Organizing for Car Trips

When my family set out on our drive to see relatives for Thanksgiving, we actually left on time! Exactly on time, not 10 or 30 or 60 minutes late, which is usually what happens. We sailed along traffic-free and had a great drive to grandma’s house.

What happened so that we got out of the door at the appointed hour?

• Got out our bags a few days before the trip.
• Made a list of random things we had to bring – a wedding gift, a stack of books to return to my mom.
• Packed as much as possible the night before; generally I say I will do this but don’t really pack everything – this time I did it!
• Used bags to organize: I created a “car” bag for all the random last minute things that need to go in – GPS, camera, snacks, baseball hat.
• Set up the cereal, bowls and glasses on the counter the night before; this made breakfast easier in the morning.
• Let everyone in the family know my expectations: when we planned to leave, that we’ll need your help packing the car, etc.

What are your secrets for starting a car trip on time?

Summer Guests

Do you have friends or family coming to visit this summer? Here are some tips to help get you organized.

Put the visits on your calendar, so you know who is coming when! I love to use Google calendar that is shared with my husband.

Create a quick “cheat sheet” for your home with key information for guests: how to get on the wireless network, how to work the TV, and any quirks about how to lock the house or where you keep the extra keys.

If you are short on space or don’t have a dedicated guest room, you can still create an inviting space for guests:

• Have your inflatable mattress or bed ready to go, or sleeping bags for kids.
• Be sure to have some extra linens and towels on hand, and have them out and ready, so your guests don’t have to go searching through your linen closet to find what they need.
• Create a guest supply station in a cabinet or closet shelf. (For more tips on creating this station, see the tips for June in my 12 Months of Organizing Calendar…on sale for 50% off!)

Preserving Treasures: Clothing and Fabrics, by guest blogger Gabby Burgman

My daughter just made her First Communion and looked so beautiful in her new dress. But the dress has been hanging in my bedroom for weeks now and I want to preserve it correctly. So I turned to my friend, archivist and professional organizer, Gabby Burgman.

Her guest post is the final installment of our Preserving Treasures series on the That’s Neat! Blog. Read the first posts, Preserving Paper and Preserving Photos.

It’s the time of year for momentous events: First Holy Communion, prom, weddings. You could say it is also your dry cleaner's favorite time of the year as hundreds of dresses pass through their shops.

But before you follow the old advice of having your special garment sealed in a box for posterity, there are a few things to know in order for your dress (or suit) to last a few decades. I'll go through the don'ts first so that you avoid making mistakes that will actually shorten the lifespan of your garment.

Do Not:

1. Leave your garment in a plastic bag unclean for months or years.
2. Have your dress/suit vacuum sealed in a box after it has been dry cleaned.
3. Store your garment in a cedar chest or closet or pack it in moth balls.

What? Aren't these the tried and true ways of preserving garments? Yes, these are tried methods but they have been found to be not true.

Garments stored in vacuum sealed boxes after dry cleaning have been found, once opened, to have yellowed, permanently creased, and become brittle. Why? The off gassing of the dry cleaning chemicals, the lack of oxygen, and the stationary storage of the garment all lead to deterioration of the garment. Garments stored in cedar chests/closets or moth balls end up breaking down due to the acids in the cedar and the off gassing from the moth balls.

The main culprits that shorten the lifespan of your garments are:

• Light
• Temperature/Humidity
• Dust/dirt
• Acidic environment
• Lack of oxygen

The best way to think about how you want to store your garments is to think about the environment most of us like: not direct sunlight, ambient temperatures that do not fluctuate, low humidity, and a clean environment, with plenty of oxygen. This is what your garments need to survive long term storage.

What you should do:

1. Have your garment dry cleaned. Try to get it cleaned within a few weeks of wearing it, especially if there is a stain or a drink (even clear liquids) spilled/dried on it.
2. As soon as you bring the garment home, remove it from the plastic bag and the wire hanger.
3. Decide how you want to store it: Hanging up or folded in a box (See below).
4. Schedule a date with your garment 6 months from now. If you hung the garment, take it out and make sure that it is doing okay. Check for mold, moth holes, or stains. Make sure the shoulder seams are holding up and are not molded to the hanger. If you have to, replace the padded hanger.  Once everything checks out, put the garment back in the closet and make another date for 6 months from now. The same routine will happen for your boxed garments except that you will need to refold the garment in a different direction so as to reduce the wear and tear the original folds experienced in the first 6 months of storage.

To hang:

Make sure you hang the garment on a padded hanger; unbleached muslin is preferred so dye is not transferred.

Use the twill tape loops that were included as part of the garment to hang it on the hanger. These loops help distribute the weight of the garment and alleviate the strain on the shoulder seam stitches.

Store the garment in a cotton bag like this one from The Container Store.

Put this bag in a bedroom closet that is kept in a room that is kept at an even temperature.

To box up:

Purchase an Acid-free, buffered* card board box along with acid free tissue paper. You can usually buy kits that sell these items together. *Note that if you are storing wools, silks, leather, fur, & feathers, you need to purchase an un-buffered box.

Working on a flat surface with no jewelry and clean hands, lay out your garment. For each fold you want to make in the garment, create a roll of tissue paper to act as a cushion to put in-between each fold. This is going to help prevent hard creases in your garment and reduce the strain on the fabric.

Once you have finished folding the garment to the box size, put it in the box but do not tape it shut. Put the box in a bedroom closet that is kept at an even temperature.

If you have the desire to store your hanging or boxed garment in a basement or attic, STOP! If this is a sentimental garment that has value, you should be willing to store it in the appropriate space. You don't tend to store valuable jewelry in the basement or attic and you shouldn't store your sentimentally valuable garments there either.

Follow the directions above and you will have a garment to proudly show off and lend to children and grandchildren.

Show you Care, not Clutter

With Teacher Appreciation Week, graduations, weddings, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day…you may have a long gift list this time of year.

Forget the mugs, ties, and crystal bowls. Give a gift that shows you care AND that doesn’t clutter the kitchen or end up in the attic.

Here are my favorite choices:

• Consumables: I’ve written before about the benefits of consumable gifts. This is especially a good idea for teachers, moms and dads. (Of course, always check to be sure the recipient has any food allergies.) Even a wedding gift can include consumables if the couple loves to cook. Check out the Wedding Crate from Penzy’s Spices or the vinegars and oils from Williams Sonoma. Experiences: Ideas here include theater tickets, movie tickets, day at the spa, hot air balloon ride, cooking class, car detailing (my personal favorite for Mother’s Day), museum pass, or even a walk/hike together. Hand-made Artwork or other Craft: For teachers, parents or grandparents, a drawing or card from a child can be a keepsake. For wedding gifts, I’ve had friends who painted me a one-of-a-kind picture and made a quilt. These gifts are not only useful but meaningful.

What are you favorite non-clutter gift ideas?

An Organized Holiday: Gift Giving

I love finding the perfect gift for someone, but often gifts end up being just more stuff…stuff we may not really need or love. Here are some tips for thinking outside the gift box:

• For consumables, think food! Wines, olives, candies, and cookies are a good start…or how about chocolate (or beer) of the month club?
• If you can make some goodies, think of food that can be made in batches: each year my family makes a secret recipe of sweet + spicy nuts. Other friends have made granola or candies.
• Turn it into a party! Some of my book club gals have started a tradition of Book club Baking Night. We meet at one friend’s house and each make a different treat. By the end of the night, we leave with several gift bags full of goodies. 
• My other favorite gift is something that is an experience – tickets, museum membership, or going out for a special day with the gift giver. Each year my in-laws give us a family membership to a museum that we enjoy all year long.
• Overwhelmed by gifts? See if you can do a gift swap (pick name out of a hat) or get a gift for the whole family like a museum membership.
• If your family is really into gifts, why not ask others what they’d like? Or use online wish lists like amazon. 

Summer Entertaining

It’s time to get together with friends! Here are some tips to organize your summer entertaining:

• If your event is outside, be sure to have a back-up plan in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.
• Make your lists: grocery, other shopping, to do.
• Have your kitchen stocked with a few party favorites for impromptu gatherings. I like to always have olives, crackers and cheese ready to go.
• Also keep your bar stocked for summer drinks. It’s easier to have a party “signature” drink (think gin and tonic or mojito) rather than offering a full bar.
• Check to be sure you have napkins, plates and other supplies for outside entertaining.

And for some fun aprons and linens, check out my cousin Janna’s fabulous designs at Raw Materials Design.

Happy entertaining!

Caution: Catalog Season

‘Tis the season for tons of catalogs arriving in your mailbox. Here are a few tips for controlling catalog clutter:

• Use the 1 in/1 out rule: when a new catalog comes in, throw the old one out!
• Better yet, recycle the catalogs you know you won’t read as soon as they come in the door.
• Even better still, get yourself off the catalog lists! Call the company who sent the catalog, or check out the Direct Marketing Association to get off multiple lists.

And if you do order gifts from catalogs, think about the recipient and your budget. It’s easy to get excited about the latest cookware, electronic gadget, or new sweater on the glossy pages of a catalog. Is it really something the recipient wants, needs or would love to have?

Clear Store Card Clutter

Just in time for the shopping season: organize those store club cards! It seems like every store gives out a preferred customer card. What to do with them all?

First, pare down the cards. Which ones do you really use when you shop? Keep only the ones you use the most, and lose the rest.

Now you need to find the cards easily. For some people, this means keeping them on their keys. That didn’t work for me, but I found a great product that does: the card wheel by Real Simple.

I’ve been using this little case for months now and it works; it keeps all the cards together and I only have to find the case in my bag. And the best part: the cards can be scanned right through the plastic sleeves so I don’t even have to take them out. The card wheel makes the cards easy to find and easy to use. Try it out, or share your way of clearing the card clutter in our comments.

Paper….or Paperless? Easy Holiday Cards

Like most people I use email and texting for regular daily communications. But I have a love of paper—and enjoy using it for cards, thank you notes, and invitations for special events.

Now a service promises to give you the design and feel of a paper card, with the ease of email. Paperless Post lets you select electronic cards, including photo cards, that get delivered to your recipients by email. They offer a range of great designs, and tout the ease and convenience of using email.

I’m a traditionalist, and will probably still send a paper holiday card this year. But if you are looking for a way to save time and resources, try out Paperless Post.

Taking a Light Hearted Approach to Organizing

Another post by guest blogger, Janna Lufkin. Read her insightful take on being "too organized." (Is there such a thing?)

We hear a lot these days about “getting organized”. I saw the topic on many New Year’s resolution lists in January. It’s true, once you get yourself organized you quickly realize how much smoother your entire life runs.

However, I’ve seen the other end too – believe it or not, too organized! So much so that it makes it difficult to actually “live” in a home comfortably.

I think at one time, I fell into that category: a place for everything, everything in it’s place “QUICKLY” kind of approach worked best for me. But for my family? Maybe not so much.

For example, my daughter would come through the back door from a day at school, kick off her shoes, dump her backpack, lunch, etc. and be so excited to tell me about her day. I would listen (sort of) while whisking shoes into a bin, hanging up her backpack and cleaning out her lunch bag all in record time. In a flash, I had it done and would move onto my next task – usually dinner.

Fortunately, it occurred to me one day (hopefully not too late) that I was wasting valuable face time with her. I realized I was missing out on the big stuff – the important stuff - the stuff that really mattered.

We live in a relatively small home – a little less than 1900 sq.ft. and while it is ample space for three of us, in no time it can feel messy and disorganized if things don’t quickly migrate to their ‘homes’.

But how quick is to quick? Seconds from landing is probably too quick.

My solution: I learned to get things in order before I turned in for the night. I’d spend a few minutes, usually not more than 20 or 30, picking up, looking over schoolwork, making lunches, etc. Things were quieter then too and I found the time less stressful and even enjoyable. I knew that when I got up the next morning, things were organized and I could go about getting my day started quickly and easily.

Whether it’s getting your paperwork in order, getting your kids out the door in the mornings, grocery shopping, getting dinner on the table or cleaning up your house, take a step back and remember to actually “live” in your home. Your family will love you for it too.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

-Janna

Promises, Promises, Promises

Want to start the year off right? Enjoy this post by my cousin and guest blogger, Janna.

I promise if you adopt this simple, no-fail, multi-step program you will soon find yourself well on your way to a whole new…

Wow! Now that’s some promise.

How many ads with similar claims have we all recently heard? Ads that promise us a new body, a new job, a whole new whatever if only we would buy into their promises. And, why is it that this rash of similar messages always seem to crop up around the New Year?

Here’s my theory: these ads pray on our weaknesses. We all have them. And, right after the holidays many of us focus on these weaknesses and resolve to make significant changes. But why is it that our resolutions don’t seem to last? Personally I think it’s because we fail to understand that significant, positive changes are only successful if we adapt lifestyle changes. But to do this successfully, we must attack these tasks with know-how.

Well, I don’t know about you, but honestly the only one who would really know how to make changes for me – is me. And the only way they were going to work in my life is to work them into my life.

For me, to adapt real lifestyle changes, would mean organizing those changes and integrating them into my daily life. Hey, that’s what I’m good at – right?

Well, I decided to put it to the test.

For years I’d carried around an extra 25 to 30 pounds of weight. I’d lose some of it only to gain most of it back. It was one of my biggest hurdles. Then one day it hit me: I needed to organize a healthy lifestyle into my daily routine. Honestly, once I realized that’s all I had to do – apply what I’m good at to my problem – I could tackle it once and for all because it made sense to me.

First, I hired a professional trainer to get me started. Hiring a pro can often be the key to success in any situation. I made my appointments with her early in the mornings, that way I could work her into my day before my work day started. She gave me valuable information about nutrition, including how and what to eat and target percentages of fats, carbs and protein intakes for the day. She introduced me on to a great online program where I could input what I ate into a daily log that I keep on my computer. That’s easy - I’m in front of my laptop a good part of the day anyway.

But, the most valuable thing the trainer did for me was to tell me that I wouldn’t need her for long . We’d work together for a while (I met with her 2 days a week at first) and then she’d cut me loose.

Well she did her job – and I did mine. I hit the gym 4 – 5 times a week, still do. Early mornings work best for me. I gave myself a year to hit my new target weight but did it in 7 months. And not with a false promise but with common sense, good advice and a reasonable time line.

Since August I’ve kept it off and I plan to keep it off. And you know what? It’s easy. It’s easy for several of reasons: I adopted these changes into my everyday life; made lifestyle changes; and I did it because I applied something I’m good at – organizing - to my problem.

My point? Figure out how to organize the things you need and want to do into your daily life. The things you need to do will become second nature because you made needed lifestyle changes. And the things you want to do? They are your rewards for doing so.

BTW, I do have a 12-step (or rather – 12 month) process for you to ponder.

Stay tuned and Happy New Year!

-Janna

Get Organized in January!

Happy New Year! The National Association of Professional Organizers has deemed January national Get Organized month! What better time to make a fresh start and a plan to simplify, de-clutter and better enjoy life!

If getting organized is on your list this year, you aren’t alone. Once again in 2010, according to the Franklin Covey Resolution Survey, “get organized” is one of the top 10 resolutions.

Each January I take time to set goals and list what I want to accomplish in my business, and in other parts of my life (like what to tackle on the ever-growing household improvement list). Readers of my email newsletter, The Neat Sheet, may remember that last January I wrote about the importance of “resetting”—taking time to put things back in place or take care of regular tasks. My reset goal for 2009 was to set up a system to process and save my daughter’s artwork. While I improved in the processing of her artwork and projects, (i.e. saving vs. throwing out or sending to grandma) pretty quickly, it took me until last Fall to do the final sort of everything, and to find a good storage system. Once I accomplished this, I felt a great weight off my mind. And now saving and filing those masterpieces is super simple.

What about 2010? This year I want to focus on time: making better use of time to further my business goals, while also NOT forgetting to include time for myself.

I also plan to try and “sprint” to accomplish some personal and business projects that I’d love to get off my list this year. Taking a cure from my husband’s software development team, I’m going to “sprint” = focus on a specific goal for 2-3 weeks, then check in to see how I did. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I hope you will take time this January to set some goals to help you live a simpler, happier and more organized life in 2010. Best wishes!

Holiday Tips….2010??

Great post by guest blogger, Janna Lufkin. 

Yep, I’m already thinking about next year and nope, I didn’t roll out of bed at 4am December 26th to get to the post holiday sales by 5am. I can’t think of anything I’d rather not do! I think about December 2010 now, because I refuse to buy into the holiday hype and self-induced stresses many of us experience come the day after Thanksgiving.

But those old habits die hard. Often after the holiday hubbub is over, all we really want to do is ditch the tree, toss the lights in a box, stash the ornaments and slam the lid closed.

However, if you take a little time to organize your holiday collections, think about what you really need (should you have a burning desire to shop) and carefully put things away, come December 2010, you’ll have more time to enjoy the season and most importantly, each other.

Here are a few ideas to get you started…

• Ornaments: They add up don’t they? Many of them have special emotional meaning. But just as many come through ornament exchange parties, tied to the tops of treat plates, etc. My advice: hang onto the ones you and your family have special memories attached to; give away or donate the rest. When storing ornaments, wrap each in tissue (I’ve re-used the same tissue for years) and carefully pack them in a sturdy flip top box. Tip: If you have kids, wrap their special treasures in tissue and store inside their stockings. That way, next year when the kids are dying to decorate and help, you can hand them their stocking and keep them busy while you get the tree in the door.

• Lights: Roll each strand up like a ball of yarn starting with the female plug end and store in a sturdy flip top box. You’ll find that putting lights on your tree will be a lot easier by passing a ball of lights around the branches instead of a messy, tangled strand.

• Gift Wraps, Ribbons and Trims: I know, I know, there are some amazing deals out there. 50% – 75% off or more. Resist the urge. Instead, purge! Sort and store the wraps, cards and trims you have with your holiday decorations. Come 2010 if you need more paper, buy simple brown kraft paper and/or white butchers paper. It never goes out of style, can be used throughout the year, and it’s recyclable. With bits and pieces of the patterned wraps and ribbons you already have, plus a bit of creativity, you can have very simple yet stylish gifts under your tree.

• Gifts for next year: While it’s always a good idea to be on the lookout for special, meaningful holiday gifts, I’ve found shopping the sales right after the holidays may not yield that perfect gift. Often, by the time next year rolls around, tastes and interests shift and change and a good portion of the gifts I had purchased (because they were a good deal) are often not as relevant as they might have once been. Keep in mind that just because it was a good deal, doesn’t mean it’s the ideal gift.

That said, after-Christmas sales are a good time to pick up a few hostess gifts and small items to keep on hand for kids parties, etc. I store mine in a designated “gift drawer”. Whenever I need a quick something, I usually have it on hand.

December 2010 will sneak up fast. If you get organized now you’ll enjoy the season not stress about it.

-Janna

Holiday Help: Planning and Preparation Tips

Here are some of my favorite tips to help you have a more organized holiday.

• Holiday card list: Many families love to send an annual holiday card. Instead of going through your address book or saving envelope labels, create a list of recipients on your computer. The list can be a simple MS Excel spreadsheet of names and addresses. Alternatively, addresses can be input as a set of labels using the mail merge in MS Word. Keeping your card list electronically will save you time next year, and allows for easy edits in case someone’s address has changed.
• Gift list: Creating a list of gift recipients can help you stay organized and avoid  the last minute gift rush. Pick a date each year, such as the day after Thanksgiving or December 1st as the time to start working on your gift list. In addition to names and gift ideas, you may want to include a budget item next to each recipient. Ideally, create your list as a spreadsheet so you can easily update it. You can also keep a rolling tally of how much you have spent. With an electronic list you will have the template from year to year, and can also keep a list of what you give each year; this avoids the situation of giving Uncle Kevin the same tie or CD each year.
• Gift center: You bought the toy your child wanted when it was on sale in October, and a special gift for your mom during summer vacation, but where are they now? If you purchase gifts during the year, or can’t find gifts you know you bought, establish a dedicated “home” for gifts. Use a clear box, such as the Sterilite ClearView boxes as your gift center. Keep your gift center in a closet or attic, and each time you purchase a gift, add it to the box. When it’s time to think about holiday gifts, open the gift center and see what you have – you may discover that you already have gifts for several people on your list!
• Wrapping center: Wrapping gifts involves many different supplies such as wrapping paper, tissue paper, bows, gift tags, tape, and scissors. Searching for these items or purchasing duplicates can waste time and money. Keep all needed supplies in a wrapping center – a box, bin, or wrapping paper holder, such as the Rubbermaid Wrap N’Craft. If you like to buy wrapping paper or bows on sale after the holidays, having a dedicated wrapping center can help you avoid purchasing three rolls of the same kind of paper, but not having any gift tags.
• Holiday recipes: Many families like to make special recipes for the holidays. In my family it’s gingerbread cookies, spiced nuts, and fruitcake. To easily find your holiday recipes each year, keep them in a dedicated spot: a colored folder, special section of your recipe file, or in clear sheet protectors in a binder. Keep the recipes in a place that makes sense to you: with your regular cookbooks, or with your holiday decorations for example. If you also make special food gifts each year, keep these recipes together in a separate file. If you find a recipe for a candy or cookies in a magazine in September that you’d like to make, cut or print the recipe out and place it in your file. When you're ready to get cooking, you'll be all set.

Happy (Organized) Holidays

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.

Clear the Costume Clutter

I’ve always loved Halloween, and as a kid my favorite part (next to the candy) was figuring out what I’d be. Some of my favorite costume creations were Little Bo Peep; a flapper from the 1920s using a dress from that era that was in the family; and a witch with layers and layers of black skirts which were castoffs from a local Shakespeare theater. My family tended to create costumes from things we had. Today there are many more options for purchasing ready-made costumes…but what to do with the costumes after the trick-or-treating?

First, reduce the single-use costume clutter by using what you already have to create an outfit. Recycle pretend-play clothes (fireman, princess, chef) or dance recital outfits into a costume. When Halloween is done, the costume pieces can go back to being dress up clothes.

If you have lots of old costumes taking up space (especially  valuable closet space) take the time to sort and purge. If you’ve taken pictures of your kids in the costumes as they’ve grown up (and most of us have), all the more reason to let some go.

As you sort, consider saving a few costumes that fall into these categories:

1. Costumes with special sentimental value (“her first costume”). Be sure to store these costumes in a labeled box or bin so you can find them later on. You may even want to use an archival box or tissue paper if you really want to preserve them. 

2. Costumes or accessories that your kids can still fit into or may play with. Keep these together in a special box or bin. Then take the box out on rainy/snowy days for dress up and pretend play. See what crazy combinations of costumes and accessories your children can come up with. The costumes might seem more magical after they have been out of sight for a while. Growing up, my family had a box like this in the attic and it was really fun when I could go up and and see what was in the “costume box.”   

For the costumes that you no longer want, donate them to a charity like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. You can also sell costumes to some consignment stores, or sell them yourself online.

Another idea is to hold a pre-Halloween costume swap with families who have kids of similar ages. This could become a yearly tradition…and even an excuse for a fun family party.

What ideas do you have for costumes after Halloween? Post a comment or send me an email. Happy trick-or-treating!

It’s Here!

In this guest post, my cousin Janna shares how she gets her fall decor to do double-duty. 

“Halloween, Halloween, oh what awful sights are seen. Witches hats, coal black cats, broom stick riders, mice and rats!”

This little ditty, taught to me when I was a kid by our Crazy Uncle Ed, (as we all refer to him) is a favorite. I’m not sure Elizabeth knows this song, she wasn’t born when I learned it. I taught it to Kate when she was little. Come October, it continually runs through my head.  Thanks Crazy Uncle Ed!

I love fall, especially October, because it’s Halloween! Anybody who knows me, knows it’s my favorite day of the year.

I simply can’t wait to decorate. My selections are simple. Pumpkins for sure (I’m partial to the white ones but I always have a few orange too), and of course my collection of crows. I even have a really big nest. My aunt sent it to me years ago from the farm in Idaho. I keep it in the house year round. Come October, the nest takes center stage. I perch it on an old wooden stand, right in the middle of my dining room table. Cute Jack-Be–Little pumpkins, stacked in the nest and my big plastic crow make for some great conversation. Who needs anything more?

Well, I do, just a little.

While perusing the pumpkin patch, farm stand and grocery store, I keep in mind the next holiday that comes upon us quickly: Thanksgiving.

I’ll pick up a few extra pumpkins, gourds and a variety of squashes and add them to my Halloween display. I often add leaves and acorns from our yard as well. Once Halloween is over, I pack away my crows but for the most part, the rest can stay. The house looks nice for November and I have what I need to set a pretty Thanksgiving table.

During the fall season, right into winter, we eat most of the squash. If you keep them in a cool and dry place, they will last long after the holidays are over.

Now where did I hide those little candy bars….

-Janna