Yeah, I know it has been a little while since I actually wrote anything. And I really hope that there wasn't anyone sitting out there with a house that's 2/3 of the way organized while I wanted to write this one. I have a hard time telling people what to do with things that have meaning to them. Some are ok to keep, others you should probably let go of so that you have a new start. However that is a choice that you have to make on your own.
So this one will be short and sweet. Think about what you are keeping and why. If you are keeping it out of guilt or to remind yourself not to make the same mistake again, get rid of it. It is really is important to you, then display it in the way that it deserves. Keeping it hidden away means that you are not really cherishing it and you should be getting rid of it too.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
That stuff we rarely use, but can't get rid of.
Ahhh my favorite storage section, category number two seasonal stuff. This category is actually bigger than you might think, but can also vary greatly based on where you live and how you decorate. Seasonal stuff can include everything from holiday decorations, to clothing. If you happen to have the room and the money it can also include bedding, dishes, and all sorts of things. I know people who essentially re-decorate their entire house for each season. I don't but that is because I don't have the storage to do it. If I did, trust me I would.
Seasonal storage is different that everyday storage, most people put it outside, either in the garage or a storage shed, or even in a attic or basement. Because of this there are different things that are important.
The first thing is still that you can't keep more than you have room for. I think that this is the universal rule of organizing. If you don't have the room for it you simply cannot keep it.
The second thing to think of is appropriate storage for your location. Most seasonal storage needs to me water and air tight. You shouldn't store your winter clothes in paper bags, or plastic grocery sacks. The bugs, and water, and dirt will get into them and ruin them, and then what was the point in taking up the room storing them? So look at your storage area, what is size appropriate and location appropriate. For a particularly damp location you might even need to double wrap things, putting them into a plastic cover like a Space Bag and then put those into a Plastic Bin. If you are in a drier location then you should be fine with just the plastic bin. And honestly if you are like me the Space Bag won't work for you, they always end up expanding again on me and not staying vacuumed tight, so I look at them as a big Ziploc instead of as a space saver.
The third step, one that most people forget is to label your boxes well. If you can't find what you have stored and end up giving up looking for it and buy new stuff then you shouldn't have bothered storing it in the first place. If you are using the box for things that are permanent in that box like Christmas decorations you can write on the box with a permanent marker, but if you will be changing what is in the box then make sure that you can change the label. I also put a packing list right inside the top of the box, or you can put it in a plastic page protector on the outside. So you can find specific things.
Organizing your seasonal stuff is a lot of work, but when you are done you will thank yourself. Being able to walk to your storage anytime and pull out exactly what you need without going through piles of stuff and dozens of boxes will make things so much easier, and less expensive in the long run.
Seasonal storage is different that everyday storage, most people put it outside, either in the garage or a storage shed, or even in a attic or basement. Because of this there are different things that are important.
The first thing is still that you can't keep more than you have room for. I think that this is the universal rule of organizing. If you don't have the room for it you simply cannot keep it.
The second thing to think of is appropriate storage for your location. Most seasonal storage needs to me water and air tight. You shouldn't store your winter clothes in paper bags, or plastic grocery sacks. The bugs, and water, and dirt will get into them and ruin them, and then what was the point in taking up the room storing them? So look at your storage area, what is size appropriate and location appropriate. For a particularly damp location you might even need to double wrap things, putting them into a plastic cover like a Space Bag and then put those into a Plastic Bin. If you are in a drier location then you should be fine with just the plastic bin. And honestly if you are like me the Space Bag won't work for you, they always end up expanding again on me and not staying vacuumed tight, so I look at them as a big Ziploc instead of as a space saver.
The third step, one that most people forget is to label your boxes well. If you can't find what you have stored and end up giving up looking for it and buy new stuff then you shouldn't have bothered storing it in the first place. If you are using the box for things that are permanent in that box like Christmas decorations you can write on the box with a permanent marker, but if you will be changing what is in the box then make sure that you can change the label. I also put a packing list right inside the top of the box, or you can put it in a plastic page protector on the outside. So you can find specific things.
Organizing your seasonal stuff is a lot of work, but when you are done you will thank yourself. Being able to walk to your storage anytime and pull out exactly what you need without going through piles of stuff and dozens of boxes will make things so much easier, and less expensive in the long run.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Now that I've sorted it.
Well the first step is done, you have sorted you stuff and pared it down to what you really love and use on a regular basis. For most of you just making it this far is a huge step. If you really were honest with yourself in the first step you have seen how many things you are holding on to that you didn't need in the first place. If you weren't honest with yourself, well, you really are still stuck trying to organize clutter but that doesn't mean that you are a hopeless case, it just means that you need to work on step one a few more times over the next few months, trying to be more honest with yourself each time. Remember that this is a process, there is no magic wand that you can wave to go from a disorganized clutter-bug to an organized person.
Useful Everyday
This should be the easiest to get put away and organized. There are a few things that you need to answer and then away they should go. Most of these things are probably best right near where you found them. Think about where and how you use the items every day and then find an away place for them to be near that location. The further you have to walk to put something away the less likely you are to do it.
Question 1: What is the best way for ME to organize?
Organization is not a one size fits all activity. Not only does everyone live in a different house, but everyone also uses things in a different way. But, most importantly, what you think is a logical way to do things isn't always what I think is logical, so you need to organize for yourself. I just got through reading a great article in Real Simple that talked about how you shouldn't try to fit your organization into someone elses mold. If you are right-brained you shouldn't try and use the regimented color coded, same sized stacked boxes, and if you are left-brained you are probably most comfortable with this method. Find what works for you and your family.
Question 2: How much space do I have to put this away in?
Let's face it, there are very few of us who live in places where storage isn't at a premium. No matter how much we have it seems like we always need more. When you are planning a place to put things away, and look at your space realistically. If you only have one shelf on one closet for sheets, then that is all that you have. Taking more space than you have for one item usually means that you will have less room for another. Eventually if you keep borrowing storage from one thing to house another you will end up back where you started with no organization at all.
Question 3: Can I really fit what I want into the space that I have?
Look at your box of things that you use, look at the space that you have, will it all fit? If your self will hold six sets of sheets and you have four then you are doing great. If your shelf will fit four and you have six, not so great. If you have to answer no to this question it is time to go back. Do you really need all that you kept? Or are you saving the sheets from your childhood bed even though your kids will never use them. If after you re-assess what you have kept and you still don't have enough space, then it is time to re-assess where it is stored. Maybe you don't need something else that is in the linen closet stored there. Maybe you can move the kids crafts out so that you have more room for the sheets. Maybe you need to store the sheets in the room they belong in, either in an under the bed box, in the closet, or in the dresser. Be creative in your options just make sure you aren't taking storage that you actually need for something else.
Remember that there isn't any cut and dried correct way to do this. You need to store things in a way that is appealing to your senses wheather they be artistic and eclectic or regimented and color coded. You need to store the things that you use every day in a way that makes them accessable, both to use and to put away again when you are done. And last, you need to be honest and creative with where you put things away so that they are stored in the best possible manner.
Useful Everyday
This should be the easiest to get put away and organized. There are a few things that you need to answer and then away they should go. Most of these things are probably best right near where you found them. Think about where and how you use the items every day and then find an away place for them to be near that location. The further you have to walk to put something away the less likely you are to do it.
Question 1: What is the best way for ME to organize?
Organization is not a one size fits all activity. Not only does everyone live in a different house, but everyone also uses things in a different way. But, most importantly, what you think is a logical way to do things isn't always what I think is logical, so you need to organize for yourself. I just got through reading a great article in Real Simple that talked about how you shouldn't try to fit your organization into someone elses mold. If you are right-brained you shouldn't try and use the regimented color coded, same sized stacked boxes, and if you are left-brained you are probably most comfortable with this method. Find what works for you and your family.
Question 2: How much space do I have to put this away in?
Let's face it, there are very few of us who live in places where storage isn't at a premium. No matter how much we have it seems like we always need more. When you are planning a place to put things away, and look at your space realistically. If you only have one shelf on one closet for sheets, then that is all that you have. Taking more space than you have for one item usually means that you will have less room for another. Eventually if you keep borrowing storage from one thing to house another you will end up back where you started with no organization at all.
Question 3: Can I really fit what I want into the space that I have?
Look at your box of things that you use, look at the space that you have, will it all fit? If your self will hold six sets of sheets and you have four then you are doing great. If your shelf will fit four and you have six, not so great. If you have to answer no to this question it is time to go back. Do you really need all that you kept? Or are you saving the sheets from your childhood bed even though your kids will never use them. If after you re-assess what you have kept and you still don't have enough space, then it is time to re-assess where it is stored. Maybe you don't need something else that is in the linen closet stored there. Maybe you can move the kids crafts out so that you have more room for the sheets. Maybe you need to store the sheets in the room they belong in, either in an under the bed box, in the closet, or in the dresser. Be creative in your options just make sure you aren't taking storage that you actually need for something else.
Remember that there isn't any cut and dried correct way to do this. You need to store things in a way that is appealing to your senses wheather they be artistic and eclectic or regimented and color coded. You need to store the things that you use every day in a way that makes them accessable, both to use and to put away again when you are done. And last, you need to be honest and creative with where you put things away so that they are stored in the best possible manner.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
That not-so dirty word.....
Yup, I'm talking about organization, not only organization but de-cluttering. Wait, don't panic, I promise I will have some ideas for everyone no matter how organized you think you are. This will not all happen in one post, I know that it's a lot to go over so I will be breaking it up into more manageable pieces.
I am often asked to help friends and family organize things, which comes as a huge surprise to me. I was the teenager who stuffed all of her stuff under the bed and into the closet to "clean" her room. The "a place for everything, and everything in it's place" mantra was lost on me. I saw de-cluttering, cleaning, and organizing as a huge waste of time. I can't quite put my finger on when the change came, there was no magical "ah-ha" moment when I went from being a slob to a neat-freak. It just happened. I think that my biggest push towards organization and cleanliness came my senior year of college when I shared a room with Nao. She was (and still is) the cleanest and most organized person that I have ever met. I felt guilty if my half of the room didn't at least sort of match hers, which was a huge feat since her half was pristine.
You can't organize clutter
It's been said a million times. You just can't organize clutter. You can move it around, you can hide it in nifty looking boxes and organizational tools, but when it all comes down to the nitty-gritty, it just won't help. Clutter is clutter no matter how many labels and pretty things you try and hide it with. So our first step in this process will be to de-clutter. In order for this to work, you must be honest and ruthless. It is hard, but it is worth it. The first step is to make your categories for things to keep, my suggestions is these three, but if you find something that works better for you then use that.
1) Useful every day
2) Useful seasonally
3) Sentimental
Designate a place for each of these categories and start sorting. Do you use it daily (or weekly)? Then it goes in the first box, do you use it every Christmas, or every winter? Then it goes in the second. Does it have some special meaning? Then it goes in the third. If it doesn't fit any of those categories? Then it goes in the trash or gets donated to charity. I don't suggest making a yard sale pile, because be honest, you won't ever get around to having one.
You don't have to do this to your whole house at once, or even a whole room, take the amount of time that you have and make a realistic goal. Do you have 15 minutes? Then go through you clutter pile from when you walk in the door. Do you have 45 try your closet. Remember that something that doesn't fit you isn't a keeper no matter how determined you are to be that size again some day.
Hopefully this is a small start for some of you, I'll be back with more tips on what to do with the things in each bin in a few days.
~ DD
I am often asked to help friends and family organize things, which comes as a huge surprise to me. I was the teenager who stuffed all of her stuff under the bed and into the closet to "clean" her room. The "a place for everything, and everything in it's place" mantra was lost on me. I saw de-cluttering, cleaning, and organizing as a huge waste of time. I can't quite put my finger on when the change came, there was no magical "ah-ha" moment when I went from being a slob to a neat-freak. It just happened. I think that my biggest push towards organization and cleanliness came my senior year of college when I shared a room with Nao. She was (and still is) the cleanest and most organized person that I have ever met. I felt guilty if my half of the room didn't at least sort of match hers, which was a huge feat since her half was pristine.
You can't organize clutter
It's been said a million times. You just can't organize clutter. You can move it around, you can hide it in nifty looking boxes and organizational tools, but when it all comes down to the nitty-gritty, it just won't help. Clutter is clutter no matter how many labels and pretty things you try and hide it with. So our first step in this process will be to de-clutter. In order for this to work, you must be honest and ruthless. It is hard, but it is worth it. The first step is to make your categories for things to keep, my suggestions is these three, but if you find something that works better for you then use that.
1) Useful every day
2) Useful seasonally
3) Sentimental
Designate a place for each of these categories and start sorting. Do you use it daily (or weekly)? Then it goes in the first box, do you use it every Christmas, or every winter? Then it goes in the second. Does it have some special meaning? Then it goes in the third. If it doesn't fit any of those categories? Then it goes in the trash or gets donated to charity. I don't suggest making a yard sale pile, because be honest, you won't ever get around to having one.
You don't have to do this to your whole house at once, or even a whole room, take the amount of time that you have and make a realistic goal. Do you have 15 minutes? Then go through you clutter pile from when you walk in the door. Do you have 45 try your closet. Remember that something that doesn't fit you isn't a keeper no matter how determined you are to be that size again some day.
Hopefully this is a small start for some of you, I'll be back with more tips on what to do with the things in each bin in a few days.
~ DD
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Why is it?
Why is it so hard to keep eating what I am supposed to be when I am at other peoples houses. I know what I am supposed to be eating, they have what I am supposed to be eating, but I still walk right by the fruits and veggies and reach for the chips and dessert. Why? I have no idea, when I am at the grocery store I don't have a problem, when I am at a restaurant I am good, but when I get to my in-laws house I am horrible.
So, why am I sharing this? Because I need to hold myself accountable and get back into my routine, not only do I need to to keep up with the weight loss, but also I just feel better, I've got more energy and less stress. I know that it sounds strange but it's true. So back to health for me. Wish me luck, living in the world of convenience foods as the staple is not going to make it easy, but it can be done.
So, why am I sharing this? Because I need to hold myself accountable and get back into my routine, not only do I need to to keep up with the weight loss, but also I just feel better, I've got more energy and less stress. I know that it sounds strange but it's true. So back to health for me. Wish me luck, living in the world of convenience foods as the staple is not going to make it easy, but it can be done.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sometimes life just isn't easy.
People tend to be a little self-involved and self-absorbed. I'm not condemning others and leaving myself out here. Trust me, I fall into the trap of me, me, me and self-pity sometimes too, it is as natural a part of life. There are times that we all get upset because it seems like life is too hard, or there are to many un-fair and difficult things happening to us. We don't want to take the road less traveled, we want to take the road to easy street.
I have come to a conclusion. We are doing ourselves a disservice by expecting life to be easy. You never learn anything if you never try. You will never develop so many important character traits if you never have to deal with any adversity. I'm not saying that it is fun, or fair, or something to look forward to. I am just saying that it is a part of life and what makes us who we are in the end.
That said. I am about to complain about things that aren't easy in my life right now. As many of you know my husband is active duty Air Force, which means deployments, and we are in the middle of one right now. This deployment has been interesting to say the least, it has been full of changes in plans and location, as well as changes in safety and communication. Right now we are about to start a time where there will be limited communication and increased danger. I am trying not to let the stress and worry rule my life, but sometimes all I want to do is wallow in my worry. I want to wear a sign that says "My husband is deployed, feel sorry for me" I want to lock myself in my room for a few days and eat as much junk food as possible. I have met women who do that, and to tell you the truth, they drive me nuts. But it doesn't keep me from wanting to from time to time.
Another thing I am worried about is related to a previous post. I know that the way that my family eats is not healthy. I have greatly improved my own personal diet, but I haven't made any major changes in the diet of my family. What kind of mother am I? I want to take care of myself and not my children? I want to improve my own health and not improve the health of my husband? All of my excuses come down to one thing, it's hard. It is hard to completely change the way you eat, it is even harder to do so for your family. I can tell my girls that they need to eat more veggies and junk. But they are too young to understand that. They understand that I am taking away their favorite foods. Convenience foods are just that convenient, it is easy to make Mac & Cheese, Pizza Rolls and Chicken nuggets.
So as of today, I am going to make a pledge. When I am faced with a decision between the easy road and the better road, I will take the better road. I will stop expecting life to be handed to me on a silver platter, I will take an active role in making not only my life better and fuller, but also the lives of my family and friends. Would you take this pledge with me? Will you take the difficult step and choose to take the harder road? If you do, I think that you will find that your life is more of what you want it to be.
I have come to a conclusion. We are doing ourselves a disservice by expecting life to be easy. You never learn anything if you never try. You will never develop so many important character traits if you never have to deal with any adversity. I'm not saying that it is fun, or fair, or something to look forward to. I am just saying that it is a part of life and what makes us who we are in the end.
That said. I am about to complain about things that aren't easy in my life right now. As many of you know my husband is active duty Air Force, which means deployments, and we are in the middle of one right now. This deployment has been interesting to say the least, it has been full of changes in plans and location, as well as changes in safety and communication. Right now we are about to start a time where there will be limited communication and increased danger. I am trying not to let the stress and worry rule my life, but sometimes all I want to do is wallow in my worry. I want to wear a sign that says "My husband is deployed, feel sorry for me" I want to lock myself in my room for a few days and eat as much junk food as possible. I have met women who do that, and to tell you the truth, they drive me nuts. But it doesn't keep me from wanting to from time to time.
Another thing I am worried about is related to a previous post. I know that the way that my family eats is not healthy. I have greatly improved my own personal diet, but I haven't made any major changes in the diet of my family. What kind of mother am I? I want to take care of myself and not my children? I want to improve my own health and not improve the health of my husband? All of my excuses come down to one thing, it's hard. It is hard to completely change the way you eat, it is even harder to do so for your family. I can tell my girls that they need to eat more veggies and junk. But they are too young to understand that. They understand that I am taking away their favorite foods. Convenience foods are just that convenient, it is easy to make Mac & Cheese, Pizza Rolls and Chicken nuggets.
So as of today, I am going to make a pledge. When I am faced with a decision between the easy road and the better road, I will take the better road. I will stop expecting life to be handed to me on a silver platter, I will take an active role in making not only my life better and fuller, but also the lives of my family and friends. Would you take this pledge with me? Will you take the difficult step and choose to take the harder road? If you do, I think that you will find that your life is more of what you want it to be.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Food
Food, it should be easy, it should be a no brainer, at least to a Domestic Diva right? Who knew that there were so many things to think about when it comes to feeding your family. Not only the "normal" concerns of healthy vs. unhealthy foods; but now there are all of the concerns about origins and company practices when it comes to foods. There are the arguments about organic vs. non-organic, and now the concerns about genetically modified foods. It seems like it will never end. I can't help but feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. What it the most important thing for me to watch for my family? What if I can't afford to feed them in a way that I feel is healthy, safe, and moral? Is it possible to make the kind of change that I am wanting to with the family I have?
I don't know about you but there are times that I just want to throw my hands up and give up, there are too many things to worry about and too much information to try and research. So what's a DD to do? Well in my case I am trying to inform myself on the subject, but in a small way without going overboard and forgetting everything else. I am also trying to incorporate the changes that I feel are important as I am able to. I think that is all that any family can do. Am I perfect in this change, no way, but I am trying and I think that while you wouldn't be impressed at how organic, free-range all of the food in my fridge is, you would be impressed that I have found a way to still stay within my food budget while incorporating many of these types of food.
I don't know about you but there are times that I just want to throw my hands up and give up, there are too many things to worry about and too much information to try and research. So what's a DD to do? Well in my case I am trying to inform myself on the subject, but in a small way without going overboard and forgetting everything else. I am also trying to incorporate the changes that I feel are important as I am able to. I think that is all that any family can do. Am I perfect in this change, no way, but I am trying and I think that while you wouldn't be impressed at how organic, free-range all of the food in my fridge is, you would be impressed that I have found a way to still stay within my food budget while incorporating many of these types of food.
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