February 2011- Think of this month as the PERFECT time to catch up on indoor chores now that it is super cold out!

_____ Purchase a small fireproof safe if you don’t currently have one.

_____ Begin thinking about what vital records and valuables need to be stored in your safe. Make copies of all of your credit cards, insurance documents, and put social security cards as well as other valuables in the safe. At first, you may need to keep the safe nearby your office so you get used to having these things stored away.

_____ Clean out one or two file drawers while you are going through your vital records and shred unnecessary papers.

_____ Spend one or two days this month on a cooking and baking marathon so you can stock up your freezer for days in the spring when you don’t feel like cooking! The baked goods you make can be used for your Purim Mishloach Manos.

_____ Go through each of your spice bottles, open them up to check if they still have a fragrance. If the spices don’t smell like anything, they won’t taste like anything either so throw them away and purchase a replacement.

Keeping a beautiful home is easy with Organize, Shmorganize, DECORganize ™ -How to Get Organized and Gorgeous Living Space without Having to Throw Everything Out.

_____ Restock your gift supplies and gift wrapping drawer with what you used up for Chanukah. You will need it in about 20 days for Purim Mishloach Manos!

_____ Get a head start on cleaning for Pesach by cleaning closets, since you probably aren’t too concerned with food getting into bedroom clothes closets, for example. Empty the closet out, refold the clothes, get rid of clothes you don’t wear, and clean the closet floor. Move on to the next closet and reward yourself for being that much closer to a Perfectly Organized Pesach!

_____ While we’re on the topic of Pesach, why not sit down and make a MASTER LIST of everything you need to do for Pesach. Don’t stress and feel that you have to do it now, just make a list.

_____ Gather up your Purim costumes. If you’re snowbound, use this opportunity to make homemade costumes.

_____ Next time you go grocery shopping, pick up some items for your Mishloach Manos packages. People really appreciate getting items they can use at meals like soup mixes, mini mayonnaise bottles and tuna, or grape juice. If you’re going to buy cases of heavy bottles and things, dividing them up into several grocery shopping trips will be easier on your back.

There’s no need to stress about making Pesach when you can read Pesach Perfectly Organized-How a Professional Organizer makes Pesach Perfectly Organized and how You can too.

_____ Take a deep breath because you’re more than halfway through the school year! Reassess what your kids may need from their teachers or tutors and help keep them on a great track.

_____ February is Summer camp planning season. Begin to look at different summer camps and decide what is best for your child. Think about past summers: what worked, what didn’t work and make your family decision based on your child’s past experiences.

_____ February 14th is a time when there are lots of decorations, cards, and sales on gifts. Stock up on end of the year gifts for teachers such as chocolate roses, thank you cards, small trinkets.

_____ Organize your guest rooms for Purim, Pesach guests, or Shabbos guests.

_____ Hire someone to do something for you like clean your house, shovel your walkway, or wrap your Mishloach Manos containers. Sometimes the money spent on hiring someone balances out with all the time you’ll save!

Looking to hire a Professional Organizer in your town? Check Jewish-life-organized.com to see if there is a Professional Organizer where you live. If not, contact one in your local white pages and send them our way for resources that can help them grow their businesses!

_____ Redo your linen closet by putting sheet sets inside of pillowcases. Stack sheet sets by color in your newly organized linen closet.

_____ Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure at your local nail place. If you prefer at home treatments, get a good cuticle oil to massage right onto your dry cuticles. You can use a medicine dropper for precise application to your cuticles.

_____ Empty your email inbox deleting old emails and storing the emails you still need into folders.

_____ Clean out your freezer in preparation for storing lots of Kosher for Pesach meat and chicken.

_____ Look for sales on food stuffs that are Kosher for Pesach all year round. This includes meat and chicken.