12/28/08

5 Quick things to Organize

Photo Credit: BHG.Com
This is the week of goal setting and New Year's resolutions. Before I get caught up in a never ending list of lofty goals, I like to tackle a few easy projects that I know I can finish before January even begins. Here's a few ideas to help spring you into your organization frenzy!


Clean out that make-up surplus.




Time to get rid of the excess. If you're like me, you have your staple eye-liner, shadow, and blush. I try new things but always manage to revert back to my staples. Well, why keep it if you don't use it. Throw out anything you haven't worn in the last 2 weeks (okay, maybe 3 weeks if you count Christmas week).

This includes the gajillion bottles of nail polish you bought for special occasions that aren't that special anymore and are half used up. I have 3 basic colors... done.


Clean out your lingerie drawers.






Nylons with runs, socks without matches, panties that don't fit anymore... even when you suck in... bra's that you don't use... you get the idea. Why keep more in that drawer to search through? Less is more (calming). Simplify.



Inventory your first aid and medicine supplies.



If you like me, you have 6 kids all of whom have got ill while you're on vacation, necessitating another purchase of ibuprofen or allergy medicine. (Okay, maybe you only have half as many kids but they always get sick when you're on vacation!) The result is a collection of half used medicines.

Take inventory. Can you combine 2 of the same kinds of medicine and toss a bottle? Are there a few past expirations? Are you keeping empty packages of band aids (my kids raid the stash but never toss the box or tell me we're out.) or holding onto prescriptions that you haven't used since your last childbirth? Make room for the new year and de-clutter the first aid box.


Toss the junk in your junk drawer.







If you haven't used it in a reasonable amount of time... it really IS junk! Toss the odds and ends, the broken whatchamacallit you meant to glue ages ago, and feel your guilt flee! You can organize it in pretty organizers later... just pare down the clutter.




PPhoto credit:Martha Stewart.com

Weed out your closet.




Photo courtesy of Lane Bryant/Closet Maid

It doesn't take a great deal of effort to say, "No, I haven't worn that for 2 years." Don't bother organizing the closet. Just get rid of the clothes that you don't regularly use. This is a great liberation ladies. I'm queen of this. After 6 kiddos, I have clothes in EVERY size. Literally. Fat clothes, not-so-fat clothes, pretty much happy with this size clothes, wish I were that size clothes, and I remember when I was THAT size clothes. They're officially gone. Simplified! Now my closet is really ready to tackle when the real organization bug hits in January!

What are your organizing projects for the new year?

8 comments:

Kristi said...

You are a girl after my own heart! I just want to give a big, fat AMEN! I'm insanely organized! It's almost an obsession with me. That's probably something I need to work on...

Kira said...

I think with 6 kids you have to do that. With one kid.....not so organized. I guess we have time to search through the piles of half open bottles :)

Amara said...

Amen. The first and best way to organize is to TOSS IT. Now if I could just teach my kids how to do that...

Sandy said...

My goal is to just keep up and not get behind! No perfection, but some kind of order! Great post!

Jane In The Jungle said...

Hey Pretty,

So glad you're back, I've missed you! And do tell, you have pictures of the 19 visitors in the house!!

I have already cleaned out this closet, this weekend in fact! But my make-up!!! Oh No!! What if I need that shade of brown lipstick I bought 2 years ago and never wore cause it's too dark????

I love cleaning out and tossing, but can't get anyone else in this house onboard!! I'm getting ready to clean out baskets for recycling day tomorrow!!

Later,
Jane

The Berry's Patch said...

I'm in the process of cleaning out my closets as we speak. Except I'm getting rid of make-up that I haven't worn in two years. I guess it's about time. :-)

Erin said...

Just a note to let you know I loved your post and added a link to it on my blog. Thanks for sharing...

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Hooray! I'll be organizing all year long, trying to fit a big house into a smaller one :-). I am looking forward to the challenge.

I just posted my list of goals for 2009 and of course, organization is one of them!

Blessings in the new year!

Melissa

 
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