I'm the strange person who likes to take care of holiday cards the weekend after Thanksgiving. Experience has taught me that if I don't do it early in the holiday season, they just won't get done.

As a result, I'm already cleaning up my mailing list and figuring out how many cards I need to purchase. Here is one organized way to get your holiday cards into the mailbox before March 2010:

Have a digital address book: I use a Mac computer and Address Book is part of the basic operating system. If you're on a PC and use Windows, the Contacts list in Outlook does the same thing.

Over the course of the year, update this address book as necessary so that all of your information in it is correct.

Create a 2009 Holiday Card folder: In your digital address book, make a 2009 Holiday Card folder and drag all of your contacts into it that you wish to send cards to. (How to: PC)

For the next six weeks or so, I'm going to be popping in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week as usual but with a twist -- I will highlight fab things for gift giving. So let's get started, shall we?

With Thanksgiving next Thursday, it's time to start thinking about getting things organized for the holiday. Pull out your cookbooks, grab a sheet of paper and a pen, and commence planning. Here's my plan of attack for the festivities:

Tuesday, Nov 17: Create a meal plan -- go through recipe books, choose menu, create a grocery list, and "shop" for supplies in pantry. Also, order a turkey from your favorite bbq joint so that you don't have to worry about waking up at the crack of dawn a week from Thursday.

Wednesday, Nov 18: Clear clutter from guest quarters and make sure there are clean sheets, towels, and supplies ready for people coming to stay with you.

Thursday, Nov 19: Clean out refrigerator and check expiration dates on food items in your pantry. Clear general clutter from kitchen.

Friday, Nov 20: Grocery shop (our local market is empty on Friday nights).

Event planner, stylist and stationery designer Jennifer Carroll is so talented, I'm sure you'll agree after you've laid eyes on this beautiful harvest table this morning. Wow, magical... and depending on where you live and your background, you may or may not celebrate Thanksgiving (here in Germany it is not recognized as a holiday) but all can still find inspiration from this gorgeous table just the same. I've included some gorgeous photos that Jennifer submitted, I'm sure that you'll love...

The other night, a friend of mine from out of town and I were trying to decide where to go for dinner. The conversation went something like --

Him: I'm still a vegetarian, so let's not go to a steak house.

Me: Not a problem. I suggest Restaurants A, B, and C. Restaurant A is a family owned Thai restaurant that makes you feel like you're in someone's home, Restaurant B is a local chain that serves a solid American menu, and Restaurant C is an Ethiopian restaurant that is possibly the best Ethiopian food you can get in the US.

Him: All sound great, which do you prefer?

Me: I think we should go to Restaurant A. It will be easier for us to have a conversation in there.

Him: I like that if I ask, you will share your opinion. You get to the point. You're straightforward.

Yay! The Rose and Radish online shop is back and better than ever! This San Francisco-based shop has so many wonderful things for the home that it's hardly fair to keep them only for those living in their local area. :) I'm so happy they're sharing with the rest of us, as some of their things are so hard to find and exquisite - especially lovely for gift giving. Have a look at just a handful of products below

In my home, we have a lot of kits. Like many people, we have an emergency medical kit that includes Band-aids, a thermometer, and traditional first-aid supplies. We also have a picnic kit (a wedding gift that has turned out to be much more useful than I ever imagined), a camera kit, a cleaning kit, a tool kit, and a sewing kit. I'm sure if I scoured the house I'd find a few more kits, too. Kits are convenient, typically cost less than if you purchased the same items individually, and are easy to store.

I recently learned about a company named Disaster Necessities that makes 72-hour emergency supply kits. There are food kits, professional kits, car kits, and medical kits. They even have survival kits for dogs. According to the website:

Government and Relief Agencies estimate that after a major disaster, it could take up to three days (72 Hours) for relief workers to reach some areas.

I've been living in Germany now for three months, so I'm finally starting to miss things from my homeland. I was told that expats start to miss certain things after about three months so I guess the rumors were true. So far, I miss only a few things like cupcakes (which I guess is better for my diet to not have them nearby), American wedding cakes (I love buying one each year on my anniversary with the decadent roses - so kitschy but I love the super sweet buttercream frosting), Barnes & Noble, Target (mostly for Method cleaning supplies), certain boutiques I loved back home and West Elm....

My laptop and phone are the two most important tools I use to do my work. Protecting these devices is essential. As a result, I'm always on the lookout for beautiful, efficient, and (in this case) sustainable ways to protect them.

Recently, I came across byrd and belle's shop on Etsy. It's full of felted wool laptop bags and cell phone covers that look modern and elegant, in addition to being very useful:

1. Buy a case of Champagne (many stores will offer a discount).Give bottles as hostess gifts, then use the rest on New Year’s Eve.
2. Avoid surprises. Confirm vacation days with your HR department.
3. Know what to expect. Check Traffic.com, Flightstats.com, and Weather.com before traveling.
4. Give gifts you don’t need to wrap and/or ship. Try zoo and museum memberships, items from Etsy.com, spa or credit-card gift cards, or dance lessons.
5. Skip the cooking. Order a smoked turkey from your favorite barbecue joint.

With Election Day being a current hot topic, I must share an adorable vintage campaign party theme for kids that you'll love whether you're a parent or not -- it's so creative and clever! Plus I have tons of photos from this special day to share, so be sure to keep scrolling down to view all of the delicious eye candy. This clever theme was coordinated by creative mom and paper goods designer in Washington, D.C., Suann Song, who happens to have a son named Ike so the party was called, "I Like Ike". The theme was developed around Eisenhower's presidential campaign in the 1960's so a red...

I was delighted to hear from Nataly Nir this morning from Chocovenyl in England, a children's wall decal company because they carry decals by some of my favorite illustrators and designers. Nataly, a graphic designer and a mom, loves decorating with decals which led to her passion for creating a company that makes them. Using state of the art printing equipment and premium materials to produce these whimsical graphics, Chocovenyl stands out because...

I was reading Jenn Ski's blog recently, she's an artist living in New Hampshire, and discovered the photography of Boston photographer Bob O'Connor. He shot her beautiful mid century modern home for, I'm guessing, a magazine or book and I thought I'd share some of the photos with you today. So many love the mid century style and enjoy bringing it into this century in a fresh, modern way and I think Jenn does this so well and I appreciate that she decorates on a budget. Mixing in products from stores like Room & Board and sites like Craigslist for used finds, she is transforming her home into a space that reflects her personal style. This 27-year-old artist has a great eye and her living room below is extremely well-edited example of that -- the colors and patterns are beautiful against such a natural background. The open floor plan and large floor to ceiling windows doesn't hurt either.

The following is an excerpt from my book Unclutter Your Life in One Week, which comes out next week on November 3. This is from the Wednesday chapter, the "Your Bedroom and Commute" section:

"Clear your bedroom of anything that doesn't promote sleep. Your floors, dresser tops, and nightstands should be free of all clutter. Nothing should be on your bed except for sheets, blankets, and pillows. Artwork and decor elements should be calming. Clothes, jewelry, and shoes need to be stored in their proper places. And, by all means, don't have a television or a computer in your bedroom. Televisions and computers stimulate your mind and have nothing to do with sleep. This room is your sanctuary and your retreat from the demands of the world.

The calendar shown was inspired by their love of fortune cookies, "It's always a pleasure to crack a fortune cookie open and to see what's inside - sometimes inspirational, and sometimes totally random!" says Anna Corpron, lead designer. "We took 24 of our favorite fortune cookie proverbs and updated them with a modern design. Each calendar is 2.25" wide and 3.75" tall, and will fit inside your wallet, moleskine, purse or pocket - making it easy to carry around for whenever you need it."

The following is an excerpt from my book Unclutter Your Life in One Week, which comes out next week on November 3. If you have pre-ordered the book, THANK YOU! and also don't forget to sign up to receive the special PDF bonus worksheets. And, to let you know, the electronic Kindle version is now available for pre-order (still no word on the other e-book formats).

1. Closets in or near the living room can be outfitted with shelving (like Elfa shelves) to store games and craft projects.
2. Have boxes, baskets, and bins for loose items so that it is obvious where things should live.
3. Store like items with like items, so that you can pull out one bin that has all the objects you'll need to do a specific task.
4. Try not to stack containers and boxes more than three high so that objects are easy to get to and return after using."

Have you heard of St. Louis-based artist Linda Solovic and her collage work? She has an etsy shop that you may really enjoy, I think her work best suits a child's bedroom or nursery with her darling characters, festive patterns and bright colorways. For around $22 and the cost of a frame (I suggest IKEA if you're on a budget), you can decorate your walls with ease -- without breaking the bank...

Lots of us see tea towels popping up all over these days and you may wonder, "How many tea towels does one need?" and for good reason - there is a limit. BUT it's all about thinking outside of the box. Irene at Bloesem uses hers to make pillows. Some frame them as you would a poster. Others use them to wrap wine bottles and gifts. There are so many uses for tea towels if you simply view them..

I have decided that the woman at the gym I wrote about on Tuesday is Yoda. Or a muse. Or some kind of guide to my current life.

Today, I was on this machine that helps with chin ups by counter balancing by weight somehow. I don't know the official name of it or how it exactly works, but I'll call it the Gravitron 3000 for the remainder of this article. I'm on the Gravitron 3000 and I'm barely making it through 40 chin ups with only 50 lbs. As I'm cursing to myself and trying to be positive, I see the woman across the gym who gave me advice on Tuesday.

Like me, the woman is doing chin ups, but she's doing them on a plain, metal bar without the help of the Gravitron 3000 and she's doing them with a 25 lb weight chained to her waist.

She is lifting her entire body and 25 more pounds.

Have you heard of the Swedish Design House, an online shop located in Sweden that ships gorgeous Scandinavian home goods worldwide? They just opened so you should give them a browse. And oh yes, I just used your two favorite words: Ships Worldwide. ha! I love modern Swedish style - they do such a nice job with combining modern with vintage and bringing in a bit of a cozy country look without the kitsch. The Swedish Design House carries a curated selection of Swedish-made products by both budding...

I have a long history of horrible posture, and I've decided to finally do something about it. I workout twice a week with the purpose of strengthening my back, shoulder, and abdominal muscles to get me standing up straight instead of slouching.

While at the gym today, I grumbled to my spotter that I can't believe how weak I am and that I didn't know how many more reps I could do in my set. A woman doing bicep curls next to me waited for me to finish and then spoke up and told me the following:

"Hey, you need to believe in yourself in here because nobody else has any reason to. If you don't, no one else will."

I have a question for you... Do you believe that personal style can extend beyond how you dress and into your home, in the way that you decorate and live? Have you ever given that idea much thought? If this intrigues you, pick up a copy of the beautiful new decorating book, The Well-Dressed Home: Fashionable Design Inspired by Your Personal Style by Annette Tatum. It's such an inspiration, I think you'll love it! ...

Enid is both an online and a retail storefront located in Texas and the owners have a pretty interesting muse -- Lara (who owns the shop alongside her husband Tim) is the granddaughter of the late Enid Collins who designed all those fabulous handbags starting in the 50s. Cool, huh?...

Danielle LaPorte, author of the blog White Hot Truth, recently wrote the article "We know you're busy. Now shut up about it." My favorite paragraph:

Whatever is on your plate got there because you said yes to it -- in the fullness of ambition and desire and wanting to eat life whole. Sometimes we take on to-do's and commit to climb mountains because our soul demands it. Sometimes life throttles us with unforeseen and unrelenting demands. Sometimes busyness is the result of keeping up with the Joneses. Busy can be good. Busy can be bad. Busy is most often a choice.

Do you have a dog or a cat? Do you consider yourself a cat person? A dog person? What helped you make the decision when you were looking for a pet? Your input may help me out so please contribute your thoughts if you are able...

It's October and I'm already talking about 2010 calendars? Why yes, because most of the independent designers making them only roll out limited numbers and so when they do (usually mid October) we need to hop to it! They fly out of their virtual stores and who wants to end up with Victor's Volvo as their yearly calendar?

1. Clean. First, pull everything off the shelves and out of the drawers and clean the cabinet.
2. Clear the clutter. Next, while all of your supplies are out of the cabinet, get rid of the expired products and anything you don't or won't use.
3. Sort by type and user. On a table, sort your like goods with like goods. Then, group together all person-specific items.
4. Store groups into purpose bins. If you brush your teeth, wash your face, and then take out your contacts every night before bed, these groups of items should be stored together in a tray or bin inside your cabinet. This way, you pull out all the items at once and put them back into the cabinet at once.
5. Store items based on frequency of use. Finally, the items you use the most often should be in the most convenient locations.

Yesterday I came across the sweetest white resin dachshund bookends while browsing the Barnes & Noble website and loved them so much that I purchased them right away. Aren't these cute? They are designed for Barnes & Noble by designer/ceramicist Jonathan Adler and are under $40. Wouldn't they make for a great addition to your office or as a housewarming...

Unexpected guests can be a wonderful surprise, but they can also come into your space at inopportune times. Even the most organized and decluttered homes experience moments of disorder when going through day-to-day life.

Being able to temporarily hide this chaos can help to keep your sanity and let you focus on your guests instead of worrying about your mess. I recommend owning a portable room screen that you can set up in front of your desk, craft room, or child's play area to close off the area from view.

It's been awhile since I checked out what the girls over at Umbrella Prints have been up to, but one look at Irene's blog this week, Bloesem, and I was reminded of what I've been missing. The talented Amy Prior and Carly Schwerdt, Australian fabric designers, have been hard at work creating all sorts of lovely patterns and colors resulting in some pretty nice handmade screen-printed textiles that I'd like to get my hands on.See for yourself...

I wrote about Swedish fashion and interiors company, Gudrun Sjödén, the other day on decor8 and realized that you may want to know about them here on Simply Stated as well. Leading this creative team is Gudrun Sjödén herself, an artist/designer who clearly has a defined aesthetic filled with whimsy, color and her own artistic inspiration. Her company is very environmentally conscious...

Yesterday on the website Productivity501.com, author Mark Shead posted the article "Interview: Biggest Productivity Challenge." He asked 14 bloggers and productivity specialists the question:

What is your biggest challenge to productivity and how do you overcome it?

I participated in the interview, and my response was as follows:

When I relocated to Germany last month, I asked some of my favorite people to hop on my blog, decor8, for a few weeks and share a few of their favorite things. If you'd like to view these posts, please click here. I was surprised and amazed by their picks - surprised because I guess I didn't expect some of the favorites they highlighted and amazed in that each contributor attached so much sentimental value to their chosen items. When it comes right down to it, it appears as though our favorite things are always the ones that cannot be easily replaced (or replaced at all), doesn't it? Wouldn't this be a great idea for a magazine column by the way?

Reader Sylvia e-mailed in a terrific set of tips for identifying and curbing clutter in the kitchen:

I found an easy method that made uncluttering my kitchen a snap this weekend. I opened up each drawer or cupboard one by one and asked myself: "What do I reach for?" I then removed the items I consistently reach for from the space. The items left in the drawer fell into several categories:

• not in its proper home
• broken or did not work well
• multiple (I had 6 slotted spoons!)
• never used (probably a unitasker).

Removing the items I use allowed me to honestly take a look at what was left, and I had much less attachment to the items knowing that everything I need was already set aside.

Colorado-based creative studio In Printed Form was recently launched from the vision of founder Lady Ann de Borja, who worked as a designer in her past life...

Bemz is company based in Sweden who designs slipcovers that are removable and washable specifically for IKEA furniture -- sofas, armchairs cushions and more. If you own something from IKEA and want to breath new life into it, look no further than Bemz, who not only ships worldwide, but who offer great prices, patterns, colors and customer service and who just launched new selections on their website!

Reader Kim recently sent me an e-mail discussing her method for how she decides what things are clutter and what she chooses to keep:

My question is: If this item was lost in a fire or flood or was broken by someone else (lost in a way that was out of my control), would I feel grief -- or secret relief? This question, in the way I ask it, helps me recognize items that I may be keeping out of guilt or fear (or even habit) rather than love or actual usefulness.