Entertaining

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Over the next couple of months there is a good chance you will be doing some entertaining.

You might be having the gang over to watch the “big game”, organizing one last Fall bonfire, preparing a huge Thanksgiving feast, hosting a cookie exchange, celebrating Christmas at your house this year, or planning any other number of seasonal get-to-gathers.

Whatever the case, any type of entertaining involves planning ahead… which just so happens to be my specialty!

I absolutely LOVE entertaining — and even if you don’t have a huge house, fantastic decorations, or an unlimited budget, there are a few things you can do NOW to simplify, organize, and prepare for upcoming entertaining opportunities.

Head on over to the Plan to Eat blog to see what I have to say about Entertaining with Ease.

What are your best tips for entertaining with ease?

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I absolutely LOVE four-day holiday weekends!

That extra day just seems to make the weekend last forever {which comes in handy if you have a bunch of house projects to finish!} However, this weekend, Dave and I will NOT be doing any house projects.

We are currently on our way to Chicago for a wedding and then headed to Wisconsin to visit his relatives for a few days.

It should be a busy {but fun} long weekend… and I hear his Grandma’s town in Wisconsin has quite the Fourth of July festivities {it’s a really small, rural town} so that should be fun to participate in!

If you are planning your own holiday party this weekend — or even if you just love patriotic paraphernalia – here are a few of my Fourth of July favorites from around the web.

Patriotic Table-Scape — wouldn’t you love to sit down at a table like this for your BBQ?

Fourth of July Pinwheel Party — this is such a fun idea!

Mason Jar Sipy Cups — so simple yet SO adorable!

Flag Patterned Fence Swag – I might try this on our front porch next year

Mason Jar Mugs with Utensils and Napkins Inside — Just one more reason I LOVE mason jars!

Fourth of July Ice Cream Sundaes — oh how delicious!

Mixed Berry Muffins – I think these can even be considered “healthy” because they have berries in them

Patriotic Redvines — even the LEAST crafty person can still put these party favors together.

Simple Patriotic Strawberries — dip in white chocolate, then in blue sprinkles – eat and enjoy!

Patriotic Brownie Kabobs — these look way more complicated than they actually are.

Patriotic Jello Dessert – so refreshing on a hot summer day.

I could go on and on with all these gorgeous red, white, and blue ideas — honestly, I could!

But I’ll stop here for now.

What are you’re plans for this weekend?

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Welcome to my Huge Birthday Giveaway Celebration!!

Instead of receiving gifts this year, I’ve decided to give YOU an opportunity to win a bunch of awesome products I currently use and love.  I’ve partnered with 26 amazing companies to offer 26 different giveaways for my 26th birthday. There will be multiple giveaways every day from June 13-18 — so make sure you come back!

You will be able to find all 26 Birthday Week Giveaways here — just keep scrolling down to view them all.

Giveaway #25: PartyLite Customizable TeaLight Centerpiece

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In case this is your very first time here at Simple Organized Living — let me just tell you a little bit about myself: I hate clutter!

I don’t want five gismos and gadgets if I can get buy with one. I don’t want something if I don’t need it. And if I can find multiple uses for something, it will instantly become my new favorite!

So, when I came across Amy Talsma and her new Customizable Tealight Centerpiece from PartyLite — I knew it was something I would love.

These are some of my favorite “ideas” for using it so far —  we actually did something similar to the green apples for our wedding!

Obviously, this centerpiece could be used year round, but I’ve currently been thinking about all the ways I could use it this summer.  It’s elegant enough for a wedding, simple enough for a backyard BBQ, and even “fun” enough for a kid’s party… love it!

And thanks to Amy, you have a chance to win one of these Customizable Centerpieces — and the tealights to go with it!

Enter to Win!

Simply answer the question below by leaving a comment on this post. You can even gain bonus entries for doing each additional item listed below (just make sure that you leave a comment for each one).

REQUIRED ENTRY:

• Leave a comment — How would you use your centerpiece?

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Subscribe to Simple Organized Living via email or RSS

• Follow Simple Organized Living on Facebook or Twitter

• Follow Amy on Facebook or Twitter

Just a reminder that any comments left on Facebook or Twitter will not count for my birthday giveaways, and you must provide a valid email address to be considered.

All giveaways during my birthday giveaway week will close on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 10:00 EST. The winners will be selected at random and announced via a full blog post on Tuesday, June 21. I will also notify all winners via email.

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I’m guessing that after reading the title of this post, some of you might have laughed and rolled your eyes.

Your mind might have quickly remembered the pile(s) of dirty laundry on the floor, the baskets of clean laundry waiting to be folded, and the stack of dirty dishes sitting in the sink.

Nope, your house is NOT too clean!

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However, as you prepare for your next play date, your next batch of company, or even the friend you know is going to stop by later this weekend, how much time and energy are you going to spend cleaning your house?

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Will you shove all your clutter into a back closet, the basement, or under your bed to create a spotless-looking house? Will you sweep, scrub, vacuum, dust, and polish for hours? Will you try to convince your guests that your house is perfectly clean?

Personally, I want our house to be clean and organized for my own sake — and since Dave and I are both very clean {and we don’t have kids} it’s pretty easy to keep our house fairly presentable at all times.

However, I’ll be the first to admit that even though our house is usually quite clean, I often do a little extra when I know someone is coming over. I don’t obsess over creating a perfect home, I just want it to look nice — and I really do enjoy cleaning!

But you know what, I’ve noticed that having a “too clean house” can actually intimidate our guests.

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We had regular company when we lived in our old house, and I often got comments like, “wow, your house is so clean”, or “gosh, I don’t ever want you to come to my house”. I took those statements as compliments, but often wondered if our house really could be “too clean”. I honestly didn’t care if anyone spilled or used a coaster, I tried to keep the atmosphere very casual and never served fancy food — but I could tell that our guests were often worried about making a mess.

We’ve continued to invite people over after moving to our new house, but now our house is a total mess! If you don’t believe me, just click here, and here.

And you know what,  I think our guests really like it!

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Not that they want us to have a messy house, but I think it’s kind of reassuring that even a professional organizer has dust, dirt, and clutter sitting out in the open for everyone {even company} to see!

So even though I REALLY enjoy having a clean house, I’ve also started to realize that a little bit of clutter, a few dirty dishes, and maybe even a pile of unfolded laundry is actually more inviting for our guests. So I’ve decided that our house should be clean enough for us to feel comfortable, but “messy” enough for our guests to feel comfortable too — does that make sense?

After all, the reason we entertain is to enjoy time with our friends — which means those friends must feel comfortable in our home.

Now, I will put ONE disclaimer on my previous statements… once all our home renovations are finished, we’re planning to have a big open house to show off all the work we did — and you better believe I’m going to clean my house like I’ve never cleaned it before

I’m just saying!!

What about you?

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Do you obsess over creating a “too clean” house when company comes over?

Is your house a total disaster?  Which in my experience, makes guests even more uncomfortable!

Or, do you strike a happy medium of clean enough…but not “too clean”?

Linked to Finer Things Friday

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Since we’re moving…and I’m just a little bit busy, I have a handful of amazing guest bloggers lined up for the next two weeks. They have tons of great information to share with you so read carefully!!

Today, Theresa Finnigin of Ready Aim Organize is sharing a few quick tips to simplify your last-minute holiday plans. {My personal favorite is #9!} Theresa is also a professional organizer so you better pay attention — she really knows her stuff.

Christmas is just 12 days away, but don’t worry, it’s NOT too late to get organized, simplify your holiday season, and add a few special touches for your family and friends this year!

1. Simplify your To-Do List.

Ask yourself “what will happen if I don’t get this done?”  Then, only do the tasks that absolutely HAVE to be done. Look for ways to simplify or eliminate the rest.

2. Simplify your Baking.

Rather than baking dozens of cookies and multiple pies, call your favorite bakery and place an order.  Yup, it’s ok to buy rather than bake if you are short on time!

3. Simplify your Holiday Cards.

If you don’t have time to get a Christmas card out, send a Happy New Year’s card, and e-card, or make a personal phone call instead.

4. Simplify your Post-Meal Cleanup.

Avoid using hand-wash only dishes. Disposable plates or dishwasher-safe plates will give you and your family more time to relax.

Now that you’ve simplified and organized your holiday season, here are a few very simple touches you can do to make family and friends feel more welcome AND give yourself more time to relax.

5. Empty the dishwasher BEFORE guests arrive.

This allows you to quickly and easily load the dishes after your meal.

6. Clean Sparingly.

Only clean rooms that your guests will use (bathroom, living room, dining room, etc.)

7. Keep lights on in the room people will enter.

The entryway should be well lit, clean, and bright.  Guests will feel immediately welcomed.

8. Make room for guests.

Make some extra room in the coat closet for guests to hang their coats and clean out your fridge to make room for any perishable items they may bring.

9. Triple line the trash can.

When the bag is full you can take out the trash discreetly during your party and the new bag is already in place — no need to get out a new (and noisy) trash bag in the middle of the fun.  Also, the multiple layers of trash bags will make clean up easy if a bag leaks or tears.

10. Plan ahead for leftovers.

Make sure you have enough plastic ware, plastic wrap or foil to wrap up the leftovers.  Consider sending leftovers home with guests in disposable containers.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed and wishing you had started preparing for the holidays weeks (or even months) ago — just know that you’re NOT alone! Take a deep breath…and then implement a few of these simple tips to help you relax and ensure your guests feel welcome and comfortable in your home.

Keep it simple! Now you can cuddle by the fire and celebrate the season!

Theresa Finnigin is a professional organizer and owner of Ready Aim Organize. Ready Aim Organize works to rid homes and offices of clutter and chaos to ensure time is not wasted and each day is more productive and peaceful than the one before!

When not working to restore organization, Theresa is a guest speaker for various local organizations and a contributor to the Ready Aim Organize blog and other organizing websites.  Theresa is currently based out of southwest Illinois, but will be relocating to the San Diego area shortly after the New Year.

Sign up now to receive the FREE Ready Aim Organize e-newsletter.

Linked to Top Ten Tuesdays

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If I were ever a collector {which by nature I could NEVER be}…but, if I ever collected anything, it would be dishes!

{p.s. If you are wondering why my silver cup is so dirty, don’t worry, I cleaned it!}

I LOVE dishes!

I don’t know why I love dishes…or when this infatuation started, but I have a hunch it was the day I registered for our wedding {Thanksgiving weekend of 2005}. There were just so many beautiful patterns and styles to pick from; I think I paced up and down the dish isles at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target until I memorized every set…or maybe it was until Dave wanted to leave!

Anyway, I didn’t purchase dishes from either of those stores — but, over the last 5 years I have allowed more than SEVEN {yes, I said 7…like the number after 6 but before 8} sets of dishes to grace our kitchen table!

Does seven full sets of dishes {for 12} make me a collector?

It does!

OK, well, at least 4 sets have moved on to bigger and better kitchens via Craigslist. So now I’m NOT a collector, right?

Plus, I honestly NEED the other 3 sets — they are crucial to my well-being!

Let me explain…

1. Fine China:

My China was a gift from my Grandma for our wedding. It’s the Stoneleigh pattern from Noritake’s collection. Yes, I use these dishes, I love these dishes, AND they look so pretty through the chicken wire in my red hutch.

2. Every-Day Dishes:

Obviously, we use these every day — multiple times each day! I ordered these online last year after I sold my big clunky dishes that didn’t stack well. So, I now have 3 different sizes of plates and bowls which is great; plus, I used an online coupon and my Swagbucks to get the entire set for less than $20!

3. Christmas Dishes:

I stumbled upon these dishes at Walgreens of all places! They were in the 90% off clearance rack, so I got an entire 3-piece place setting for 12 people for only $10! Unfortunately, this year, we won’t be using our Christmas dishes. They are already packed away, ready to move to our new house.

See, three sets of dishes aren’t as bad as you thought…right?

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Through my now 5-year infatuation with tableware, I have learned a few things along the way; a few tips to help you simplify and organize your dishes…and I’m going to share them with you whether you like it or not!

1. Plain White goes with ANYTHING:

Did you notice that all of my dishes are basically plain white? My China has a silver rim around the edge, and my Christmas dishes have holly berries…but otherwise they are all totally boring, nothing special, plain white dishes.

And while this might not sound great, let me assure you, it IS!

I can mix and match ALL my dishes…which for an obsessed dish-lover is great! I get so much more use out of my dishes this way, and all I need to do is switch up my napkins, table cloths, centerpieces, etc. and every holiday is covered!

2. Keep your boxes:

Normally, I don’t keep any boxes. I feel they are a waste of space.

However, I did make at least one good decision over the last 5 years — I kept all the boxes and packaging for every set of dishes. Yes, there were times I wanted to throw them out. I actually even put them by the trash can a few times, but I never actually pitched them!

Now I’m thanking myself as I can safely pack all my delicate dishes away; knowing that they won’t break during our big move  - which is less than 3 weeks away!

3. Don’t be afraid to use your dishes:

Don’t reserve your “good dishes” or your holiday dishes ONLY for special occasions. Make them ALL your “every day dishes”. Ok, well, maybe don’t use your Christmas dishes in the middle of summer…but you get the idea. Your dishes are supposed to be used, not simply stored away in a cabinet — so use them!

I’ll be honest, there are times when I really want to use my “good dishes” but I think, what if something breaks. I never worry about my Christmas dishes or my every-day dishes breaking {any they are both breakable} so why am I so overprotective about my China?

Currently, my China is packed away in our basement {see above picture} but I’m already excited to unpack it and start using it again in our new house!

So be honest with me — am I a “collector” or can some of you relate to my infatuation with dishes?

Since Christmas is only 22 days away, you are probably thinking about the food you need to make and the parties you will either host or attend. As you do that, look through your kitchen cabinets and get rid of anything you don’ t need, use, or love. Then make space for the items you DO need, use, and love {even if it is 3 full sets of dishes}.

Now go enjoy your less cluttered kitchen!

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Need an easy way to get your home straightened up in 30 minutes or less?

Try my 10 speed-cleaning tips!

These ideas are great for when unexpected company arrives and you have no time to thoroughly clean or organize your home. In these situations, my goal is simply to make my home “look” clean on the surface…even if it’s really not!

1. Have a clean entrance. Clear the entry table and floor from all clutter. Put bills and mail away, shoes in the closet, and straighten the door mat/rug. See how I organize our entry way.

2. Clear off the kitchen table and push in the chairs.

3. Fluff couch cushions and pillows. Your living room will instantly look nice and neat.

4. Straighten up the coffee table. Stack magazines neatly, put remotes in a basket or on a tray, and take any stray snack dishes to the kitchen sink.

5. Wipe down kitchen counters and the sink. No time to do the dishes? Stack them in the sink and place a towel on top to hid the mess!

6. Hang a clean hand towel in the bathroom and wipe down the sink.

7. Grab a big basket and place all of the stuff left on the floor (toys, a book, slippers, whatever your family leaves all over) inside. Put in a closet but be sure to put those items away later.

8. Open your curtains and blinds to let in the light. More light makes your rooms seem brighter and bigger too.

9. Turn on a lamp for a nice, warm, welcoming glow.

10. Close doors to untidy areas, light a scented candle, and greet your guest with a smile.

Remember to only focus your attention on the areas your guests will actually see (living room, kitchen, bathroom, entryway, etc). Don’t worry about closets, the toy room, or the pantry — save those for another day!

What are your best speed cleaning tips?

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