Oh, I’m so glad you asked! My favorite apps for grocery conundrums, household hang-ups, and personal use are:

WHOLE FOODS (Cost: FREE!)

In my imagination, I’m a homemade organic kale chips eater who delights in preparing food for my family. But the truth is, I’m really just a line cook at the Mom Café who hates spending a lot of money on food and who hopes she can get away with serving a meat-n-three a couple of times each week that reheats well for leftovers. Even though there isn’t a Whole Foods within 80 miles of me, I use this app every time I need recipe inspiration. Have a friend with special dietary needs and you’re not sure what’s safe to prepare? One click provides simple recipes filtered by course, preparation method, and dietary concern, then adds them to a shopping list. So, imagine this: your best friend is coming to spend the weekend and she’s gone gluten-free. Every breakfast recipe you can think of has wheat or gluten in it! Problem solved: simply go to the app, select “Breakfast & Brunch,” “Quick & Easy,” and “Gluten-free” from the menu, and the app instantly provides many recipes. So you decide on “Whole Grain Apple Waffles.” The app gives you a swoon-worthy description of the dish, including its nutrition information, and with one more click, you’ve got your shopping list. Best of all, the ingredients are listed in generic terms (“non-fat Greek-style yogurt”), which means you shop for your ingredients at any grocery store. One final click emails the recipe to your friend so she can review it, too. And, because I am the kind of person who loves to play “How Long Can I Hold Out ‘Til I Absolutely Must Go to the Store”— the “On Hand” feature of the app is a dream come true. “On Hand” lets me type the ingredients in my kitchen right now, and it creates recipes. Finally, this app includes tips and practical advice on healthy lifestyles and green living. I learn something new every time I use it.

SNAPGUIDE (COST: FREE!)

For great how-to information, this app does a nice job of providing you with simple step-by-step instructions complete with pictures. The “snap” in Snapguide refers both to snapping pictures and simple how-to guides that are a “snap” to use. Just be sure to disable the “post to Facebook” feature if you don’t want the social media universe to know that you’ve just learned how to remove melted candle wax from your carpet. Create your own how-tos and share them, because this app gets better as more people participate. You can narrow the parameters of your search to “Entertaining” or “Housekeeping” to ensure that you stay on-topic. No sense in letting a simple search regarding the proper height to hang a mirror over a mantel lead to an hours-long internet session, although you’re going to have so much fun learning new tricks that this might happen anyway. Snapguide’s visual aids give me ideas that stir my own creative juices. After logging in and typing what I want to learn in the search box—say, “Setting the table for entertaining”—this app serves up a photo-by-photo evolution of a lovely dinner table, from drab to fab! If Pinterest leaves you feeling like an underachieving talentless flunkie, you’ll love Snapguide. You know how on the cooking channel there’s the show with the beautifully stylish chef who makes everything from scratch with only the best ingredients…and then there’s the show featuring the cook who admits to using canned tomatoes and boxed cake mixes for time- and money-saving short-cuts? Same thing. Snapguide is ideal for visual learners who thrive on following a set of simple instructions.

SLEEP MACHINE (COST:$1.99)

I learned about this app when I went on a girls’ trip and remembered how we used to tease our light-sleeping friend for drowning out the giggles and slamming doors of Dorothy H. Crosby Hall with the cheesy mechanical sounds of ocean waves and babbling brooks. Twenty years and a touch of insomnia later, the joke’s on us! With Sleep Machine, you can layer several sounds onto one another to create your own special blend of sleep-inducing rhythms. Drift away, resting assured that your alarm clock will wake you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, whether you’re taking a power nap or seeking a full night’s sleep. I set the countdown timer and use it almost every night, especially if I’m sleeping in a hotel room or unfamiliar place. Bonus: it puts wriggly overtired six-year-olds out like a light, without the use of Benadryl! I would have loved having this app when my children were babies. After having fun trying out all the sounds, my son and I couldn’t agree upon one perfect blend. So, we made a separate profile for him that includes “Starlight” and “Beach 2 (Small Waves),” because he thinks my preferred sounds of “Contemplate” and “Drift” are, quote, “kinda creepy.” You don’t have to lose sleep over creating a personalized soundtrack; you also have the option to choose a house blend from the app’s “Favorites” section, so you can quickly nod off to the ambient sound of “Foggy Beach” or “Summer Nap.”

As the days are becoming longer and we’re enjoying that special springtime sense of renewal, with the help of one of these life-enhancing and problem-solving apps, you just might find yourself with a little extra gift of time. Use it well and go do something fun!

These exercises are safe for daily use, although common sense says to listen to your body and stop if you feel pain, especially in the joints. No need to fuel up with a pre- or post-workout snack for this quick routine, so leave the peppermint bark in the pantry. While this de-stressing holiday regimen will help keep you off The Naughty List, you’ll also be well on your way to a healthy and happy new year.

WALL SITS: Press your back against a wall or closed door with feet placed shoulder-width apart about two feet off the wall. Suck in those abs like Santa squeezing down the chimney and slide down the wall until thighs are parallel to the floor. Adjust your stance if necessary so there’s a straight line from knees to ankles. Hold for 30 seconds, eventually building up to 60 seconds. Take a brief rest and repeat this exercise three more times. You will feel a lot of action in the glutes and quads, but if you feel pain in your knee, stop the exercise.
Time elapsed: 4 minutes.
Suggested holiday playlist: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (Mariah Carey), “Candlelight” (The Maccabeats).

INCLINE PUSH-UPS: (using a wall, kitchen counter, coffee table or stair): Push-ups done on an elevated surface reduce
stress on the body. Perform incline push-ups at an 80 degree angle at first (wall) and gradually decrease the angle as you become stronger—going to 60 degrees (kitchen counter), 45 degrees (coffee table) and eventually 30 degrees (bottom step of the stairway). It’s a push-up, not a tush-up, so make sure your body forms a long, straight line from your neck to ankles. Perform the incline push-up slowly. Don’t let “momentum” do the work for you. By descending in three breaths and holding yourself steady at the bottom before pushing back up again, you’ll get the most out of this version of a classic gym-class exercise. Repeat 12 times.
Time elapsed: 2 Minutes.
Suggested playlist: “Hot Chocolate” (The Polar Express Soundtrack), “Auld Lang Syne” (The Country Gentlemen).

HIP RAISE (BRIDGE): Lie on your back with knees up and feet on the floor. Brace your abs as though a reindeer just kicked you in the gut and press down through the heels to lift the hips off the floor, lengthening the spine and making a straight line from knees to shoulders. Don’t let those hips sag in the middle! Abs, glutes and hamstrings will be well engaged in this movement. Extend the exercise by flowing through a series of gentle lifts and lowers, each time paying careful attention to maintain that straight line from knees-hips-shoulders when in the extended position. Repeat 12 times to start and work up to 24. Let your breath set the tempo for this slow, controlled movement, exhaling on the way up, inhaling on the way down.
Time elapsed: 3 Minutes.
Suggested playlist: “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” (Michael Bublé), “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah” (Barenaked Ladies).

YOGA-INSPIRED MOVEMENTS
These classic yoga-inspired postures have so much going for them! Not only do they provide a fantastic stretch, but they require a lot of core stability to perform them.

CAT/COW: Start on hands and knees, with hands directly below shoulders and knees directly below hips. As you exhale, gently nod your chin toward the chest and round the spine by tucking your tailbone as you look back toward the knees. Slowly inhale as you press the tailbone back out while lifting your head, feeling as though you could balance a punchbowl of eggnog on your back. Repeat this movement several times, allowing your inhalations and exhalations to set the pace of this gently flowing exercise.
Time elapsed: 4 Minutes.
Suggested Playlist: “Silent Night” (Andrea Bocelli), “Ocho Kandalikas” (Erran Baron Cohen).

DOWN DOG/DOWN DOG-TO-PLANK: Start on all fours with fingers spread wide, making sure the wrists are under the shoulders and knees are under the hips. Tuck your toes and lift the hips up and back, straightening your legs to make an inverted “V” shape with your body. Relax your neck, allowing your head to hang between the elbows. Keep your tail high and press the heels toward the floor (they might not touch). Extend the benefits of this rejuvenating pose by coming forward into a plank position before pressing back into a downward facing dog position once again. Repeat this movement several times, allowing your breath to determine the tempo of your movement. Allow yourself to pause and hold each pose for several natural breath sequences as well.
Time elapsed: 4 Minutes.
Suggested playlist: “The Christmas Canon” (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), “Christmastime Is Here” (Vince Guaraldi Trio).

Laurel Feinman is an Aerobic and Fitness Association of America-certified group fitness instructor who teaches at Iron & Grace on Commerce Street and at the Downtown and Jamerson YMCAs.

A special thank you to Alaya Sexton owner of Iron and Grace on Commerce Street Downtown for modeling the poses in this article.

Dishwashers
Once a month, remove the utensil holders and racks, check for stuck-on food, and wipe down the interior of the dishwasher. Though you should check your owner’s manual before you try any home cleaning remedies, consider this method to clean your dishwasher: Add 3 cups of plain white vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda to the bottom of the empty machine. Turn on the dishwasher; allow it to run for a few minutes. Stop the cycle mid-wash, leaving the vinegar solution to stand for 20 minutes or so, then allow the machine to finish up its cycle. The combination of hot water and the vinegar solution will loosen any goo and allow you to easily wipe it away. Pay special attention to the door and its rubber gasket. Finally, don’t forget to refill the compartment for your machine’s liquid drying agent. Products like “Finish” and “Jet Dry” really do help your dishes and the interior of your machine to dry faster, cutting down on soap residue and ultimately helping your machine run efficiently.

Jetted Tubs
A nice bubble bath, perhaps with some scented essential oils or an exfoliating salt scrub, is such a nice way to relax and tend to your personal well-being. But properly cleaning up after your at-home spa treatment is essential to the health of your Jacuzzi tub, considering that your bath water, bubbles and exfoliated skin have been recirculating through the pipes and creating an icky brew. After your bath, fill the tub with enough hot water to cover the jets by an inch or two, and add a squirt of your favorite grease-busting dish soap plus 1 cup of bleach to cleanse and sanitize the slippery surface. Turn on the jets for about 15 minutes, drain the tub, and wipe the residue away with a microfiber cloth. Then fill the tub again with cool water and turn on the jets to rinse your tub clean. If you are worried about using bleach in your jetted tub, you may prefer to swap the bleach for 3 cups of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of salt or baking soda instead. Either way, your jetted bathtub will be degreased, degunked, and ready for your next spa day.

Washing Machines
Whether you have a front-loading or top-loading washer, an ounce of prevention is worth having to rewash a pound or so of stinky laundry. When not in use, leave the soap dispenser compartment ajar as well as the door or lid on the drum to allow residual water to evaporate. If you have a front-loader, use only “he” (high-efficiency) detergent, and no matter what style of machine you own, use only about half as much detergent as the container suggests you need. More is not better when it comes to laundry soap and liquid fabric softener. Over-sudsing creates a scummy sludge in your clothing and in your machine. Once a month, run an empty cycle on the hottest water setting with 3 cups of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda, or use a packet of store-bought washing machine cleaning powder. Once the cycle is complete, wipe down the interior of your machine, including the door/lid and around the rubber seal. If you notice that your machine has a mold or mildew smell, you must focus on sanitizing and killing bacteria. Instead of a vinegar-and-baking soda solution, add one cup of bleach to the drum of your washer and run a complete cycle on the hottest setting. Go ahead and take the opportunity to toss in your household cleaning cloths and sponges so they can be sanitized, too. When the cycle is through, scrub the interior of your machine with a nubby cloth to remove any remaining sludge and leave the door open to permit everything to air-dry.

Our grandmothers didn’t have the big modern-day equipment that we have the luxury of using today, but they certainly knew a thing or two about economical and effective cleaning solutions for the home.

Step One: Pull Out and Purge
Pull everything out of the pantry, and throw away anything that is past its expiration date. Next, consider donating the items that you know in your heart you will not eat, even if you read somewhere that it is a “superfood,” even if you had good intentions to try Asian-fusion cooking but just never got around to it. If there’s an opportunity to consolidate boxes of rice or brown sugar into one container instead of several, please do so now.

Step Two: Put the PB with the J
Store ingredients and supplies together for your go-to meals so you can reach in and easily grab everything you need to make a quick meal or snack. Likewise, store the cooking-soups with the cooking-soups, the meal-soups with the meal-soups, and the canned vegetables by type. Line everything up so you can scan labels and keep stock of ingredients. Store baking items together on one shelf—including flour, sugars, and baking spices, and keep the muffin mixes and paper muffin cups here, too. In my pantry, I have a “starchy side dishes” shelf. I know that’s where I can find rice, couscous, quinoa and pasta. I also keep the jarred tomato sauce and gravy on that shelf because those things just seem to always go together. A “breakfast” shelf is nice to establish if you have overnight visitors; they can quietly pad into the kitchen and find what they need without feeling as though they are rummaging around just for a bowl of cereal. A “snacks” shelf at kid-height is also nice to designate so that children and their guests can raid the pantry during a playdate and help themselves to afternoon treats. An adult household might set aside space for more grown-up treats such as water crackers, fancy olives, and other goodies you might serve when friends drop in for an unexpected visit. The only “right” way to organize a pantry is the way that best serves your needs and routine.

Step Three: Apply Pantry Principles to Every Cabinet
You may find that your pantry project morphs into a global storage reorganization. You’ll find yourself going around your kitchen and throwing away or donating useless items, storing all paper goods together in one spot, and moving the cups and coffee mugs closer to the sink and coffee pot. As you ponder whether your things are stored in the most logical place they could be, pretend you’re a visitor in your home and see if your Band-Aids are where a guest would assume they are. Would someone unfamiliar with your kitchen be able to guess which drawer holds the silverware or would they have to test three drawers before finding the correct one? One final consideration as you decide what-goes-where is the size and weight of your items. Heavy things should go down low, lighter things up top. Most shelving is adjustable to accommodate the right amount of headspace needed for a box of cereal versus a can of corn. Organizing tools, cubbies and risers can easily be found in any home improvement store—but take some measurements of problem spots and untapped potential storage areas before you go shopping.

If you have the inclination, trick out your pantry with fresh shelf lining paper, a crisp white coat of paint, and in-cabinet lighting. But realize those embellishments are not necessary to have a good, working pantry. Pantry perfection lies in grouping items in a way that makes sense, staying on top of expiration dates, having a spare supply of your most-used items, and a set
of ingredients for your go-to recipes.

The simple trade of loafers-for-flip-flops brings on a whole new brand of clutter with the sudden appearance of bed-sheet-sized beach towels, pool noodles, and an arsenal of water guns. It seems you can’t ever find a clean water bottle when you need one or remember where you last saw the sunscreen. Don’t fight it, work with it. Set up a time-saving summer system to make those spur-of-the-moment invitations to the pool, the dog park or a cookout a breeze.

It seems that no matter your occupation, the livin’ really is easier in the summer. Longer days and a less-hectic pace are something to be taken advantage of and enjoyed. Besides the humidity and gnats, the only downside to summer is that when you are out of your routine, things can quickly get out of place and scattered about.

The simple trade of loafers-for-flip-flops brings on a whole new brand of clutter with the sudden appearance of bed-sheet-sized beach towels, pool noodles, and an arsenal of water guns. It seems you can’t ever find a clean water bottle when you need one or remember where you last saw the sunscreen. Don’t fight it, work with it. Set up a time-saving summer system to make those spur-of-the-moment invitations to the pool, the dog park or a cookout a breeze.

Summer Storage Systems
Instead of retraining your family, just make their habits more workable. For instance, I used to be the family Sherpa, toting a gigantic bag while the others pranced ahead through the pool gate. I was grouchy, sweaty and exhausted by the time I got there. Then one day after being publicly dressed-down by my five-year-old for forgetting the goggles, I decided these children could start schlepping their own stuff. I assigned each one of them a drawstring backpack (courtesy of various sporting events we’ve attended or participated in) and a peg on the laundry room wall. These string bags are lightweight, dry instantly, and are just the right size for a rolled-up beach towel, a bottle of sunscreen, and whatever else they want to play with at the pool. Once we got in a regular habit of storing this gear in the bags and returning the bags to the pegs, we were in the water in no time.

I’ve since expanded the system to include gear-specific bags for our other activities that require special shoes and equipment. Try it! Why scramble from closet to dresser to hat rack to glove compartment when a runner could simply keep a basket by the back door to hold shoes, socks, visor, earbuds, and hydration belt? A gardener might designate a tote to contain gloves, bug spray, kneeling pad and tools—everything she needs when she tends her plants. You could keep the dog’s leash in a plastic grocery sack (to later use for cleaning up after Fido) hung on a hook near the house key. Keeping everything you need for your regular activities assembled and stored together puts an end to tearing the house apart in a mad search, and gets you out the door faster so you can enjoy what’s important to you. Now that’s time well spent!

Here are more tips to help you get a grip on summer:

• A basket in the bathroom becomes the reliable go-to spot for bug spray and sunscreen.
• A bin or basket on the counter corrals water bottles and their awkward array of spouts and lids.
• A deep tote bag for the grilling tools, salt, pepper, and basting brush helps get your equipment to the grill when you’re carrying a heavy platter laden with beef and chicken.
• A picnic basket serves up a stack of plastic cups, summery cocktail napkins and a corkscrew for an impromptu driveway happy hour. Go ahead and add a box of special crackers or interesting chips so that all you have to do is open the fridge and grab the drinks on your way to meet friends.
• A plastic hamper by the outdoor water spigot drip-dries water guns and sandbox toys.
• A tray in the pantry readies a bag of marshmallows, sleeve of graham crackers, and a few chocolate bars for roasting s’mores around the backyard fire pit.
• A tub designated for wet clothes and towels keeps mildewed laundry surprises at bay.
• A waterproof bag holds your e-reader, a pair of tinted reading glasses, and a crushable sun hat.
• And that gigantic pool bag you once toted now festively holds a supply of clean, rolled beach towels.

Optimize long summer days by making your steps count twice. When you’re grilling chicken, double the amount you’re grilling; it doesn’t take any longer, and you’ll have tonight and tomorrow’s dinners taken care of in one flip of the spatula. Buy doubles of your personal-care items and keep one set tucked away in your luggage for spontaneous summer getaways; or, buy bulk and divvy them up into smaller containers for home, travel and guests. Get the twin-pack of sunscreen and keep one at home and one in the car. Finally, tackle your fitness and your to-do list by walking the dog to the post office instead of taking the car to buy a book of stamps. When Mother Nature gives you the gift of time, you want to maximize it and get the most out of every day. And for goodness’ sake, don’t forget the goggles!

Oh no! It’s probably in…(queue scary music)…The Garage…or…The Basement.

Organizing these storage areas doesn’t have to send a chill down your spine, but you do need an action plan. These zones can be overwhelming due to their size and confusing conglomeration of clutter. First, you need to shed some light on the situation—literally! Garages and basements are dark; throw open the windows and doors, and bring in a couple of lamps. Grab a roll of heavy-duty yard bags and take paper and pen with you so you can make note of to-do’s as you’re working (like “need new broom” or “leak in corner; call plumber”). Have a tape measure handy so you can jot the dimensions of objects that might best be stored in a container. Start at the entryway and work around the room in a clockwise direction.

At first, the focus of your work should be throwing away that which is broken, rusty, or past its useful life. Honestly, if an item is living in your basement or garage, it is already on the seldom-used list. “This 8-track tape player still works!” is not a good reason to keep storing it. Breaking up with our stuff is hard to do, but now is the time for tough love. Ask yourself these questions: Have I used it in the past year? Do I have another one that is better? Would I be upset if I threw it away and then couldn’t find a replacement? Why might I need a replacement anyway, if I’m not using it now?

As you sift through your things, group similar items. Gardening tools stay together; snow shovels by the sleds, the rakes with the tarp. To ensure that you don’t miss anything as you sort trash from treasure, always return to your clockwise rotation and don’t forget that your first priority is culling clutter. Now, tie that bag up and take it straight to the trash! Resist the urge to peep in and pull anything out. Let it go.

OK, great job! You’ve filled up several bags of trash and it’s now time to organize what remains. In the four corners of the room, create zones based upon the seasons, using whatever you have on hand to help corral things. The “Spring Zone” might contain the fertilizer spreader and the Easter baskets; “Summer” would hold life jackets and water skis; “Winter” would be for the twinkle lights and outdoor extension cords, and so on. Oft-used items should be placed nearest the doorway, while items that are used only occasionally can be stored further back. How do grocery stores display so much merchandise? They go UP. Peg boards, hooks on walls, and steel shelving are among the most-recommended storage solutions for these hard-working areas of your home. The ultimate goal is to have the center of the room empty so you can either park a car or set up a large table as a work station. Just don’t let the work table become a fresh parking lot for bits and pieces that should be stored in their proper zones.

Now that everything is in good working order and has a place, evaluate everything and make a clear-headed decision: might someone else have more use for this item than me? If the answer is yes, DONATE IT. Most places appreciate your thinking of the season when you bring articles for donation, so don’t take outgrown scooters and pool toys in January or sleds and snow shovels in July. With each change of season, make it a habit to pass through your newly organized garage or basement and repeat the above steps, tossing what’s broken and donating what’s outgrown. Earmark the first weeks of April, June, August, and October to coordinate your cleaning sessions with the four dates that the landfill will accept your random castoffs. It’s a drag to realize you’re stuck with the Commodore 64 hogging valuable storage space because you missed the special date at the landfill by a week. When you’re ready to let it go, you want it gone!

I’m fairly certain that Albert Einstein wasn’t thinking of basements or garages when he wrote, “Out of clutter, find simplicity”—but you never know.

TRASH TIPS
If you culled a sizeable pile of trash, there’s no need to schedule a pickup from the city (unless you’re disposing of freon-containing appliances—those require scheduled pickup). Simply put your bulky items on the curb on your regular collection day. If you have latex paint to dispose of, it must be dried before you can place it with your trash. Pour kitty litter into the cans to absorb the excess liquid.

Chemical-containing and electronic items can be taken to the Regional Landfill four times each year. This service is available to residents in Lynchburg and counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Campbell and Nelson and the towns of Amherst, Altavista, and Brookneal on the following second Saturdays: April 14, June 9, August 11 and October 13; 8 a.m. to noon. For more information about what’s accepted, visit www.lynchburgva.gov.

Thankfully, such harried moments are rare. I’m grateful I had a great teacher about the wisdom of keeping a gift stash. My mother kept a drawer in her bedroom armoire that held treasures of all sorts. I remember seeing silver bookmarks, compact purse mirrors, and fancy little soaps shaped like roses. She also had a variety of pretty greeting cards for birthdays, condolences, and even some that were blank inside so she could write her own message. My mom called these gifts “little tokens of affection.” From time to time, she would buy interesting things when she noticed them on sale to replenish her gift drawer. In the days leading up to Christmas, these gifts would be wrapped and waiting on a tray near the front door for any neighbor who might drop by with a gift in hand. Her system was simple, affordable, and she was always prepared.
Keeping a small collection of gifts can save time and worry, and now is the perfect time to get yours in order. Start by collecting interesting items for an all-occasion gift drawer so you’ll always be prepared for birthdays, hostess gifts or teacher appreciation presents. Designate a spot to keep these gifts and your wrapping supplies together so you won’t have to go on a scavenger hunt for the tape. When shopping, look for items that are useful and gender-neutral. At some point during the year, you’ll know someone who might like:

• Fireplace matches in decorative boxes
• Dip mix, crackers and a spreader wrapped together in a serving bowl
• DVD of a classic movie and a few boxes of movie theater-sized candy
• Exotic spice blend and a copy of a recipe that uses it
• Local condiments like nuts, barbecue sauce, pickles and jellies
• Interesting refrigerator magnets
• A polka-dotted piggy bank
• A pretty-shaped bottle of olive oil wrapped in a gauzy wine bag
• Retro toys (who can resist shaking a Magic 8 Ball?)
• Seasonal kitchen towels
• Small LED flashlights with batteries

Your gift-giving center can be as small as a dresser drawer or as large as a hallway closet, but a two-drawer plastic storage bin is a great start. Keep gifts in the top and supplies in the bottom. It’s a bonus if the storage unit can hold your longest roll of wrapping paper. A seldom-used container like a camp footlocker, steamer trunk or large suitcase can double as a gift center. Keep the gift center stationed near the place you will spread out to do your wrapping, whether it’s the kitchen table or the bedroom floor. During a high-volume gift-giving season like Christmas, it’s especially convenient to have everything in one container in case you need to whisk things quickly out of sight.
Keep ribbon, scissors, tape, tissue paper and wrapping paper in your gift center. Plain craft bags are the “Little Black Dress” of gift wrap because they can be dressed up or down; children love decorating a bag for their friends, and a crisp bag hole-punched for a nice bow is a classic presentation for adults. Clear cellophane bags are also a versatile gift-wrap option. Having raffia, spools of tulle and wired ribbon on hand also makes tying snazzy bows simple. Chinese takeout boxes make nifty gift containers—and they fold flat for storage. If your wrapping stock is low, consider replenishing your supply when a child comes to your door with a school fundraiser catalog. They often sell basic gift-wrap sets that are practical and pretty, containing coordinating tags, gift bags in a variety of sizes, colored tissue, and a few rolls of nice-quality paper.
If you have room, keep an accordion file containing a set of blank notecards, a good pen, a book of stamps, a copy of your address book or Christmas card list, and a list of birthdays organized by month. Sending handwritten notes is a snap when everything you need is handy and all in one place.
After all, the spirit behind gift-giving is meant to bring delight to a shared moment between special friends. Setting up a system and doing what we can in advance will prevent any last-minute tension from entering the scene and thwarting that happy experience.

Stock Up And Save!
For maximum savings and inventory control of your gift stock, keep this list as a reference to know when stores traditionally discount certain items. If you plan in advance and have the storage space, you can find many bargains on bigger-ticket items that you might save for Christmas or milestone occasions.

JANUARY: Know any June brides? Department stores hold “white sales” for bedroom and bathroom linens. Many online retailers offer free monogramming.
FEBRUARY: Winter coats, scarves and gloves make way for new spring merchandise.
MARCH: You can find a great deal on luggage for a retiree with big travel plans, or a digital camera for an expectant couple’s blow-by-blow baby blog.
APRIL: April showers bring great bargains on cookware, jewelry (Hello, Mother’s Day!) and small household electronics, including computers and hand-held electronic devices so desired by teens and ‘tweens.
MAY: Pre-shop now for Father’s Day by purchasing grilling tools, barbecue sauces and meat thermometers, which go on sale in preparation for summer cookouts. Vacuum cleaners also go on sale. (But don’t even think about it…)
JUNE: A new groom or a recent first-time homeowner needs to stock the shed with home improvement tools. Big national retailers feature these items at the start of the summer.
JULY: Canning equipment and bargains on fresh produce are as abundant as the summer’s harvest. Try your hand at making jellies or pickles for neighbor gifts and school bake sales.
AUGUST: Outdoor sporting goods, camping equipment and pool toys can be bought now and saved for sports enthusiasts.
SEPTEMBER: Stationery, desk organizers and other office items are on sale after the back-to-school shopping season. This is a great time to buy teacher gifts.
OCTOBER: Know someone with a green thumb? Garden tools go on sale in October.
NOVEMBER: The best toy sales of the year happen before the holiday season. While you’re helping Santa with his list, buy a few extra items to set aside for children’s birthday gifts.
DECEMBER: Wedding items, including champagne, go on sale. Many retailers offer an additional discount when you buy multiple bottles.

Source:
“Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon — A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That, and Go There” by Mark Di Vincenzo