Simplifying your mornining routine… start with the bathroom

Organizing can sometimes seem daunting especially if you have limited time. However, an area that can have a huge impact are bathrooms. Products can pile up quickly and pretty soon cabinets and drawers are overflowing.  Counter tops end up  covered with things that just landed there.

After years of helping clients I have noticed almost everyone buys products that they don’t always end up liking. Because they spent money on that magic hair serum or beauty product they feel guilty getting rid of them.  But why should you keep things if they don’t work for you??

Take time to remove the products from your bathroom that you will never use. If they are practically new then you could give them away to a friend, family member or a charity that can give them to someone in need. If they are old or expired then toss and don’t look back!

Remove travel size items and store them in a bin out of the way as well.  Next time you pack for a trip you can go to the bin to replenish your toiletry bag.

If you buy extras of your favorite products then designate a place for “extras”. Either a linen closet or put away in a cabinet so they are not in the way of your daily routine.

Keep only what you use daily out on the counter in a small basket or a nearby drawer or shelf. This will keep your morning routine simple and quick and make cleaning your counter a breeze!

Fast Fashion…What’s in your closet??

investinyouMost of us can relate to having a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. Lately I have been reading a lot of minimalist blogs and articles about the concept of capsule wardrobes.

My husband and I also watched the documentary “The True Cost” on Netflix. It is a very interesting film about the fashion industry and what it has become over the last couple of decades, and explains what happens to all the excess clothing that is donated from the U.S. The documentary interviews many workers in other countries about the conditions they work in to make a lot of the clothing that we as Americans wear. The interviews are heartbreaking to watch and really make you think about these foreign workers making as little as $2 per day, often in unsafe conditions.

I am certainly not saying to get rid of all the clothes in your closet that are made in Bangladesh and other countries who treat their workers poorly.  And as another blogger said we should not be discouraged about donating our clothes to Goodwill and other places.

-The most important change we can all make it to buy less.

-Buy quality, not quantity.

-Be aware of brands and companies and do your research to support companies who are treating workers fairly.

-Support small businesses and artisans.

Resources:

If you would like to learn more here are a few of my favorite blogs and articles related to simplifying your wardrobe:

Unfancy (Capsule Wardrobes, Check out her free wardrobe planner)

Simply Fiercely (Minimalism, Intentional Living)

The Classy Simple Life (Embracing Simplicity)

 

Some fall tablescapes

fallcenterpiececraftberry
Centerpiece by Ms. Craftberry Bush
feathersandbottles
Image from article at Apartment Therapy
fallpumpkinsandgreenery
Mollyoneblogspot.com
fallpumpkinsandantlers
Toneontoneantiquesblogspot.com

I can’t believe it is already September! I do have to admit I am relieved we may get a break from this heat finally. Fall is my favorite time of year and I thought it would be fun to share some inspirational decorating ideas with you.

We all get in a rut from time to time and think we have to decorate in traditional holiday colors or stick to a certain look or theme.

The main goal is to have fun and be creative!

-Kristina

Summer vacations are around the corner…

summertravelSpring is flying by!  Has everyone finished their spring cleaning??  I am sure many of you are thinking ahead to the summer months and planning your next vacation.  There are many things you can do now so that your next trip is easy and you don’t  have all those last minute things to do.

Summer travel checklist:

-Go through purses, tote bags and luggage and make sure they are all empty from last trips.  Donate any pieces that you no longer use.

-Go through your toiletry bag and throw out and old expired products.  Refill travel shampoos and soaps. Make sure you have what you need for your next trip.  Make a list of anything you are missing and buy ahead of time.

-Go through your medicine cabinet and throw out any expired medications.  Make a travel first-aid kit with pain and allergy medicine, band-aids and any other travel necessities.

-Make sure your car and health insurance cards are current and keep in your wallet or car.

-Make a copy of the contents of your wallet in case it is lost or stolen.  Keep the copy in a secure place so you can access in an emergency.

-Stock your car with an umbrella, extra jacket, sunglasses, kleenex, hand sanitizer, a few trash bags and anything else you may want on the road.

-Stock your purse with a few snacks in case you get stuck somewhere and need a boost.

-Make sure your phone contact list is updated with important numbers such as doctor, vet , pet sitter, etc. in case you need to call from the road.

-Create a checklist for your next trip so you don’t forget anything.

 

 

White space

white-spaceI read a quote the other day on instagram that I really loved. “The white space in our life is where the magic happens. “The quote was written by Brian Gardner from the site No side bar.

It really made me stop and think. We are all so busy scheduling appointments and checking off lists and rushing to the next big thing. But what if those quiet moments in between are where the magic in our lives really happen. Sometimes its the littlest things and the unexpected moments that make you really appreciate your life and bring you the greatest happiness.

So next time you are stressed out and over scheduled take a minute to appreciate “the white space”. And if you want a more in depth look at this idea of simplifying your life check out this article “Why the White Space in Our Life Matters” by Brian Gardner at no sidebar.

Why the White Space in Our Life Matters

 

Spring closet swap

spring looksIt is that time of year again! Time to put away the winter clothes and boots and get out your spring and summer wardrobe. Do many of you dread doing the swap?? Here are a few tips to help make the swap less painful.

Take the time to weed out things you did not wear this season before storing your winter stuff. Get rid of anything stained, worn out or no longer your most flattering look.

A few questions to ask yourself when cleaning out your closet:

Would I buy this if I was shopping today?

Would I wear this if I wanted to impress someone I hadn’t seen in forever (like an ex- boyfriend) ?

If my house was on fire what would I save out of my closet?
(of course many of us would not worry about clothes or shoes but things that are more important to us) However, pretend for a minute that all other items were safe-what clothing and shoes do you love so much you would save them?

Do not put something in the category of lounge wear just because it is not good enough to wear out of the house but you don’t want to part with it. How many lounge outfits, gardening clothes and clothes for projects like painting do you really need?

Okay so once you have done the hard part of getting rid of stuff then you are ready to store off season away.

-Make sure any items that have wool are stored in a cedar chest or closet or in a garment bag protected from moths.

-Leave some transitional items in your closet if you have the room.
This will save you from having to go search for items if we have a cold snap or rainy day.

-Items that will wrinkle easily or are dry clean only try to leave hanging so you don’t create more work for yourself when you get everything back out.

-Before storing shoes I like to check the bottoms for mud or dirt and do a quick wipe down with a clorox wipe before I store them away.

-Container store has great boot boxes. They are clear and the perfect size. A little pricey at $10 per box but you can buy a few a year and build your collection.

-I like to store my other winter shoes in a shallow clear bin that will hold multiple pairs. I don’t think it is necessary to have each pair of shoes in its own box. That makes for unnecessary bulk.

Hope these tips help make your transition a little easier.  One crazy thought that I have been sharing with my clients lately is to try to pare down your wardrobe significantly so that you can fit ALL your clothes in one closet!!!  I know that makes most of you break into a cold sweat with a look of horror on your face.

On that note, I have been reading quite a bit about minimalist lately, capsule wardrobes and project 333.  So more on that later….

Create a home you love

Master Bedroom organization after redesignLet me start with wishing everyone a  Happy Valentine’s Day!  In honor of Valentine’s Day I wanted to write something about the topic of love. We all get used to our surroundings and our house and sometimes get too comfortable with the clutter. But do we truly surround ourselves with things we love?

The very popular new book “The Art of the Magic of Tidying up” by Marie Kondo, does have one really good message. Does everything in your home spark joy?? Are you keeping things you do not love out of guilt, or because it was expensive or you just have a hard time letting things go? The designer Nate Berkus also wrote a book called “The Things that Matter”. The theme of the book is the same. You should surround yourself with things that make you happy and have meaning. Maybe items in your house are sentimental or do  they just have happy colors or make you feel good?  Choose your favorite photos to display, or a piece of art that makes you feel calm,  a decorative object from a favorite vacation or loved one….  Whatever the reason is if you start to look at your house from a different perspective you will have an easier time creating the space you have always wanted.

Holiday Decorating

christmas reindeer decor by professional organizer christmas tree decorations

One of my favorite things to help clients with is Holiday decorating!  Everyone has their own unique style and holiday traditions which makes each house different and fun.

Most of us have acquired quite a collection of Holiday decorations but each year there is always a temptation to add something , change a theme or update a look.  Holiday decorations don’t always have to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to spruce things up without spending much except for your time. (which I realize many of you are probably short on)  But for those of you that are up for a little DIY decorating here are some creative ideas I have found over the years.

-Look at catalogs and magazines for inspiration to create the look you want

White lights can make quite an impact-they can be used in jars, vases, hung from the mantel. (there are some great battery powered lights for those of you that don’t have easy access to an outlet).

-A can of spray paint can transform almost anything!  If you have some decorations that need a face lift, maybe you have changed your color scheme?  Basically if you like the shape of something but not the color just spray paint it and make it work with your decor. (vases, candlesticks, wine bottles, etc.)

-I have seen many things recently on Pinterest on how to make snow covered jars-a little glue and some epsom salt.

Tree branches that have fallen in your yard could make great miniature trees. Stick the branches in a bucket of sand or rocks and cover the bottom in burlap.  Then spray paint the branches white, add a little glitter or some white lights and you have a tree! (this would be great for a front porch)

– A little burlap, raffia or ribbon can add just the finishing touch to something.

-Buy some silk fabric for a tree skirt.  It is a fraction of the cost and looks beautiful.

-Buy inexpensive garland and add your own ribbon and other embellishments. This looks more custom and high end and it reflects your own look.

-Go to the dried flower aisle and pick out some great pods and pine cones to add into your tree, wreaths or garland.