Main Page Blog Getting Pregnant Articles Pregnancy Articles Parenting Articles TLOL Article Directory Chinese Gender Chart Pregnancy and Parenting Journals	Get Organized for the Holidays - by Sandra Walker Do you feel overwhelmed every time you think of the upcoming holidays? Is this time of year usually stressful and hectic for you? Well, take a deep breath and relax! Getting organized will help make for a more relaxed enjoyable holiday, whether your plans include a formal dinner for forty, or a quiet cozy celebration for two. To help prepare for the upcoming holidays, try these suggestions: Begin your gift list now! When someone mentions in passing something wonderful that they've seen, or a favorite item that needs replacing, write it down. Include clothing sizes on your list. Now, don't leave home without your list! When you come across a store sale, you'll have your list of gifts to buy. This helps save both time and money. Get help! Make a pot of chili or order pizza, and invite friends or relatives over for a tree trimming party. Instead of a formal dinner that you prepare, throw a pot luck party - have each guest bring a dish. You can set a theme (dessert, brunch, etc.)to inspire creativity. Relax! Take some time for yourself to de-stress. Take a walk, have a massage, hug a loved one, cuddle with a pet. Instead of striving for the "perfect" celebration, try to focus on the meaning of the holidays and the people you love. For other ideas on how to have more enjoyable, less stressful holidays, contact My Time Is Yours: call 281-298-6133 or 800-324-9170, visit our website at www.mytimeisyours.com or send e-mail to mytime@worldnet.att.net My Time Is Yours Copyright 1999, All Rights Reserved. Please contact My Time Is Yours for reprints. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sandra Walker is a professional organizer, speaker, and author. She provides time management consultation, business and personal organization for her clients. She also teaches the popular Simplify Your Life organization and time management series, and various workshops. Sandra has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas A&M University, with emphasis in marketing and psychology. She is a member of Houston Professional Organizers, and has authored numerous articles on managing time and getting (and staying) organized. For over 17 years, Sandra was a project manager and instructor with Joske's of Texas and AT&T. Her interest and skills in time management, organization, and corporate training led to the creation of My Time Is Yoursİ in 1995.