Throwback Thursday: Spring Cleaning the Closest!

When it doubt what to post, I always go back to the first year I started blogging – 2013.  I can’t believe how long it has been.  The timing for this post is perfect given the crazy weather we have been having in Jersey….. well everywhere.  

Over the last few days, I have begun to do some spring cleaning – my first stop is always my closet.  (Honestly, mine isn’t this bad but it is getting there.)  A chance to put away the heavy sweaters, pull out my capri pants, flip flops and short sleeve shirts.  Okay, so the weather may still be a little cool, down right cold,  but to me – spring is here!  

While doing this, I came upon some things I bought and still had the price tag on them. (5 years later and this is still the case!)  You know – the perfect sale, something which seemed right at the time or the never ending impulse buying.  So, I have a Closet Filled with  (some) Regrets.  I saw an article the other day which made me stop and think about what is in my closet, the opener said – 

Only about 20% of clothes in the average person’s closet are worn on a regular basis, says Ginny Snook Scott, chief design officer of California Closets, the designer of customized closets and storage spaces. That’s especially the case for women since “men tend to wear more of their wardrobe, as they stereotypically have less,” she says. “They tend to have less than 10 pairs of shoes that they rotate fairly well, whereas women have four to five times that amount, on average.”

WOW!  This made me take a look at my closet again.  What were the things I wore on a regular basis?  I am a jeans girl all the way in the winter so why do I insist on buying skirts/dresses which never seem to make it out of the closet?  Since I am still on my weight loss journey, (at doctor’s goal but still looking to go lower) I have not been buying as many clothes – holding out for milestones in my journey to treat myself to something new. The St. Paul’s Church Rummage Sale is coming up in May so as I clean out my closet, I add to the pile of things to be donated.  My impulse shopping may be just the right thing for someone else.  What will you do with the “regrets” in your closet?  Do you have a favorite charity to donate to or is there something else you do with them?

I saw a tip somewhere on a blog or Facebook, I can’t remember which which someone shared which I think is going to be my new rule of thumb:

My grandmother always says you should wear something once for every dollar you spend on it. I thought it was silly the first time I heard it, but now I find myself holding up items and thinking “Will I really wear this 25 times?” It definitely helps my impulse buys! G-E-N-I-U-S! 

What tactics do you use to avoid purchase regrets?  

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Declutter and Organize the Playroom

The holiday season is moving in and when Belinda was little, it used to mean a time to declutter and purge her toys.  When she was little, she had the toy box my dad made for me when I was little.  It had a “secret compartment”.  Actually, it had a board halfway down to make it easier to reach things.  So, the toys which were on the bottom of the toy box were placed under the board.  As time went on, those toys were forgotten about so it was easy to move them out.

Here are some tips which might help you get the kids ready for a declutter and purge project with the focus on cleaning out and not getting new stuff!

1. START THE CONVERSATION

Start by watching what the kids are playing with and what they aren’t.  You will notice some things have not moved off the shelves or out of the coset for awhile.  Once you have an idea of what those toys are, start casually mentioning it might be time to let those go.  As a social worker, Belinda loved to help me at work by giving things to other kids who may not have things so it was always a great way to get her to clean out the toys.

Was I always right on which ones should go? NO!  There were times when I thought something should go and she had a totally different opinion.  As a result, her level of attachment to something made a difference too on whether it went out the door.

2. GO IT ALONE FIRST

There were days when I would start to declutter on my own in her room.  I got rid of things which really needed to go (think: broken toys, unsafe things or worn out, trash, etc.).   I didn’t get rid of things she was really attached to but more things I knew she would never miss.  Remember the toys under the “secret compartment” or at the bottom of a toy box.

3. ADD THE KIDS

On a set morning of cleaning, or as Belinda would say “not attached, don’t have a purpose – mom is tossing” – I would ask for her help.  She knew, most of the time, what’s missing pieces, or hasn’t worked for a while, or what she is not using anymore, etc.  As much as she hated cleaning, she did like an organized room since it wasn’t very big.

Depending on the age of your kids, this process can be different.  If your kids are really small, you may want to go through things yourself and only ask them when something is borderline whether to keep or toss. As they get older, they might help for a little bit and them move on to playing or something since attention spans vary.  Be ready to be flexible with your kids since each one will process things differently.

4. DONATE AND/OR SELL!

This was always the fun part.  Belinda liked to share her things with other kids who may not have as much or better yet, sell them at a local yard sale for some pocket money.  Times have changed and now things are sold on Craiglist or in Facebook yard sales or maybe even the occasional garage sale.  I will admit, my favorite is donating to the local church rummage sale or homeless shelter.  Check out the various options in your area and let the kids help especially if you are donation them to a local mission or organization.

5. TIME TO ORGANIZE

This was when we had the most fun.  It usually meant new paint for Belinda’s room and as she got older, she got to pick the colors.  Then it was all about making things easily accessible – to get things out and to put them away.  All this while making the very best of a small space.  We did closet organizers, and a loft bed which left lots of floor space to work with.

I really wish I had know about Thirty One back then.  From Your Way Cubes to baskets to totes and more.  A great way to organize things with practical, fashionable and durable products.

Here are some ideas:

    

Your Way Cube: Each Cube comes with side handles for ease of transport and either a clear PVC window or chalkboard panel on the side so you’ll always know what’s inside. Add a Your Way Cube Lid to allow for space-saving stacking and to protect items inside. Cubes are all collapsible when not in use. Holds up to 35 lbs.

Hang-It Pocket Organizer: This is a convenient catch-all for all the loose odds and ends. Use it to hold pencils, pens, staplers, paper clips, file folders and calculators in the office; note pads, mail, coupons, keys, batteries and flashlights in the kitchen; or gloves, hats, pet products, ice scrapers, shoe horns and more in the mud room.

Stand Tall Bin:  With 2 exterior handles and a sturdy frame, it’s easy to carry anywhere and capable of holding up to 50 lbs. Put one in each of your kids’ rooms for laundry or to store toys, games, play clothes or sports equipment, or place it in your guestroom to store extra towels, bedding, blankets and other useful items.

What is your favorite organizational tool works for you?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Tips for Cleaning Out Your Closet

I think Spring may have finally arrived – some warmer temps opened the door for flip flops and capris.  Of course the dreary days with rain make me wonder…..Through it all, I am ready to purge my closet and pull out some spring clothes. What is even more exciting is I am creeping close to my goal weight which means I will have lots of spring clothes to wear.

Transitioning into a different season is the perfect opportunity to clean out your closet and minimize your items. I’m sure I am not the only on who has clothing pieces from last summer which are probably no longer in style, fit, or didn’t survive being in storage. Why hold on to these things?  The chances of you wearing them is unlikely so it is time to toss and refresh.

1. Take every item out of your closet.  Yup, toss it all in the middle of the floor.  It will look like your closet threw up but it is the only way to make sure you go through and touch every item one-by-one.  The goal is to only put items back in your closet you love.

2. Does it fit badly? A little tight here, too big there so the bottom line is it no longer serves a purpose. Holding on to beautiful or expensive items we love and once fit us is like holding onto the past… let’s look forward. Give them to someone you know will benefit from them.

3. Not worn for a year. If an item has been hanging in your closet untouched for one year, it’s time to say goodbye.  I know you are thinking – it’s seasonal, right?  If you didn’t wear it last season, you probably won’t wear it this season either.

4. Fold jeans in drawers. Jeans should never be hanging in your closet because they take up too much space and will last longer in drawers.  This was a new tidbit for me!  Hubby puts his on the shelf but for a different reason.

5. Time for the new. Old socks and undergarments can be thrown away. Now is a great time to buy clean, new sets.  OR you can hold onto them and use the undergarments when you travel.  After they are worn, toss them – more room in the suitcase when you come home/

6. Tailor now or never. If there are things in your closet you can’t wear because they need tailoring, do it immediately or toss them. If you really loved and wanted to wear them, you would have had tailored it by now.

7. Part with unused gifts. So many people keep items just because they were a gift, even if they don’t like or wear them. The person who bought you the gift would probably prefer someone else wear it, rather than you ignoring it.

8. Limit handbags.  Well, maybe not the number of them just the ones you keep in the closet. Bags take up space.  The rule of thumb is, we only need three bags for our day-to-day lives: a large tote, an evening clutch, and a cross-body bag.  Remember, I have a bag for all of your needs. I will totally disagree with only needing 3 bags but I am the proverbial bag lady, right?  Try to keep bags hung on a hook if possible to maximize space.

9. Minimize. After ridding yourself of all unneeded, unworn, and uncared for items, you will feel lighter, get dressed quicker, and spend less time getting ready.  I also am focusing on certain color pallets so everything goes together.

What is your best tip for organizing your closet?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

A New Year, A New Closet

Do you know what today is?  Yes, it is HUMP DAY!  For some it may be a short week since many places considered Monday a holiday, I can almost guarantee many are focusing on their Resolutions.  I am always trying to get organized….Yes, this bag lady can help the messiest get organized but she still struggles with her own hot mess…

Whether you are a fashionista with a perfectly color-coded closet or a man who wears five of the same type of shirt every day, chances are your bedroom and closet could benefit from a good cleaning and reorganization.  Here are some tips to help in you tame the messiest of closets

#1 GRAB A BAG AND A BOX

It doesn’t matter what kind of bag or box you use, the goal is to divide and conquer your cluttered closet and dresser drawers.  The bag will be for trash and the box will be for donations. If you think you’re going to need more than one of each, grab as many as you need.

#2 PREPARE YOURSELF

The secret to a good clean is ensuring you have everything you need BEFORE you start.  Then comes the “mental preparation”.   Get yourself in the mood to clean out your wardrobe, put on some upbeat music to set the tone.

#3 DESIGNATE YOUR PILES

Now, put everything — and we mean everything —from your closet on the bed. That includes accessories, hat boxes, shoes and whatever is in your closet. Make sure the closet is empty.  Why the bed?  Well, isn’t it a great motivator to get things done since you won’t be able to go to sleep until everything is off the bed?

Sort the items into three piles –  “keep,” “trash” and “donate.”  My “keep” pile always gets put away in the closet or the drawers right away.  You may have a fourth pile — maybes. These are clothes you rarely wear but want to hold onto for some reason.  Once you are done sorting everything, go back through this pile  and ask yourself these questions:

Have you worn the item within the year?

Does it look better on the hanger than it does on you?

Could someone else use it today?

If you answer “no” on the first question, it goes into the donation pile. If you answer “yes” on the last two questions, it goes into the donation pile.

#4 MAKE YOUR BED AND FINISH UP

After you have narrowed down your wardrobe –  remove the trash and donation piles from the room. If it is left in the room, you may never get it to the trash bins and your favorite thrift store.  I put the trash right out and the donations go in the trunk of the car to be sure they get to the thrift store.

Here is a another tip from a friend, when putting all of the clothes back in the closet, turn the hangers the wrong way.  As you wear something, you turn the hangers the right way when you put it away.  At the end of the season (or year), any hangers still facing in the wrong direction – those items get donated.  If you haven’t worn the item in 6 months or a year, there is no need to keep it.

What is your best tip for cleaning out your closets?  Share them with us or how about a Before and After picture….

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Things You Need To Do Before 2017

Happy Monday…. I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend with friends and family.  It was a busy few days for us since the girls were in town for a quick visit with one of the fur grand babies.  Lots of adventures.

I don’t know about you but the realization JUST hit me…. there is less than five weeks to go to make the most of this year…yes, FIVE weeks.  If you want to be exact, there is 34 days.

I know for many, they will be filled with holiday shopping, decorating, celebrating with family and friends and maybe even a mini vacation.  Yes, I will be doing some of those things BUT I realized there are a few things I meant to do in 2016 which have not been accomplished yet….

Check out this list and join me in crossing off some things from your to do list…

1. Visit your doctor or dentist. Okay, the doctor is not tops on my list since I have spent countless days at doctor’s offices over the last year.  The dentist was on my list.  I will admit, I am pretty lousy at following through since I HATE dentists.  But, if I learned nothing in the last year, our health — physical, mental, sexual, oral or otherwise — is important. We need to take care of ourselves. And each other. Friends, make your friends go for a check-up and keep them accountable.
2. Deep clean your space. No one wants to do this, but just think about how refreshing it would be to wake up January 1 with a blank slate. No cob webs, no dust, no laundry. Just a clean start. I have always said, “dust bunnies” are my friends.  I have made a verbal commitment to hubby to be better at this in 2017 especially since he has been so wonderful in helping me to get on top of things before the girls arrived.
3. Donate unwanted items to charity or thrift stores. After you deep clean (including your closet, of course), take any unwanted items to a thrift store or donate them to charity. Not only are you reducing waste and helping those in need, making a charitable donation can also positively affect your tax return.  I am working on keeping my color palate of clothes to some basics so I have really been cleaning out.
4. When was the last time you looked someone in the eye and told them you loved them? Seriously, it may be scary but intentionally and wholeheartedly telling your partner, parent, sister, brother, whomever, you love them is one of the greatest things you can do. Ever. So don’t wait another day.
5. Clean up your inbox, desktop, text messages and photos. Daunting, yes, but oh-so freeing. Make your favorite smoothie, put on your favorite album or throw on your headphones, get comfy and technically cut the clutter and free up some digital space for new memories.
6. Travel to a place you haven’t been to before. A dream vacation, a restaurant, a park, a campsite, your partner’s favorite beach… no matter where you go or what you do, just do it. Experience something new.  You will be amazed at how a brief break from the holiday craziness will help change your perspective AND re-energize you.
7. Compliment a stranger. Random acts of kindness, even just words can make a difference in the life of someone you don’t know.  Have you ever walked into work or a coffee shop and a complete stranger compliments you — your smile, outfit, shoes? It is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Or even better… have you ever seen the reaction of a stranger when you compliment them? Talk about a positive, warm and beautiful exchange. So why not make someone feel really good today? Go ahead, compliment them!
8. Watch the sun rise. I LOVE the sunrise especially over the beach.  With the sunrising a little later, it is a little easier to do even if it is from the confines of the house looking out the window.  It is the most peaceful time of day. A soft glow starts to appear in the once navy sky. It is a perfect time to meditate, reflect, give thanks or set your intentions. Just you, your thoughts, and a rising sun.
9. Think ahead to 2017.  Start thinking about your new year’s intentions and goals. I don’t do resolutions BUT I do have a list of goals each year.  I also pick one word which will help to guide me through the year.  Being forward thinking allows you to make the decisions now to impact your future.

What would you add to this list? Please share in the comments.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!