organised!

Hello. can I join in please? Am currently on mat leave and need to get my bum in gear before I go back to work in January. I also have two stone to lose. Decluttering and maintaining a clean house will help me I hope! So tomorrow we start on paperwork piles?

Made a head start today. Sorted myself a new system and spent hours sorting piles for shredding, filing and recycling. Very therapeutic. Does anyone know where I can find guidelines for how long you should keep certain paperwork, bank statements, etc? Still have a huge pile to file and reckon I'm maybe keeping too much?

I've never heard of this before but I love the sound of it! I'm totally in

I need this! Working 4 days a week and two dc = not enough time :) plus my (only 5 rooms too) house seems to be full of shite, but no time to declutter! I honestly don't know where everyone else keeps all the paperwork and day to day stuff.

This looks great! I've signed up for the emails, hopefully they'll be motivating for me.

Is there anywhere I can sign up for the reminder emails for the HHP? I can see the option for the 101 days of Christmas but not the former, I'm not sure if I'm missing something.

For those of us following the House and Holidays Plan today is kick-off day. So on a beautiful day with clear blue sunny skies I'm thinking about Christmas!

This week is planning and paperwork so my household tasks are to de-clutter and clean my "paper handling area" and set up a basic filing system. So first I need to figure out my paper handling area! I have 2 file folders - one for all the bills/household stuff and a second one because I was the executor of my uncles and fathers wills so have a lot of stuff related to those. I need to go through the second one because I'm sure I can get rid of.

Current paperwork to be handled goes in a separate folder that I keep on the bookcase. I do worry that things can get overlooked though.

Holiday wise I'll do a few of the bits over the week but not stress too much.

That's mostly it for this week. A nice gradual ease into things!

So our dh is still decorating our porch, it's tiny so don't what's taking so long!! Instead I tackled the living room - scrubbed leather sofas, cleared junk/toys/books, cleaned windows/skirtings/fireplace and even moved sofas to hoover. It looks much better, and I feel much better for having done it!

Hopefully dh will be finished in porch by next week so I can sort that out.

I'm going to start on my lists after bedtime/dishes.

Loopsy sounds like a very productive day for you!

I've tried to pick up my bullet journal again and wrote down the house and holidays plan in there. I'm going to use it as my Christmas planned rather than something separate. Our office is a total mess. Today I've spent a couple of hours tidying and cleaning it. Want to do some decluttering and filing too but I can try to do that later in the week. Feels good to get it done!

Lost I always look on "porch week" as the week to tidy the whole garden after the summer, pull up dead plants, sweep the patio, and get it ready for winter. If the weather is good. (If it is really good, I wash the outside of the windows downstairs too - but I need to be in the mood for that job!).

I am trying the HHP this year, with elements of the HGP. To see if it works better. I had already started in a gentle fashion a couple of weeks back, doing some decluttering and tidying. Over the weekend, I did actually get a couple of hours to tidy put the crafts "cupboard" in the study - my paper crafting and general junk repository. And sorted through a lot of DD's craft things as she had loads more than she'll ever use.

The recycling bin is completely jammed full, there is a bag of craft items that school can use, and I dropped 5 bags to the charity shop as well. The study desk is usable (although I still have more to do to completely clear it) and DD's desk in the kitchen is ready for back to school. And her schoolbag is ready too.

My paperwork system is ok - it needs filing at the moment but there is a basket in the kitchen once things are dealt with, and files in the study cupboard. So it's not scattered everywhere. I will get to the filing in due course (I have some other paperwork that needs doing first).

Tonight, DH and I are looking at Amazon for paper plates etc for DD's birthday (we are hosting a family party in a SC cottage so I want to bring things for that day so we definitely have enough and not have a huge load of work to either set it up or clear up afterwards!), as he needs to order another wireless mouse for me (he got 2 - 1 each - but lost his (bag fell off his bike and was picked up by a passerby with his laptop and stuff) and "borrowed" mine without telling me - and I have a lot to do on my laptop in the next few weeks! So he needs to replace mine).

The most important thing about the plans is that each small job done now is a little extra easing of how things run in the house normally and/or a small step to making Christmas less costly and more relaxed!

The website keeps crashing so I can't read what I'm meant to dooooo.

Paperwork has been mentioned on this thread so assuming it's that then I'm already good to go! DH hasn't met a piece of paper he hasn't felt the need to file and it's all very organised. I dare not touch it.

Ovo - is it the Holiday Grand Plan or Household Holiday Plan you wanted?

The HHP is basically, organize your paperwork, file it away safely and where you can find what you may need, start your Christmas lists (presents, cards, events etc) and really just make a start on the season - mainly about thinking this week.

The HGP starts with "Porch week" - clean and tidy your porch area outside the front of your house. Start your Christmas lists (as per HHP) including the thinking. There is a Family values sheet on the website to help the thinking process - what do you want your Christmas season to look like - but that's not essential, it just helps you to get started on a vision of what you are trying to achieve.

Thanks, Biddy! It's the HHP I'm hoping to follow.

I think I'll get my Christmas notebook out and fine tune my lists.

Followed the HGP for the last 3 years and I've found it really useful. I also use their mother site organized home a lot.

I'm quite OCD about meal planning, planning my housework, seatonal planning etc. I find their pantry, freezer and bathroom master lists are life Savers!

Ooh, this sounds v pleasing.

I've signed up for this, despite already being on another Christmas org email list as I always get sick before Christmas and end up rushing things I thought I'd have time for!

So on for this!!

I'd forgotten about my receipt drawer! It's all organised and tidied now.

Place marking 😊

Done the paperwork today - didnt realise week 2 had alreday started !!

I've lost steam. Not finished week 1 and it's now week 2. Must make more effort!