Reset!

Did you know that January is National GET ORGANIZED Month? It's a great time to throw out the old, sort through what remains and organize what you are bringing into 2010. This counts for thoughts as well. If you think "I'm not an organized person" - change that mantra! It's not that you aren't organized, you just haven't found the system that works for YOU. There is no ONE way and even if something worked for you 5 or 10 years ago, you aren't the same person you were then so don't be so hard on yourself!

If there is a project you're wanting to tackle but are a little daunted, break it into smaller pieces. For example, if you want to organize your kitchen, but don't know where to start, don't tackle the whole thing at once, start with your pantry and work your way out from there or start with your junk drawer if the thought of your pantry is a little overwhelming. Here are some universal points on organizing ANY project, no matter how big or small the project is:
The project will look worse before it starts to look better - and you might want to warn your spouse this will be the case if they will be home and especially if they will be helping you! Create three piles, stacks, or areas depending on the size of your project and label them so you don't get them confused. These piles will be "Keep", "Trash" and "Donate".
PURGE - most excess clutter comes from things we don't need or have purchased duplicates of because we couldn't find the first (or second or third) item we purchased for the same task. And if you have the tendency to hold on to things, ask yourself if the space used in storing the item is worth the cost it would take to (and how accessible it would be) to replace it.
Once you have three distinct piles, get the Trash items thrown out and the Donate stuff boxed up (and out of temptations way to sneak an item or two back in).
You are now ready to sort your Keep items! Yay! Start by putting similar items together in piles / stacks / areas. Hopefully THIS mess is a little smaller than the one you started out with....
You may find that some of your Keep piles can be sorted as well...it gets a little addictive once you see how tidy your space will look so rock on with your bad self and sort away! You'll need a place to store what you have kept and one of my all time favorite places for storage items that are as functional as they are aesthetically pleasing is you guessed it, the Container Store


I walk in and my anxiety just dissipates, my heart rate increases with anticipation of the next gem I'll find and I walk around the store in a sort of trance until I find just the solution I didn't know I was looking for. Granted, there are a few other places that exist and I suggest considering, especially if what you're needing is not a specialized solution and can be purchased elsewhere for less:


In the end, just remember to take your time and don't spend a lot of money trying some fancy system that a salesperson swears is the best solution. Ease your way into the process and find out what works for YOU. And if you get stuck and need a little help, I happen to know somebody who can....

QUICK TIP to save money with good storage solutions!

I don't know about you, but I'll forget what decorations / gift wrap I have on hand and end up buying duplicates or so much extra that I can't use it all so I've started a decorating file on my computer and yes, it's a spreadsheet but don't worry, it doesn't take the cheer out of decorating! (Actually, it kept me MORE cheerful this year because it prevented money from flying out of my pocket unnecessarily!)

And don't worry, it's not completely too late if your items are already packed up: first number the boxes, then get a piece of paper and write what items you can identify by opening each box, and start your spreadsheet, listing each box separately. I'd also suggest leaving yourself a friendly little reminder IN the first box to take inventory next year as you unpack....

Suite Dreams

I was first enthralled with the entertaining aspect of the home, and now I am past that and am thinking about relaxing so check out the Master Suite. LOOK at these colors - they are soothing and refreshing all at once! Inspired from the scenery outside the windows, I'm sure. I love the chandeliers flanking either side of the bed instead of the usual table lamps; I wonder if it is functional?






I haven't gotten enough of HGTV's 2010 Dream Home and have entered to win it every day...I wonder how my hubby would feel about moving to New Mexico?!

Some flagrant self promotion here: I could have staged this closet better. As huge as it is, it doesn't make me see myself or my clothing in here. Kinda blah. (I will not point that out when I win the house though...that would not be very gracious.)

Chirp Chirp!

Yesterday's mission was accomplished: the house is "un-decked" and my home is back in order. However, I couldn't resist saving these little chirps from the dark gloom of the attic until next year. I only have two (and they are little) so the hubby shouldn't object to their presence somewhere in the house (he's not a big fan of the pouf-y feather-y look). But they just make me happy and anyway, a little whimsy is good to have in the house.

Hmmm...where to put them???

It's time to un-deck the halls

Day 2 of 2010 and I don't know about you, but I am ready to "un-deck" the halls and get my house back! However, I procrastinate because I dread the effort it will take. I wish I could just pay ME to do it for me...after all, I'm highly organized and efficient putting the decorations back into their well labeled, well packed Rubbermaid bins and placed neatly back up in the attic. Somehow it's just not the same....

Here is a picture of my little Moose when we were hanging out on the couch before Christmas. Isn't he cute???? He'll be happy to have the house back too...the Christmas tree blocks one of his little running paths.

This Christmas...

This Christmas

mend a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten friend.

Write a love letter.

Share some treasure. Give a

soft answer. Encourage youth.

Keep a promise. Find the time.

Forgive an enemy. Listen.

Apologize if you were wrong.

Think first of someone else.

Be kind and gentle.

Laugh a little. Laugh a little more.

Express your gratitude. Gladden

the heart of a child. Take pleasure

in the beauty and wonder of the earth.

Speak your love. Speak it again.

Speak it still once again.


- Anonymous

Save a trip...in the kitchen

I don't know about you, but all of the cooking I did the past couple of months for the holidays had me BUSY! One of the kitchen practices I learned during my restaurant management days is to consolidate trips: Trips to the walk in (refrigerator & freezer), trips to the dishwasher and of course, trips to the garbage can. Here is how we did it then and how I still manage now in my own home....

When starting your preparation, gather as many items from the fridge, pantry or cupboard as you can in one trip. Use your baking dish / mixing bowl to help carry the items you're going to use. Make sure you have all of the ingredients you need before starting the dish...in case you need to make a trip to the store!
While preparing a meal, keep a big bowl on the counter. Put all your chopping, cutting, and peeling discards into it, then make one trip to the garbage instead of 10.

Improvements Catalog has a food scrap catcher if you like handy gadgets:






And as you use a measuring cups, bowls, or utensils, discard them on a large piece of wax paper laid out on the countertop; it will be handy for you to pick back up if you find you weren't actually done with it AND the wax paper it rests on will keep your countertops from excess drips or mess. When you are done, you can combine all of the dirty dishes into the largest piece and walk them over to the sink and dishwasher at once. Now see how efficient you are????