Christmas Preparation, Part Two

So the planning part is complete, now we need to actually get things done.

First of all, even though you are going to be busy, don’t forget to put yourself first. Ensure, even if it’s only for 5 minutes per day, you spend sometime relaxing (see http://heatherholistics.blogspot.com/2011/09/starting-out-in-holistic-health.html for further advice). This doesn’t mean you can’t multi-task. Why not spend those 5 minutes relaxing in the shower whilst applying a body scrub? This will ensure you skin is party dress ready at the same time.

When purchasing gifts, try and support your local, smaller companies rather than the large, impersonal corporations. Visit your local salon, village shops or parent based websites. As a company, Heather Holistics purchases products locally wherever possible. Our range of organic, aromatherapy products are made here in the Midlands.

Heather Holistics has some very December special offers to tempt you http://www.heather-holistics.co.uk/Special_Offers.asp These make ideal Christmas presents for everyone in your family. There are some gorgeous crystal jewellery, fantastic skin, hair and body care products suitable for all (including sensitive skin) and crystal tea-light holders for those people you just don’t know what to buy. All at amazing value prices.

I’ve just gleaned another wonderful tip (one which I am going to put into action immediately but adding another column to my spreadsheet) . . . where I have hidden presents. Every year I think I’ll remember and then find them in January!

Don’t forget to also mark off your lists when you’ve bought the present.

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Why a Filofax

My main Filofax is an A5 Finsbury in Raspberry. I would love a lilac coloured, luxury feel A5 Filofax with good interior pockets but have yet to find one.

As a busy working Mum who is also trying to run a business from home, I find a Filofax invaluable for staying organised. As some of you know, I am also a gadget geek. I love the latest, fastest and shiniest smart phones. However, I just cannot see at a glance, other than on paper, where my family’s commitments are for the week. I need either my kitchen calendar (not good when I’m out and about) or a WO2P (Week on 2 pages). I do tend to either be sitting at a desk or near my car so carrying my A5 Filofax is not a problem.

I still love my gadgets and 99% of the time, carry my smartphone with me. I’m currently using a Windows Mobile phone and love the integration of Outlook from my smart-phone to my laptop. How does this affect your Filofax I hear you ask? Thanks to the wonderful contributors at www.Philofaxy.com, who have the most amazing knowledge I learnt I could print and punch Outlook pages into my Filofax. This way, I can quickly check on my phone for appointments and update where necessary. The beautify of an A5 Filofax means I can then print my Outlook calendar out onto A5 plain paper and put into my Filofax – bliss. I usually have WO2P printed for a couple of weeks in advance and then a MO2P (Month on 2 pages) for future 12 months.

To take my visual ability a little further, using the labels and categories feature in Outlook, each member of the family has their own colour code so when the calendar is printed, I can see immediately who is where. Organisational nirvana for me!

Birthdays, annual events, holidays are all carried forward automatically (also colour coded). For any changes to my schedule after it has been printed, I use matching coloured coded Frixion pens. Erasable, coloured ink – another blog topic!