Top Five Consumable Gifts for 2018

I’m constantly working to help others declutter their spaces, so when it comes time for the season of giving, I’m always trying to think of gifts that are consumable or feature some sort of new experience as an alternative to gifting another ugly Christmas sweater!

Of course there are exceptions, but the idea of treating those you love to something unique that doesn’t add clutter to their space is the perfect way to be a gift-giver extraordinaire. And that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative when it comes to wrapping if you still want to create a thrill around opening!

Here are five gift ideas to add to your arsenal this holiday season:

Indianapolis Food Tour Experience: This past summer, our wonderful city launched food tours in Fountain Square, Fletcher Place and Mass Ave. Food tours have got to be one of my FAVORITE things to do when exploring a new city, but I feel like this is also a really fun thing to do right here in our own backyard. Foodies will be pumped to receive this as a treat to use in the new year, giving them the chance to devour bites from a number of restaurants AND see behind the scenes of some innovative Indianapolis establishments. Tours start at $55 per person and can be booked here. Gift certificates can be ordered through Sarah Frey with the Indy Cultural Trail (sfrey@indyculturaltrail.org).

Organized | LIFE, Organized | HOLIDAYSMaria BaerDecember 3, 2018The Baer Minimalist, LLCGift Guide, HolidaysComment

Hacking Your Way to a Chic + Organized Holiday | Part 2

We’re back with Part 2 of our guide to hacking your way to a Chic + Organized Holiday Season. If you missed last week’s ideas, hop on over to learn the importance of a Holiday Checklist, best practices for hosting and attending events first.

These ideas are the brainchild of Caryn O’Sullivan, CEO of Drapery Street, and myself and were presented to an amazing crowd at the Indiana Design Center on November 8.

Hacking Your Way to a Chic + Organized Holiday | Part 1

Raise your hand if you are in charge of shopping for gifts each holiday season?

How about prepping the meals?

Planning out outfits for family photos? Not to mention scheduling them?

My guess is everyone has three hands raised, so we don’t even need to mention wrapping the gifts, booking flights for distant celebrations, hand addressing the holiday cards, decorating the house. I mean the list is LONG, and can certainly be a major stress during the most magical time of the year.

So when the Indiana Design Center reached out to see if I’d be open to sharing best practices and tips for a chic + organized holiday season, I jumped at the chance. I partnered with Caryn O’Sullivan, CEO of Drapery Street, and last Thursday we presented to a full house.

But I couldn’t leave you out of it, so without further ado, here are a few tried and true holiday hacks to add some joy back into your season.

Pack Up + Go | The Gift of an Experience

I'm all about experiences over physical presents and am glad my hubby feels the same! Last year I came across the amazing concept of a surprise travel agency, ala Pack Up + Go.

I feel like there are so few times in life when you can truly be surprised, and generally it means that the people closest to you are in on the surprise. Pack Up + Go plans surprise 3-day domestic trips for you and boy, are they good at what they do.

Back in January, we decided that June 6 - 8 would be the weekend for our trip. We filled out a questioniarre about places we'd recently been, what we liked to do on vacation and the type of weather we preferred. And we recruited some friends to join us in the experience who are also the type to always be up for anything!

From there, it was in Pack Up + Go's hands!

Indy Business Owners’ Tips for an Organized Holiday

Last month, I joined forces with five other female business owners in Indianapolis to chat about our favorite online tools over on Kahunify's Blog.

This month, we are coming together to share our tips for staying focused and organized during the busiest season of the year. I could talk about organizational hacks all day long and learned so much from each of these ladies as we shared our tips. Enjoy and Happy Holidays from the Business Bloggers of Indy!

The Makings of a Party Kit

Dreaming up a perfect theme to suite the guest(s) of honor, crafting a menu that keeps everyone gathered around the table and working to create an experience that puts everyone at ease are just a few of the reasons why I LOVE planning parties!

Several years ago, I worked for a company that planned corporate meetings, mainly in the pharmaceutical world. Gathering RSVPs, managing travel plans for attendees and drafting up agendas were a big part of that world. It certainly played to my love of organization and list-making, but it didn't neccesarily allow for a ton of creativity.

As I mapped out my service offerings for The Baer Minimalist, I wanted to offer people a way to have memorable parties without all of the stress. Enter Party Kits!

Organized | SPACES, Organized | HOLIDAYSMaria BaerDecember 14, 2017The Baer Minimalist, LLCStylized, Gender RevealComment

Treat Yourself...A Consumable Gift Guide

Making a list and checking it twice...I love finding the perfect gift for my family and friends whether they are naughty or nice. However, as I get older, I find that consumable gifts have become a favorite to give and receive as they can still be super indulgent and fun without adding to the clutter. Here are my top clutter-free gifts (with a hint of local flare).

Organized | HOLIDAYSMaria BaerNovember 29, 2017The Baer Minimalist, LLCGift Guide Comment

10 Tips for an ORGANIZED + ENJOYABLE Holiday Season!

I absolutely adore everything about this time of year! The celebrations, the decorations, the extra time with loved ones spread across the winter months. It should be such a joyous time of year.

And yet, it can be totally stress-inducing without a little planning ahead!

So today I want to share my top 10 tips for an ORGANIZED + ENJOYABLE holiday season! I've got a few timesaver tips and a handful of hacks that will provide you with the ability to just relish in the true meaning of the season.

The Baer Minimalist® Blog -- Tips, Tricks and Hacks on living a more ORGANIZED + STYLIZED Life