How to Organize your Own Summer Ready Program

Summer is such a great time to get outdoors and do things.  However,  it is nice for the kids to practice their reading skills and learn new things.  This is especially handy for rainy days.  It is also a great boredom buster.  If the kids are looking for something to do then can pull out their notebook and find an activity to do.  They also are excited for quiet time because they are working toward their prizes.  They can't wait to find some more time to read.  Here is a simple way to set up a reading program for your kids.  These are just some ideas so tailor yours for what will motivate your children to want to pick up a book this summer!

Base the number of books on your child's reading level.  When my eldest daughter reads to her siblings it counts for her and them.  When she reads longer chapter books I let her check off two circles.

You will need a notebook for each child, writing and coloring supplies.  Make a page for each month.  Also, have a separate page for the activities. Here's what to write on each page:

READING PAGES:
Month
Draw as many circles as the number of books you'd like your child to read (I do anywhere from 15-30 depending on age and/or reading ability)
Put a spot to mark date completed
Write what the reward will be

ACTIVITIES IDEAS:
2 Visits to the library over the summer
Do a craft
Attend Vacation Bible School
Attend a play or outdoor concert
Play a Game
Complete a 50 or 100 piece puzzle
Write a story
Complete a math worksheet
Build something with Legos
Go blueberry picking
Help a younger sibling with a task
Paint a picture
Learn to bake something (this could be with Grandma or a neighbor)
Plant and grow a vegetable in a small container
Visit the farmer's market
Act of service for neighbor or relative or at church
Teach a younger sibling somethings
Visit Beaver Creek Reserve
Trip to children's museum or other museum

I keep the monthly prizes small.  If possible the kids have the same monthly prize.  This causes the kids to cooperate.  Then start to work as team to get everyone's reading in.  Once all reading is done we can go redeem the prize as a family.  The final prize is awarded after all books have been read and activities completed.  This is a much grander prize.  It is specific to the child.  They get to choose.  I do put an expense cap on it however.  This is a good start for children to understand goal setting.

Ideas for monthly reading rewards:
Ice cream
Snack at the pool
New coloring book and markers
Sidewalk Chalk
Squirt Guns
Lunch at hot dog stand
Go to a movie
Extra rides at the fair

Program must be completed prior to first day of school.  We may also do our library's program along side our own.  My kids have lots of fun with this and I hope yours will as well!

Simple Staging: Getting Your House Ready to Sell

Happy Moving Month!  If you are short on time there are a few simple things you can do to get your home ready to sell.  The idea is for the home buyer to be able to see themselves living in your place.  Here are some ideas for you to get your house ship shape and on the market.

1)  PURGE YOUR STUFF!  Did I just type that yet again?  Yes. Yes I did.  If you JUST DID THIS you would be ahead of the game.  Most of us have overloaded houses.  Either pack some of it away (if you really must) or start getting rid of it.  Sell it or make a donation.  The last thing people want to walk into is a house with stuff everywhere.

2)  Basic Cleaning.  Just hit the high points before you have a showing.  Dust, wipe off counters, polish the stainless steel.  If you get rid of your extra stuff then you'll have less cleaning to do :). 

3) If you have time then ugly curtains, wallpaper and or paint make a change to these items.  If you need suggestions google it or ask your realtor.  They are in enough houses to know which ones people like.  Neutrals are safe to stick with. 

4)  Make your house smell nice.  Boiling lemons on the stove before hand is a nice touch.  Don't go overboard on this one.  Too powerful of smells can have the opposite effect you are hoping for.

5)  If possible remove your pet items.  Some people would prefer to buy a home that did not have pets living in it previously.

The bottom line is to keep it simple.  Create a home that is warm and inviting.  Having it organized and clean is a huge plus.  Good luck with selling your home!

 

Moving: How to Organize Your Packing

Packing properly and in an orderly fashion may take a little more time up front.  It also making unpacking once you arrive in your new place much more efficient.  Even if everything doesn't get unpacked right away you will still be able to find it when you need it!

SUPPLIES:

1)  Boxes and/or totes
2)  Packing tape
3)  Scissors
4)  Old towels, newspaper, paper towel or packing wrap for breakable items
5)  Index Cards (multiple colors if possible)
6)  Black and Red Sharpie
7)  Notebook with pen to take notes


TIPS FOR ORGANIZED PACKING:

1)  Go room by room.  Use a different color index card for each room.  Label room and contents and tape to the box.
2) Pack items you won't need like:  decor, knick knacks, books, holiday decor and stuff, off season clothing, toys.
3)  Make a survival box for each person and label it.  This box has 3-4 outfits, toothbrush, toiletries, lovies for kids and any other essentials.  Label these with a bright color and the person's name.  These boxes should go in your vehicle not in the moving van.
4)  Try to limit weight of boxes.
5)  Stack boxes in room until your moving day. 
6) Wrap breakable items in newspaper, bubble wrap or dish towels.
7)  Use boxes for lighter items and use totes for the heavy stuff.
8)  Put personal items and survival boxes in your vehicle.  This will make these things very accessible.

With just a little prep work and planning you can simplify your move.  Hopefully this will make your un-packing go smoother.  Have fund setteling into your new place!

Moving: How to Prep

Moving can really feel like an overwhelming task.  However, if you are willing to part with some things and organize what's left it can be a nice way to cut down on what you own.  Start the process by going room to room.

Make a list of the rooms you need to go through and check off when you are finished:

Bedroom(s)
Bathroom(s)
Kitchen
Living Room
Dining Room
Basement
Garage

1)  De-clutter and ruthlessly purge.  Here we are yet again with purging.  If you've been reading my blog you will see this theme OVER AND OVER again.  This is the biggie.  Gaining the skill of getting rid of extra stuff is going to become your friend.  Re-read my posts on purging to help with this.

2)  Sort items into categories.  Trash, donate and sell.  All items you plan to take with you go in the box.  If you are a month or so out from the move just pack items you don't need on a daily basis.  If you do start packing just make sure like items go into a box and are labeled.  You could also group items by the room they belong in.  You can used colored index cards with a color for each room or just write it in on the box.

3)  Evaluate big items.  Are they something you really use or just have sitting around the house just because?  Sell extra TVs, couches, chairs and dressers.  If they just take up space think of selling these items.  If its not useful or beautiful sell it.  That will leave lots more room in the moving van!


4)  If you have time hold a one day moving sale.  Donate everything else that doesn't sell.

If you can't start your packing until 2 weeks or the week before the move then just start with the de-cluttering process.  My next post will cover some ideas on organizing your pack.  I will include a list of supplies needed.  This will also help you organize so you know exactly where all your items are. It will hopefully make your move much less stressful and seemless.

 

Organizing Outdoor Toys

Summer is coming and most of us want our kids outdoors playing as much as possible.  So,  what toys encourage outdoor play?  Once I have those toys how should I organize them?  Let's face it.  With kids you will never get toys consistently organized and stay that way.  That's why the system for it has to be simple and reasonable.  It will not be fancy and that's ok.  First get rid of anything broken or that they don't play with.  Below is a short list of our favorite toys.  Once you purge the excess you'll be readyp to organize the remaining items.

Favorite Toys for Outside:

Lawnmower
Bubbles
Sidewalk chalk
Bug box and butterfly net
Squirt Guns
Football, basketball, soccer ball
Bat and Ball (possible catcher's mitt)
Bean Bag Toss
Badminton Set
Bike
Swing Set or tree swing
Sandbox with cover and sand toys
Shoebox for outside treasures they've found

Organizing System:

In the garage I have an oversized tote for toys.  All small toys and balls get thrown in here.  The bikes are lined up on the side of the garage for easy access.  And.That's.It.   I don't try to impress unrealistic expectations on the kids.  They have learned to pick up and take care of their things.  If I try to get any more sophisticated that this I will be stressed out about toy organization. No thanks. Keep it simple and they can take care of pick up themselves!

The End all Be all Room

This is the last stop shop.  For me its my laundry room.  Everything we are getting rid of goes here for sorting.  From there it is either donated, sold or stored.  Here are the sorting stations I have set up downstairs on our shelving units:

1)  Two totes for items to sell at kid's consignment store
2)  Box for items to donate
3)  Box for thrift sale stuff
4)  Totes for kid's next size clothing.  Pass down items go in these totes.
5)  Box for gifts.  When I find good deals these gift items are organized here until the event.
6)  Tote for baby items I am not ready to part with.
7)  Treasure tote for each child.  Lovies, favorite baby blanket, baptismal clothing/keepsakes, handmade items or gifts the kids are too young for go in their special tote.  Each child has one.  This will leave with them when they move out :(
8)  I use paper bags for items I am giving to other people.  I write their name on it and when its full I drop it off.  Usually its kids clothes I am not passing down so I pass them on to other little ones.  It could even be clothes I have borrowed and am now ready to return.

This has been a great system for organizing the items that are immediately or in the near future leaving our house.  Its in one central spot and keeps the rest of our house free of unmanageable clutter.

Pick an extra bedroom, laundry room or storage area in your home to set up shop. If you don't have existing shelving no biggie.  Just line up your sorting bins along a wall.  Use index cards to label them.  As long as its orderly that all that really matters.  Figure out which categories your need bins or boxes for and good luck sorting!

Client Project: Shared Office and Craft Space

My client was looking for help organizing two spaces within one room.  They also wanted a corner space for their boys to work on art projects while Mom and Dad got a few things done.  Specifically, they needed an office space for both of them as well as a craft center for her.  We worked our way from the office desk all the way around the room.  We started by clearing high spaces first and working our way down to the desk space.  Here are their before and after pictures.  We now have two organized and functional spaces.  One for being productive for bill paying and  Internet research.  The other a creative space for making crafts and homemade gifts.


BEFORE OFFICE:

AFTER OFFICE:

BEFORE CRAFT CENTER:

AFTER CRAFT CENTER:

We were able to de-clutter and organize the entire space in 2 1/2 hours and we did not spend any money.  We were able to work with what the clients already had in their home.  What a fun project that created a productive space for the entire family to work in!

Clutter Free For the Rest of Your Life

Is it really possible to be clutter free for the rest of your life?  Forever?  Yes, it is possible with a few simple steps it is possible for you.  Here's the plan:

1)  Stop of flow of new items into the home

• Every purchase is well thought out and planned.
• Have your kids make Christmas and birthday gift list ideas. Instead of always saying no you can encourage them to add it to one of their lists.
• Suggest non-toy items for gifts.  Gift cards or memberships are great because they encourage family experiences.  Time together is always better than more stuff!
• Make a 30 day purchase list.  Put it on the list and evaluate the items after 30 days.  This helps with impulse and emotional buying decisions.
• Say no when people offer you free items.  Unless you REALLY need it.  Nothing is free and it just may add to the clutter you are looking to be rid of.
• If at all possible limit buying clothes to a few months out of the year.  I once saw a suggestion of purchasing in May and August.  In May you buy next size winter clearance and fill in any spring or summer stuff you need.  In August buy summer clearance for next year and fill in any fall or winter items you don't have.  

2)  Purge

• Be ruthless when you do this activity.
• Categorize into keep, donate, sell, trash, relocate.
• Is it beautiful or useful? If the answer is no then it does not stay.

3)  Set yourself limits

• Limit the number of hangers in the closet.
• Develop a one in one out mindset.
• Become a family of one (within reason). One hat, winter coat, set of boots, scissors, bike and  swimsuit.  When it wears out then replace it.
• Limit toys!  

4)  Purchase quality over quantity

• Read the reviews on items before you purchase.  I never buy anything under four stars.  By doing this I suffer very little buyer's remorse.
• If its well made you can pass it down through your children.

The number one thing is to limit what is coming into your home.  Start today by really paying attention to new items entering the door.  Go on a spending freeze for one month if you need to. Spring is the perfect time to clean out and become one step closer to being clutter free!

Today's Project: Ten Minute Clothing Clean Out

Spring is almost here!  With that being said we will slowly be getting out our spring and summer clothing.  If you live here in the Midwest don't go packing away your winter gear just yet.  However, right now go to your closet and pull out 10 items you didn't wear over the winter, that don't fit properly or at all and items that you just plain don't like.  Put them in your donate or sell bin.  You have just made room for some of your lighter clothing you will be needing.

We tend to wear the things we really love over and over again.  Get rid of the ho-hum items to make more room for the pieces you love!  Yeah to spring colors, boat shoes and chevron!

Organizing Your Weekly Schedule

We are creatures of habit.  I have a weekly schedule or routine that I follow.  Once in awhile it will vary from week to week but I typically try to stick with it.  My goal is to be home three days per week and out of the house two days.  This may vary if something unusal comes up.  And that's ok!  It's just not every week.  If I'm not home enough then the house is a mess and nothing gets done.  If we are home all week then we go a little stir crazy.  Find your sweet spot and stick with it!

Monday:  Home
Change sheets on all beds
Laundry
Clean kids room, playroom and organize toys

Tuesday:  Out/home (depends on week, may flip flop with Friday)
Doctor appointments (if there are any) OR
Bible study
Playdate

Wednesday: Home
Clean
Clean out refridgerator
Plan next week meals and grocery list

Thursday: Out
Errands

Friday:  Home/Out if there's something special going on
Laundry if needed
Family pizza and games
Date Night two times per month

Saturday:
Groceries in the morning if Thursday didn't work out
Family outing or activity
Movie and popcorn night

Sunday: Family Day
Church and Sunday School
Dates with kids in the afternoon (one time per month per kid)
Family dinner

Once our kids get a little older we will need to add in activities and sports.  However,  we will still limit time going our seperate ways and make family time a priority.  Overall, the idea is to be in control of your calendar and not the other way around.  Don't be so busy that the important things in life pass you right by! 

Client Project: Penny's Pantry

My client who we shall call Penny really wanted to tame her pantry.  Penny loves to cook and especially loves to bake.  However,  with a growing family to feed it was getting difficult to navigate the pantry.  She also wanted to be able to readily see what she already had in there when she went to make her grocery list.  Here's what we did:

1)  We took everything out.  EVERYTHING.
2)  We grouped all the items into categories
New/Unopened
Cereal/Breakfast Items
Snacks
Condiments
Baking
Cooking
Pasta and Rice
Canned goods
Drinks
3)  All expired items were tossed.
4)  All items she would never use were donated to the food bank.
5)  Everything left went back on the shelves within its category.
6)  Heavy and bulky items like drinks went on the floor.
7)  We implementing the system of placing all unopened items on the top shelf or way in back behind its opened counterpart.  This will help to ensure that old stuff gets used up before the new item is opened.

The only other suggestion I made was to place labels on the shelves.  This way the family can get used the new system.  Sometimes it takes a few weeks to remember where everything goes!
Here are the before and after pictures:

Congrats to my client who did such a great job purging and organizing!  It was so much fun to create an organized and useful space for her and her family!  Knowing where everything is saves time and money.  No more purchasing things you already have just because you can't see them. Open that pantry up and purge/organize it today!

Organizing Your Monthly Calendar

We have worked really hard to take control of our calendar.  If we have too little going on we are bored.  If there's too much then things tend to get stressful.  How does a person or family find the right balance?  I ready once to look at your weekly schedule and count the number of activities you had for a week.  Pick one week things felt good, peaceful and happy.  Then count activities in a week you felt disorganized, stressed and unproductive.  Your happy place for activities is right between the two.  It gives you a range.  Our range is between 8-10 activities.

We schedule our priorities first and then everything else goes in the calendar.  It's not possible or reasonable to think you can make it everything.  That will only leave you feeling stressed and resentful.

Priorities (how things get in the calendar):

1. Church- services, Sunday School, Bible Studies, activities, volunteering
2. Date Nights with Spouse
3. Family Nights, outings, birthdays and family vacations
4. Grocery shopping and errands for the family
5. School Functions, Volunteering, Extracurricular activities
6. Work Obligations other than regular working hours
7. Time with extended family, family parties, parties for God children and very close friends
8. Fitness
9. Playdates, birthday parties for extended friends and nights out with adult friends
10. Hobbies

Once these are in then we may add something not on the priority list to the schedule.  If there's not room then we may need to say no.  Kyle and I go over the calendar a few weeks before the month starts.  This way we are on the same page and can avoid getting over booked.

There are a few things in life only you can do.  Things like being a husband, wife, mother or father.  Those hats you wear are the most important.  Fill those shoes first and work everything else around them. Next week we will cover organizing the weekly schedule.  Happy planning!

The Master Bedroom

Most people have WAY too much going on in their master bedroom.  If I were to narrow it now to the essentials this would be this list:

Bed
Night stand with lamp and alarm (possibly one nightstand on each side)
Dresser
Closet with clothing

That's it?  Yes, Ma'am it is.  Bedrooms should be simple and clutter free.  When we first moved to our house we had five rooms in one.  Our master bedroom was also the office, nursery, laundry room and entertainment center.  We really did have our washer and dryer in there.  Not kidding.  If I ever find before pictures I will post them.  It was ridiculous.  We de-cluttered and took out everything that didn't belong. We also stuck with all neutral colors.  If you love color or need a splash of it use calming tones.  Colors like blue, green or purples are great companions for neutrals.  Try to stay away from lots of red, orange or yellow.   Our de-cluttered and made over room is so relaxing now.  I don't know what we were thinking before!

The master bedroom is a great place to start de-cluttering.  Start this project this weekend and improve your chances of getting a great night's sleep.  Who doesn't love sleep right?  Good luck!

Organizing Statistics

I love statistics.  The only thing I love even more is organizing statistics.  If you have been reluctant to de-clutter and start organizing then hopefully this post will shove you (nicely of course) over the edge to act.  Food for thought:

• We keep 80% of items that we never end up using (NAPO.net).

• We only wear 20% of what we own (NAPO.net).

• If people decreased the amount of clutter they have in their house they would have 40% less housework to do (NAPO.net).

• The storage facility business is $154 billion which is larger than the Hollywood business.

• On average people spend 1 year looking for lost or misplaced items (NAPO.net).

• According to the US Department of Energy 1/4 of people with a two car garage can not park a car in it.

These are just some great reasons to get started on cleaning out your stuff.   

Organizing the Closet

Once your closet is purged you can begin the organizing process.  Here are some tips to start you off on organizing the remaining items.  Hang on.  Things are about to get detailed :)

1.  Hang everything you can. Personal items, pajamas and shorts are appropriate to have in drawers.

2.  From left to right in the closet hang:

Dresses

Tank tops

Short sleeve tops

Long sleeve tops

Cardigans, blazers, vests and Jean jackets

Dress pants and jeans

Active Wear

***You could also further separate by following this same format only with dress clothes first, casual next and then active.  I mix my casual and dress clothing so that's why I keep it all together.

3.  Fold sweaters on shelves. You can also fold sweat pants or active shorts and place them on the shelf above the active tops.  It just depends on your set up.

4.  Use the rainbow as a color guide ROY G BIV.  White goes first, then the colors, brown, grey and black is last.

5.  Keep a donation bin in your closet for items you no longer need or use.  When it's full get rid of the extra stuff!

6.  Use a tote for extra shoes.  I only keep the shoes I'm wearing by the door.

7.  Hang scarves and belts on hooks or on hangers.  Accessories can be a nice break between your regular clothes and active wear.

Here are some pictures of my purged and organized closets.  One is for my summer clothing and the other for winter.  Less stuff means less decisions and less stress.  Everything I have I love and it fits!


You may be able to tell that we live in a home built in the late 1950's.  We have very small closets which in the end promote accumulating less.  My husband was kind enough to build a closet in his office so these two little ones are all mine.

I hope this inspires you to pare down and organize your closet to only your favorite pieces.  You won't regret it once you see the finished project!

Purging the Closet

It's been said that people generally wear 20% of what they own.  This project will help you figure out what items fall into that category.  The remaining 80% is what you will work on purging from your closet.  What you keep in your closet will largely depend on your lifestyle, work and climate.  Try to minimize your clothing to keeping only what you love to wear.  Here are some guidelines for getting started:

• Define purpose: do you need more casual or business clothing?
• Define season: do you need more summer or winter attire?
• What's your daily uniform? Your favorite outfit that makes you feel comfortable?
• Set limits: the number of hangers you're ok with.  I started with 60 as my goal.
• Pick out the nicest hangers you own.
• Hang everything you can.
• Get rid of anything that doesn't fit properly or is really worn.
• Turn hangers backward to see what you're really wearing.
• In 30-60 days get rid of what you didn't wear.

Once you have purged out the excess you will be ready to organize the things you have left.  The items that you love. The next article will teach you how to organize your newly purged closet!

Best Toys to Keep for Kids

Not all toys are equal.  Some are a fleeting fancy and other stand the test of time.  The ones that are the best to keep are the toys that span generations.  Toys that fuel creativity and interest.  Pass on the gimmicks.  Kids are fickle.  They will love them for a moment and discard them the next.  Here are our Top 10 favorite toys and activities:

1)  Dress Up Clothes
2)  Kitchen with play food and dishes
3)  All building items: leggos, duplos, big blocks, Lincoln Logs
4)  Trains and Trucks
5)  Baby dolls with accessories
6)  Art and craft supplies
7)  Play Doh and accessories
8)  Puzzles
9)  Books
10)  Games

These are a great list of items if friends or family ask what to get for gifts.  We also suggest gift cards to go and do things.  Experiences are often better than material stuff anyway! 

Tips: Organizing with Kids

Organizing with kids can be fun and productive.  Again, its all about setting limits.  Cleaning out the excess.  If that can be done then it will be a whole lot easier to maintain and keep the house under control.  It will be so much less stressful and the home will be a peaceful place to be.  The kid's space is personalized but not cluttered.

1)  Color code.  Each child has a color.  Try to purchase anything for that child in their favorite color.
2)  Have a tote for each child for their next size of clothing.  Anything purchased ahead of time or gifts of clothing go in this bin.
3)  Have a bin or tote in the closet for when they grow out of clothes.  Too small?  Goes in the bin.  Once its full you can sort all the items.  Donate, hand me downs or give away.
4)  Use a file folder for each child.  Their favorite or best school work or projects go in here.
5)  Have a treasure tote for each child.  Special things go in here.  Favorite stuffed animal or blanket, baptism items, baby shoes, gifts they're not old enough for.  This will be the tote they leave home with.
6) Put together snack bags on Sunday.  Store them in a tray where little hands can reach them for snack time.
7)  Buy a shower caddy and use for art supplies.  It will keep markers, crayons, pencils etc contained and organized. 
8)  Keep all toys in toy area organized. Use baskets and bins so one or two sets of toys can be taken upstairs, into bedroom at a time.  When they are finished with that toy it is put back and another can be taken out.
9)  Use kids artwork as decor in the playroom or their rooms.  We put up an "ART" rope and hung pictures by using clothes pins.  Cute and useful!
10)  Place extra books and puzzles up on shelves.  Rotate the books out.  I have them tell me which books they would like on the lower shelves within their reach.  That way all the books are not strewn all over the house.
11)  Place limits.  Number of pajamas, stuffed animals, sweatshirts, toys, puzzles, books etc. 
12) One on one out.  When the kids get new gifts from birthdays or Christmas we expect that they go through their belongings.  They can donate to charity, a younger sibling or sometimes an item makes it way to Grammy's.  Then they have some activities to do when we visit.
13) The "crap" basket.  I use a small plastic basket with handles.  A couple times a day I fill it up with things I find laying around the house.  I have the kids help gather and put items back in their proper place.  If I'm tired and everyone's asleep I'll pick stuff up and keep it in there until morning.
14)  Every Monday we take a laundry basket and bring all extra toys downstairs to the playroom.  I also walk through their rooms with a trash bag and throw all random items away.


Kids Closet and Bedroom

Playroom

It is possible to get and stay organized with kids in the house.  We have two girls and one boy ages one year to six years old.  We have a wide variety of toys.  We try to keep the toys that everyone loves or will love.  The key is getting rid of excess.  Purging the gimicky toys and keeping the classics.  Stay tuned.  My next post is about our favorite, timeless toys.  The best ones to keep for your kids if you are looking for a guideline.

Finished Projects: Our House

We moved in our house about 6 1/2 years ago.  It has been a long process of organizing, figuring out space utilization, de-cluttering and cleaning.  Last year we decided to see how simple and minimal we could get.  This is where we arrived.  We may try to de-clutter further but right now we have things in our home that we love.  We went with decor that works in almost every room.  Then if we want to shake things up a bit we can easily move things around.  Here are some of the rooms:

Living Room

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Mudroom

We did replace the henious green floor in this three season porch.  The material was free from a friend (thanks Kevin!) and we just had to pay for install.  For our family it worked better to use it as a mudroom.  It is right off the garage and leads into the kitchen.  Using it for a sitting room would have been another empty space to fill up with stuff we didn't need.  We added hooks ($30 from Target) and the two benches ($100 from Shopko and the other was $40 from Walmart). 

To start go room by room.  Is there any big furniture you don't need that's just taking up space?  Then move to the walls, shelves, tables, drawers, closets and finally the floor.  Anything that you do not use or absolutely love get rid of.  If there is something you just can't part with see if it works better in a different room.  Happy de-cluttering!

Organizing Priciples that Never Change

Principles are timeless.  They never change.  Here are the top ones I have found from  all the studying and reading I have done over the years.  Try to implement one at a time and see how it changes your life.

1)  Set priorities and live by them.
2)  People over things.
3)  Become a person of one.  One of everything within reason.
4)  Keep it if its useful or beautiful.
5)  Set a limit on your closet.  Is it 40 pieces?  50?  You decide and stick to it. 
6)  One in one out.  Great way to keep a handle on the incoming flow of items.
7)  Everything has its place.  Put it there.
8)  Use a paper calendar.
9)  Budget.  This is sets financial limits on consumption.
10)  Simplify, simplify, simplify.
11)  You are not your stuff. 
12)  Memories are attached to experiences with people not their stuff they leave behind.
13)  Get rid of the likes to enjoy more time with the loves.
14) Clear out the excess and organize the rest.

I am sure there are more than this but these are my favorites so far.  Do you have any favorite tried and true organzing priciples?

The Power of the PURGE

Why do most people find it difficult if not down right impossible to get and stay organized?  I know for us when we started it was TOO MUCH STUFF!  That's right.  Once we got rid of the excess it was so much easier to organize the useful things we had left.  There was far less time spend cleaning up and picking up.  Our drawers finally shut.  The closets weren't bulging to the point that doors do not shut.  We could find food in the pantry.  Our house became our most favorite place to be in the world.

How to purge a space/room:

1)  What is the purpose of this room or space?
2)  Take everything out
3)  Only items that fit with the purpose of the space return
4) Sort:  keep, trash, donate, sell or relocate
5) Clean and Organize
6)  Keep it that way by regular pick up and limiting new stuff coming back into the room

We purge the entire house in January, May and October.  January is a great time to get rid of old stuff after new stuff comes into the house due to Christmas.  In May we go through winter clothing, boots, accessories etc.  By October no one is wearing shorts and flip flops anymore.  We go through all summer stuff then.  Summer clothing, toys and bikes.  We clean it out and pack up the keepers until next year.

Spring is on its way and now is a perfect time to start cleaning out!

Kyle's Office Makeover

Who doesn't love a great, organized and clean space to work in?  My husband works from home and needed just that.  His office had become a dumping ground for excess junk.  We would ask "when should this go?"  Let's just set it in the office.  That's where everything that didn't have a logical home found itself.  I can't even begin to understand how the man concentrated in this hole.  In the pictures below you will fully understand what I am refering to.  And yes that is a singing Dean Martin doll.  His grandmother LOVED Dean Martin, bless her heart. 

Before Pics:

So, we decided to start the process. Everything in the office came out.  We only put back what was useful, beautiful and belonged in an office.  We decided to stick with one desk.  Kyle said he had more than enough work space with just the one.  We placed the desk up against the wall the hide the ugly cords.  The mission table which is his favorite piece stayed.  The bottom shelves were used to hold office supplies.

Kyle has some memorabilia that he is not ready to part with.  We used one plastic bin for that and the other for plastic work samples.  This limited the amount of keepsakes to one tote.  We both felt that this was a realistic limit for him.  It allowed to keep the really important pieces and donating the rest. 

We sorted everything else into piles.  Office items, donate, sell, trash and relocate.  There we a few items in the office such as the extra desk and the mini wine fridge that we can sell. 

Kyle was so excited to start working in his new, organized office.  I told him that just because it is so wonderful now that doesn't mean he can spend extra time down there!  Here are the results:

We spent 2 hours working and no money to makeover this office space.  We used things we already had at our house but maybe were not utilizing in the best way.  I hope you enjoyed this project post! 

Simplify Then Beautify

De-cluttering, purging , sorting and organizing allows us to spend more time with the people we love and the things we love doing.  Less stuff means less stress, worry and work.  Its means more time, focus, clarity of thought and productivity. 

Before we beautify a space we must simplify the space.  We get rid of the things we like so we can have more time for the things we love.  Most people are only using 20 percent of what they own.  We are drowning in excess.  If its useful or beautiful keep it.  If not donate or sell it.  Someone else may benefit from something of yours that is just taking up space. 

I hope you will join me as I begin this journey of helping others simply their lives and focus on the important things. The most important things are not things at all.  You are not your stuff.  Stay tuned to future posts and projects!