The Posh Blog

Between Valentines, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas if you have children, the chances are you have loads of children’s artwork and projects revolving around each holiday.  Parents are always asking me “What do I do with all this holiday art?”  Here is what I suggest.

My first recommendation is to only save your favorite pieces of artwork and your child’s favorite pieces of artwork.  Simply ask your child which Valentine’s decoration is their favorite.  If you have a prolific child who has created a 10-20 Valentine’s decorations then you can ask them “what are your top five favorite pieces?”  This will let you know what you really need to keep and what you can let go of.  This is an important step.  Don’t assume that your favorite pieces of artwork will be the same your child’s favorite pieces.  If you have a favorite piece that your child does not care for, it’s okay if you save it too.  Just be sure to limit yourself to the same quantity as your child. 

After the favorites have been gathered add the artwork to your holiday decoration box.  Next year when the holiday comes back around then you can pull out the artwork and use it to decorate.  Your child will be proud to see his or her work from the years past and you have quick and easy decorating solutions for your child’s room.  You can also get your child or children involved and have them help you hang up the artwork. 

If you find that you are not using a piece as you are decorating or it breaks or tears then you should consider getting rid of the artwork or adding it to your child’s memorabilia box or scrapbook. 

Now your child’s art is not just getting stored in a box never to be seen again.  You are putting it to good use. 

Here’s to a more festive holiday!

Angela

Copyright (C) 2010 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.”
- Oren Arnold

This is it!  Only 4 days of shopping left.  If you’re braving the holiday crowds to finish up your holiday shopping here are the three things you must know before you go, oh plus one bonus tip!

1. Make your list and check it twice.  There is nothing like getting home after a long day of shopping and realizing you have forgotten one last thing!  Avoid the unneeded stress by taking a few minutes in advance and making a list of the people you need to get gifts for.   Take it to the next step by jotting down some gift ideas for the person and possible stores where you can find the gifts you are looking for.

 
2. Map out your shopping trip.  Check your list and decide which stores you will need to go to and make a game plan.  Can you do all your shopping at one two shopping centers rather than driving around to several different locations?  Save time and gas by planning your trips wisely.

3. Don’t forget to take care of yourself.  Wear comfortable shoes so you can shop without having to think about your aching feet.  Unload any unnecessary items that might be weighing your purse down.  Also, bring a bottle of water and a snack like a granola bar, cheese stick, or nuts to give you a little energy when you need it. 

 
4. BONUS TIP. Don’t forget any coupons, coupon books, our rewards cards that you might have.  You may have received some coupons by e-mail from a store and you might need to print them out and bring them.  Or you may need to go through your mail for any that have been sent to you. 

Here’s to a happy and easy shopping trip!

Copyright (C) 2009 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

This week’s deal of the week is a limited time offer from Pottery Barn Kids.  You can receive 20% off any single item this Saturday and Sunday only at Pottery Barn Kids with this coupon. 

Forget the gift wrapping get a great basket or tote at Pottery Barn Kids to put your Christmas goodies in under the tree.  Not only will they look beautiful and festive, but you will be able to use them after the holidays to organize toys, hats, books, socks, you name it! 

Or if you have been planning to get your children’s room organized now might be the time to get a bookcase or dresser.  I love the Extra Wide Dressers that Pottery Barn Kids makes.  They are sturdy and are the perfect height for children to get their clothes while still being able to see into the drawers. 

They also offer a super cute vanity  that would be perfect to help any little princess keep all her accessories organized.  What little girl wouldn’t want to see that on Christmas morning?

There is also a fabulous play table for children to spread out on that includes bins beneath it to store toys, crafts, or games. 

Okay, now you have lots of ideas to help you get your child a cool gift for 20% off that will also help keep them organized!

Happy saving!

Angela

Copyright (C) 2009 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

The holidays are a time where abundance is…well, abundant.  Often it seems like there is more of everything during the holidays.  Not only can this be stressful on the budget and the waistline, but it can also be stressful for someone who may feel like they already have too much stuff.  One thing you can do is consider giving non-clutter gifts this year.  Here are three different types of non-clutter gifts:

1. Experience Gifts:  An experience gift is a gift certificate, membership, or tickets to an event or activity.  Examples include tickets to the movies, the theater, a concert, a sporting event, an amusement park, the zoo or a museum.  Or you could give someone a year long membership to one of the above mentioned activities.  An experience gift could also be a gift certificate for a massage, a pedicure, a round of golf, cooking classes or dance lessons.   The options are endless!

 
2. Gifts of Time:  Everyone is so busy these days, what better gift than the gift of time?  Give someone a free night of babysitting, a gift certificate to a professional chef, a professional organizer, a personal shopper, a car wash and detail, or a house cleaner.  You can purchase gifts of time from a professional or give your time as a babysitter or cook someone dinner for their family one evening.

 
3. Memory Gifts:  Gifts of memory are often treasured for years to come.  You can go online to Snapfish  and create photo books or customized photo calendars.  A custom calendar is a gift that give back all year long.  Another memory gift is a digital picture frame so someone can display a huge amount of photos all on one picture frame.  Often times I work with clients who have tons of old framed photos that they don’t want to display anymore, but they don’t want to get rid.  Picture frames can become a huge form of clutter.  Digital picture frames are great for someone with limited space, in a office, or someone with a lot of pictures, like a grandparent.

Are you giving some non-clutter gifts this year?  I would love to hear about them.  Write a comment below and let me know. Good luck with the last few shopping days!

Angela

Copyright (C) 2009 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

“May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.”
- Mary Anne Radmacher