Jul 7 - Put Your House on Vacation Mode - GON in 5 Minutes Newsletter

Published: Mon, 07/07/25

Updated: Tue, 07/08/25

Get Organized Now!

In Less Than 5 Minutes!

by Maria Gracia

July 7, 2025

GetOrganizedNow.com

We respect your time.

This newsletter will take

3:37 minutes to read.

Even if you do nothing else today, make the bed with fresh, clean sheets. Crisp linens have a way of making your whole room feel like a boutique hotel.

Put Your House on Vacation Mode

Even if you’re not packing a suitcase or heading out of town, you can still give yourself that fresh, carefree vacation feeling...right at home.

It starts with one simple idea: prep your house like you're leaving it for a trip. The result? A lighter, calmer space that feels like a breath of fresh air every time you walk through the door.

I started doing this a few summers ago. We weren’t going anywhere, but I cleaned up as if we were. I emptied the fridge, wiped down the counters, made the beds with fresh sheets, and put away the laundry.

That night, when we sat down to dinner, it felt like we were on a little staycation. There was no clutter nagging at me and the house had that peaceful, no-one's-home kind of quiet.

Try it yourself:

– Start with the kitchen. Toss anything expired from the fridge and give the shelves a quick wipe. Restock with the essentials and a few seasonal treats, like a bowl of fresh cherries. Speaking of cherries, a friend bought me these cherry bowls and they are just adorable!

– Clear the sink and run the dishwasher so nothing is left for tomorrow. Add some rinse aid to your dishwasher if you haven't done so lately.

– In the bedrooms, change the sheets and fluff the pillows. You’ll thank yourself at bedtime. These hotel-like linens are very affordable and lovely

– Give the bathroom a quick reset: clean, pretty hand towels, cleared counters, and a sparkle on the mirror.

– Walk through the house and put stray items back in their places. Carrying items in a lightweight laundry basket from one spot to another makes this task easier.

If it’s not too hot, crack open a few windows and let the breeze in.

It doesn’t take much, but the payoff is huge. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a calm retreat...even if you're just coming back from the grocery store.

Back to School Recommendations!

1. Back-to-School Must-Haves for Cool Kids
Fun and useful back-to-school finds for anyone shopping for kids, grandkids, nieces, or nephews! From clever supplies to everyday essentials, this list makes getting ready for the school year a little more exciting. Access here

2. Heading to college this fall—or know someone who is? Don’t miss my Ultimate List of Must-Have Items for Your College Dorm. It’s packed with smart, stylish, and space-saving essentials to make dorm life easier, cozier, and way more organized. Access here

5 Whimsical Mini Staycation Ideas

Who says you need a boarding pass to escape? These five mini adventures bring that vacation glow...no luggage required.

1. The Great Indoors Campout: Pitch a blanket fort, turn off the lights, and eat marshmallows by flashlight. Tell stories, play cards, and fall asleep to a nature sounds playlist.

2. Passport-Free Paris: Put on a striped shirt, cue up a French café playlist, and serve warm croissants with jam. Watch Midnight in Paris or sketch your own Eiffel Tower.

3. Tropical Hour: Pull out your beach towel, make a mocktail with pineapple juice and a little umbrella, and read a breezy novel by a sunny window or on the porch.

4. Museum Day (No Lines!): Visit a virtual art museum, pick your favorite piece, then recreate it using crayons, pasta, or collage. Hang it on your fridge like a souvenir.

5. Sundae Funday: Lay out all the toppings—sprinkles, whipped cream, cherries—and build your dream ice cream sundae. Invite others in the house to make theirs too, no rules allowed.

You don’t need a plane ticket to feel like you’ve been somewhere magical. All it takes is a little creativity and a sense of fun!

Enjoying my newsletter? Please REPLY and let me know! Also, please forward this newsletter to 5 of your family members and/or friends and share the love!

Here's what just one GON reader had to say...

"Maria,

I have been a subscriber for years! I'm turning 80 on my next birthday. Without your newsletters I would probably be buried under tons of stuff I never would have even thought of donating! I never miss an issue. It's my daily reality check, right after prayer time.

Thank you so much for all the excellent advice, products I've gotten from you over the years, and timely recommendations that pop up with links for purchase. I also appreciate the great ideas you post from some of your readers.

Blessings to you and your family!"

-- Ronnie Ruth Retzloff, San Antonio, TX

Today is the Perfect Day for You to Get Organized and Commit to Your Health with...

GON GLOW

Get Healthy
Lose Weight
Outshine Yourself
Wake the Wow

Plus, UNTIL FRIDAY, July 11 , at 11:59 p.m.
Get 5 Complimentary Bonuses with your order!

To fast-forward to GON GLOW immediately...

Click Here for
GON GLOW

It's easy to fall into habits that don’t support our health and well-being. But the good news? You can turn things around anytime you decide to. If you're ready to feel better, move more, and eat in a way that truly nourishes your body, today is the perfect time to begin.

As a licensed nutrition coach and certified fitness instructor, I created GON GLOW to help real people reach their wellness goals with practical tools, expert support, and lasting motivation.

GON GLOW is for all ages, fitness levels, and for both women and men. With this all-in-one resource, you’ll discover how to:

-- Lose weight without feeling deprived

-- Get trim and toned with simple, fun workouts

-- Boost your energy naturally

-- Sleep more soundly and wake up refreshed

-- Improve your numbers—blood pressure,

cholesterol, triglycerides, and more

-- Strengthen your body and your mindset

-- Make quick, healthy meals that taste amazing

-- Stay motivated and inspired every step of the way

-- Look and feel the best you ever have

Here’s what’s inside GON GLOW...

-- Complete Food and Fitness Plans

-- Action Bulletins to keep you moving forward

-- Fun, Effective Fitness Videos

-- Easy, Healthy Recipes

-- Encouraging Affirmations and Motivation

And so much more!

No starving. No extreme diets. No powders, pills, or gimmicks. And no recurring fees—just real, sustainable results.

No matter where you’re starting from, GON GLOW is your step-by-step guide to a healthier, happier, more vibrant you. Let’s do this together. You’re going to love how you feel!

P.S. Don't Delay! Only Until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 11th you'll also get 5 complimentary bonuses with your order...
1. 50 Low-Calorie Snack Recipes
2. Small Tweaks for Big Weight Loss
3. Get Healthy on a Budget
4. Feel Amazing Every Day
5. Exercise in Disguise!

Click Here for
GON GLOW

GON Member Bonus!

As a valued member of my GON in 5 Minutes Newsletter, you get exclusive bonuses, PLUS unlimited access to all of my previous ones. This month's featured bonus is my...

15-Minute Decluttering Projects Printable

Need a quick win? This free printable gives you 15 super-specific decluttering projects you can finish in just 15 minutes each. Print it out, hang it where you’ll see it, and check off one task every day or two. You’ll feel lighter, more organized, and instantly accomplished, one small space at a time.

Plus, my 2025 Monthly Organizing Calendar is always available for you to access...jump in this month and start tackling those organizing tasks with ease.

To access these free resources, click here

July Organizing Challenge: Summer Bucket List Challenge: Whether you're craving fresh air, creative inspiration, or a little personal growth, these 10 themed summer challenges will help you stay focused while enjoying everything the season has to offer. Ready to dive in? Take the challenge here

July Monthly Checklist: July is the perfect time to refresh your spaces, stay on top of summer messes, and prepare for back-to-school and late summer travel. My July 2025 Organizing Checklist features 31 unique tasks that help you stay clutter-free, clean, and ready for anything. Access my July Checklist

Results of Last Month's Web Poll: Your dryer cycle just ended. What do you do? Access the results of this poll including a bunch of GON reader comments.

New Web Poll: What clutter zone is the most frustrating for you? Vote in my GON Reader Poll on my home page and let us know.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." -- Marcel Proust

I'd love to hear from you.

I LOVE GON reader mail! Whether it's a comment, suggestion, or just a note to say hello, REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...there's no better time to get organized, than to Get Organized Now!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
GetOrganizedNow.com

How to Use This Newsletter

In this newsletter, you will find stories, ideas, inspiration, links and more to help you live a less stressful, more organized, more fulfilling life.

We encourage you to apply these ideas to your own life AND share them liberally with your family, friends, and fan base via email, on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, other social media outlets, and in person, of course!

When you share, please mention my name and web site - Maria Gracia - GetOrganizedNow.com as the source.

Thank you for helping to spread the gift of organizing far and wide!

-- Maria

Maria Gracia,

Get Organized Now!

* Copyright, contact and reprint information:

CONTACT MARIA

* You signed up to receive our Idea-Kit and/or our Newsletter at our Get Organized Now! Web site. We never add names unless you have voluntarily opted in.

* We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.

* If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this newsletter, or any of my communications, I may receive compensation. Still, I only recommend what I truly believe in and share with my friends and family. If you ever have an issue with anything I recommend, please let me know. I want to make sure I am always serving you at the highest level.

* Received this e-mail from a friend?

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Thinking of unsubscribing?

Please reconsider. If you unsubscribe, you'll lose all the complimentary organizing resources I share with my loyal GON in Five Minutes! members each week.

You'll lose the tips, reader ideas, reader clinics, complimentary videos, ebooks, resource recommendations, and the many valuable bonuses I offer you each month.

Plus, our ezine is designed to use Repetitive Reminders in every issue to help you make "small" organizing actions a permanent part of your mind -- and your life. You may not even realize how much more organized you are becoming -- automatically.

And you will accomplish all of that in less than 5 minutes a day!

Please don't go. I love sending you all of this free training. If there is something more you would like from my newsletters, then please reply to this email and let me know. I'd love to hear from you.

-- Maria Gracia

Get Organized Now!
611 Arlington Way
Watertown Wisconsin 53094
USA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options