Never Too Much Christmas

CHRISTMAS RANT AND RAVE

I over heard someone talking at a coffee shop the other day about how "Tacky" some people's Christmas decor is in their home. Let me be the first to say, "WHO CARES?"

Unless they are staging their house to sell; it is their house and if they want to put blow up figures out in their lawn, paint their walls red and green, pick out a tree that doesn't fit in their living rooms, decorate the outside of their house with a billion lights, make snicker doodles every day of the week, or wear ugly sweaters until December 25th: WHO CARES?

I respect people who get involded in a season. I am sure there are decor experts out there saying that I am off my rocker and that what is "IN" for Christmas this year is the only way it should be, but when it all comes down to it; it's not your fancy pants memories that they are putting up. It is not your kids they are trying to have fun with, it is not your home that you have to see everyday.

The funny thing is that designers might get a few people to talk about how clever and fashionable their decor items is, (which I probably wont buy), but I will still take the long way home once every year just to drive by that guys house with the rediculous amount of lights and blow up lawn furniture just because it makes me smile to know that there are people who are not affraid to love something so much that they make themselves a little undignified in the eyes of other people to show it.

May you dance like David with the joy of the Lord this season. May you show the world your love of the holidays, may you wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and may you never ever care that someone else thinks your Christmas Spirit is "Tacky."



Sometimes it's easier to borrow other's ideas instead of trying to type it all yourself.

I have to admit I read this and I was like, "bingo!"  I love reading other professionals newsletters.  Some really understand how to liven up a room on a budget!       10 Easy Ways to Change the Look of Your Room Bored with a room? Before switching furniture around or spending your paycheck, try a few of these:   1. Add some light. Big mirrors are a great way to change a room. Pick one up at a thrift store and paint the frame for your own look and style. Adding a mirror nearly doubles the sunlight coming into the room - it's like adding a window.   2. Make shelves fun. Painting the inside of shelves or cabinets a vibrant color is an easy way to lift a room. Instead of cluttered shelves, organize books by color. Leave some of them upright while stacking others and placing decorative objects between, on, or behind them.   3. Move it. Moving around your art will make you notice them again. Just moving one piece from one end of the room to the other can make a huge impact.   4. Spa Treatment.   Give your bathroom a spa look by switching to white. Swap towels, your  shower curtain, even your bath mats for a refreshing look. Add a bamboo tray for storage and you're in spa heaven.   5. Easy Organizing. Grab a serving tray and use it for mail, remotes, or magazines. It adds an instant organized look to any room.   6. Cozy up. Make your fireplace a part of the room even in the summer by using pillar candles or a potted plant in a vibrant pot.   7. Sleep tight.   Swapping the comforter, pillow cases, coverlet, or throw on your bed will add an instant new look to the bedroom. It's easy enough to give your bedroom a new look every season.   8. First impressions. Focus attention on the main hallway to your home. If you don't have a hallway - go for the main door. A small table and a rug with a few objects will create an instant style before guests even get inside.   9. All the small things. Small things can make a big difference. Add a new trash can in the kitchen, or a new soap dish and matching toothbrush holder ($1 each at Dollar Tree!) in the bathroom.   10. Go green. Cut small branches from shrubs or trees and put them in a large vase. It lasts much longer than flowers and brings an entirely different look to a room.

BLACK FRIDAY ORGANIZE

That's right it is that time of year... The Black Friday Marathon... How to organize your mad dash!

Prep before hand

Step 1: Have your Christmas list already created with what you want to get each person.
Step 2: Collect your doorbuster catalogs. Know which stores are doing staggered releases of items, and what time those staggers are at. Also know the layout of the store. This will come in handy if there is a limited number of a door buster, if you go the wrong direction when you enter the door, it could mean the difference between getting the door buster or not.
Step 3: Pick the one item you are willing to wait in line for. (know the stores policies as to how many of a certain door buster you can get at one time.)
Step 4: Plan your route of stores based on the above collection of information.
Step 5: If there are multiple items you want released at the same time, tag team and drop someone off in one place while you are in another.
Step 6: Fill up the gas tank ahead of time.
Step 7: Check the weather so you can dress accordingly.
Step 8: Pack food and coffee... Most people think they are going to be able to just grab a Cup of Joe, or a snack while they are out. BIG MISTAKE, those lines are just as long as retail stores are while shopping. Prep ahead and have a thurmose with coffee, and pack a lunch. Avoid the turkey as it can make you a little lethargic. When you are done, then celebrate at a food joint.
Step 9: Charge your cell phone... communication is key to getting the most of your must have items.
Step 10: Go to bed early Wednesday night, as TG day you may not get enough sleep and Friday you will be running on adrenaline.



FRIDAY MORNING

Step 1: Put your game face on!!!
Step 2: Eat a big breakfast, but make sure it is something that will give you energy without a crash!
Step 3: Stretch; thats right it will help wake you up and it will help you from being stiff while waiting in line.
Step 4: Tip your driver. Finding a parking spot is the most stressful job to partake in on Black Friday. While you are in dashing for presents, they are fighting the crazies in the parking lot.
Step 5: ALWAYS get a gift reciept even if it is a gift for yourself. Way easier to return if it doesn't work out.
Step 5: Execute the plan!

GOOD LUCK- BE SAFE - HAVE FUN - REALIZE YOU WILL MOST LIKELY NOT GET EVERYTHING YOU WANTED - IF YOU RUN INTO A JERK, DON'T BE ONE BACK BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!! YOU WILL BE BLESSED BY NOT RETURNING ANGER AT SOMEONE WHO IS BELIGERANT.

Organize To Thwart Criminals

Now that I have your attention let's talk serious business: nobody expects to have their homes broken into. The simple fact is about 1.5 million homes are broken into in the U.S. each year, and it can be prevented by simply pre planning or what I would like to coin as operation "Organize Kevin McCallister Sytle."

Organizing is simply putting systems in place to achieve a certain level of structure and sanity in an otherwise crazy and upredictable world! Does your home security need a little "Organizing?"

STEP ONE: Try to break into your own home.

That's right, without doing any damage to your home try to break into your home. *40% of annual break ins are because people have not secured the home. Do you leave windows open? Is there a broken door that is easy to jimmie? Is my window AC unit easily removed to gain access to the home? Is there a pile of wood that allows you to climb up on the roof to a second story window. (Please don't get hurt as I am not responsible for any accidents) But it is important to know if you have made it too easy for burglars to break in.

STEP TWO: Do a night perimeter walk for valuables.

One night while the family is just hanging out in the home, do a walk around as if you were scoping your place out to rob. Is there a lot of valuable items within plain view as you take your lap around your home?


                                                      TAKE ACTION!
Now that you know what is as risk here are some quick tips as to how to organize your home to be less likely to be broken into. Here are 10 quick and little to no cost ideas to secure your home.

1. Get to know your neighbors. A neighborhood that is close reports fewer crimes.
2. Hid A Keys are great, but make sure you get one that is secured to a solid structure and has a combination on it.
3. Put a security sign in your front yard even if you dont have one. Granted it may not stop a burglar from trying but it is more likely to deter some criminals.
4. Put a set of spare car keys in your night stand. If you believe someone is in your home, set off the panic alarm in your car, and immediately call 911.
5. When on vacation have your mail stopped or have a neighbor collect it.
6. Hide highly valuable items someplace in a childs room. Burglars usually hit the Master Bedroom and leave young childrens rooms alone.
7. Stage your home to look like you are there. When on vacation set a timer for lights in the home. You probably already have one for your Christmas tree, use that one.
8. Call your local police station and let them know you are on vacation. See if they will do a nighly drive by to make sure all is well.
9. Get a "Charlie Bar" for your sliding glass door. Something as simple as an old broom stick will work.
10. Don't keep your home voicemail volume super high when you are gone. Buglars will call the home and see if it goes to voicemail a few times before breaking in... if they can hear the whole message play verses you sending it to voice mail, they know your not home.



*How Stuff Works

Rant & Rave

                                 THIS WEEKS RANT AND RAVE:

I can throw a ton of numbers at you and tell you that the housing market is turning around; which is true compared to where we were 4 years ago.  However, as a buyer in the market, they are looking for a move in ready house at a fixer upper price. A buyer will look for any blemish to point out so that they can knock off a few thousand here and a few thousand there. They will push that the market doesn’t say that your house isn’t worth what you listed it at…

 

 

 

                         “There is a crack there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       "There is shag carpet here."

 

 

 

                           "This room is purple.

 

                           "That lightswitch is dated.” 

 

 

 

The list of excuses for why you should sell them your house at a deeply discounted price is endless!

                   DO NOT GIVE THEM THAT SATISFACTION!

Ask your potential agent one simple question. “If I list my house with you, do you cover the staging consultation?” A well informed Realtor will absolutely have a stager handy to teach you the tips/tricks/and secrets to getting your house in tip top shape at the lowest possible cost, and give buyers no reason to nickel and dime you.

 

Your house is your most valuable asset. Don’t let it go for pennies on the dollar! 

Writer's Block...

Ok, I am not going to lie...

I have writers block...

I used to be so witty and good at this!

I promised my first real blog since my Xanga days and all I can say is...

I have been sitting here with "Elementary" playing in the background and racking my brain to think of some way to say how important organizing your home well before Wednesday when you are trying to put together a Thanksgiving dinner and prepping to put up the Christmas Decor, dealing with the inlaws, and getting ready for Black Friday 12:01 a.m. crazy shopping; the holidays are stress filled enough; organizing for the holidays is just being prepaired for what you already know is going to happen...

As of this post you have... 7 days, 5 hours and 45 minutes. Not trying to scare you, but it's going to happen...

Oh and if I didnt scare you enough... Christmas is 40 days 5 hours and 45 minutes... yikes!

Tick Tock.. Tick Tock...

Let me help-
1. Shopping List for Turkey day
2. List of people you are getting presents for- SET A DOLLAR AMOUNT AND STICK TO IT; dont add money stresses post holidays. It IS the thought that counts, if its about money then they dont deserve a gift.
3. Schedule the photo for the family card
4. Amazon is a good thing.
5. Dont sweat the small things; if something doesn't go right, it will be a funny story to tell next holidays.
6. Holidays are supposed to be fun! Organize time to have fun; go ice skating, get hot chocolate, sleep in late, make a snowman, volunteer at a shelter, give to Toys for Tots, wear an ugly sweater, try roasting a chestnut on an open fire, put some rum in your egg nogg, send a card to the family member you haven't talked to in years... make your own list of things you want to do this year...

I guess my block lifted... get to it!

Tick Tock.. Tick Tock...


Random Christmas Picture for warm and fuzzies :0)

Back in the Blogging World

Kicking off the rust today; I haven't blogged since my Xanga Days. Thanks to our friends at C & C we are going to get back into the swing of blogging! (I thought for sure after Xanga kind of vanished that blogging was going to be a passing fad).

As you all know my name is Dwight D. Karkan and I own Organized By Dwight: Professional Organizing and Home Staging.

This blog is to share my work, and encourage people to take back their space. Whether you are planning on living in your home a long time and need to reorganize your clutter, or you are moving and need to make your house look like eye candy to potential buyers; and organizer is what you need.

Please Like us on Facebook as well as this blog @ www.facebook.com/organizedbydwight.

I will make my first official post this afternoon!

OBD