All Change
Posted on 23. Apr, 2013 by ma1ntenance in News
Hello!
It’s all change around here, it has meant a very busy few months.
We are about to launch a new strength to our services in the form of another business, details to be launched soon, we are very excited that we will be able to offer a comprehensive service to our business clients very soon.
You will be seeing a few changes to our website over the next few weeks as we take on board our customers’ needs and make some changes to the services we offer, giving you what you really want and need.
We are growing! We would like to invite VA’s, PA’s, administrative experts, cleaners and de-clutter experts to get in touch as we would like to be able to ensure our clients have the best of the best going forward.
If you are a busy mum, family and professional in need of an extra pair of hands then please get in touch with the #DeputyWife here at Organised Little Things.
You can also find us on facebook and Twitter sharing daily tips to keep you organised.
Coming soon…Your 8 week guide to Savvy Shopping for a family of 6!
Don’t be overwhelmed, get Organised Little Things!
Best wishes
Samantha x
Are you a bit lastminute.com?
Posted on 10. Jul, 2012 by admin in News
If so we have a great new service just for you!
No need to book in advance when you need a last minute task doing, just give us a call and we will be right on it for you.
Whether it be filing, typing, calling or support putting a project or event together that has gone a bit wobbly, we are here to help you get it done on time and to a very high standard.
We have just what you need – time, and an amazing ability to process the important information quickly and deliver what you need on time.
So if you are a bit lastminute.com in life or in your business get in touch and get back on track today.
For as little as £25 you could be smiling your way into a very relaxed weekend 
Give Samantha a call now on 07771 982305
Share and save 10%! When you tell a friend about Organised Little Things, and when they book a service they get 10% too!
Hectic Mornings?
Posted on 09. May, 2012 by admin in News
“Everything in it’s place and a place for everything”
Change the habit of a life time, look at your daily routine and the space you use and think about:
• Why are you running around like headless chickens in the morning?
• What items do you need with you in the morning to go for a day out, work or school?
• What storage units e.g. draws or boxes are you under using else where in the home?
• Which space in the home do we use last as we walk out the door?
• Who has every day responsibility to maintain an effective routine for the whole household?
• How can I bring all these things together in one practical space so I can gain more time and have an effective morning?
Take action:
• Book in a morning or afternoon with everyone in the house
• Brainstorm together following the questions above – gain buy in from everyone
• Plan the new space together – keep it simple and practical
• Delegate tasks to each person – develops a sense of responsibility
• Take the opportunity to de-clutter as you go (Follow the simple rule, Have you used it in the past year? No – Bin or Charity, Yes – Keep and put it in it’s place)
• Part of the plan should incorporate daily rules for everyone e.g. all shoes should be put into the persons storage box when they get home, and coats straight on their hook
• Keep a check on the new routine with a follow up household meeting to see how its working for everyone
More time for:
• A shower
• A thoughtful cuppa
• To make yourself look more presentable
• 10 minutes extra in bed
Are you grateful for cancellations?
Posted on 06. Feb, 2012 by admin in News
You’re exhausted, it’s been back to back meetings at work all week, along with a few family dramas and being late to pick up the kids at least twice this week you find yourself now dashing to the shop to grab a last minute tea. It’s Friday and you have a long overdue catch up with a friend, but the only thing on your mind is to soak in the bath and to have a glass of wine…
Do you find yourself cancelling dinner dates or catch ups more than once a week, or better still praying someone cancels on you?
If so it’s time to get to grips with your schedule.
Value your own time and take the opportunity to delegate your endless tasks, call Samantha at Organised Little Things today 07771 982305
“Call in the wife’s housewife and get on with living your life”
Day 6 of Planning a perfect Christmas…
Posted on 22. Dec, 2011 by admin in News
“There are few things a woman hasn’t already achieved in life, she is a wonderous creature gifted with love, strength, and a smile that can make the hardest of hearts melt, believe in yourself you have already successfully achieved so much”
Samantha x
It’s a good opportunity to look back at what you have done so far this week, you’ve achieved a lot haven’t you, Well done.
It may be that you have a party or drinks at friends tonight, lucky you it’s time to enjoy it and celebrate your hard work over the past week.
There may be a few last minute deliveries and a little wrapping most of your tasks should be ticked off.
If you need to prepare for guests here’s my top tips:
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Take the opportunity to have a clear out to gain any extra room required
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Check with your guests with regard to dietry requirements or allergies
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Make sure you have enough bed covers, towels, spare toothbrushes and PJ’s
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If you have children and guests are bringing children bunk them together
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Put a bottle of water and glasses in the room along with some suitable magazines/ books
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Give them the heads up on any special traditions you follow and check what they do too
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Firm up dates and times of arrival and departure, especially if they need collecting from the train or plane
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If they haven’t been in a while remind them where the loo is and other essentials
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Make them feel Welcome
Need any questions answered find me on Twitter @SOorganised or email me mail@organisedlittlethings.com or you can even pop me on your Christmas list by asking for ‘a gift of time’ voucher from Organised Little Things.
“We often over look a man who is quiet, but it is he who drives us along, holds us when we need comfort and looks after us when we are weak, without him we are only half and with him we are complete”
Samantha x
Coming up your day 7 (oops and a 1/2) of planning the perfect Christmas…
Days 3, 4 and 5…Perfect Christmas planning
Posted on 21. Dec, 2011 by admin in News
Hopefully you’re feeling quite chilled and enjoying the festive frivolities and may they continue on as you become a supreme Christmas planning goddess, onwards…
Your checklist for the next few days:
- Wrapping up
- Ticking off deliveries (chasing any if required)
- Collecting the dry cleaning
- Collecting the turkey
- Shopping for fresh food (if not ordered online)
- Double check for toilet roll, candles, UHT milk, foil
- Keep a list of emergency contact numbers
- A ‘just in case’ box of gifts
- Organising communications on Christmas day
- Get cards for any Birthdays or Anniversaries happening around now or January
- Stock up on batteries, check the camera
Spend around 30 minutes an evening wrapping presents, delegate tasks like collecting the dry cleaning and turkey and doing the fresh food shopping. As most go completely bonkers over the Christmas period try and get the food shop done by Thursday evening, most supermarkets are open until midnight, better still visit your local farm shop.
Your emergency contacts should be the plumber, AA or RAC, Doctor, Dentist and Vets as a priority.
The ‘Just in case’ box of gifts could be a lottery ticket, a £10-£20 shopping voucher, this years top autobiography or CD preferably something that will be just as great next year!
If you’re one of the many people who have family dotted about the world like me communication packages like ‘Skype’ or ‘MSN’ chat can be a real bonus to keep you all together and please Grandparents.
If you haven’t got Skype here’s the link http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/get-skype/
Pick up some birthday cards or anniversary cards for those not to be missed events happening over Christmas and January and get them posted with ‘do not open till’ date on the back.
Look out for special offers on batteries and if you are giving a gift that needs batteries pop them in the package, a present that doesn’t work isn’t much fun.
If you are going to friends and family over the Christmas period check what activities you may be doing incase you need to pack Wellies or a little cash for the races on Boxing Day.
“It’s time to spoil yourself, if you give yourself a present this year make it some well deserved time off, booking a cleaning service to give the house a spruce or someone to run all your Christmas errands for you is the perfect way to treat yourself and gain some time to go and get pampered!”
Looking good, well done catch you later for Day 6 and 7, spirits up!
Day 2 of the 7 1/2 Day plan ‘Perfect Christmas’…
Posted on 18. Dec, 2011 by admin in News
“He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.”
Victor Hugo
Day 2 – A little planning…
If you have any Christmas cards to write or people to arrange to meet up with, all be it a little last minute, today is the day to plan your socialising and get cards posted off to be delivered in time for Christmas.
It would also be a good idea to check out any recipes you want to do for Christmas Day or Boxing Day and list the ingredients you need. Did you order your Chistmas turkey? You may be able to do that today. There a lot of items you can go without at Christmas. Focus on what you really need to make your Christmas perfect for you and yours. This is important to keep the stress levels to a minimum most people are extremely happy with a lot less than you’d imagine, so keep it short and sweet and be sure there is just enough to eat.
You have done most of the hardwork yesterday so it should be the finer details to tick off for the rest of the week. Normally I tell my clients to only ever have 5 to-do’s on their list but as we are planning for a special ocassion it’s important to keep an eye on the whole thing so head your lists by the days of the week.
Tasks you may want to consider for the first part of the week are:
- Posting ANY important bill payments or signing of documents with deadlines over the Christmas period
- Posting your cards
- Dry cleaning to be dropped off
- Following up on any social bookings
- Checking your social invitations for ‘details’ e.g. bring a bottle or dress up
- Delegate tasks to others
”Most people focus too much on Christmas Day, arrange a few nice things to do on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day too, it maybe the start of a new tradition”
To keep your Christmas perfect check out the blog in the next few days…
If you find you are overwhelmed with all the Christmas planning and don’t have anyone to delegate to get a helping hand from Organised Little Things call Samantha on 07771 982305
7 1/2 Days Perfect Christmas plan – late afternoon…
Posted on 17. Dec, 2011 by admin in News
Day 1 – Online shopping 3pm – 5pm
Now your feeling fairly festive it’s time to enjoy those nibbles, get the Christmas music blaring away and get comfy with your laptop or computer.
“You may want to consider ordering your Christmas food online at this time too as slots will be limited and you may just get a sneaky one in the evening”
- Have your list to hand (Food shop one too)
- Make sure you have your debit or credit card for paying
- Any friends or family you possibly could send directly too, have their address to hand
- Have a back up present, stock is very low this time of year
- Double check stock and postage dates especially Amazon they say a dispatch date and an estimated delivery date usually
- Tick off your list as you go
- Make sure you have a back up for receiving your items, if work can allow you to have them deliverd there save having a day off or book an ‘errands’ company to wait in for you
- Think about a plan for wrapping these items for the delivery day/evening
- Well done shopping sorted
“If you decide to order the food take twenty minutes to check for out of date food and give the fridge a spruce so it’s all spic and span for your luxury grub”
Next Day 2 Firming up social plans and wrapping it all up…
In the Wiltshire area Organised Little Things provides a ‘Wait & Wrap’ service for you. To find out more call Samantha on 07771 982305
“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way, oh what fun it is ride on a one horse open sliegh!”
The 7 1/2 day Perfect Christmas plan continued…
Posted on 16. Dec, 2011 by admin in News
Day 1 – Get the festive spirit! 1pm – 2.30pm
Now most of your Christmas shopping is done let’s do something festive and decorate the tree.
- Firstly, locate your Christmas decorations, hopefully this will take 5 minutes, check you have enough for the size of tree you are going to get, give your lights a quick check before you go out incase you need a fuse from B&Q or your local hardware store.
- It may be useful to measure the height of entrance ways and the room your tree is going into, as well as making room if necessary by moving some furniture. Plan your route into the house.
- There are so many farm shops and dotted about Christmas tree sellers you should be able to locate someone nearby.
- Make sure you have a stand or bucket and bricks for wedging your tree in and put some sand or mud ready with water to add into the bucket
- You will need a trailer or good roof rack and rope to collect your tree by car
- Have a price in mind for your tree before you go, its getting close to Christmas so sellers will want rid of the excess trees
- Make sure the seller puts your tree in a net bag which shrinks it down without damaging the tree.
- Once home get your tree stable in it’s holder before cutting open the net bag and then you can tweek it for uniform’ness
- Pop on your lights and then add the rest of your decorations
- Quick tidy up
Stand back and look at your creation!
“Add some extra decorations around the house throughout the week leading up to Christmas so you have an excuse to pop on Wham and have a boogie, with a BabyCham or Advocat of course!”
Take a break, get some nibbles and a drink ready for the rest of the afternoon plan…
If you would like some tips on decorating your tree or ideas for the rest of the house send an email to mail@organisedlittlethings.com with ‘Christmas Tips’ in the subject field.
The 7 1/2 day plan to a perfect Christmas…
Posted on 16. Dec, 2011 by admin in News
If your reading this you are either looking for tips for those last minute preparations or you have only had the opportunity today to think about your plans for Christmas.
It’s ok don’t panic it is perfectly realistic to achieve a Christmas of perfection in 7 1/2 days or less it just needs a little careful planning and smidge of adrenilin, so pop yourself on the treadmill while you take in the plan.
Take an hour or two with some nibbles and your favourite Christmas songs to get this first part organised in stone. The first step is to gather the important information you require, luckily for you I have done some of this for you…
Dates you need to know…
Postal deliveries:
http://www.royalmail.com/greetings
Amazon:
http://www.lastpostingdates.co.uk/amazon-christmas-last-order-and-delivery-dates.html
Flowers:
Hampers:
http://www.selfridgeshampers.com/delivery-details/
Red Letter options:
http://www.redletterdays.co.uk/christmas-gifts/
http://www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk/
“Don’t get absorbed by all the lovely shiny things take a direct approach and go with your first thought when selecting a present”
Make a list…
Your list for action should have the following points for success:
Day 1 – Presents and Shopping 8.30am – 11.30am:
- List the key people you need to buy for, consider seeking an idea for a present from their close relatives for speed (the above links are also a great resource)
- Split the list into ‘online’ and ‘high street’
- Check your budget, if you need cash and where the best cash point to you is, stick to your budget!
- Check what wrapping resources you have already, make a list of what you don’t have to take shopping with you or contact your local wrapping service to do it all for you
- A planned hiding place for suprise gifts or gifts for children
- Check petrol and plan for snow so a coat, wellies and a shovel in the back of the car and places to park or bus/train times to where you plan to go shopping.
- Take some eco friendly bags with you, often they are a lot more friendly on your hands too!
- A cafe for elevenses, you’ll need a breather and a catch up on your list
- Make sure you have lunch in at home so when you get back you can stock up your energy levels ready for the afternoon
Hide all your shopping away, grab some lunch and firm up the afternoon plan…
“When ordering online take advantage of the gift wrapping and gift message services, some even send the item to your chosen address too”
Keep an eye out for the next step on Friday 16th December
If you live in or around Wiltshire Organised Little Things can provide gift wrapping services to you, Call Samantha on 07771 982305 to check if we have any slots available.
Thank you
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas