Weekly Tip

Growing up in the Midwest where salt was used on icy roads, it was common practice to never wear shoes in the home. We saw how the salt eroded our cars, and there was no way we wanted that on our carpet or hardwood floors.  I kept that practice anywhere I have ever lived as a germ preventative. I like to wear sox or bare feet in my house, so why would I want the dirt from shoes on my floors? Have you ever looked at the soles of your shoes? Ewwww.

With things like Covid19 invading our lives, it is more important than ever to LEAVE YOUR SHOES AT THE DOOR! Keep your floors clean and disinfected often. Swiffer products are great and I love my “spin mop” for wet mopping. You will be so pleased with clean floors, shoeless may become a way of life. 

Organizing a tiny space you use constantly, even your handbag, will motivate you to bigger projects.

Maintaining a routine at home is so important for home organization.  Kids are home, the couch begins to sag from overuse, spouses are in and out of cabinets, drawers and fridge.  Junk drawers are rifled through, stuff piles in the garage and paper piles accumulate.  Does anyone put anything where it belongs?

Make all beds when rising up in the morning.  Be creative how you make them.  Roll back the sheets to “air out” the bedding and have fun folding or rolling up the comforter decoratively.  Many pillows can be washed and disinfected.  Dry them outside in the sunshine now that our weather is warmer.  Wash sheets more often and spray bedding with linen spray or even a spritz of cologne and your bed will be inviting you by nightfall.

Schedule exercise for you or the whole family.  Get outside and enjoy the Spring wildflowers.  If this time isn’t scheduled, it won’t happen.

Spend an hour each day picking up the house.  This can be a family effort – each picks up their own things and put away where they belong.  Set the kitchen timer and when it “dings” the one who finishes first gets a prize or treat.

Laundry?  Are you living in your pajamas?  One load a day is adequate for most households, but it must be washed, dried and put away.  Kids love to match sox and they can put their clothes away, as it will help them keep their drawers organized.

No reason for Mom or Dad to do all the work.  We are all home together; teamwork and routine are the best solution to keeping your home organized.

Spending $200 in storage bins for what?  If you start with the product you spend money on things that don’t fit your needs.  Narrow down the belongings so you know what you need and the sizes you need BEFORE you shop.

You’re not saving money on the gallon jar of mayo unless you use it before it expires.  Don’t get so excited over the good deal that it overtakes logic.  If your pantry isn’t huge, stick to bargains you deplete quickly, like toilet paper, not 10/$10 deals. 

Are your clothes stashed in the dark abyss of your closet?  Open shelving and cubbies are a solution.  Exposing your attire will curb impulse buys.  No open slot? No purchase.

Perhaps your closet doors make it impossible to reach in and grab what you need.  Consider a small redo of the doors.

Wallpaper, colorful paint or wall mirrors can give your closet a huge lift and lift your spirits too!                   

There is only so much a closet can hold. Use the space outside your closet, an empty corner, a wall section and stage a dressing spot.  A small accent table can hold costume jewelry, hats and even attractive totes or handbags.  Decorative wall hooks are a problem solver too!  Always keep these areas tidy! 

Seasons change and it’s time for a closet make-over!

Work on the infrastructure… move a shelf lower to fit tall bags, or add an LED closet rod to light up a dark corner.

Keep your most-used handbags on hooks in the center of the closet, and change them out seasonally, like rotating merchandise in a store

Haven’t worn it for a year?  Waiting for it to fit?  Time to purge. 

Buying new?  Don’t add it… replace it.  Your wardrobe may be growing, but your closet space is not… before making that purchase, think… ”where in the closet will it fit and what am I replacing?”

Weed out the one-hit wonders.  Give yourself permission to let go of that item you purchased for a certain event and will never wear again.

Buy season-less styles with dress-up/dress-down potential.  A sleeveless silk top and tailored black pants work great for both formal fetes & cocktail parties, especially when paired with metallic accents.     

“The beauty of the house is order.  The blessing of the house is contentment.  The glory of the house is hospitality.”

“If I were asked to name the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer the house allows one to dream in peace.”

“We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape us.”

“Home interprets heaven: home is heaven for beginners… is yours?”

“A comfortable house is a great source of happiness.  It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience.”

“A thousand days at home are a pleasure; an hour away from home is a trial.”  Can you say this about your home?

From piles to peace…

Where were you when you made your big life plans?  Perhaps in college surrounded by friends discussing hopes and dreams… the possibilities were endless and exciting!  Where might we live?  Would we get married?  O! the career plans, families and adventures that awaited! 

I think it’s safe to assume none of us ever said “I hope I have a big house full of things that I bought just because they were on sale.”   We never talked about our intentions to own so much stuff that we would spend our free time trying to organize it all.  No one said, “I hope my future kids have so many toys that they can’t pick them up because there is nowhere to put them!”

Why do we trade in our hopes, dreams, goals and plans for things that will eventually end up in a garage sale, consignment store or landfill?  We pull this baggage behind us as we go through life thinking about the next thing, we can add to it!  Stop doing that!

I still love shoes and handbags, kitchen gadgets that slice and dice… but I don’t like the idea that someone would trade in special hopes and dreams for something that can be bought.  I like my stuff, but I am SO OVER IT!

Give me passion, pursuits, wholeness, healing, compassion, audacious goals, love, grace, kindness… give me those instead, and let me not be distracted by anything less. 

Are closets and cabinets overflowing with never used possessions while everyday items cover your home?  What is in that confusing hall closet-vanity thingie?  Has emotional clutter stolen your focus and zapped your creativity, productivity and enthusiasm?  O yeah! that asymmetrical under-the-staircase junk repository.  Tossing and turning all night long?  There is that messy forgotten bedroom nook…

It’s never too late to change all of that into a positive, stress-free lifestyle… make that lifestyle change today by calling a professional!  OrganiZare can help and allow you time for family and fun!  Think of it as a personal trainer for your home.  Refresh, try something new, help is a good thing and just a call away!