Brenden McDaniel's Organizing Tips For The Holidays
Written by Brenden McDaniel CPO-CD® cSMM
Brenden McDaniel's Holiday Organizing Tips:
Keep Things Simple. This may be hard for some but the simpler the display tasks are the simpler they are to set up, display, take down, and put away.
When unpacking display items, clothing, linins, ornaments, and any other items have a bag or box ready to have for donations. After being on display for a period time some items may be worn out, faded or not the desired look any more. By donating these items before the holidays there is a good chance someone else would be able to make use of them. I find that schools are really good places for these items because it gives the kids the opportunity to repurpose and create new items.
When the kids bring home holiday artwork date them. Then evaluate what to keep and what would make good gifts for friends, relatives and neighbors. A gift of a child’s artwork will brighten anyone’s day.
Clean the fridge and freezer. In a few short weeks the space will be needed for those holiday deserts, main course and side dishes. Any jams or condiments that are almost empty use or throw out to make room for the new items. The same thing goes for the leftovers.
Plan for the gathering. If extra dishes, glassware, tables and chairs are needed make sure they are clean and accessible ahead of time. This will save time searching and cleaning at the last minute.
Clean out and purge front hall closet to make room for guest’s items such as boots, coats, hats, scarfs and gloves. Remove all nonessentials. Also have extra hangers on hand for the guest’s items.
Create a wrapping station. Have one area clean and ready to be available for the gift-wrapping. Get all essentials ready, tape, sissors, and tissue paper for example.
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About the Author
Biographyr
Brenden McDaniel
CPO-CD® cSMM
Brenden McDaniel CPO-CD® cSMM has been in the organizing profession for over twelve years and is the owner of Action Organizing Services LLC® in Milwaukee, WI. Brenden is a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization® and is a Hoarding Specialist and ADD specialist.
Brenden was drawn to professional organizing after experiencing first-hand effects from his late mother - an extreme Hoarder who committed suicide. Personalized mentoring helped Brenden realize that his own pain and suffering should be rechanneled positively by positively impacting the lives of others. This drew Brenden to Professional Organizing, and to launch Action Organizing Services LLC ® (1999).
If you would have asked Brenden growing up what he wanted to do when he grew up never in a million years would he say (“I want to be a professional organizer”) In fact when Brenden first heard of the organizing profession he has quoted as saying “Organizing? People pay you to do that?” Now he has to give a chuckle whenever someone reminds him of that.
Brenden is a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization® and is an accredited Hoarding, CD and ADD specialist. He holds numerous certificates ranging from Hoarding to Mental Health to Senior Move Management – including a strong hands-on experience from working in mold and asbestos situations.
He has been one of the featured professional organizers on A&E’s Hoarders and TLC’s Hoarding Buried Alive. Brenden appears regularly on the Fox 6 Milwaukee Morning Show ”Real Milwaukee” Giving Organizing tips and advice.
Brenden has done interviews on local and national TV (WTMJ 4,Fox 6,CBS 58, WISN 12), radio (WMIL, WMYX, WTMJ, KMOX, WCUB, KQRX), magazines (M Magazine, Milwaukee Magazine, CitiGal Magazine and “All You”), and newspapers (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Waukesha Freeman, Kenosha News, The Business Journal, Shorewood & Wauwatosa Now editions), and internet (Associated Press, AOL & Yahoo). Brenden is the President of the National Association of Professional Organizers-Wisconsin Chapter (NAPO), and past Chairperson for the Professional Organizers Canada-Cyber Chapter (POC). Brenden also has been awarded the “Angies List Super Service Award” 3 years in a row and has won the Prestigious Better Business Bureau Torch Award (2008).
One of Brenden's first clients was a paralyzed gentleman in his early sixties that suffered a number of strokes. He could not shower, bathe, or use the toilet on his own - and his house was in a shambles. The county would be allowed him to return home unless the dwelling was cleaned up - or they would repossess his home & property. The client was a proud man that did not want to die in a nursing home. Brenden learned that he loved trains and the circus. Between clients, he visited hobby stores to acquire train cars and tracks. Today, the client's living room boasts a large train board, complete with two sets of tracks, buildings, railroad crossings, and train whistles with the walls beaming with circus memorabilia. A second bedroom was converted into a "media room" with wheel-chair-accessible shelving and storage.
As a sought-out speaker, Brenden enjoys giving speaking presentations and facilitating in-service programs for professional, civic and social organizations.
Additional company background, services, testimonials, media events/podcasts and contact information are available at:
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