Many large retailers started staging #holiday displays and promotions well before #Halloween was over. And while #Christmas, #Hannukah and the other #winter holidays may seem like they’re a long way off, now is the time to start planning. It’s never too early to make lists: Who’s on your gift list? Who gets a card? Who’s hosting which celebration? Get these things decided now, and you’ll have a lot less stress when the big celebrations roll around. You can also make a list of the spaces you want to #declutter before guests arrive, says Rooms Need Love; since a lot of people and stuff will be coming in, make space by #donating what you don’t need. #HolidayTips
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
The Ultimate No-Clutter November
With #Halloween in the rearview and temperatures dropping fast, it’s on to November and the #holidays. ’Tis the season that you’ll see more #stuff than ever, as you give and get gifts, bake up platters of cookies, prepare your home for guests, get the good China out and put up the decorations.
But November can also be a month of measured austerity. The Great American Smokeout happens mid-month every year, and No-Shave November encourages cancer prevention and awareness. But there’s an unofficial cause you can take up in the effort to lead a calmer, more stress-free life: #No-Clutter November.
You can start with décor items that don’t get used, Organize Your Stuff Now says. As you #decorate for the fall and winter #holidays, take a good look at the stuff that doesn’t make the cut. You don’t need to save that stuff for next year — you aren’t using it, so get rid of it now. When you pack the decorations away again in January, they will take a lot less space.
Chances are you’ll be spending more time in the kitchen, too, making cookies, a dish to pass or hosting a full feast yourself. As you prepare, have a box handy and throw any shabby kitchen towels, hot pads and oven mitts in it. Do the same as you go through your drawers and cabinets; there are probably utensils that you haven’t used in years.
It’s also a great time to assess your cold-weather #clothing, much of which you’ll be getting out for the first time in November. “We recommend people #declutter their collection of hats, scarves and gloves,” professional organizer Diane Quintana told Homes & Gardens. “Look at these items critically. If they are in good condition but [you don’t] want to use them anymore, release them so someone else can benefit from them.”
To attack No-Cutter November aggressively, First for Women suggests, eliminate one item on Nov. 1, two on Nov. 2 and so on. You’ll eventually have a pile of 465 items that you don’t want or use, and you can #trash, give away or #donate them to ClothingDonations.org by arranging a #free #donation #pickup. By the end of the month, your home will be #decluttered and #streamlined — and you’ll be ready to meet the holidays head-on.
Encourage Teens to Celebrate Halloween Safely
Tweens and teens like to go #trick-or-treating on their own, Nationwide Children’s says. But parents can review a few safety tips to ensure they engage in #Halloween fun safely. Review safe walking routes; remind them to visit only homes where the porch light is on and to never enter a strange house or car. If your child is already driving, ask them to obey traffic safety laws and avoid distractions such as cell phones while driving, avoiding prime trick-or-treating hours when younger, costumed kids may be present. “Children get excited during trick-or-treating and may dart out into the road without looking.”
Make Halloween Less Stressful for Pets
#Halloween can be stressful for #pets even if no fireworks are involved. Dogs may act upon their natural instinct to protect the home and bark when strangers ring the bell, the Humane Society of the United States says, making trick-or-treating stressful for everyone involved; cats also prefer a quiet environment. Before the #kids start arriving, put pets in a quiet room, and supply them with a treat some soft music. Consider meeting #trick-or-treaters on the porch to minimize doorbell ringing. And keep candy safely stashed and secured — foods such as chocolate, gum and xylitol are toxic to pets.
Practice Safe Decorating for Halloween
Decorating for #Halloween can be a creative and joyous event. But be aware of fire risks and other #hazards as you prepare to #spook the neighborhood kids, says Travelers Insurance. Walk the property before trick-or-treaters arrive to ensure you haven’t created a tripping hazard with temporary extension cords, for example, and that obstacles are clearly marked. Arrange decorations with traffic flow in mind, and even though darkness is #scarier, make walkways and entryways well-lit. Take care not to overload electrical outlets, and avoid using the use of open flames such as candles — they can easily be kicked over or ignite costume materials.