Not enough time to exercise? Resolve to go to bed 30 minutes earlier, wake up 20 minutes earlier, do 15 minutes of yoga and 5 minutes of meditation. You’ll thank me. Happy New Years!

Label holiday boxes in the order their needed next year then store in reverse, i.e. OPEN FIRST goes back last. Now label yourself SMART.

For a lucky some, Christmas sees an influx of STUFF! Feel good (and cut down on clutter) by donating old items to worthy organizations!

Pearl of wisdom: Shuck those hard plastic clamshell packages with an old-fashioned rotary can-opener. No cuts, no stress, no problem. 

Installing automatic door closers on storm doors = automatic savings, especially when it’s bitter cold or hot out.

No dismissing low-emissivity! Windows, that is.  Replace old ones with “low-e” windows which keep heat and cold from getting through!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ELVES!  Here's a quick Christmas tip that will help me as I set off for my snowy swing around the world to offer glad tidings and good tidy-ings: don't salt on my blue seude shoes!  A 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water rubbed gently over leather shoes removes salt safely!

Merry Christmas Eve, elves! Tonight is Santa's big night, so here's a holiday helper for Christmas morn: keep a garbage bag handy when opening gifts and teach your little elves to toss the paper inside as they unwrap. Save yourself one big mess later!
(Thanks, Dad!)

Suitable Suitcase Packing Tip: Bulk up! Save space and potentially money by wearing your heaviest clothes on the plane!

Sticky zipper and running late? Dip a cotton swab in olive oil, lubricate the teeth, and zzzzzip, you're off!

Winterize your water: turn off your outdoor water supply, empty/detach garden hoses, and use a faucet cover to protect against freezes!

ClockWISE advice: when dusting a room, go clockwise.  It keeps you from zigging, zagging, and zipping around the room with no plan.

LIGHTEN your mood: when hanging Christmas tree lights, go up and down, not round and round the tree. Easier to put up and take down! 

Keep a journal of your day to see how much time you spend doing what you love vs. what you don’t! Then revamp your day! (I suggest @HeiditheTidyElf)

Staying healthy is the ultimate timesaver! During flights, BYOB.  The “B” is BLANKET - airplane blankets & pillows are rarely washed!

A tidy tip to stay sane: know your limitations. If you HATE a specific chore, switch off with someone in your household or find a service!

Suitable suitcase packing tip: rock and ROLL! Roll T-shirts, jeans and cotton items tightly to save space.

Santa Spotlight: LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEADS. They cut water use in half, as well as the energy it would’ve taken to heat all that water.  Saves thousands of gallons per year!

Does your kitty litter…when she eats? Set bowls on top of plastic storage tub lids to contain messes and spills. 

Out of toilet cleanser? Don’t get bowled over! Sprinkle baking soda along the sides of the bowl, let sit, sprinkle vinegar, scrub, and flush. 

Before travel, buy travel-size toiletries, pack in a freezer bag, then pack in an outer pocket of your suitcase for easy access.  TSA-OK!

Cheer up Kermit, it’s easier being green! A gentle first step: swap household cleaners (i.e. detergents) for plant-based, eco-friendly ones!

Special thanks to Kate Schweigart for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip.  A tidy elf is a prepared elf, and no one is more prepared than Kate: her nonprofit, KateNation, created a free online tool that links people with needed emergency services after a disaster.  Go check it out at www.katenation.org.  You never know when you may need it. 

De-clutter your entryway with an inbox, anything from a nice wicker basket to a shoebox, to stash bills and mail in for later.

Know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away…by wearing clothes twice! One load of laundry = 40 gallons of water.

Santa Spotlight: Petroleum Jelly! Winter's tough on locks - smear your key with petroleum jelly, insert into your lock, and twist away!

Keep your natural tree watered - dry trees are more likely to catch fire. And keep your tree lasting longer with ginger ale or 7-Up!

Chrysanthemums the word: houseplants are beautiful and nature’s original air fresheners – get some and reduce your home’s air pollutants!

Never underestimate the power of plans. Take 10 minutes in the morning or night before and plot your day. It actually creates time.

S’no problem: Spray non-stick cooking spray to both sides of your snow shovel and snow won’t stick. (Your back will thank you!)

Healthy elves love exercise. ’Tis the season to be snotty, so be sure to get at least 15 minutes of it daily to keep your immune system jolly!

Healthy elves love vitamins. Use a vitamin caddy with a slot for every day. Load Sunday night and stow those bottles out of sight! Healthy and tidy!

When you come home from work, keep everything (phone, keys, wallet) in the same spot everyday (shelf, bin) - it cuts morning stress!

Santa Spotlight: PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS! Slash your power bill (and carbon dioxide) by auto-adjusting your workshop’s temperature to your schedule!

When cleaning your sleigh, be sure to wipe down the steering wheel (the germ capital of your car) with disinfectant!

Creative gift idea: IOUs! Take over a chore for a loved one for a year...and stick to it! Nothing says I love you more than doing dishes or laundry.

Special thanks to Amy Donaldson for this week’s "Help Heidi Friday" tip!  I’m a tidy elf, but Amy is a health elf (aka “nurse”) so listen up: "Healthy elves love EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database (www.ewg.org/skindeep), a site with safety information on over 65,000 personal care products such as make-up and deodorant."  Thanks, Amy!

Happy Thanksgiving! And for those elves getting up early tomorrow for some Black Friday madness.... Tidy elves love LISTS! Writing down who you plan to buy gifts for (or give tips to) with ideas and your price cap = an instant shopping list and a budget!

Today is the heaviest travel day of the year! Save gas and money by having the correct air pressure in your tires. (Or travel by sleigh.)

Tune up your car according to the owner’s manual to increase its life, your fuel efficiency, and the dollars in your wallet!

Need to defrost faster? Give the bird a bath!  Water conducts heat better than air in the fridge.  (Count on 30 minutes per pound.)

Need a big bird? Two in the bush might be better.  Roast two smaller turkeys side by side.  They defrost/cook quicker, and stay juicier.

Turkey math. How many pounds per person? Figure ¾ - 1 pound for no leftovers, 1 or slightly more to gobble weekend leftovers.

Special thanks to Joe Costanza for today's "Help Heidi Friday" tip: "Tis the season to donate pantry items too. Those dusty cans can be put to good use." Couldn't have said it better myself, Joe!

That’s not just air leaking out, it's money - plug electrical outlets in your home's exterior walls with inexpensive foam insulating gaskets.

Oh baby! Did you know that baby oil can polish chrome? Add to a cloth and your faucets are all set!

PanTRY this: go through your pantry every 6 months, ditch expired spices, foodstuffs, etc. then clean before reloading.

Tapped out of bottled water? Use a water-filter pitcher or install an in-sink faucet filter. Use the H2O you’re already paying for! 

Coolest by a mile – keep a cooler in your car, so you don’t have to rush home with perishables after a grocery run!

Tidy elves love shelves! Baskets and bins too. When things (keys, phones, transit cards) have a “home” they’re harder to lose! 

Special thanks to Clark Lohr, a veteran (and member of the Elf Army) for his "Help Heidi Friday" tip: "Three max power minutes in a microwave sterilizes your dishcloths and sponges - sponges, where microbes lurk."  Thanks, Clark, for everything!

Beware computer viruses! The kind you get from filthy keyboards. With swabs or a cloth, swipe rubbing alcohol between/across keys! (Mouse too!)

Santa's Clause: if you haven’t worn a garment in a year, donate it. 

Tidy elves love vanilla.  Extract, that is.  Wipe your freezer with vanilla extract and the smell just went from crummy to yummy!

Pick a night, cook dinners for the week, and freeze them in meal-sized portions. Dinnertime just went from a hot mess to chill!