If the children are to be nestled, all snug in their beds, it's time to get things straight in the linen closet! This week in the Houseworks Holiday Plan, we'll focus on the linen closet and bathrooms.

We'll declutter, organize and clean these areas, then do a quick linen check. Will we have enough sheets and towels? What's the state of the tablecloth? Is the household stocked for winter colds and holiday guests?

With the deadline for mailing overseas gifts at hand, we'll get ready to wrap with a wrap and mail center. An account at usps.com lets us print mailing labels, buy postage and arrange for carrier pickup ... online!

Bed and Bath Week

Brisk weather is on the way; time to clear out the coat closets!

Whether it's making space for family cold-weather gear or preparing for seasonal visitors, now's the time to clear out the coat closet. Does your outerwear storage space work for you?

Not that a designated "closet" is always the right solution! Many families prefer to keep coats, umbrellas, gloves and galoshes in open storage areas. Hang coats on pegs, tuck boots under a low bench, and consider an over-the-door shoe rack to corral little mittens, hats and scarves.

Check closet space from a guest's perspective, too. Are extra hangers available--and appropriate for heavy outer garments? Is there enough room to add a bulky parka without crushing a woman's wool coat?

Clear it out and be ready ... for Christmas!

Christmas gift lists are great organizational tools--as far as they go. Truly talented gift-givers, though, rely on more than a single list of name-to-gift; they harness the power of a gift ideas planner.

Keeping track of clothing sizes, color preferences, hobbies and interests, a gift ideas planner makes it easy to select just the right gift for each person on your Christmas gift list. Stored in your Christmas planner, the gift ideas planner will be there when gift-giving inspiration strikes.

Get a great idea about a gift someone needs? Add it to the list; it'll jog your memory when it's time to shop for birthday presents or Christmas gifts.

Printable Gift Ideas Planner

Want to go a bit upscale with the Pumpkin Poop gag gift for Halloween? Check out these pretty "pumpkin poop pouches" from blogger FStop Memories.

Using rubber stamps, her computer printer and a little artistic talent, she's created pretty, inexpensive Halloween gifts for family and friends.

Get crafting!

Pumpkin Poop Pouches

Have you heard about Christmas pocket planners? Handmade from scrapbooking paper and a simple pocket file folder, these little holiday planners are inexpensive, creative and just plain fun!

The pocket planner concept is sweeping the scrapbooking and rubber stamping world, but there's always been one thing missing: a set of printable forms for Christmas organizing.

Until now! Introducing the latest Organized Christmas forms set: Christmas Pocket Planner Forms!

Fright night ahead! Will a glowing Jack O'Lantern guide trick-or-treaters to your door?

For a festive touch, try these free printable pumkin carving templates from HP.com. From spooky smirks to ghastly grins--and a few more unusual designs--these templates will help your pumpkin stand out from the holiday crowd.

Don't miss the nature-inspired designs from the World Wildlife Federation! In .pdf format, you'll need the Adobe Reader to view and print:

Pumpkin Carving Templates

Wild Pumpkin Carving Templates

Any parent of multiple children (and lots of one-child families) knows that dressing for family holiday photos is easier said than done.

Who hasn't been there, frantically scrubbing at stains and tugging down sleeves while the photographer taps his foot? Worse, last-minute clothing issues don't lead to happy faces for the family photo.

This week, check the condition and fit of any outfits to be worn in family photo sessions. Save time and tears!

With cold financial winds beginning to blow this Autumn, we're all looking for ways to save money on Christmas. If you're trimming your holiday budget this year, take a tip--or 20!--from Real Simple.

This compendium of money-saving ideas covers includes lots of common-sense solutions--and a few fresh and creative ideas to celebrate without breaking the bank.

We liked the clutter-cutting benefit of this tip:

Skip the tree skirt. Instead of buying a fancy tree skirt that makes an appearance once a year, buy or use a tablecloth or a piece of fabric that is four to five yards long. Wrap it around the tree’s base during the holiday season, then wash and reuse it as a tablecloth during the rest of the year.

20 Ways To Save During The Holidays

If you've always dreamed of tucking glossy, well-wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree--but your handiwork looks more like this photo--do we have a contest for you!

Bowdabra.com is looking for the Worst Gift Wrapper in America.

Ten finalists will be treated to a gift-wrapping makeover from the folks at Bowdabra.com, while the grand prize winner will win a trip for to to Las Vegas!

Better, every entrant wins a copy of Bowdabra's e-book on how to gift wrap, normally a $19.99 value.

The contest ends October 31, with the winners announced (when else?) on Black Friday, November 28, so add your entry today:

Bowdabra: The Worst Gift Wrapper In America Contest

Most everyone has experienced this bit of seasonal panic: it's the night of the office holiday party and a spouse’s good white shirt has gone missing!

Assessing the State of the Closet for all family members before the holiday begins means never having to say, "It's in the wash!", so try these tips to calm the chaos with a pre-holiday wardrobe check.:

State of the Closet: Pre-Holiday Wardrobe Check