Category: Organize

Avoid Grey weather turning into a Grey mood

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This time of year, all we see is the cold, grey of winter. It’s easy to fall into a grey mood as we patiently (or not so patiently) wait for spring.  Here are 2 easy ideas to help you avoid the doldrums:

2020_brightsBrighten up your outfits.  When the temperatures outside fall below freezing, it seems we tend to think that means we should be dressing in dark dull colors. Liven up your dark ensembles with pops of bright colors. Things to look for at your local Goodwill Store include scarves, tank tops, belts or other layering pieces.

2020_clutter

Spring clean – a little early. After the holidays, my office is a disaster. Well, if I am being honest, everything in my house feels cluttered and unorganized.  We all have that room in our home that seems to accumulate all the “stuff” over the holidays. Take an afternoon and re-organize that space. Focusing on just one room isn’t as overwhelming as thinking about your entire home. Take all the extra things and duplicate items that you find and donate them to Goodwill. Keep the other rooms of your home free from clutter by not re-storing things you don’t use over the holidays.

Back To School Organization

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Back to school organization isn’t as overwhelming as it seems. Preparing for this exciting time takes energy, effort, and can be expensive. However, if you are organized, it will take a lot of stress out of this time of year.  I recommend heading to your nearest Goodwill store to look for fun and unique containers for school supplies.


Organizing School Supplies

Back to school organizing means being organized for the first days and weeks of school.  This organizing begins at home and will become habit. For example, you might have a drawer in your house that can be emptied and used for school supplies…extra pens, #2 pencils, markers, erasers, tape, glue, etc.  While at Goodwill, look for square or oblong containers that fit in your supply drawer.   Sort your supplies so pens are not mixed in with  markers, for example. Have a home for these things to make it easier and less expensive to restock your backpack. Don’t re-purchase crayons and glue, shop in your supply drawer!

Backpack Storage and Organization

Backpacks need a home. Ideally, hang backpacks near the entry/exit door of your home. If you do not have a mudroom with lockers or cubbies, create your own.  Use simple, sturdy hooks at eye level. This encourages the habit of getting home from school, emptying the backpack of homework and other papers, and hanging the backpack directly on the hook.

If you don’t have space for hooks, try a door organizer. The one pictured was intended for handbags, but works perfectly for backpacks.

No more searching all over the house for the backpacks or the papers that need to return to school.

Paperwork Organization

Back to school organizing means dealing with mountains of paperwork.  Create a home for all that paper – shop at Goodwill and look for containers suitable for holding temporary papers.  For example, baskets and trays work well.  Label the containers with words that suggest action, such as “Homework to do”,  “Mom to sign and return”, or “Put on calendar.”

Organizing kids clothes

Another area in your home where organization is key is the kids bedroom closet. Simply decide on your next day’s outfit the night before and set it out (don’t forget the shoes). One easy way to organize the next days outfits is to find hanging storage cubes at Goodwill. Having 2 of these storage units makes things even easier. One for tops and one for bottoms.  Label days of the week for each cube to eliminate morning frustration. Get your kids involved with choosing outfits by allowing them to choose tops, and you add bottoms.

This smart move will give you extra time in the morning for a healthy, relaxing breakfast.

Have a Happy, Organized School Year!!

This months guest blogger is Cathy Fairchild from Say Yes to Less.

Get in touch with Cathy at:  http://www.sayyestoless.guru  

Find Cathy on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/sayyestoless.guru/

Budget Friendly Ways to Organize Your Home

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Shop Goodwill for double-duty (and budget friendly) organizing ideas for your home.  Think outside the box!  

Shopping for new boxes, bins, baskets, and Lazy Susan’s is expensive.  However, a budget friendly way to organize your home is through creative Goodwill finds.  Wander around your local Goodwill Store to shop for creative solutions.  Here are 10 double-duty organizing ideas. 

1.  Goodwill is a great place to find used furniture. You might find a beautiful piece but don’t have room for it in your home.  Consider re-purposing the drawers as under-the-bed storage.  Just add wheels for easy access.

2.  My trip to Goodwill in search of storage items turned up mason jars in all shapes and sizes.  Jars are fantastic for storage of dry ingredients and non-perishable items for your pantry.  For instance, use the jars for tea bags or spice packets.  You can also use jars to organize office supplies like paperclips and push pins.

3.  Eyeglass cases serve as a creative way to store things while traveling. Use a vintage case for holding jewelry or earbuds and your phone charger.

4.  With summer being the time for travel, organization is important to make your trip less stressful.  For instance, pill holders can be used for earrings, rings and so on.

5. Many times I see bags of craft supplies at Goodwill, and in those bags are dozens of mismatched buttons.  Try putting your earrings through the holes of the buttons to store them  This will help keep them together.

6.  Cookie jars of all shapes and sizes can be used to store things like nail polish or kids crayons.

7.  When you find a beautiful frame at Goodwill but don’t love the art contained in the frame, consider using the frame for something creative. First, it can easily be painted.  And then, attach several rows of string or ribbon on the back, and use clothes pins to display photos or greeting cards. This could also make a creative family chore / reward chart!

8.  Find an old shutter from a home?  Use it to display cards or mementos.

9.  Is your kids bathroom a place that is in need of serious organization?  A tiered mesh basket (usually used for fruit in a kitchen) makes bath toy organization a breeze.  Hang from the curtain rod.  It keeps toys contained and allows them to dry.

10.  Two-drawer metal file cabinets are a regular find at Goodwill.  These gems have so many uses for organization in your home. Toss a pretty throw, scarf or table cloth over the top and you have an instant end table with hidden storage.  You can also paint it and apply a stencil to give the storage unit a new look   Do a Pinterest search on re-purposing metal cabinets and you will be shocked at all the ideas!

This months guest blogger is Cathy Fairchild from Say Yes to Less.

Get in touch with Cathy at:  http://www.sayyestoless.guru  

https://www.facebook.com/sayyestoless.guru/


Marie Kondo Tidying Up

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Marie Kondo has sparked a tidying up revolution.

Marie Kondo is the best-selling author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and “Spark Joy”; she also has a Netflix series, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”.  Her goal is to help you tidy their spaces by choosing joy.  Through that, she offers tips and tricks to help you become more organized and intentional with your belongings.

There are numerous benefits to decluttering things around your home. For instance, less clutter creates lower stress.  Also, this tidying up revolution has led to an increase in donations to Goodwill!  This time of year spring cleaning means decluttering. Here are some easy tips from Marie’s book as you start your home decluttering projects:

Here are some examples of folding your t-shirts to stand up in a drawer.  The idea behind this is you can fit more in your drawers, and be able to see everything that is stored there. Your folding technique doesn’t have to be perfect, and it only takes a second to fold your clothes this way.

1.    When starting your decluttering and tidying project, begin with clothes and end with sentimental items.  Regarding organizing clothing, Marie says, “The key is to store things standing up rather than laid flat.”

It seems like a lot of work to follow Marie’s advice and pull all your clothing out of closets and drawers and put everything in a pile.  She recommends you touch each item of clothing and ask yourself if it “sparks joy.” If the answer is “no,” donate to Goodwill and let it spark joy for someone else!

This is also the advice of our resident Goodwill Fashion Guru, Kathy Friend.  According to Kathy, “If you touch everything in your closet, you will quickly decide to rehang it or refold it and put it away.” Many times you will determine you don’t like an item enough to put it away in your wardrobe.  Kathy also suggests storing items you are not ready to part with. “We all have things in our closet we aren’t ready to donate. Put those items in a box and store it away from your closet. In a few months you may be ready to donate it to Goodwill.”

Keep the things in your closet to a logical ratio of 75% tops and 25% pants. Use this info graphic as a guide.

2.    Kondo’s mantra for tidying up, “to truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose.”

Your life is changing and transitioning.  For example,  you go from living with parents, to living on your own. And then you may have children, and then send them to school.  Before you know it, the nest is empty.  Are you storing things that have outlived their purpose and belong in the past?  Donate those things to Goodwill Keep things that are helpful in your future and let someone else cherish things that brought you to where you are today.

 

3.    Regarding paper clutter, Kondo says, “Make sure that you keep all papers in one spot only. Never let them spread to other parts of the house.”

Paper clutter can cause stress in your home.  Make this step a priority. First, dedicate a spot in your home where all paper lives (it does not have to a separate home office – it can be a corner in the living room or dining room, or possibly a guest room).  Next, recycle junk mail before it even comes into the house.  Finally, make a date with yourself to deal with your paper – if not daily, then every 2-3 days.  Having paper all over the house almost guarantees that important events and bills will fall through the cracks.

I am so glad this wasn’t sparking joy for someone and they donated it. Look what I found on a shopping trip to Goodwill!

4.    “Believe what your heart tells you when you ask, ‘Does this spark joy?’”

You might feel this step is a bit crazy, however, this “yes” or “no” question is just what is needed to decide whether to keep an item or donate to Goodwill.

That is to say there is no “magic” for decluttering and getting organized.  It takes time and effort, both mentally and physically.  Make a date with yourself and get started, or hire a professional to get you on the right track.

This month’s guest blogger is Cathy Fairchild

Get in touch with Cathy at:  sayyestoless.guru  or find her on Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

Organize Your Basement Using Simple Tips

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Last February, many of us had flooded basements when combined snow and rain caused flooding in our area.  For some, it was a total loss (as evidenced by all the “stuff” that went to the curb in the days and weeks afterward).  Organizing your basement using simple tips could have avoided this disaster.

Thinking ahead and organizing with water protection in mind can avoid a catastrophe. Melting snow/rain, an overflowing washing machine, a water heater leak, bathtub on the main floor runs over, all disasters that will ruin your memories that are in storage. 

Organizing basements is on all of our to-do lists. It only takes a few hours and some simple organizing tools. As a result, you will accomplish one of those never ending to-do list items and protect your possessions from water damage.

ISSUE: In this  “Before” picture, the basement floor was used for storage.  Therefore, the clutter is a dangerous tripping hazard, and it makes it hard to see what is underneath the piles. 

SOLUTION: A few hours later, we eliminated the clutter and hazard to reveal an organized space. First, we found several metal and plastic shelves. This kind of shelving is a real treasure when you find it at your local Goodwill Store!

Second, we used several clear storage bins to keep the items safe from dust and moisture. Items in the bins are organized by type; for example holiday decorations, documents, and family memories. Label each bin so in the future, it is easy to see what the bin contains.

Finally, clear the floor and donate to Goodwill!

When you organize your basement using simple tips, you will know what you have, be able to find it easily and quickly, and above all you will able to put things away in a place that makes sense to you.

Your organizing challenge is to go through the things in your basement and declutter!  Keep only what you know to be useful or important and let go of the rest.  Protect what remains in waterproof bins and/or put them up on a shelf.  This will create a safer space for your family and your things will hopefully survive any unexpected water.  

This month’s guest blogger is Cathy Fairchild

Get in touch with Cathy at:

http://www.sayyestoless.guru

https://www.facebook.com/sayyestoless.guru/

Clutter Video Tip: Good Riddance! 5 Good Reasons to Declutter & LET IT GO

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We are thrilled to introduce our readers to Lorie Marrero – she’s a pretty big deal in the world of de-cluttering and organizing. We hope you enjoy getting to know her, and get some useful tips on how to just LET IT GO!

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“I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore, you want thingamabobs? I’ve got twenty!” If this sounds like you, but you aren’t hanging out in an undersea cavern with a lobster named Sebastian, it may be time to declutter. Watch this video, and learn how to let go of the gadgets and gizmos a-plenty that you really don’t need. Say good riddance to your trove of “treasures” untold and let it go so you can make room for something fantastic to be Part of Your World!

Transcript:

Hi. I’m Lorie Marrero, creator of the Clutter Diet book and on-line program, and when you’re organizing sometimes, it can be very difficult to let go of things, to get rid of things, and let’s talk today about five reasons that might make it a little easier for you to say not only goodbye, but even good riddance to some of your things.

First of all, you can’t have anything new and useful and beautiful come into your life if you don’t have room for it. So if your closet is stuffed full of clothes that you don’t wear, you can’t even see what you have, how are you going to make room for anything new and gorgeous and fun to come into your wardrobe? You’ve got to get rid of that stagnant stuff so that you can see what new is coming in and enjoy that and have a flow in and out.

Secondly, some of your possessions may have memories associated to them that are not serving you right now. So they may be very unpleasant memories, you might want to say buh-bye to some of the possessions of your ex that are still laying around from some kind of painful breakup or divorce. That can be very therapeutic to get rid of those items. You also might have other unpleasant memories sitting around that you haven’t thought about. Like a binder from some training class from a job that you used to have and didn’t like. Or, you know, other things that represent a person that you used to be and not the person that you are now. The other things you might have around are memories that are actually pleasant memories of someone who you’ve lost, that you have been missing. They are a loved one that you wish were still around, and you want to honor that person. But what you don’t want is for that person’s belongings and all of those memories to be the predominant influence in your space to the point where it confuses your present and obscures your future and doesn’t allow you to move on to a new chapter in your life. So, again, whatever things you’re keeping, make sure the memories associated with that are serving you right now.

Third, let’s talk about things that are taking up a lot of your time, being a slave to your possessions. You might want to get rid of things if they require a lot of maintenance. So, how much are you dusting and polishing these things? Replacing the batteries? Replacing parts? How much of your stuff requires care when you go out of town? This takes a lot of your time, and maybe this factor might be the reason that pushes you to decide to get rid of something.

Next, let’s talk about the phrase “perfectly useful.” So you may have something that’s perfectly useful but it’s not perfectly useful to you. This is why I love donating my clothing and household goods to Goodwill, because I know not only is the person purchasing that item going to enjoy it, and that person is going to have a good home for that item, but the revenue from that is going to go directly to help someone in my own community, my own neighbors, to get job training, job placement services, and many other kinds of services that are really needed. So that helps me to get rid of things, because I know they’re going to a good home, and they’re going to do good in the world.

Next, let’s talk about how your possessions really complicate your life, and you can simplify your decisions by having fewer things. So essentially, fewer choices mean easier decisions. So, if you are going to select a pair of shoes, it’s much easier to choose a pair from a 30-pair collection versus having, you know, 80-something pairs of shoes. It’s going to take you a lot more time to decide that every single morning.

Essentially, you want your possessions to represent who you are and who you want to be, and you want your environment every day to support your goals moving forward. So if things that you’re debating about, whether to keep them, should you let go of them. If they are not meeting that criteria, then you should probably get rid of them. Think about it. And if you’d like more tips you can find a lot more where this came from at http://www.clutterdiet.com/freetips.

See you next time, and may you always be happy and grateful for having more than enough.

Declutter Your Space & Rid Your Life of Clutter Forever

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This year I went on a journey towards being truly serious about decluttering our home of unnecessary items. I would conservatively say that we have reduced our belongings easily by 50% and I still feel that there is more that we can do this year. Is your dream to declutter your space this year and rid yourself of clutter forever? It is a common resolution and I am living proof that this is achievable, although I will always be a work in progress.

Today I want to share with you a few resources that have helped our family on the journey towards reclaiming our home- the transformation is so worth it!

Try the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge

I attribute the 40 Bags in 40 days Challenge as the kickstart towards decrapifying (that is totally a word!) our life. Each year White House Black Shutters shares a 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge that typically runs from March to April. During this challenge, you are encouraged to gather 40 bags of stuff that you don’t need over the course of 40 days. 
I never dreamed that I could gather that many belongings from our home, but it started me on a journey towards realizing how much excess we really did have. Each morning I started my day with a bag and tried to clear one spot in our house to create a more organized space. I did not typically have a plan, only a desire to remove anything that I saw throughout the day that we didn’t need anymore. As each bag was unloaded, it made our space a little less cluttered and a little easier to upkeep.
Utilize this list to help you begin tackling different areas in your home and download the free printable to track your progress as you unload the clutter from your home. 
This is an example of a space that needed attention in our home that I worked on in the Spring. With the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge encouragement, I was able to free our shed of unnecessary clutter and transformed it into a dreamy bonus room for our family. Who would have ever thought that this cluttered and embarrassing space could have ever been an oasis right on our own property?
Perhaps there is an area in your own home like this that with a clutter unload could become a cozy space for your family? Try this easy challenge to successfully achieve that goal! 

Try Project 333: Experiments in Living With Less

Feeling inspired by my journey towards living with less, I began to turn my eye to my closet. In full confession, I had a lot of clothing in my closet and not a lot of closet space to house it.  I started reading about fashion capsules and thought that minimizing my wardrobe while working on selecting key pieces that worked together would be a great way to continue my journey in decluttering our home of unnecessary items.
Have you heard of a capsule wardrobe before? A capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothing which is designed using only interchangeable items, in order to maximize the number of outfits which can be created. The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing. This is usually achieved by buying what are considered to be “key” or “staple” items in coordinating colors.
Project 333 is what I am doing right now which is a minimalist approach to fashion that incorporates a 33-piece capsule wardrobe. Participants can have 33 items in their closet that they wear for three months. You are allowed to set aside 3 items that you can weave in as long as you weave items out, keeping the item number to just 33. 
Although I have found the planning of my capsules to be a little stressful, once I execute them well, I have discovered that I have plenty of options in my closet to wear and actually get more compliments than I did when I had a closet that was overflowing.
You can view my current capsule as an inspiration for creating your own. My best advice though is to really create your capsule around YOU and not a capsule that is just copying someone else’s style so you feel your best! 

Try the A Bag a Day Challenge

You would think that after participating in the 40 Bags in 40 Days that our home would be completely clutter free. I fully admit, I am a work in progress and that I still have a ways to go. This year I am participating in the A Bag a Day Challenge from Inspired Room which is a 12-month decluttering plan to help you reclaim your home.
I like that this challenge isn’t focused on organizing, but simply on ridding the excess from your home. With a beautiful outlined plan in place and the gentle encouragement of the beauty of Melissa’s stunning home, who wouldn’t want to rid their homes of the clutter?
Over the snowy holiday, I got rid of six bags of clutter and four bags of trash in our home. It was so freeing to let these items go and reclaim corners in our little house. I loaded these up in the car and took them over to the Goodwill donation bin, conveniently just down our road, and knew that these items would be put to good use in their store.
I hope you will find this post encouraging and hearing feedback from family and friends about our clutter-free spaces makes me even more proud of the journey we have taken towards a life with less.
I hope these ideas inspire you to declutter your space and reclaim your home!  What are some of your favorite ways to declutter? Leave your ideas in the comments below!