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Gift giving can be stressful for both the gift giver and the recipient. As a gift giver, you want to find just the right thing. As a recipient, you may feel stressed out by the thought of finding places for these new things. I am personally a fan of “experience” gifts. I love finding fun things to do with the ones I love or give them an opportunity to get out and have a fun experience. 

With the being said, stuff and gifts are tricky because what one person calls clutter, another person may not.

To me, the definition of a non-clutter gift would be experiences or things that are: fun, useful, or add value to your life (i.e. make you happy). 

When looking for a gift ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. Is it consumable?

2. Would they prefer an experience?

3. Is it useful in many context or extremely useful for one?

Here is a list of things I think most people would enjoy.

For Kids:

1. Zoo or Museum Membership

2. Subscription Service – one that I love is the We Cook Kits by Baby Boy Bakery

3. Waterpark Passes

4. Lessons (sports, music or a hobby)

5. Money- for college fund or if they are saving for a car

6. Art Supplies- because they are usable

*There are some toys that I would consider to be non-clutter toys because either last, are part of a set that can be built upon, promote free play or can be played with a ton

1. Legos

2. Magna Tiles

3. Blocks

4. Dress-up/ Costumes

5. Bike

6. Swing set

7. Sports balls

For Her:

1. Spa Gift Card

1. Nice Beauty Product Gift Set

2. Artifact Uprising Gift Voucher- Help her get her pictures organized

3. Wine of the Month Subscription

4. Tabulated Gift Card for Lifestyle Management-She will love having help running errands and getting caught up around the house

1. Cleaning Service Gift Card

2. Audible Subscription- For the readers on the go

3. Tickets to a play or movie

4. Pay for a baby sitter- Every mom deserves a break

For Him:

1. Tickets to a game or show

2. Beer of the Month Subscription

1. Gift Card to a local butcher- this is often my go to gift

2. Gourmet Snacks

3. Amazon Fire Stick

4. Lawn Serice Gift Voucher

5. Tabulated Gift Card for Garage Organization

For Teachers or Hostess:

1. Nice set of shops with a great to-do list or a set of dish towels

1. Wine/ Liquor- They can save it for later or serve at the party

2. Gift Card for Dinner

3. Gift Card for Coffee

4. Gift Card for the movies or a show

5. Cookie Mix

6. Tabulated Gift Card to have their classroom organized

For Anyone:

1. Netflix or Hulu Subscription

2. Amazon Prime Membership

3. Gift Cards for dinner, groceries or entertainment

Please note I am not paid for any of these recommendations, they are strictly my option.

#organization #organized #nonclutter #guide #giving #christmas #Gifts #shopping #buying #tabulated

Top 5 Tips for Decluttering

Next week is the first day of Spring and I have the spring cleaning bug. I am looking forward to putting up the winter coats and getting out shorts. For many people cleaning out a space can seem overwhelming and time consuming. In actuality, it can be very rewarding and freeing.  I have listed a few tip to help with decluttering, as well as my most recent decluttering project.

1. Put it on the Calendar

Put a day and a block of time you plan to focus on certain area. If you don’t give a goal a day and time it won’t get it done.

2. Get the whole family involved

Let your kids decide what they don’t play with anymore. Maybe ask them which of these toys are not your favorite. When everyone is involved it makes it easier for the item to return to the correct place.

3. Don’t be afraid to make a mess

Pull everything out of the closet or drawer. This will allow you to see the space you are working with and sort through all your things.

4. Use it, Love it, Toss it Rule

Ask yourself, “do I use it?” If the answer is no, then ask yourself, “do I love it?” Again if the answer is no, then toss it.

5. Give everything a home

Assigning an item to a space on the shelf or in a bin allows it to have a home to go to when you are putting it way after each use and the items can be found later.

For example the hall closet could be used for guest linen, towels and extra toiletries or an activity closet (games, crafts, etc), do not try to make all those things go in that closet.  See Shop our favorites to find my favorite organizing supplies.

My most recent decluttering project

This is my daughter’s play area that desperately needed organization. After Christmas she had so many new toys that needed to be assigned a home. By going vertical I was able to get toys off the floor, and provided her more room to play.

We added the shelf, bins (on clearance), labels and bookends. Totaling $100 in new supplies and a hour to pull everything out, sort and put back.

Comment below on which area of your home you want to declutter this spring?

Do great things today!

#organization #professional #clean #spring #playroom #organizing #professionalorganizing #order #alextrabue #alextrabue #alex #tips #decluttering #target #sort #bins #trabue #tabulated