Nesting for the Holidays? 
Nesting is the term used when describing the urge to clean and organize during pregnancy. The overwhelming desire to get your home ready. However, for me - it often happens around the holidays. I get the urge to go through my home, top to bottom. decluttering, donating un-needed items, sometimes repainting dingy walls and even re-arranging furniture. I feel the need to have everything fresh, clean and stress-free, organized and DONE before the madness of the holidays is fully upon us. 
Sharing some tips of what I like to tackle in the weeks leading up to the holidays. 

  1. Decluttering EVERYTHING! I like to spend the day going from room to room. Going through closets and drawers and storage bins etc. Putting fresh eyes on everything we have and being critical of what we need to keep. In the kids' rooms it is a little easier. I go through the clothes. Whatever is not fitting right, or items they refuse to wear because … well because they don’t – I place in a donation pile. I have them help me with the toy boxes or storage baskets. Getting rid of items we feel are duplicative. I mean who needs 4 Rubik's cubes or half spools of threads from bracelet making. Consolidate or donate! 

  2. Cleaning out the kitchen. If you are anything like me, you have acquired more pots and pans and serving spoons you will ever need or use. I like to take an afternoon to go through all the cupboards and look at what I realistically use and need. Again, another addition to the donation pile. 

  3. Check the smoke detectors and all battery-operated devices in the house. Replace and recharge

  4. Filing away in the office. The office is where all the stuff we don't know what to do with gets piled up. This is when I grab a giant cup of coffee and get started. Go through all the artwork and school projects that come home. Do we really need to keep them. Some yes. Others, take a picture and recycle. Bills and papers (the boring adult stuff) – I organize in a binder for safe keeping and making it easy to refer to when needed. Do the kids' desks need 20 half pencils or broken erasers and scrap paper with doodles? No – garbage and recycle. Reorganize the desk to keep it clutter and stress free for homework 

  5. Painting. My husband hates when I mention renovations and painting. However, we know it needs to be done. Although heading into the holidays we opt for smaller projects. Therefore, is there a room or two that needs some TLC. It's easy to make it a weekend project to refresh with paint. Bright paints including Chantilly Lace from Benjamin Moore is my fave go to for a clean and light refresh. 

  6. Photos and frames. Do you have an assortment of frames or pictures you need to organize. Picture boxes that are labeled can save the day. Pull down old photos that seem dated or collections of memorabilia and place them in labeled and dated photo boxes to store. Then with some updated or favourite pictures can be replaced in a selection of frames of your choice to display. I like to go with the less is more look. 
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Overall, you will notice my theme is to minimize and declutter. I find the more we have to organize and keep, the more stressed and overwhelmed we feel. Find the items that bring you joy and keep them in an organized fashion. Allow your space to have some breathing room. You will be ready with calmness to take on the holiday rush – and as a bonus you will have gathered so many items you no longer need to donate to those that do. 
 
 

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Photo by Camylla Battani on Unsplash