In The Service Of Others

I had the privilege of being a part of a pro-bono organizing job last week which was coordinated through the National Association of Professional Organizers' (NAPO) Colorado chapter. As a part of NAPO's Get Organized or "GO" Month, the Colorado chapter partnered with the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to educate patients and their families on the health benefits of staying organized, especially during treatment of serious illness. In addition to two presentations for their meeting on January 17th, two lucky winners were selected to receive four hours of organizing with four organizers! If you couldn't guess, that's a lot of bubbling, energetic organizing "juju" in one place - enough to send many people running in the other direction.

When I was asked about participating in this event, I jumped at the chance. For me, working my organizational magic is a joy, and to do it for someone who has dealt with health issues and therefore can benefit so greatly from these services is a no-brainer. This served as another great opportunity for me to demonstrate my commitment to being in service of others.

Linen closet BEFORE

Oodles of stuff!

The client with whom we worked was as sweet as could be and was excited for this kick-start to getting her house decluttered. And the team with whom I got to work were top notch: Dawn McCloskey, Charee McDonald and Julie Kessler. Amazingly, with four organizers pulling her in many different directions, she did a beautiful job of staying focused and making decisions about what stays and what goes making it a fun and productive afternoon. 

In the middle of the big "Sort and Purge"

I focused on the linen closet while the other organizers tackled bedroom closets and a desk that was being devoured by papers. You'll see from the pictures that it was transformed from a closet bursting at the seams to one where each type of item, be it medicine, hair supplies, linens or lotions, had its proper place and was easily accessed. Her morning routine will now take less time and be a peaceful process...and who couldn't use a little more peace in their lives?

Linen closet AFTER

Everything labeled and in its proper place

De-cluttering: Creating a Path to Peace

Happy New Year! Today, the new year opens out before us as a clean slate waiting for us to write our future. The magic of this time of year is that we are reminded of the fact that we can choose how to live each day, that we can create the path that lies before us. 

With the beginning of a new year, many people are inspired to create resolutions. You've heard them (or maybe even made some of them) before:

• I resolve to lose 10 pounds.
• I resolve to quit smoking.
• I resolve to eat healthier or exercise daily. 

All of these resolutions are made with the best of intentions but unfortunately are often forgotten by the time the page of the calendar turns to February. Why does this inevitably seem to happen? Perhaps it is the incredible pressure we put upon ourselves to drastically change our habitual behaviors (learned over a great deal of time and reinforced regularly). When we first miss the mark in trying out a new way of being, it seems as though all is lost, and discouraged, we give up until a new year is upon us once again. For this reason, while I love the new beginning that this special day creates, I am not a big believer in resolutions. 

And so rather than thinking about setting forth any resolutions, I am choosing to simply raise my awareness on one particular topic. This year, I will be mindful of clutter in my life. Without the burden of having to overhaul everything because of a strict and specific resolution, I choose to be aware of the clutter in my life and find ways to minimize it because for me, de-cluttering is a path to peace.

There are so many ways in which I hope to rid myself of clutter this year. Some of them will likely be physical manifestations of clutter. For example, I always find it cathartic to clean out my closet and expunge it of ill-fitting clothes, shoes that are worn out, and handbags that are no longer in style. It makes getting dressed every morning a much more enjoyable process knowing that everything I see before me helps me feel like my best self. Even as an organized person, there are always new spaces where I can let go of items and find new order. Rather than setting out to overhaul my house, I will just be aware of any areas that seem particularly cluttered and when necessary, focus on letting some of the items go. 

But beyond tackling the physical spaces around me, I also think about de-cluttering other things that no longer serve me. I intend to let go of those grievances or criticisms that get in the way of me moving forward in my life. I will accept the lessons to be learned from such situations and bid any negative emotions attached to them goodbye. Rather than taking up precious space in my mind and soul, I will wish these memories well and be on my way. 

The same is true of relationships that no longer bring me joy or fulfillment. As a new mom, wife, friend, daughter and sister, there is certainly no abundance of free time. And so I must choose wisely about where to direct my time and attentions. I choose to focus my energy on those relationships with people that fill me up - people with whom I find pleasure in their company and always leave wanting to spend just a few minutes more. Those relationships with people who leave me feeling frustrated or like my energy reserves have been drained are ones that I will choose to prune back - not with any ill will or mal-intent, simply with a recognition that as we go through life, people and relationships change and sometimes no longer bring out the best in either party. Again, I will be thankful for their presence in my life and for the memories I will cherish, but then I will allow us both to move on.

Don't get me wrong...relationships are perhaps the most difficult thing of all to de-clutter but they also allow some of the most space to allow new relationships to form. 

I will also be mindful of the clutter I take into my body - things like eating too much or consuming too much sugar, fat, sodium and preservatives - and the marks they leave in the form of extra weight, sluggishness, and a lack of feeling healthy and vibrant. When I focus my awareness on ridding myself of clutter in this way, I recognize that I can make continuous choices about the things I consume without being paralyzed by having eaten a slice of pumpkin pie. 

Clearing the clutter isn't a one time thing. It starts first as an awareness and then becomes a process that we must revisit time and time again to reaffirm the type of life we choose to live. And each time we identify a piece of clutter to discard, we are renewed by the sense of lightness and openness to what lies ahead. 

Wishing you peace, lightness and a clutter-free year!

Wrapping Up the Holidays

It's hard to believe that the holidays are coming to a close. It's one of my favorite times of year as I get to spend quality time with family and friends and am reminded that it is time with loved ones that truly fills my life with joy. While I am reluctant to accept that this special time of year is winding down, I am looking forward to having a simple plan for how to wrap everything up so that getting ready for the holidays next year will be a breeze. I have come up with a list of things that can help you do the same. Check it out:

1.  When starting to repack your holiday decorations and wares, discard any items that are broken, worn out or otherwise in bad shape. There is no sense in hanging on to strands of lights that no longer shine or ornaments that are cracked. Ruthlessly declutter! It will help you feel better instantaneously. 

2.  Before packing up your ornaments and decorations, edit the stash of items that did not get used this year. If you did not choose to put out an old Christmas platter or a wreath that's lost its' shape this year, you won't change your mind when it comes time to decorate next year. Things in really bad shape should be tossed or recycled (if possible). And items that are still in good condition but no longer suit your taste or the theme of your decorations can be donated to friends or places like Goodwill or ARC Thrift Stores. Bonus: You'll brighten someone else's holiday spirit when they discover a new treasure. 

3.  Next, while putting everything away, create an inventory of your decorations and include it on the very top of the storage boxes. I recommend listing all items either by category (e.g. wreaths (2); table linens (3 rectangular table cloths: gold, red, green); lights (4 strands), etc.) and/or by location in your house (e.g. front entry way, living room mantle, etc.). Not only will this allow you to quickly identify what items you have on hand and where they can be placed in the future, you will also be able to identify any new items you'd like to add to your holiday decor for next year. Right now is a great time to purchase holiday items at a steep discount!

4.  One of the most important tasks is to store everything in appropriate storage containers. You want to contain your items in boxes or bins that will maximize storage space. While I typically prefer clear storage containers so that the contents can be easily seen, I choose to use red and green containers for my holiday decorations so that I can immediately differentiate those tubs from ones housing non-holiday items. But be sure to label the outside of containers with a list of what it is inside for easy retrieval. Click on the links below for a variety of storage options for typical holiday items:

• Ornaments
• Wreaths 
• Christmas lights

5.  Holiday lights can easily become a tangled mess making it almost easier to buy a new set every year. Rather than waste money, check out one of the options in the link above AND be sure to label each strand  of lights with the location where it was used this year. This will prevent you from getting halfway through wrapping your railing before running out of lights. 

6.  Use a Christmas tree disposal bag from Amazon to get rid of your trees without leaving pine needles throughout your house. And check out this link to find out where to recycle your Christmas tree. 

7.  Consolidate all of your wrapping supplies and integrate them into your wrapping station. Toss all small scraps of wrapping paper, torn tissue paper or bags that are beat up. Tattered wrapping takes away some of the joy of opening up an otherwise beautiful gift. If you are looking for a way to house all of the remaining wrapping supplies, check out these options from The Container Store:

• Gift Wrap Work Station
• Customized Gift Wrap Center
• Hanging Gift Wrap Organizer

8.  Review all of the holiday cards you received this year and use that to build or modify your holiday card list for next year. Be sure to update any new addresses in your address book or Christmas card list and labels. They'll be ready to go come next December!

9.  Construct a tentative gift list for next year based on whom you exchanged gifts with this year. Jot down any preliminary gift ideas that you have for each person on your list and carry it with you in your purse, phone or planner. Now when you are out shopping throughout the year, you can start to purchase gifts and avoid the holiday stress that comes with the tick-tock countdown of shopping days till Christmas!

10.  If you did a lot of entertaining this season, review all of the holiday recipes you used. Discard any that you didn't like or would not make again. On recipes you do plan to use again, make any notes about changes  you made or would do in the future and then place them in a special "Holiday" section of your recipe box or binder. When preparing your menu for next year's festivities, you will have a sample menu ready to go!

11.  Download all digital photos onto your computer and label them as Holiday or Christmas 2012 - whatever label that will be easy for you to remember when looking for these pictures in the future. Immediately delete any photos that are blurry, unattractive or poorly framed. Share or print any special photos now before the new year begins and this falls to the bottom of your To Do list. Websites like Shutterfly and Snapfish make sharing and ordering photos easy and efficient. I highly recommend backing up all photos on a flash drive, CD or external hard drive to prevent loss. 

12.  I think perhaps the most important thing to do in wrapping up the holidays is to spend some time reflecting on the most memorable parts of your festivities this year. Jot down what you consider to be the top moments of the holidays, for example, seeing The Nutcracker, ice-skating on Evergreen Lake with family or baking Christmas cookies with friends. When the holidays are approaching next year, refer to this list of memorable activities and be sure to schedule them in your calendar. Focus on setting aside time for these items and be willing to say no to other activities that crop up but won't be as enjoyable. By prioritizing your time, you will be sure to have another great holiday season.

Season's greetings from my family to yours!

The Gift of Order

During the holiday season, attention often turns to giving gifts to our friends and loved ones. But this fun task can turn into anything but if your wrapping supplies aren't well organized. Such was the case with this gift wrapping closet. It had turned into a big mess which made even the thought of wrapping presents in colorful papers and ribbons an absolute nightmare. In just a couple of hours, this seemingly unwieldy pile of all things paper became a manageable wrapping station. See below for the 3 simple steps to create this transformation!

Wrapping closet - BEFORE

1.) SORT - The first step in conquering the chaos was to remove everything from the closet and sort it into like piles. Ribbons and embellishments were grouped together as were other items such as tissue paper, gift bags, packing material, gift boxes and wrapping paper. This really helped in getting a sense of just how much stuff there was and then led to the next step of deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. The bonus was that we discovered many cute bags and papers that had long been hidden from view!

2.)  EDIT - The next step was to pare down the collection of wrapping supplies to only what was in good condition and may actually be needed for future use. In this case, there was an overabundance of boxes that were just taking up space and cluttering the closet. We really had to be very honest about actually how many boxes one needs at any given time. (Hint: Not as many as you think! Keep just one box in 3-5 different sizes. That's plenty!) The rest went straight to the recycle bin. 

3.) CONTAIN - After paring down the collection to a reasonable number and variety of gift boxes, we used the bigger boxes as containers to hold the ones we wanted to keep. We did the same with the gift bags. Due to limited space in the closet, the remaining shipping boxes were condensed into larger boxes and moved to storage in the basement since they are not used as often.

Tissue paper was folded neatly and corralled by the use of large binder clips.

Ribbons were sorted and then held together by paperclips. We repurposed a gift bag to hold them all in one place.

The end result is a gift wrapping closet that is not only much prettier to look at but also much more functional.    Rather than digging through an avalanche of bags and bows, we can immediately locate a suitable gift bag or box, tissue paper and tie it up with a bow which saves time and stress. How's that for a present this holiday season?!

Wrapping closet - AFTER

***This project was completed entirely with existing supplies. Keep an eye out for my next blog though where I will profile some great products that can create wonderful wrapping stations in any corner of your house!

Nursery Neatness

I apologize for my extended hiatus from blogging. I have a good excuse; I swear! I was busy getting ready for this little guy's arrival and then adjusting to being a new mom.

Rhett Sawyer Campbell

But now that we've had a chance to get to know each other quite a bit and fall madly in love with each other, I am beginning to re-enter the world. I have quickly learned that organization is key as a mom, so I spent some time recently sorting out Rhett's nursery. Check it out:

Good storage is a key component, so we purchased a six-drawer dresser that doubles as a changing table as well as a standing shelving unit that houses all of the little guy's toys and books. 

The top left drawer holds diapers, wipes and other necessities that make changing time a breeze...well, at least when Rhett doesn't decide to squirm around. All of the clothes that are in current rotation are housed in the dresser too. 

And to make getting dressed as easy as possible, everything is labeled by size and type. Currently Rhett is rocking the 3 month clothes, but when he moves up a size, it will be easy enough to replace the 3 month label with a 6 month one and swap out clothes that fit. 

 

Problem:   We were lucky enough to get lots of cute clothes as gifts for our little man and we want to be sure that he gets to wear them all before he grows out of them. 

Solution:   Create outfits from clothes at the top of the stacks. After doing laundry, place the freshly washed clothes at the bottom of the stack. This keeps everything in a regular rotation and ensures that your little one has lots of cure looks!

The closet houses blankets, linens, outerwear and special holiday outfits. Additionally, clothes that Rhett hasn't yet grown into are kept in this handy 6-slot organizer sorted by size. When he gets to the next size up, these clothes will be moved from the closet into the dresser. 

I am realizing already how quickly babies grow! At 2 months old, Rhett has grown out of his few newborn clothes. The clothes that he no longer fits into get washed, put in a Ziploc bag and then put in a storage container which is kept in longer term storage in the basement. It keeps his room from getting cluttered with things he no longer fits into but keeps everything fresh for future use. 

Admittedly, I still have A LOT to learn about being a mom! But trying to stay organized is helping me to devote as much time as possible to my precious little Rhett.

Table Time

Last weekend one of my wonderful clients and I worked on an area that is front and center in her home - her kitchen table. Because it is such a prominent piece of furniture, it has become a catch-all for many items en route to their "homes".  When we started, this is what the table looked like:

We immediately got to work tackling the contents of the table. There were lots of questions asked along the way:

• What would you ideally like to use this space for? 
• Do you really need to keep this item or that? 
• Is there a better place for this item? 
• What can we re-purpose or recycle?

My client thoughtfully replied to each question and together we were able to create a much more streamlined space for her office essentials as well as room for what she someday hopes to do...eat dinner with her husband at their kitchen table!

Great organizational tools

I took a recent trip to Ikea and was so inspired by many of the organizing products I saw there. We all have areas where we need to maximize space, and Ikea is filled with inventive ways to do just that. Not only do the products make staying organized much easier, they are also very visually appealing. Additionally, they would go great with many different types of decor.  Here is just a small sampling of the wonderful items I discovered...

Great utensil & spice holders that take up hardly any space!
And stainless steel goes with any decor.

Collapsible table can be stored out of the way when not needed but  also includes storage!
Why not keep  your fancy table linens in the drawers in between dinner parties?!

How nifty are these racks?
Great ways to store pots & lids  when cabinet space is limited.

Not sure how to keep the refrigerator from being overrun with your kids' artwork?
Try these wire hangers for a rotating art gallery.