Let’s face it; the closet in your bedroom is a mess, you can’t find anything and you’re ready to scream!  Wait!  Before you go off, here are some easy bedroom storage ideas that will keep you happy, organized and sane.

Go to the nearest house ware store and purchase some Rubbermaid clothing boxes; a shoe rack; hooks; and a dozen or more hangers. While there, buy an under the bed storage box as well.  Once you get home, here is what you can do.

* First, take everything out of your closet. 
* Decide what clothes, bags, belts and shoes you want to keep and put the rest in a pile. 
* Take the jumbo boxes and place your bags in one; and your summer or winter tops or sweaters in the other.
* Mark the boxes accordingly, and place them on the top shelf of the closet.
* Hang some hooks on the side of the closet for your belts, and everyday bags.
* Put the shoe rack on the floor against the back of the wall.
* Place the shoes on the show rack.
* Using the new hangers, place the clothes back in the closet.
* Place everything you are getting rid of into a large plastic garbage bag and call your local church or Goodwill for pickup in the morning.

Depending upon the size of your closet, and the amount of clothing you own, there may have to be some adjustments made. But for right now, you are set to go.  Well, not quite yet.  Is your bedroom cluttered?  Then the next step is to clear up the mess.  Discard any old magazines or newspapers.  Place all your jewelry back into the jewelry box. Remember that storage box you purchased?  You can use it to store excess items spilling out of your dresser drawers. Yes, you’ll have to go through them as well.

Once you are finished, you will be exhilarated for having taken on the job! More importantly, you will have more space available than you ever thought possible.

Since many families may value the tradition of setting up their Christmas tree immediately after Thanksgiving.  I thought I would include some tips for making tree decorating a fun family tradition… 

Have Fun - First and foremost make this occasion fun.  If decorating the tree isn’t fun for you, it won’t be fun for your family. So relax and enjoy it, even if little Emma isn’t putting the crystal ornament exactly where it should go.  If there are some ornaments that are precious keep them in a separate box up high so that the adults can add them to the tree and make sure you have lots of fun wooden or non fragile decorations for the kids to put up.

Theme - Before you get started decorating, choose a theme. What kind of tree would you like? Do you want a traditional green and red tree? Or does your family want something funky and different? Get together, brainstorm and decide how you want your tree to look.

Lights - Does your family like white lights, or do they prefer colorful bulbs? Choose lights that your whole family will like to see on the Christmas tree. There are tons of options out there, from single color strands to lights that play Christmas music as they blink.

Handmade Ornaments - A really fun tradition for your family is to have everyone make ornaments. Set aside a special day just for this, a day when every family member will be able to pitch in with their creativity. Use cookie cutters, colorful paint and beads to create an assortment of unique tree ornaments. You can also buy ribbon and wire in the Christmas department and make tons of bows to decorate your tree.

Store-Bought Ornaments - Add some sparkle and shine to your tree with things like tinsel, icicles and garland. Or, if your family isn’t crafty and does not want to make ornaments, go together as a family and pick out ornaments for the tree.

Make it Special - Make the tree decorating day a special time.  Play Christmas music, put out fresh baked cookies, eggnog and hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows.  Gather a group of close family and friends around and make it a real festive affair.

Once you decorate your tree go on a Christmas walk around the neighborhood and take in all the sights and lights around you. Then bring everyone back to your place for a hot Christmas stew or casserole… you’ll be creating a family tradition for years to come.

Many people like to decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  I’ll begin giving you some ideas, recipes, crafts, etc. to help you get an early start on planning your Christmas 2006.

Use Bows - Pretty Bows add a special touch to any decoration. Choose your color scheme this year, then buy matching ribbon and make lots of bows to add around your house. You can even find color-coordinated pre-made bows in the Christmas section to match your tree decorations.

Indoor Lights - Use clear, white lights to decorate inside this year. If you have indoor trees or greenery, add a small string of clear lights to them. You can add lights just about anywhere. Placing a string of white lights in an oversized vase or bowl will make a festive modern statement. String some lights on your mantelpiece for a more traditional feel.

Front Door Wreath - Instead of buying a wreath to hang on your door this year, let your kids make one. Buy a plain, undecorated wreath and a nice variety of miniature tree decorations. Supervise with the hot glue gun while the kids create a special wreath for your family’s front door.

Nature Centerpiece - Do you have pine and oak trees in your front and back yard? Gather pine cones, acorns and colorful leaves. Create a beautiful nature centerpiece for your holiday dining table. Make holiday swags with sprigs of green pine needles, complete with a red bow in the center.

Holiday Scented Candle - Stock up on holiday scented candles. Keep several candles lit in each room while entertaining. Some popular holiday scents are gingerbread cookies, French vanilla, cinnamon sticks, and eggnog. Check your local department stores or specialty candle stores for more fun holiday scents.