I have another solution for a quick, nutritious breakfast...Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal. Here's the recipe I use:

1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup milk (cow's, goat, almond, cashew, or whatever milk you like)
1/4 cup chopped bananas, pear, and/or berries
1 tablespoon of honey, agave, maple syrup, fruits, or preserves

Put all in a pint glass canning jar. Stir well. Put a lid on and store overnight in the refrigerator. That's it.

This makes a wonderful breakfast to eat out of the jar at home, or to go.

This fabulous reader tip was submitted by...

Maryann Mawhinney
Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

For women over 35, life can be a bit of a nightmare once you hit menopause. You eat less and exercise harder, yet still put on weight, especially around the belly. Add in the hot flashes, disrupted sleep and mood swings, and life can feel unfair...like your body has betrayed you.

What the heck is going on? It's called hormonal burnout... and it can wreak havoc on your female metabolism. Fortunately, there is a clear way to reverse its effects.

To discover your hormone type to conquer menopause belly, visit:

getorganizednow.com/rd-maw.html

Scroll down for a full article on this subject, and more details on the solution.

Hi Maria,

Your reader's question about the 'sweet musty' smell, could be a decomposing rodent.

A few years back, I started smelling something that was 'sweet,' but not sweet. Took me a few days, but I finally found a small dead mouse (possibly injured by the dog or cat) decomposing in the far-back corner of a closet where seasonal coats are kept. Removing the remains, washing the carpet (wall to wall carpeting) didn't help. I finally had to cut away a piece of the carpeting. Luckily it was not noticeable in that far corner.

I hope your reader finds the cause of the smell.

Also, your story of your friend and the cluttered new home ... argh. As I sit here at the kitchen table and look over the cluttered living room, it seems like every square inch of space is covered with something. Do those artificial daffodils still need to be sitting on those end tables? They were only supposed to be out for the spring when the real daffies outside were blooming. Guess I know what I have to do today.

Have a good day Maria...I really enjoy your newsletters!

Submitted by...

Barb
Dufresne, MB, Canada

A GON Reader Asks

My husband and I just got married this past spring, and we're having our first argument...over the Christmas tree. And it's a pretty bad argument...we haven't spoken in days. I've always had a real Christmas tree. It makes me happy. It reminds me of my childhood. Hubby wants to buy and put up an artificial one. He says it's cleaner and costs less year to year. Granted, we don't have a lot of extra money to burn, but this is making my heart hurt. Your thoughts?

--Rebecca K., Connecticut

Maria Gracia Responds

Hi Rebecca,

First, it makes ME sad that you two are arguing over a Christmas tree...something I've always seen as the symbol for life, hope, and love during this beautiful season. So, let's see if we can fix that problem first.

You two just got married, and are both trying to retain your individuality, while also coming together as a couple. It's easy to want to 'win' this battle. But sometimes, compromises are the better choice.

Have a heart to heart with each other with the goal of agreeing to put a cease fire to this fight. Apologize to each other for any harsh words. Try to come to the conclusion, together, that your love is much stronger than a tree. Rather than arguing, how about brainstorming how you both can fix this disagreement.

Here are three thoughts...

1) Alternate years. You can have your real tree this year or next...and your hubby gets his artificial tree this year or next. Flip a coin to see who gets to go first.

2) Have both. One tree goes in the living room...the other goes in the den, or dining room, or front porch, etc.

3) Go with the artificial tree (many look very real these days)...but put up real tree garland around the banister or on the fireplace mantel (you'll get that Christmas smell without the mess.)

Finally, remember this quote by William Thomas Ellis, 'It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.'

Wishing you and your husband a beautiful Christmas season...this Christmas and always.

Maria

GON Top 10: Top 10 holiday or all-occasion gifts that don't cause clutter
getorganizednow.com/topten-gifts-no-clutter.html



GON Featured Video: How to wrap a Christmas present...quick and easy!

getorganizednow.com/video-wrapping-christmas-present.html



GON Article: Top 10 ways to conquer your reading pile
getorganizednow.com/organizing-article-reading-pile.html





Dirty Little Secret: Cut your gift wrapping time in half or more.here's how...
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-cut-gift-wrapping-time.html



Mini Challenges: Even though Christmas is coming, it's important to stay organized in your normal day-to-day life. Here are this week's mini challenges...
getorganizednow.com/organizing-challenge-normal.html



In ADDITION, on our home page, you'll also find lots of NEW and featured STUFF including...

Social Media Spotlight: Ever find yourself sitting in unproductive meetings? Comment and let us know.
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Theme of the Week: Gifts. Check out our home page quotes that reflect our theme.
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GON Monthly Checklist: It's easier to be jolly when you're organized. Start today with our December 2017 Organizing Checklist
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As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.
--Donald E. Westlake


I'd love to hear from you.
Comments, suggestions, or just to say hello. Just REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...Being organized creates a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

getorganizednow.com

Do You Have Menopause Belly?
If So, Here's Why You May Be Struggling With Your Weight?

It's humiliating... confusing... and often painful. For women over 35, it can be infuriating. And a total nightmare once you hit menopause. You eat less and exercise harder, yet still put on weight, especially around the belly.

Add in the hot flashes, disrupted sleep and mood swings, and life can feel unfair... like your body has betrayed you. What the heck is going on? It's called hormonal burnout... and it can wreak havoc on your female metabolism. Fortunately, research shows a clear way to reverse its effects.

The #1 Cause of Female Fat Gain Over 35...

While hormonal burnout can strike at any age, it affects all women as they mature through menopause. And some even a few years earlier. It's caused by declining levels of estrogen and its sister-hormone, progesterone. Normally, they go up and down naturally like a see-saw. However, by 35, as ovulation slows, hormonal burnout begins:

1) Progesterone plummets
2) Then estrogen starts to drop wildly
3) And fat gain around the middle kicks into high gear

When hormonal burnout strikes, your menopausal metabolism becomes vulnerable to two major threats.

Threat 1: You Become More Carb-Sensitive

First, the decline in estrogen hurts your ability to process carbs. That's because estrogen helps your body manage blood sugar. So less estrogen leads to higher blood sugar. And higher blood sugar turns into fat, especially around the belly. That's why an evening bowl of pasta can result in an extra pant size in the morning!

So should you cut out carbs completely? Absolutely not. That just stresses out your metabolism even more. And that brings up the next threat

Threat #2: You Become More Stress-Reactive

Once you're through menopause, your stress-hormone cortisol spikes up to 74%. That's unfortunate, as a woman's metabolism is already more sensitive to stress than a man's. But the drop in estrogen and progesterone makes matters even worse. That's because they amplify the effects of your brain's "feel good" molecules, serotonin and GABA. Those molecules help you stay happy, relaxed and sleeping well. That acts like a shield, protecting you from the damaging effects of stress. So with a weaker stress shield (due to lower estrogen and progesterone) you're much more vulnerable to cortisol:

* It can break down collagen, making you look 5-10 years older
* It can eat away at muscle and bone, making you soft, saggy and brittle
* Worst of all, it can act like 'Miracle-Gro' for belly fat.

And that's not the kind of miracle you want.

The Menopause Belly Solution...

Fortunately, there is a way to conquer these dual threats: Turn your natural hormonal rhythms into a metabolic advantage. This something women can do... but men can not. By working with this advantage, one study found women can burn 65% more fat during exercise than men. Plus, they can have more control over where that fat is stored. And when this advantage is combined with a special type of exercise, it can really help your mid-section slim back down. But every woman has a unique set of hormonal rhythms. So to tap into this advantage, the first step is to understand your specific hormone type.

What's Your Hormone Type?

That's where my good friend Dr. Jade Teta comes in. He's an expert on women's metabolism. He's developed a tool that will reveal your hormone type in 60 seconds. To discover your hormone type to conquer menopause belly, visit:

getorganizednow.com/rd-maw.html

But he doesn't stop there. He also gives you a customized plan for your exact hormone type. It acts like an instruction manual for your body. It's based on his proven 4M framework developed over the last 25 years and includes:

* Best foods to eat and when (the right amount of carbs is critical)
* Simple daily habits to keep a lid on cortisol so you keep burning fat
* A great workout that works wonders on the 'menopause belly'

This action plan will help protect you from those dual metabolic threats. And help you feel what it's like to work with - instead of fight against - your hormones. I hope you enjoy!

Maria Gracia

P.S. Every woman has a unique hormonal signature. But clinically, most women fall into 1 of 7 core Hormone Types. Interestingly, your type can change over time. This Hormone Type quiz will help you stay in sync with those changes so you can thrive. Visit:

getorganizednow.com/rd-maw.html

(c) Copyright 2017 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

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