Enjoy these holiday tips by my super-organized cousin, Janna Lufkin. Check out her great holiday products at Raw Materials Design.

By the first week in December, I like to have a stockpile of small gifts packaged up and ready to go. I use them for hostess gifts as well as give them out when unexpected guests drop by. I pick an idea, and make them all ahead of time (often Thanksgiving weekend). I’ve got a jump on the holiday gift list and I'm ready for the season to begin.

This year I’m making homemade granola, packaged up in food safe bags then slipped into cute, inexpensive burlap bags. I’ll embellish the bags with a personalized gift tag and a sprig of fresh cedar from my yard. I stack my ready-to-go gifts in a container by my back door and grab one when I need it.

If you want to make some too, here’s what you will need:

A recipe. Here’s the Better Homes and Gardens recipe site - they have a variety of great granola recipes
Burlap bags and clear food safe bags
Transparent tape or decorative stickers
Gift tags (if you have time, make your own or have your kids help)
Ribbon and fresh greenery

Here’s how to make them:

Gather granola ingredients and make up as many batches as you think you’ll need
Once granola has completely cooled, place at least two cups (more if you like) into a food safe bag and seal with tape or sticker
Insert granola into a burlap bag (you could add the recipe if you like)
Tie with twine or embellish with a colorful ribbon
Tie on a tag and slip in some fresh greenery

It’s that easy.

A project done early gets you in the mood for the festivities ahead. It helps to eliminate some of the stress and it’s fun too.

Organizing Tips

Happy (Organized) Holidays