Scarves: Wash, Iron, Mend

Necessary

I was out for dinner last weekend and had chosen to accessorize with a black, yellow, and white scarf. My scarf had twisted and so I gave it a tug and noticed a stain. Embarrassed, I excused myself and, in front of the powder room mirror, tried to position the stain so it would not show. Of course, the lightweight silk curled and curved the stain right back into its full frontal position. I finally tied a knot at the point of the stain and managed to get through the evening with a different look than what I had originally planned. The stain was hidden and that was more important.

This scenario motivated me to go to my closet and do a stain analysis of my scarves. My winter scarves, mittens, gloves, and neck warmers were all in good condition since I washed everything that was worn over the winter as soon as the spring sun started shining. 

Embarrassment revelation number 2: I could not remember the last time I had washed most of my accessorizing scarves. They appeared "clean enough" especially the patterned ones or ones that had no white or pale colours in the pattern. Nonetheless, I gathered them all up, took out my Forever New laundry soap for delicate fabrics, filled the fabric softener dispenser with vinegar and lavender oil, set the machine to delicate wash/gentle spin and set up my ironing board. 

I washed everything, the ones I barely wear along with my favourites. I didn't realize how many scarves I had. They are all now stain-free, ironed, and colour-organized. I need a tool, sort of like a fish counter, for every scarf so that I give them a timely wash. Make-up, natural skin oils, moisturizers, sunscreen, and hairspray all conspire to hold grime and so I'm setting up a routine to wash them, whether they are showing any errant stains or not. I don't think we need to wash accessorizing scarves after each wear as we do with cotton face masks or underwear but they certainly need to be washed more often than I had been previously doing. Jewellery is another accessory that we forget about cleaning, but I've dealt with that in older posts.

Doing this inventory was a good thing, I found one scarf with the hem ravelling and I found several that will be put into the "donate" bin. I don't know about you, but it does feel good to have a "clean slate".

I was inspired to attend to a summer set-up and re-organization of my closet. I colour-coded everything so that I can look at one section and have all my options available. And now my scarves are all organized in the same way providing even more options. Yay!

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Seasonal Closet Changes

Photo Source: Dan Gold on Unsplash

Seasonal clothing transitions from winter to spring require washing, mending, repairing, and storing winter clothing, boots and accessories; and washing, mending, repairing and preparing clothing for spring and summer (because you didn't do it when you packed your summer things away). Overwhelming is a good word.

I'm a big proponent of small steps. I chose to do all my sweaters over a week because I wanted to wash them by hand. When they were dry I rolled them and put them in drawers in a spare bedroom. All the scarves, mittens and gloves were taken from the front entry closet and placed in one of the drawers in that same chest. Pick a category of clothing and commit to getting all of it put away and soon you will have gathered up and organized your summer clothing while putting away your winter things.

Cleaning: 

Make sure they're clean. This may mean handwashing wool and cashmere sweaters, scarves, and mittens; drycleaning wool suits and blazers, and cleaning and polishing boots. 

Mending & Repairing: 

There's no sense in putting something in storage and then taking it out the next season and finding it's unwearable. Mend it and if it's unrepairable, discard it. If you can't wear it and it can't be mended, no one else is going to want it. Check the heels of your boots for wear and tear. Get them re-soled or re-heeled with new heel tips now so that they are ready to wear when winter comes.

Photo Source: Nathan Oakley on Unsplash

Storing: 

Depending upon your space, this can be tricky. Storage is often a problem and the luxury of having a spare bedroom with an empty closet isn't available to everyone. A friend who lives in a 500 square foot condo, stores her sweaters in a large suitcase. She tucks in two or three unscented dryer sheets that she sprinkles with lavender essential oil between the sweaters and keeps the suitcase under the bed. Vacuum storage garment bags work as well. These can also be piled on high, hard-to-reach shelves while waiting for the next season. "Storage" furniture that doubles as seating (ottomans and benches) is another option. 

What's your storage strategy for off-season clothing and footwear?

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So Many Pairs of Shoes, So Little Space

Closet Analysis: Choose the Right Tools

For those of us who have more pairs of shoes than is reasonable, this post is for you. For those like my husband, who has six pairs of shoes — a pair of Geox black leather loafers, a second pair of same style Geox caramel beige leather loafers, a pair of running shoes, a pair of leather sandals, a pair of Merril sandals, and a pair of Oxfords — don't bother reading this post.

Brian Davis, my ballet flats guru, tells me that he kept his Keds in their original boxes for years. "But as more and more pairs were added I realized I don't have enough room. My Keds are stored in the plastic tubs with no real organization method at all (embarrassing I know). I have several of these plastic tubs with Keds in them."
We've all been there, done that and many of us are still there, doing that.
He did tell me that his brand new vintage 
Keds are kept in their original boxes in a closet as are his Puma flats and sports flats and his Michael Kors flats are in a trunk in a spare rooom. The spare room and extra closets have become his shoe repositories.
Now where are his Tieks and his Tory's?
Brian tells us, "My Tory's are the most organized of all my ballet flats.  I keep them in what I refer to as "The Tory Vault."
I recognize a couple of "what looks like Tory boot boxes" at the bottom of that closet.
Even though Tieks are his newest ballet flats passion, they are the most unorganized, according to Brian. Tieks come folded in half in a tiny blue box but Brian has an issue with the presentation. "Since it drives me nuts to see them folded in half like that, I don't store them in the original box." 

Here's what they look like freshly unpacked. Yes, these cute flats came out of that little box! 

Thank you Brian for the providing the reveal through your photographs. You are braver than I!
There are so many alternatives out there to organize your shoes and I'm sure you will be able to add another idea or two to the list that follows. 

Necessary: Now, let's take a look at what tools are available out there for shoe organization:

Nice: The only advantage clear plastic shoe boxes offer over the original cardboard box is that you can more readily find what you are looking for. They still take up a lot of space but if you want to invest the money (around $2.00/box or so), the plastic shoebox is a good option —stackable, easy to label, and transparent. When you no longer need them, they can be used to store something else. Original cardboard boxes don't hold up and vary in size thereby making it difficult to stack properly. The problem is, if you are like me, you haven't kept the boxes. If you like the idea of the transparent alternative, you will also like the "heeled" shoeboxes that come in three different height sizes.

Noteworthy: Then there are all forms of . . . 

Boot Hangers and Boot Racks

Hanging Shoe Shelves

Over-the-Door-Shoe-Bags or Racks I personally don't like things hanging on my doors. Opening and closing doors with stuff on them just doesn't cut it for me. If it's a good idea for you, choose one with clear pockets making it easier to identify the shoes you want to wear.

Cubby Shoe Organizers or Shoe Cabinets Some shoe cabinets are combined shoe cabinet/storage benches or shoe ottomans that look like a piece of furniture

Under the Bed Shoe Organizers For the shoes you don't wear on a regular basis. No Thanks. I like to see what I have. 

Floor Placement Shoe Racks That's what I have right now and it serves the purpose in the space I have allotted for them. My shoes are visible, on the floor beneath my hanging clothes, and easily accessible. Those shoes I don't wear often are in cloth bags piled in a corner shelf and this is a No Thanks for me.

Tiered Shoe Shelves/Racks multiple shelves high, shoe shelves can vary in size, from 6 pairs to 48 pairs — the more shoes it accommodates, the higher the shelf. Made of wood, bamboo, plastic, or chrome-plated steel. 

 

Nicer & Noteworthy: Shoe Slots/ Shoe Space-Savers

I found this photo of the shoe slots on eBay. I love the design and can imagine my shoes organized in this way. Unfortunately, I don't have any open shelving in my closet. It just might be worth giving up some of my hanger space for a narrow shelving unit. But for now, I'll put up with my floor placement shoe rack.

If you are lucky, you may have built-in shelving in your closet. I can imagine shoe slots in the shelving on the right side of this closet. Where two pairs of shoes lay, 5 pairs could be accommodated with shoe slots. 

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Finding shoe organizers for 6 to 12 pairs is fairly easy. If you want something for 48 pairs, the best strategy is to start your search, be patient, but you will eventually find them online.

Or if you need a guide on the side to help you de-clutter and organize, check out my latest project in collaboration with Janet Parkinson, an interior consultant, and owner of Changing Spaces by Design.

Click Here to Visit the Launch Page for

A Box a Day: A 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter 

Your Personal De-Cluttering Guide

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Your Personal De-Cluttering Guide

Necessary: It's time for spring cleaning — or just general de-cluttering. 

The following strategy is all about "how to do anything better". It can be called "time management" or "organizational development" or "solving management problems" but in this case, it's simply how to get your closets and drawers organized.

Statistics Canada tells us that 2/3 of the population considers themselves stressed and theories abound that a cluttered environment at work and at home increases everyday living stress. Too much to do, too little time. Self-help books are out there and helpful — everything from Don't Sweat the Small Stuff to Awaken the Giant Within. All of them deal with the issue of putting first things first and just doing it.

Whenever you face a "spring cleaning" dilemma, the Nike slogan needs to be first in your mind, "Just do it!" Often the response after this command is "but . . . " The "but" statement comes from how you perceive yourself. If you see yourself as disorganized, you will continually perpetuate this state. It's called self-fulfilling prophecy. "That's just the way I am," can apparently be changed through your own self-talk to "I take pleasure in keeping my life organized." An organized perception or state affects how you approach even the mundane.

Noteworthy: More to the point of this blog post, Do you open your closet door, find only one shoe, and have to take out 15 other shoes before you find the match, close the door and promise to get to it  . . . tomorrow and tomorrow never comes? Underlying any behavior is the "pain and pleasure" principle — if something brings you enough pain, you are likely to change it so that it becomes more pleasurable. Therefore, the only reason you haven't organized your shoes is that there may not be enough pain associated with looking for the errant shoe. Alrighty then. Depending on how much pain or stress you are experiencing will depend on whether you want to keep reading or not.

Nice: The three principles to getting anything done are:

1. Set Achievable Goals: Divide the work into small tasks and get rid of that overwhelming feeling. Years ago, I began by breaking spring cleaning or de-cluttering into small, manageable tasks. My solution was to deal with one shelf or one drawer or one file folder, a container, a box, even one pocket, anything, but it had to be one something, which had to get cleaned, sorted, organized, or put away each day. It worked. In fact, I collaborated with Janet Parkinson at Changing Spaces by Design and wrote A Box A Day: A 30 Day Journal to Triumph over Clutter. With a place for everything, it's easier to put everything in its place. 

It really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned and got rid of stuff I no longer need . . . The result: I know what I have and where to find it. Amazing!

— Shirley B, Canada

2. Believe in yourself, believe you can do it. If you don't believe you have the ability to do one something every day, then take action to achieve the skills you need. Many tools exist and yes, forgive me for blatant self-promotion, A Box a Day is a guided journaling tool that will get you started and believing in your ability to get it done. Daily affirmations get you into the habit of believing in yourself: I am efficient at making decisions to help me de-clutter.

3. Commit and Take Action. It's not hard work; it's not good luck. All you have to do is commit a length of time, even if it's only 10 minutes, to a "box" that can be accomplished in that amount of time, and do it every day. You can also break it down further into categories — but again, sort only one something, your shoes, your winter boots, scarves (winter/summer), only one category. Don't get carried away. You set the limits and commit to doing it. 

These mundane tasks, the little things, will result in a solution. Doing it for 30 days may even get you into the habit so that a "box" a day becomes a pattern for life.

Start Today and Click Here to Visit the Launch Page for

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Changing a Cluttering Habit

Closet Fashion Analysis: A Place for Everything . . .

No Thanks: I have the unfortunate habit of leaving my shoes wherever I settle. So that there will be flip flops adjacent to the chair I am sitting, under the table at my place, and at various entrances to and from the house. I know this exacerbates my husband but for some reason, he's never gotten into a snit about it.

Nice: However, the other day, I found the various pairs of shoes that were laying around the house all lined up and positioned to be entering our closet. I began to laugh and continued until I came downstairs to thank him. I'm getting better, at least for the last couple of days, at putting my shoes where they belong.

Note-Worthy: A friend, décor and colour consultant, Janet Parkinson, is working on a de-cluttering guide eventually to be featured on her website. Many who hire her for decorating, staging or move management services need to de-clutter their spaces first and so we have collaborated to create a guide that will help anyone and everyone through the process. She'll be making it available on her website. I'll update this post when it's ready to go.

Obviously, I must practise what the guide preaches but it got me to thinking about the strategy my husband used. It made both of us laugh and I learned my lesson. How much nicer is it to remind people to put things back into the places they belong with a giggle rather than a grimace?

I'd love to read about how you have helped someone change a habit in a light-hearted way rather than in an agitated way. Leave a comment to help us all develop better habits especially when it comes to de-cluttering.

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

Buy my Guided Journal 

A Box a Day: A 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter 

Your Personal De-Cluttering Guide

In Readiness to Return to Work

Over the next week, certain districts in North American and European countries will be allowing shops to re-open under particular guidelines. Our prairie newspaper (retrieved April 23, 2020 from Saskatoon Star Phoenix) reported: "Some of those guidelines are geared to specific businesses, including bans on trying on clothes at clothing stores, which will also be encouraged to use online purchases and adopt no-return policies." Since then guidelines have been changed and adapted to more realistic limitations. With the original guidelines, customers like me, asked, "What's the point?" Government policymakers listened to retailers and now guidelines are much more reasonable for the face to face shopper.

Although I recognize it is much easier to buy online, I do not want a world where that is my only alternative therefore if we do not support storefront businesses, they will go bankrupt and I certainly don't want that. 

As we check the days of the calendar in anticipation of hairdressers and more retail outlets re-opening between now and the middle of June as the flattening trend continues, it's time (if you haven't already) to get your wardrobe work-ready. 

Instead of saying, "I have nothing to wear", you can say "everything feels new again".

Re-organize - take out all winter wear and if you have the luxury of another closet, place everything you won't need this summer. Make sure they are clean, mended and stored properly whether in drawers, bins or closets. This is also a good opportunity to place winter things in a "donate" bin for things you know you won't wear again. You will be ready when clothing donations will be accepted.

Organize your closet by colour and category. Place all tops starting with white, followed by colours - light to dark with black ending the "tops" category. Now do the same for skirts, followed by shorts, capris, jeans and pants, and dresses.

You probably have noticed that you have a particular colour palette represented in your closet. In summer, my colour palette is what I affectionately call, "sea, sand and sky" — basically blue, beige and white. Kick it up a notch with yellow or red and you can portray variety with essentially a limited numbers of pieces. 

Summer wear also means more casual wear and after working at home or not working for two months, we may have become a little too lax, a little too informal. 

Greek Designer. PhotoSource: AngieB

Appropriate casual workwear can be characterized by 4 features:

1. Nice and simple as in this sheath dress. The design encorporates textural detailing without being over the top.

2. cover up — nothing revealed. Say "No thanks" to too short shorts, bosomy cleavage, cropped tops and sheer sheer fabrics."

2. clean up — nothing grungy, nothing sloppy. Say "No thanks" to oversized t-shirts and badly fitting denim. 

3. add to — upgrade your look with natural fabrics, simple but well tailored pieces, and  statement accessories and make it "note-worthy". In the sheath dress photo, notice the shoes — simple nude heels which don't compete with the dress. Yet summer suggests colour so play with it in your accessories.

Photo Source: Zenka

Accessorizing is where you can play with colour. Scarves, belts, shoes and jewellery express your individuality. As with all advice at this time . . . do it creatively but do it responsibly.

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

In Readiness to Store: Washing by Hand

Closet Fashion Analysis:

Storing Woollens

A closet in readiness to return for work is the goal over the

Photo: JoyD

next while for my posts. As we transition from winter to spring, our closets need to be re-generated and re-invented. Today I will be sharing helpful hints regarding the chore of washing woollens and storing them over the summer.

Necessary - Washing by Hand

Handwash all your sweaters and tops, no matter the fabric content - well, maybe not t-shirts - especially wool, cashmere, and all natural fibres including silk. Those with dry-clean only labels are there because most people do not know how and so the manufacturer errs on the side of caution and recommends dry-cleaning of your merino wool sweater when in fact it is safe to wash by hand. Other than blazers, I have even washed camel hair pants by hand and ironed them myself.

Having said that, you must remember to:

• Always use cold or cool, never warm or hot water. 

• Use a lanolin based soap or baby shampoo for all woollens from cashmere to mohair to angora to camel hair.  

• Gently manipulate by pressing the suds through the fabric without any scrubbing friction. You can use stronger action on reinforced areas like collars and cuffs but hold off on a lot of friction. 

• Rinse by letting the soapy water drain and refill the sink with more water.

• Rinse at least twice with the same gentle touch you used to wash. 

• Add a tablespoon or two of vinegar to the last rinse. 

• Do not wring out between rinses. 

• When the water no longer appears to have any soapy residue, drain the sink and press as much water as possible out with your hands pushing the fabric against the side of the sink, then . . .

• Roll the item within a thick cotton towel to remove excess moisture. 

• Lay flat, reforming shoulders, sleeves and body into proper position on a clean dry towel. 

• Lay on a flat surface or on top of a clothing drying rack. I usually lay it on the floor to dry. 

• Check in a few hours or a whole day and turn the item over. Replace with a dry towel if the towel if damp.

• When dry you may want to iron out the creases and you can but with great care. Using a barely damp clean white cotton, or other natural fibre cloth such as linen, spread out on top of the article you want to iron. Making sure you have a low temperature setting, lightly pass the iron over the creases. Have patience, it will take some time and it will work, but not too much heat. 

It's a time consuming process but you have time. Space to dry for more than a day can be an issue so only do as many as you can dry properly at any one time. For me that's three maximum.

Necessary for Storage

• Make sure your articles are completely dry before you store them. 

• Roll, so you don't get any fold lines, and tuck in a dryer sheet to give a fresh scent or add a few drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil to an unscented dryer sheet and tuck into the rolled article. The lavender or peppermint will also deter any insects and save you from the anguish of finding a tiny holes in your stored woollens. (I absolutely must do this when in France.) Cedar blocks sold especially for storage purposes are also a good idea. 

• Store rolled in a drawer. Do not hang or else you will end up with "hanger bumps" on the shoulders and a stretched out body. I also shy away from storing in plastic bins.

I know what you're thinking - but really beautiful wool, cashmere and mohair sweaters cost a lot and in order to get your money's worth, you need to do this. If you don't want to, consider buying acrylic next time 😉 but you still need to wash them for storage.

Any helpful hints and your comments are always much appreciated. 

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

Project Closet De-Cluttering

Closet Fashion Analysis: 

Minimize and De-Clutter

During this COVID19 time of limited careful contact and distancing, most charitable organizations are curtailing or at the very least limiting clothing donations. Call your charity to find out about their policy.

Our self-isolation time provides an opportunity for getting our clothing donations ready. Very often I have procrastinated with the process because there are other tasks taking up my time. I really do not have any excuses not to de-clutter my closet now when I am staying in.

This last winter I sent off two full-length camel coats and several skirted suits to Dress for Success, the organization that helps women with their wardrobe needs when returning to the work force. I still have some old favourites that I am finding difficult to let go and so this may be the time to cull, sew on a missing button and clean my future donations.

NEED

You can visit your chosen charity's website or call to see what your location requires. When I called during the winter, they needed all categories of winter outerwear, classics such as simple tops and dark trousers and although they accept all sizes, they had a particular need for larger sizes. Owing to my past career, this charitable organization, whose mandate is to collect donations of business attire and accessories to supply women, who are experiencing financial difficulty, with the professional wardrobes needed to make them look and feel their best while job hunting and beginning a new job, is a perfect fit for me. I'm ready to let go of all of those items.

Prepare 6 large bags or boxes and label them: Donate to charity, Give to a friend or family member, Garage sale/Online sales, Throw Out, Mend, Remodel or Clean, Keep. Or just go through your closet with a Donation box and never mind the rest. Sometimes having to make too many decisions will keep you from focused de-cluttering time. 

I like to concentrate on one thing at a time. Last spring before I left for France, I invited a niece who is presently working in management to raid the closet and she did. What amazed me is that I hardly noticed the difference and have already forgotten what she took. Now I am ready to donate. 

NECESSARY

1. Items have to be current and clean. 

My question is what is current? In business dress - a good quality white shirt is timeless, a blazer of medium length - not too short, not to long - can span several years. A good pair of trousers, not too wide and not a skinny fit are also timeless. Accessories? A scarf is a scarf. Colours that are basic - black, camel, navy, grey - these are not easily dated. I do understand that an 80s suit with football size shoulder pads and mid-calf skirts are dated. But I have a navy tuxedo shawl collared blazer that I still wear and still enjoy wearing. I bought it in 2011. 2011 is not current. And I'm keeping the shirt you see on the left which I also bought a good while ago.

So rather, I like to follow my definition of classic because classic, no matter how old, can be current.

If you would not wear it because of a stain on the sleeve, you should not expect anyone else to. Stained clothing ends up in my "housework" clothes drawer and if I have too many pieces, I give the 100% cotton things to a woodworker friend.

2. Items have to be in wearable condition. 

But of course. This seems rather obvious. And now is the perfect time to sew on a button or teach your children how to sew on a button, to repair a falling hem, to stitch a seam that came apart. Rips and tears pretty much should be thrown out because repairs can cost more than what the item is worth.

3. Items should be seasonally appropriate. 

Many charitable locations have limited storage space and so you should donate summer clothes and winter clothing in their relative seasons. Heavy coats, mittens, gloves, scarves and boots are all appreciated by charity volunteers because we don't own as many of these things and we wear them longer, therefore fewer are donated. Do the same for anything you want to try to sell online. You will get a better price selling a pair of Tory Burch boots in winter than in summer.

NO THANKS 

Now you're ready to take a closet inventory and ask yourself the following questions. Your answers will help you determine which box it belongs in.

When was the last time I wore this? A year or more, get rid of it.

Why am I not wearing it? It doesn't fit right; it hangs funny; I just don't like it anymore; my lifestyle has changed. If it doesn't feel right when you try it on, chances are it will not feel right the next time you try it on either. Any one of these responses is reason enough to get rid of it.

Happy Closet De-Cluttering! 

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

A New Year - Continued Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Friendships - and a Rejuvenated Closet

There are those who don't care to make resolutions but I love to, if not making new ones, at least revisiting former ones. Some of mine are not so much resolutions, but affirmations for renewed energy and motivation to do all that I believe needs to be done.

1. My first includes my closets - again, still and forever. A new year confirms my thoughts of something new in, something old out. I have been negligent with this one but once again, I reaffirm that this is a good strategy. Why I cannot seem to let go is a work in progress, which leads me to my second resolution . . . 

2. Don't think, don't worry, just ________ (do it). For me this translates as Don't think, don't worry, just write. Don't think, don't worry, just throw it out or give it away. Don't think, don't worry, just meditate. That may be the most important of all.

3. My "box a day" rule for organizing the stuff in my life needs a motivating kick in the inspirational butt. On New Year's Eve, a friend told me how effective the "box a day" has been for her over this past year. I did not admit to her that I hardly gave it a thought in 2017. Thoughts change. No matter the size of the box, a drawer, a closet, your purse, whatever container you can manage in 30 minutes or less, a "box a day" will lead to a wonderfully organized life.

4. Re-establish routines that make me healthier, wiser and well, more abundant. This is once again a version of the, "Don't think, don't worry, just do it" sentiment. Just how to do it is the challenge.

5. Eliminate or at least reduce those things that are robbing you of your time and energy. Sorry gamers, both addicts and occasional imbibers. Unless you are "making your living" from this activity, too much of it is just plain wasteful. I know a woman who tells me that her games, all word related games, make her mind active and will result in less chance of eventual dementia. Unfortunately too much of her good thing may end up giving her high blood pressure. I don't know that for sure but "balance" in all we do seems to be a better strategy.

6. Back to the stuff in our lives - use what you have, be grateful you have it and don't be wasteful by buying more stuff that you really do not need. Re-assess buying habits and start giving stuff away or selling it. I think I am repeating myself. Seems that resolution #2 covers all that.

Therefore at the risk of saying the same thing over and over again, I now leave you with wishes for a prosperous, healthy and happy 2019! As the French say, "bon courage" in all that you resolve to do this year.

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

Out with the Old; In with the New

NEED: A Closet Content Analysis

I suppose I really don't need anything considering no sales event has enticed me to brave the minus 20 weather or the crowds to take advantage of the Boxing Week storefront sales. As well I am a choose-to-be-luddite when it comes to online shopping. I bought an ironing board online and I buy airline tickets online but that's about it. Would that make me a Quazi-Online-Shop-Luddite? Perhaps I will evolve but that may take some time.

It does appear though that I have kept my Black Friday Eve Resolutions. And my food pantry seems to be the only "closet" in my house that has seen anything new in the past two months. 

However, I will be watching the "white sales" in January. My linen closet needs a few new sets of pillow cases and some fitted sheets so that my beds have a better fit. I put one of those pillow tops on top of an already thick mattress set and the fitted sheets I have no longer are so fitted. I have brought large flat linen sheets from France and so that leaves me to replace the fitted sheets. Interestingly, I no longer want to buy "sheet sets" because of the oversize mattress situation. The bed which is queen size does not coordinate with the queen sheet sets. The pillow cases are too short for the pillows, the fitted sheets don't fit and the flats barely drape over the mattress sides. I like a long hang-over (I can't believe I wrote that); no not a hangover but an overhang. And so I have resorted to buy separates, in the same way that separates are now my first choice when buying clothing.

Back to my clothing closets. This is the year that I will get rid of all the stuff that has been hanging in closets that I never look into. It's time to de-clutter and re-analyse my clothing situation. I have done it before but minimally. There is much in my Canadian home that needs to be eliminated and the new year is as good a time to re-new some past resolutions.

There is a philosophy that "stuff" holds us back and doesn't let us move forward. Old stuff that isn't used is resistance to moving ahead and it is truer in my life now than it has ever been. 

Out with the old and in with the new. This thought deserves another post.

Buy my Guided Journal 

A Box a Day: A 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter 

Your Personal De-Cluttering Guide

Maintaining Momentum

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Maintaining momentum is important for all of us no matter how mundane the task. This post carries a "self-help" theme and a "get off your butt" reprimand for myself. Of course, I have excuses but none of them matter in the final analysis. There is a sports shoe company that has the motto, "just do it" and this post is a consequence and a personal response to that.

It is spring and the "official" time to clean your home and get rid of excess, junk you don't use and to cleanse and detoxify your body.

Since the clothing in closets is the main focus, it is the place I shall start . . . 

Analysis: Today I am envying those who have kept the momentum of purging their closets of clothing that has no function in their lives. I am still in the "but I might still need it" mindset when I look at the range of suits, blazers and skirts that have sat without seeing the light of day for the past year. 

The reality is I have not worked in an office setting for the past two years and will not be working full time in that situation for at least the next six months. There may be a few of those items that are classic and timeless enough to be held but in reality there are many that I cannot see myself wanting to wear again.

Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.

— Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) author, poet, moralist, literary critic and editor

Action:

Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.

— Benjamin Disraeli (1804 – 1881), parliamentarian, literary figure and twice British prime minister

Today I begin by sorting my clothing into the categories that will help purge the lot: Keep, Donate, Consignment, Throw Away, Repair or Re-Construct, Take to France (I live there for 6 months).

And so the momentum begins . . . 

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.

— Mark Twain (1835 – 1910), American author, lecturer and humorist

April 8, 2021 Update: If you need a guide on the side to help you de-clutter and organize, check out my latest project in collaboration with Janet Parkinson, an interior consultant, and owner of Changing Spaces by Design.

Click Here to Visit the Launch Page for

A Box a Day: A 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter 

Your Personal De-Cluttering Guide