1 large bag to Goodwill

Yesterday I sorted and dropped one large bag off at Goodwill and I think it feels great. I just needed to share.

I took all of my pants and skirts out my closet. Then took them all off the hangers, then began my sort. I know I was definitely hard to part with skirts I've had since 2005 and have not worn since well.....2005. But I decided yesterday it was time to pass it on and pay it forward to some lucky person shopping at the local Goodwill store (it's always packed with shoppers).

As soon as I sorted and downsized I knew I needed to take the bag right away otherwise I would "re-sort the bag" especially since I now have spare room on my hangers in the closet. I even thought to call a few friends to see if they would want them, which is not a bad idea but I needed to go directly to the store. I really felt that even the faintest review of the skirts might make me rethink my sort.

24 hours later, no regret. I told myself that I should only keep clothes that I actively wear on a year-to-year basis. I did hold on to 3-4 skirts that will probably go the next purge around but I made big progress. Yes there were skirts and pants that I got in foreign countries that held very nice memories but I use my own tip on myself, I took a picture of the item before I placed it in the bag. Now I will always have a keepsake of that great item.

My point is, even for a professional organizer it is difficult to part with things and find the right time even if you know it is now.

T-shirts and pjs are next week's purge project...

cash for clutter and other fun ideas.....

The current issue of the magazine "First for women" (Oct. 18, 2010) features the article "12 genius ways to turn your clutter into cash." This article offers suggestions and advice regarding how to get rid of unwanted items and get some cash or new goods in return.

1. Recyclables: Mentions the site www.recyclebank.com which offers a program weighing recyclables and awarding in return points good at retailers

2. Sporting equipment: Mentions the site www.playitagainsports.com offering cash for up to 30% of items' resale value

3. Cosmetic containers: Mentions the facts that Estee Lauder's Origins stores accept cosmetic containers for recycling and that returning six used MAC Cosmetics containers to a MAC store leads to a free lipstick

4. Cell phones: Mentions the site www.cellforcash.com which offers cash for outdated phones

5. Video games: Mentions the site www.gamestop.com which offers credit usable at local GameStop stores

6. DVDs and CDs: Mentions the site www.secondspin.com which offers cash for disks in good condition

7. Hobby equipment: Suggests that folks looking to donate used supplies or equipment reach out to special-interest groups accessible via www.meetup.com

8. Unused gift cards: Mentions the fact that www.plasticjungle.com will buy unused gift cards with a minimum balance of $25 (per card)

9. Jewelry: Suggests visiting a reputable jeweler and mentions the site www.americangemsociety.org, where one can find names of certified jewelers

10. Electronics: Mentions the site www.gazelle.com which offers cash for electronics that power on

11. Books: Mentions www.cash4books.net which offers cash as well as free FedEx shipping labels

12. Memorabilia: Mentions www.ebaytradingassistant.com which offers information on eBay's new registered drop-off locations facilitating sale of items on eBay

Safety first?

For my generation, putting a seat belt on when you get into a car is a natural instinct. I do recall our family car's in the early 80's that did not have seat belts. How times have changed for the better.

My parents always told me when I was learning to drive, they weren't worried about me on the road, they were more worried about the other people on the road. I think the same applies to adults wearing helmets.

Clearly the same idea is not translated to riding bike's. I was under the impression it was the Law that everyone riding a bike must be wearing a helmet but that does not seem to be the case. Watching people in Riverside Park and Central Park riding their bike's, I just don't get when I see the kid's wearing helmet's and the parents riding behind without helmets. What's good enough for the kids isn't good enough for the parents?

I am really perplexed when I see people riding without a helmet. Isn't it safety first?

home craft inspiration

I have a 3-ring binder full of clippings and items I've torn out from various magazines and newspapers over the past 10 years of craft ideas for the home that I'd some-day-like-to-do. I am starting to feel that time is coming near.

Ideas for coffee tables, jewelry/makeup holders, homemade picture frames, bulletin boards of the sort. Now that we are settled I am starting to feel the craft homemaker in me starting to itch to come out. I will keep you posted on my projects and I hope Husband is on board with these ideas....

hanging up

We have now moved to the "where should we hang things on our walls" stage of our move. The boxes are gone, the clothes are put away, and things have finally found their homeOn one hand we are inclined to re-hang our pictures in similar places as they were in our last apartment. But I think we are both wavering on that option. Now I am getting to the point where I love the paint colors we picked but am tired of seeing them bare.

This got me thinking about how much hanging pictures, diplomas, etc really make a house a home. I have been looking more closely at friends apartments and how they display their things to give me inspiration. I know it doesn't sound like it is something that is so complicated but we're not moving for a long while and I have a feeling these holes we make in the wall will be there for a long while.

I am browsing my organizing sites for inspiration....

My Boys?

Does anyone else watch this show, My Boys on TBS? I do and I think I am the only person I know who watches it. It's not like Big Brother, where people know it's on and trash talk it around the water cooler from time to time. My Boys was a show a discovered last summer, thought it was fresh, fun and 30 minutes.

I'm catching up on my DVR and in this weeks episode one of the characters discovers he is good at closet organizing. The friends in the group are excited and encouraging but when it comes down to him helping his friends, a lot of resistance develops. The friends aren't interested in parting with ANY item. It makes me chuckle a little bit because I see it and feel it myself often.

Me for example, I get very motivated to unpack my boxes to put my clothes away. Start with a few things on top and either 1) getting sentimental about the item or 2) don't know the best place to put the item.

Fortunately for me that feeling does not happen too often. But it's good to know it does happen and helps me related to friends, family and clients Organizing is more than just physically moving things into new places, it's about facing what you really use, what you really need and look at what you are holding on to and why. It's not always a bad thing to unpack that last box. You might be surprised what's inside.

No mad, nomad, nomaddness....

No I am not mad. Yes I was mildly disappointed our move-in ready apartment was not move in ready, let alone ready. But we are in, after a 3 week hiatus of nomaddness 2010, as I am referring to it.

Thankfully we were in a position that we had more places to stay than nights we needed. Being transient has made me appreciate sleeping in my own bed. Every 2-3 nights we were relocating, reloading our bags, searching for things and then resetting.

But now we are in, and unpacked....is that surprising? 65 boxes totally, 3 left (all Husbands boxes). Part of me things, yes I was over zealous with my unpacking but the other part of me was just ready to put things away and be ready to live our life in our new place. I think we are just about ready.

I am never moving again.

Personal Hygenie out of the home?

I just rode the bus today with a man who had nail clippers on his belt chain. I prefer to leave my nail clippers at home (right now who knows where home is for us as we are nomad's right now and have our personal items in storage and at Parental units homes).

I have never, not once, had the urge to clip my nails, file my nails or even bite my nails outside my own home, let alone in the presence of close family and friends.

Today I was reminded of Brother's experience with a co-worker who used to avidly and frequently clip his nails as his desk, in a cube. It was as if one goes to a barber shop or salon to get a hair cut and co-worker goes to work to do his nail grooming. It was gross and I wasn't even there. Since then, I've seen people clip on trains, on streets, in cars. Whatever happened to keeping it in the bathroom?? Now buses??

technology downgrade?

Ok who am I kidding (husband hope you got a good laugh at that title). I have been talking, months ago, about downgrading from a Blackberry to an "old fashion" flip-phone with no bells and whistles. Yes a flip phone would make it more difficult to text, pressing each key three times to get to the letter I want, and I'd be detached from checking my ever pressing email that I could totally wait until I am home to read and respond.


Then the Apple iphone am out and I am tempted, very tempted to make the switch, to leave Sprint after 12 years of service, yes I could be the most loyal Sprint customer ever and have nothing to show for it. We switched from a Dell to a Mac and LOVE LOVE it. So why not make it seamless with the iphone. The idea was launched by Friends while running in the park. Friends said "oh we'll call you when we finish the race in and meet" to which I responded (as they were tapping their iphones/ipods) "I don't have my phone with me". It does seem practical for safety reasons to run with a phone and what better way to do so? Regardless, I will wait to see if Apple with fix the "death grip" before I rush out to get the phone with the protective cover.

Now this purchase would be the complete opposite of a technology downgrade. I would be even more connected to my email, downloading apps, texting, twittering and playing games; just what Husbands needs, me checking my phone even more than I already do when we are spending time together.

I think the iphone would make me even more organized though not a downgrade from my original intentions.

leaving it to the professionals....

I am an advocate for leaving it to the professionals. Husband works with numbers, while I am apart of number crunching, I yield to him for the cost/benefit analysis. My IT friends and entrepreneurs, I yield to you for computer advice and IT help and gadgets help; just as my friends consult with me for my opinion on organizing and decluttering.

Moving is on my mind because, well we're moving. I posted about deciding whether to higher our movers to pack us also. People have commented to me about how could I higher packers, I'm a professional organizer it should be easy to put things in boxes. Packing is a whole different league. As an organizer, I help minimize clutter, sort items, evaluate and help decide what is really worth bringing in the next move of items that haven't been worn or used in too long, put like things together and really look at the function of the odds and ends that are difficult to put in boxes or wrap uniformally.

I am going to continue leaving it to the professionals. The two packers are doing a great job. I feel confident that are items are being packed the "right" way and I will report after if anything has been broken but I have a feeling that won't be the case.

I am all for leaving it to the professionals.