Lots of work, but not much blogging

I can't believe it's been 5 months since I last posted to this blog. The end of 2011 was rather chaotic for me so blogging feel by the wayside, but I am proud to say that working on my apartment decor, organization, and fashion did not. In fact, when I re-read my last post about the "to-do" list I was floored by how many of those things I had actually accomplished. I'll be updating with detailed posts (and pictures!) over the coming weeks but here's the same list updated with what I've actually accomplished.

Dining room:

• Find a fun fabric and make a table runner. (I used mirror tiles instead of fabric)


• Bring the curio in the corner back to my mother. (it's hers but she lent it to me) - I put it in the attic instead. She's not ready to take it back yet, but I had to get it out of the room.


• Get a small Expedit shelf and wine rack for the corner to create a little bar and dining room supply cabinet for linens, napkin rings, etc. - Done! I am most proud of this project.
  

Kitchen:

• Replace the prints over the laundry closet door with a decal. - In the ordering process for the decal now but a mock-up is currently on the wall.


• Purge and reorganize cabinets with only what I need and use. - Mostly done


• Accessorize above the cabinets with something more attractive.- Waiting for an upcoming kitchen remodel to do this one

Guest Room/Office:

• Make a larger fabric magnetic board to replace current corkboard. - Done!


• Get a third file folder for my active file baskets. - Done!


• Secure the magnetic strip holding my supplies with Command Adhesive strips. (The screws it came with aren't enough for the strength of the magnets in my supply containers!) - Done!


• Finish filling the picture frames on the display shelf. - Done!


• Clear out the closet/clutter and donate stuff to Goodwill. - In progress


• Sell my old desk and chair on Craigslist. - Done!
  

Living Room:

• Finish painting the TV wall and the edges around the other walls. - Done!


• Add a self or artwork in the space above the TV (between the bookcases)


• Find a home for larger books/binders and re-accessorize the last bookshelf. - Done

Bedroom:

• Put duvet insert back in to puff up the bed. - Done!


• Paint and re-organize the closet. - Reorg done, decided not to paint


• Take down the white curtain panels and paint the back wall. - Done!


• Find art for over the bed. - Opted to leave it blank

That's way more than I would have told you I've done in the last 5 month if you asked me. I'm proud of how much progress I've made. There's still some things to do, but the place is finally starting to feel like a real reflection of who I am and who I aspire to be.

Set a decluttering goal

I've seen several web sites/posts/blogs lately encouraging people to set a specific goal for getting rid of unused, unwanted, or un-needed items in your home. A few of them include:

Throw Out 50 Things

A Thing A Day (ATAD)
(scroll down for comments - the formatting on the site is wacky)

I really like this idea, although it doesn't jive with the way I tend to do things. I declutter in big spurts (I buy in big spurts, too). But I like the idea of systemically deciding to get rid of a set number of things, identifying those things, and following through.

I'm toying with the idea of a "30 things in 30 days" challenge but will have to see what September looks like to see if I'll have the time to do it. I am getting a jump-start, though - there are two big bags to go to Goodwill and several other things earmarked for my Mom when she visits next week. I'm looking forward to having those things out of my house!

What should I do with...?

Part of being organized is de-cluttering. But once you've identified a pile of stuff you no longer need or want, what do you do with it? It seems wasteful to just trash it, so luckily there are organizations all over the place that will take all kinds of things. I myself am recycling some old magazines (to the gym) and found several articles listing places to take stuff you no longer need. Here are the ones I took note of:

• Appliances. Stores like Lowe's and Home Depot may take them away when they deliver new ones. Oterhwise, call 800-GOT-JUNK. It costs $$, but it's worth the effort saved (IMO).
• Computers, printers, electronics. According to the June 2009 issue of O Magazine, Staples will take small items (larger ones for a $10 fee) and recycle them. I have also called my town, which runs a bi-annual electronics recycling day.
• Carpet. Who knew someone could recycle old carpet. But they can at carpetrecovery.org.
• Basic sporting goods (soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs, cleats, etc). Sports Gift (sportsgift.org) redistributes stuff to underpriveleged kids. Super-cool.
• Tennis balls. Rebounces.com restores the bounce and sells them at a deep discount for use as practice balls.
• Orthotics, crutches, ankle splints, wheelchairs, knee braces. joniandfriends.org or cbmus.org.
• Expensive or bulky fitness stuff (skis, golf clubs, rollerblades, treadmills, etc). Play It Again Sports (playitagainsports.com buy and resell this kind of stuff.

If you're like me and preparing for the great pre-fall cleanout, consider donating your unwanted stuff to someone who can reuse or redistribute it. Good for you, good for others, good for the planet.

The benefits of clearing closet clutter

For years I have heard the following advice:

Take everything out of your closet. Everything. Then only put back what you absolutely love, love, love. Get rid of the rest, and don't add anything new unless you love that too and are happy every time you get to put it on.

I would have told you that I had actually done that more than once, but the truth is I never really did. I always included some "aspirational" pieces - the ones that have me saying "I want to like that, if only..." or "I like it, but I'm not sure what to wear it with..."

Recently, I did the exercise for real. I took everything out and really only put back what I truly love to wear. The expereince was mind boggling. First, I was left with only enough clothes to fill up one side of my previously full walk in closet! No wonder I always feel like I don't have much to wear! But there was a second side effect...getting dressed each morning got really, really easy. I could see what I have, I know what it goes with, and I was inspired to start mixing and matching the things I love in new ways. It has literally changed my morning routine.

Here's a view into the new closet:

I am SO in love with the empty space on one side. It makes the closet feel so much bigger! I may move some of the back clothes over to the other side eventually so each piece has more space. But for now I'm going to just enjoy being able to see my sneakers.

Full disclosure: the "discard" pile is still sitting on the bed in the guest room. I still can't bring myself to get rid of some of those pieces that I want to wear "only if". I plan to take a rainy day or night to try them on with some of the "loves" to see if I can come up with ways to wear it. But if, after figuring out such an outfit, I don't actually WEAR that outfit in the space of a month or two it's going anyway. If every day for two months I choose to wear something else, that isn't likely to change in 3, 6, or 9 months. That's just the way it is.

I did keep a few things, too, even though I don't wear them now. They're in the spare closet for now. It's mostly classic shapes that I know will come back, but are a little out of vogue now. (e.g. circle skirts) I also allowed myself ONE (and only one) bin of smaller size clothes that I aspire to get into again. And there are a few off season items that I just can't make a decision on right now but will tackle in the fall. The plan is to go through the rest of the pile in the guest room in the next few weeks (before my houseguests come in July) and I am actually looking forward to making the last round of tough decisons and just letting the baggage go.

Try it. I bet you'll like it, too.

Classifying Clutter

Organizing is a passion of mine, especially helping people get rid of all that "stuff" we tend to accumulate over the years. For me clutter sucks the energy out of a space, so decluttering is like lifting a weight off my shoulders.

Helping someone get rid of their clutter requires a variety of strategies tailored to both the type of clutter and the reasons why that person is holding on to it. One of my favorite reference books on the topic is the organizing bible, Julie Morganstern's book Organizing From The Inside Out.

But I recently came across a blog post on Real Simple's "Simply Stated" blog that offers another great way to think about categorizing the clutter in your home. The list is from a book that's on my "must read" list (and currently sitting on my night stand) - The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin.

1. nostalgic clutter
2. self-righteous conservation clutter (useful to others, but not me)
3. bargain clutter
4. freebie clutter
5. crutch clutter (stuff I use but shouldn't)
6. aspirational clutter
7. outgrown clutter
8. buyer's remorse clutter

I love these categories, and can already think about how I'd approach identifying and getting rid of each type of clutter. I wasn't really expecting organizing tips from Gretchen's book, but now I'm more anxious than ever to start reading it!

Keep your phone number safe when using Craigslist

Ever have one of those moments where you read or hear something and go “hey – that JUST happened to me!” I did, last week. I had two different meetings on the same day to hand off items I was selling on Craigslist as part of my decluttering effort. I was trying to do everything via email for safety reasons, but it would have been a lot easier if I could use the cell phone to find people at the meeting point. I thought to myself “I wish there was a way to get a temporary alias phone number to give out, the way ShopSafe** let’s me create a temporary credit card number for online purchases.”

Low and behold, I cracked open my January issue of Real Simple magazine and see the following:

INUMBR.com If you would rather not hand over your phone number to a potentially creepy Criagslist seller…but you do want that crazy-cheap armoire, log on to this site which creates a free, automatically expiring number that will forward calls to your phone.

Jackpot!! I know from my days in the telecom industry that this type of thing is technologically possible, but didn’t know anyone had made it available to the public. Frankly, it’s something I would pay for. And something I’m surprised the major wireless carriers don’t offer.

I still have a bunch of stuff to post on Craigslist, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m going to give this service a try.

** ShopSafe is a feature of some Bank Of America credit cards.