My biggest organizational problem with the holidays if finding a place for everything once Christmas is over. There are the new presents, the cards, the new decorations you buy on clearance after Christmas. What do you do with it all?

Storing ornaments and decorations in my tiny apartment!

Kate, help! My biggest holiday organizing challenge is planning a holiday budget! How am I supposed to plan for the present-shopping season without neglecting my rent and utilities payments? For whom do I REALLY need to buy presents, and what is a good rule of thumb for a spending ceiling? Please help, you're my guru for all things Real and Simple!

How do I organize my schedule to fit all of my dates to holiday parties without letting on that I'm dating so many men at once?!

Kate, you're my favorite simply stated blogger!!! I always look forward to your clever posts and to following your fabulous life ... more power to you!!!!!

I agree with the last post, Kate Parker's blog is a real treat! I look forward to my lunch break to catch up on Kate's organizational tips, lighthearted party posts and fabulous all-around style. I think I have also seen her guest appearing on the Today Show ... I immediately set my DVR so that my husband could watch after work, we BOTH LOVE HER!

My biggest challenge is last-minute holiday guests! What is a good plan-ahead strategy so that I will never be ill-prepared to graciously welcome holiday drop-ins with cheer?!

It is not just the organization leading up the holidays that concerns me, but what I am going to do with all that stuff once it is over! Every year more lights, garland, ornaments, cookies cutters, etc., are added to the collection. How do we keep our house from bursting at the seams with holiday decorations?

My biggest organization problem is in the kitchen. I bake a lot during the holiday season and have no space in which to really store all of the baked goodies. I call my kitchen the cave because it's dark and small. But I love cooking and baking.

I normally start thinking about my holiday tasks in September because both sides of my family are fairly large so I do start thinking of ideas for gifts and baking. However, this year I SERIOUSLY don't even want to be around for the holidays. My husband passed away earlier this year and just thinking about the holidays makes me more depressed and stressed.

I have nowhere to store baking stuff. I have to drag all the fancy cookie cutters and frosting implements and ingredients out of the backs of cupboards, and then put them all back away again each time I bake. It's a pain. I wish I had a rolling cart that held baking stuff!

Christmas on a budget can be an organizational challenge. I make about 75% of the gifts we give during the holidays. That means that I begin in January strolling through books and websites to find something fun and different, within our price range for supplies, and not outside my talents and abilities. Add the constantly-growing list of "things I've given them in previous years", and you can see the challenge. So, I start in January with a blank list of names and gift-giving occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc.). As I see something to make that is appropriate, I write it on the list, and print instructions to put in a folder. By about April, the list is mostly complete. Then, as time and energy allows, I craft craft craft. Fall brings that holiday panic, where I realize that the clock is ticking and I'm not nearly done. Yikes! All that said, I think the focus on crafting and gifting in the fall (leading up to the holidays) makes this the most alive time of year. Welcome fall!

Missy - I dont have a large kitchen either and my baking endeavors used to go over a three day period so in order to prep for baking days, I really get into organized mode. I bake for my neighbors, close friends and relatives so I put together a list of the items I'm baking, then I create a list of all the necessary ingredients. I also plan out my the items that can be baked in particular days. Yes, I know very scary but when you have limited space you have to get creative. I also bought several baking pans so that I can utilize the oven heat instead of turning the oven and off. As far as storage is concerned, I bought airtight containers that can be stacked so from a storage standpoint it's not all over the place. Believe me, it took me years of practice and improving to get my baking routine in place.

How do I make my whole house feel like the holidays (warm, cheerful, good-smelling, etc) without spending a ton of money?

Every year I dread this time of year because my husband and I argue over where to spend the holidays. We've tried splitting Thanksgiving and Christmas, going to his side for one and my for the other Other years we more time in the car traveling to each family member's house to make sure we are able to celebrate with EVERYONE. In the end, my husband and I end up tired and frustrated; instead of enjoying ourselves and loved ones. I would love to figure out a better solution!!

The one task that really drives me nuts is trying to get the family together to draw names for exchanging gifts. With all the work schedules and college/work schedules it's difficult to get organized so we all buy, buy, buy, spending a whole lot of money that some of us can't afford. Help!

One of the most important things for me around Christmas is to not fret over organization. I've spent too much time worrying about how I'll get everything done!

Where do I store all the gifts?

And how do I motivate my husband to shop for Christmas so that we can get our shopping done before Christmas Eve.

I usually have to work right up to Christmas so have little time to shop, how can I buy thoughtful presents for adults, that don't cost the earth that they are really going to want?

Right now the contents of my dining room are taking up residence in the living room. Two months ago my husband began fixing our dining room ceiling. He has the ceiling knocked out, but hasn't yet finished the plumbing repairs that ruined the ceiling in the 1st place. Yet to do are 1. finishing the plumbing repairs, 2. putting up a new ceiling, 3. painting the room and 4. tiling the floor. We bought the tile 2-3 years ago and it's been sitting in our basement since. We have a very low income, so can't afford to hire people to finish the job. My husband works multiple jobs and is hardly ever home. He leaves at 6:15 AM and comes home between 9:30-10:30 PM. The same hours are held on Saturdays. Yes, nearly the same on Sundays, because he is a pastor of a small church in Philadelphia. I asked him whether any of the church parishioners or any of his adult school of ministry students might be able to lend a helping hand, but he balks at that. I think he is embarrassed about his negligence. I do not know how to put up a ceiling, or do plumbing repairs. I have never painted, but am willing to learn. I think I could handle doing the tiling once the painting is finished. I would only need help moving the heavy china cabinets. We do have 2 sons still living in our home, ages 19 and 17. The older one is commuting to college and has a 27 hr. work week. The younger one is in his senior year of high school and is in advanced placement classes, which garner an abundance of homework. I fear that I will have nowhere to place a Christmas tree this year, much less be able to invite our oldest son, his wife and our grandbaby (age 2) to come over. What am I to do?

My first thought when answering this question is that the holidays come and go so quickly and so few of the moments are precious and cherished to last. How can I be fully present in the moment and enjoy the holiday instead of worrying about all that I have to do? How can I soak in the beauty of the season and feel joy instead of stressed? I love Christmas. It is difficult to be a single mother on a small fixed income with a handicap child. I want to create lasting memories. Thank you. Sheli Kroger Canton, GA

I have the same problem as many of the commentors - where do I put the presents I start buying in August until Christmas rolls around. We live in a very small 2 bedroom home that's already cluttered. I just end up sticking the gift items in any empty spot I can find. Did I mention my son's birthday is the 23rd of December!! Seriously, were do I put all of this stuff and how do I have a birthday party that isn't too Christmas themed?

I try to buy holiday gifts throughout the year so I am not stuck at finding gifts at the last minute. What is the best way to store the gifts until the holidays and also keep track of the gifts I have bought and who I have bought for?

I have learned to deal with most of the challenges, my biggest challenge of the holiday season is not organizational but shopping. What do you get for the fathers, brothers, and uncles, what in the world do men really need and want (other than underwear!)? Organizationally speaking I guess is how to give away all my gifts? I really do not need most of the stuff I am given, I might keep one or two gifts from every holiday all year. I am not ungrateful but I know that those presents could really bless someone else, but how can I give them away? I know I am breaking social graces but I want to live with items I love, not items I feel obligated to.