The New Things That Haven't Been Used

Do you buy things because they're on sale? If you didn't need them, they weren't a bargain. Here are the three questions to ask before you buy anything:

1. Where would this live? A very practical consideration, especially if you're trying to declutter.

2. What am I going to do with it? If it has a purpose or fills a need, fine. If you already have four of them, not fine.

3. What is it replacing? When something is broken or you don't like the old version as much as the new one, then by all means, charge away. But be prepared to get rid of the old item when you get home.


This is an excerpt from Oprah Magazine by Andrew Mellow, a professional organizer. To learn more about Mr. Mellow visit VirgoMan.com

The Drawer Full of Photos

When we moved to Washington back in 2003, I took all my photos I had collected for years in boxes and started sorting. My plan was to start scrapbooking them. Well, I had photos back to the '70's! My daughter told me I was being awfully ambitious. Well, she was right. I did scrapbook quite a few - starting at the most recent. But, you know that "recent" group kept growing and getting more recent as I continued to take pictures. It gets so overwhelming!! I don't know what the answer is - I still have 4 boxes of pictures (and they are continuting to grow - only digitally now) and I haven't scrapbooked in a long time!! But here is the expert's (professional organizer, Andrew Mellon) advice:


If you don't have time to put your photos in an album or scrapbook, it's okay to stop pretending you're going to do it. Get clear shoe boxes to store them in instead.

Then get a kitchen timer. Why? Because sorting through photos leads to reminiscing, and suddenly it's three hours later. But you're not looking at photos now—you're organizing them so that looking at them later will be more fun. Decide how long you have and set the timer.

Group the photos by subject—the family reunion, your trip to Florida ... While you're grouping, you're also sorting: Is it a clear picture? Do you even know who those people are? Throw away any that don't measure up, and any in which you can't stand the sight of yourself. When you're done, label the boxes accordingly: "Family Reunion, February 2008."



This is an excerpt from Oprah Magazine by Andrew Mellow, a professional organizer. To learn more about Mr. Mellow visit VirgoMan.com

Inherited Items & Momentos

Your home is not a museum. Many people subscribe to the unwritten rule that you're obligated to keep your great-aunt's dishes, even if you don't like them, just because she used them. But maybe your great-aunt never liked them either and also felt too guilty to let them go. Things don't have to become yours simply because they belonged to a relative. You're not living her life, and you're not a bad person for giving inherited items away.

If the acquired stuff is worth money, you may feel bound to it financially: "It's real silver—I can't give it away." Yes, you can. Donate it, document what it's worth, and take it off your taxes. Or give it to another family member who would really like it. Or sell it on eBay. And if you like something enough to keep it, consider it a replacement, not an addition—keep Grandma's reading lamp, but donate the one you already have.

Mementos from your own life are harder to part with because when you see them, you relive the story: To you, it's the cashmere V-neck you wore on your first date with the man who would become your husband; to anyone else, it's just an old sweater full of holes. The key to parting with items suspended in time is not to replay that story. Leave the room, come back in, and see what you're really holding on to—a sweater that's seen better days.

Rule of thumb: If it serves no purpose, let it go.

This is an excerpt from Oprah Magazine by Andrew Mellow, a professional organizer. To learn more about Mr. Mellow visit VirgoMan.com

Friday - Calendar & Popcorn Holder

I've been working all day on items for my Secret Sister Reveal Box. I should already have mailed it, but I keep thinking "I'll add just one more thing!" I'm done now & ready to seal it up and get it on it's way! Today, I made a 2009 calendar using the downloadable calendar from Amuse Stamps. I just printed the months out onto white cardstock and decorated them. The cover and back are coasters. The Designer Paper is from Western Sky, which was in last year's SU catalog.



AND, I made this cute mini popcorn holder! The pop corn holder is really easy and would be great for Trick or Treaters!! It fits the mini microwave popcorn bags. I used some darling paper that my good friend, Judy, brought me last month!! And the little ghost is also from the designer paper - I just cut him out.

Here are the directions:

• Cut a sheet of cardstock (or Designer Paper like I did) 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"


• Decorate cardstock - stamping, etc. as desired.


• Wrap around the popcorn bag. Apply adhesive. The fit should be loose enough to get the popcorn out but snug enough that the popcorn does not fall out.


• Remove popcorn from sleeve. Using 1/4" punch (square or round), punch a hole through one layer in the center of the front top edge of the sleeve about 1/2" down from the edge. Punch another hole in the back of the sleeve also.


• Cut ribbon about 15" long. Fold ribbon in half. Put one short side of the popcorn bag in the fold of the ribbon & then slide the ribbon & the bag into the sleeve. The ribbon should be extending from the top edge by the holes. Thread the ribbon from the inside of the sleeve to the outside of the sleeve on both front & back. Tie ends in a knot.

Have a great weekend!!

SHARON

The Overstuffed Closet

Do you have a lot of "someday" best. Someday I'm going to fit into these again. Someday this trend might return. Someday I'm going to wear this. The problem is, "someday" doesn't exist; there's only today. Here's what to do with what's being worn only by your hangers.

Clothes that don't fit: If you've gained weight, keep the smaller-sized clothes that you'll get the most use from and work on fitting into them again. If you've already lost weight, don't keep a whole closetful of big clothes as though one day you're going to suddenly be struck fat; donate them.

Trend items: If you're waiting for something to come back in style, don't. Even if it does return, it will look dated—and so will you.

Special occasion outfits: The rule that says "If you haven't worn it in a year, donate it" is a fine guide for when to say goodbye.

Sentimental pieces: You say, "I really loved this jacket." I know you did. But if you haven't worn it in ages and it doesn't work with your other clothes, it's time for it to go away. If you're saving your wedding dress, be honest—do you have the space to store it? Do you have a daughter you're saving it for, and is it a timeless classic she won't roll her eyes at? If the answers are yes, keep it. If you're short on storage space, you have only sons, or your dress has puffy sleeves, lace, and buttons up the arms because you did a kind of Linda Ronstadt circa 1974 thing, give it to a thrift store or DonateMyDress.org, which provides formal wear to girls who can't afford prom or special occasion dresses.

Now that you have a closetful of clothes that you actually wear, organize them—all the short-sleeved shirts together, all the jeans together, etc. Do the same with your shoes. If you have the space, they can be kept on shelves so you can see them immediately. If not, try stacking shelves or hanging shoe racks.


This is an excerpt from Oprah Magazine by Andrew Mellow, a professional organizer. To learn more about Mr. Mellow visit VirgoMan.com

Folder and Cards

It's time to reveal our Secret Sisters with my NC SU group. So, I have been working on putting together some things for my SS. I recently got Holiday Lineup and I just love this holiday stamp set. I have done a swap with it already. Here is a Christmas folder and cards I made today - most of them, using Holiday Lineup. I think they turned out pretty good.

Folder closed:

Folder Open:Card using Top Note and my Cuttlebug:

Card using Spiral Punch:

Card using retired Poinsetta Wheel and Retired corner punch:

Card using retired Designer Paper and Square Punches:

Happy Birthday Stampin' Up

Stampin' Up! is celebrating its 20th year and you get the gifts!!! Throughout October, each time you place an order for $20, you can purchase any of the following sets at 20% off. There is no limit to the number of sets you can purchase.

(The set used in the items above is Party Hearty.)

Big Bold Birthday
Cumpleaños genial y divertido (Spanish Big Bold Birthday)
Party Hearty
Bitty Birthday
Crazy for Cupcakes
Simple Birthday Thanks
Time to Party
Crab & Company

Un Clutter Your Home Office

The Pile of Mail

If you can't finish the mail, don't start the mail. You can't slice chicken for dinner and sort your bills at the same time, so when you come in the front door with a stack of mail, put it in the basket, box, or whatever container you have handy for this purpose. You don't have such a container? No wonder there are so many piles of mail around your house.

When you're ready, take your mail basket to wherever you deal with paperwork. First, pull out the circulars and flyers and set them aside; you'll either clip the coupons or put them in the recycling bin — later. Also set aside the catalogs. If you're shopping for something specific, save them. (Caveat: no multiples. The new catalog replaces the old one, which gets recycled.) If you're getting catalogs you never wanted in the first place, pull off the pages with the mailing label and put them aside; that's an action item for later. Then separate the rest: bills, personal correspondence, time-sensitive invitations, requests for charitable donations, membership renewals, new credit card offers, and so forth.

Open the bills first because they represent a relationship that must be honored; if you want the services, you have to pay. All the stuffing that says "You've been selected to receive these free gifts" goes into the recycling bin. All you want is the bill and the return envelope.

Put any invitations aside; later on, you'll transfer those into your calendar and send your response.

If there's room in your home office, have small bins in which to stack bills, invitations, and the correspondence you're keeping.

When you're done sorting, then you can read your magazines. Or get those back pages you ripped out, call the companies that sent them, and tell them what you don't want — their catalogs. (You can also log on to Catalogchoice.org, a free service that will stop these unwanted mailings from being sent to you.)

This is an excerpt from Oprah Magazine by Andrew Mellow, a professional organizer. To learn more about Mr. Mellow visit VirgoMan.com

Clutter in the Kitchen

Today's clutter is devoted to my Mom!! Angela - if you are reading this, print it out for MOM!!!

The Crammed Kitchen.

Your kitchen is a food preparation area, not a storage space. The idea here is to weed out what you're not using, then put similar items together and in the best places.

Appliances: Machines that are broken or aren't used are just taking up space. If your Crock-Pot has a missing lid that you say you're going to replace someday, or you're keeping the bread maker just because it was a gift, get rid of it.

Food containers: All your plastic storage items should have corresponding lids. If you don't have one or the other, it's a recycling item. (Yeah .... I need to work on this one! My kids used to hate to open the dreaded "plastic top drawer"!!)

Pots and pans: If there isn't a lot of space in your kitchen, use a pot rack. If you have the space, hang them along the wall for fast access.

Knives: If you're short on counter space, consider the type of knife block that fits in a drawer.

Plastic bags: Everybody has a plastic bag full of other plastic bags. Use the ones you have for trash can liners, or take them back to the supermarket for recycling. (take them to your car NOW!!) Keep canvas shopping totes in the car so you don't accumulate more plastic bags (Just got to remember to take them into the store when you go!!) Mesh shopping bags roll up small enough to be kept in your handbag for unexpected trips to the market.

Cookbooks: Unless you're a collector or you have a lot of room, edit them. How often do you use the cookbook? If you've had it for years but it's never gotten a single stain or burn from use, donate it. (Another one of my "things to work on". I love cookbooks & have a bunch!)


This is an excerpt from Oprah Magazine by Andrew Mellow, a professional organizer. To learn more about Mr. Mellow visit VirgoMan.com

Un Clutter Your Life!

I can be a pack-rat sometimes. But, then I go through a clean-it-all-up stage and out it goes. Or .... more than likely, we move & I have to take a hard look at what I've accumulated!! Since I don't see any moves for us in the future, I need to begin to "un-clutter"! Here are some tips I've gotten (from Oprah magazine) that I thought everyone could probably use. They are from Andrew Mellow, a professional organizer (how do you ever get that job???)

Think of this scenario: If your house were burning and your family, pets, and purse were already out of harm's way, what else would you want to save? Probably not the blender that only works on one speed, the china you inherited but never use, or the photo in which you're not exactly looking your best. Which begs the question: If those things aren't worth taking, why are they in your home in the first place? There's no reason to be surrounded by things that don't work, that you don't need, or that you don't even like.

The Ground Rules

1. Everything you own should have value, either because it's functional or beautiful or you just love it. Remember the question of what you'd grab if your house were on fire; that's your baseline for determining an object's worth.

2. Every item needs a place where it "lives." Setting things down on the coffee table or kitchen counter creates piles and confusion. How many times have you had to search for your keys when you are ready to go somewhere? Where do your keys live? They live in a bowl or on a hook by the front door — but you never lose anything when you put it where it lives.

3. Focus on one thing at a time. Multi tasking is supposed to help you get more things done quickly, but when you try to do 19 things at once, everything ends up incomplete. You're trying to simplify your life, so simplify your approach to getting organized.

Tomorrow we'll look at un-cluttering the kitchen!!