Thursday, December 08, 2011

December Life Tips and Tricks

I feel like December is always such a crazy busy month for everyone. Shopping, decorating, parties, and more! But I have a few tips and tricks to make the month of December a little bit easier.


1) Clothing

Every December turn the hangers around "backwards" in your closet like this...


Then as you wear the clothes put the hangers back "the right way." If you get to the next December and there are still hangers "backwards", remove those clothes and give them to Goodwill before January first to get one final tax write-off and make room for the new clothes you get for Christmas.

(Don't you love the mismatched hangers in my closet?)


2) Shoes

With the holidays usually comes a slew of holiday parties - work parties, church parties, friend parties, etc. And if you're a girl, you'll be in heals for most of those parties.

To find a pair of heals that don't kill your feet, shoe shop at DSW.


Why DSW? At DSW you can try on any shoe in any size without the help of a sales person. And then you can walk around the store in the shoes you try on. I always put on the shoes I want (with socks or footie stockings) and then walk around the store while I shop for more shoes. I figure if I can wear shoes while walking around a store for 15-20 minutes and they still feel good, I can wear them to a party or night out.


3) Weight Management

I always gain weight around the holidays. But this year the Mr. and I are tracking our calories on the "My Fitness Pal" app (available on iPhone and Droid for free!) and we've actually lost weight this month!

The interface is super easy to use. It has the calories thousands of food items stored in the app and you can create your own favorites too. And there's a social aspect to it as well so your friend/friends can keep you honest.

We've also kicked up our number of workouts per week because My Fitness Pal calculates your workouts and gives you more calories for the days you work out. We need those extra calories for cookies and wine!


4) Shopping

I don't do Black Friday shopping but I do do "Day after Christmas" Shopping. There are some GREAT deals on clothes but also on holiday decorations for next year.

My favorite place to "Day after Christmas" shop is Crate & Barrel. I always stock up on holiday candles and decorations for next year for SUPER cheap. Then when I open my Christmas boxes next year I already have new stuff!


I think Crate & Barrel opens at 9:00 AM the day after Christmas. Get there early to get the best stuff. It runs out by later in the day.

What tips and tricks do you use to make your December easier?

13 comments:

Linda said...

I send out boxed cards for the holidays so I buy my cards at the after Christmas sale. That way I can get them out in early December! I also buy wrapping paper at the sales too so I'm not buying it Christmas eve!

Kate said...

I need to know - do you REALLY do the hanger thing. Because it's sounds like the best idea ever in theory, but I don't know if I could actually do it... It'd prob be like a mad dash to wear everything by the next December so I didn't have to give any away :)

Dee Stephens said...

Brad has been using that app and loves it. I need to upload it.

Maria said...

Great tips! I love shopping the day after Christmas- best deals ever! And my husband recently got an iPhone and I told him about that cool app. He's been using it ever since!

Lauren said...

Love these tips, especially the clothes & shoes one :-)

Keshet said...

Just wanted to say that I saw your prayer request at Kelly's Korner and am thinking of you. We went through infertility for several years and it was the hardest thing.

Sara Cate said...

What a great idea with the hangers! Do they ever bug you that they are the wrong way?

LWLH said...

I love the idea of hangers, I need to do that to my closet and see what I can get rid off.

I also do the 'Day After Christmas' sales, their the best. :)

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

I would never have thought of the clothing hangers like that! I'm going to try that this year!

Rachel @ Little Kitchen, Big Bites said...

i LOVE the clothing hanger idea!!

as for your candles...you should check out home goods! they're cheap all year. i love going to michaels after xmas to stock up on holiday decorations.

DietCokeStraightUp said...

I've never heard of the turning the hangers. That's a great idea!

Kristin said...

love the hanger idea!

cardigan said...

Love these clothes & shoes tip :-)

wooden coat hangers

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