Organizing-Life » Declutter

Getting Back to Simple Living

I realize now that simple living is such a backwards concept to what most think of as the perfect American suburban lifestyle. A concept where less is more, fewer is fuller, and love is felt not had really resonates with me.
I decided to donate (or sell) all the items in my household we don’t use. That means, I am going through all of our belongings, in every nook and cranny, (even on our walls and on our floors), critically and ruthlessly assessing them. I hope to have half as much “stuff” when I am done!

Giving Up That Sheild of Possessions

A month ago I wrote about my change of perspective about finances. You can find my posts here, here, and here. Viewing a recent talk show, I was affirmed that I had been hiding behind things…stuff, to show others I was successful in life, worth something, and someone to like. I sat there on the sofa and knew in my heart that I am more than just my belongings and that experiencing life is more than material things. I am working to shed all that extra “stuff”, become more conscious about what and how I consume, be aware of what values my children see me living, and to become debt free. In essence get back to a simple life like so many of you out there in the blog world are doing so wonderfully.

Organizing That Junk Drawer

Do you have that junk drawer that holds just about everything? Unlike a pantry, this space doesn’t have a single purpose so it can quickly become a tangled mess. I call my miscellaneous mess my Everything Drawer and it is a dumping ground for all the things we need in a pinch, extras, and the things that have no home. Here is how I organize my Everything Drawer and some tips on how to organize your junk drawer.

Free Printable Save Your Money in Your Freezer

Yesterday I wrote about saving your money in your freezer. Here is a printable version of the mini-recipes that you can simply stick in your recipe binder for easy reference! Enjoy and Happy Organizing!

Free Printable Expiration Guides

As promised, here is a free printable food expiration guide. Print it out, laminate it, punch a hole in the top and hang it in your pantry area for easy reference when you are sorting through and throwing away food past its prime! Additionally, here is a cosmetic expiration guide you can print and keep in your cleaning tote carrier, or hang it inside your vanity or medicine cabinet door for easy reference.

Reclaiming the Basement – Week 2 Update!

Before After

If you have been following Organizing-Life for a bit, you already know that I set aside the month of June to tackle our basement. I mean: clear out all the clutter, give away, sell, and toss extra stuff we never knew we had, clean every surface, and re-decorate a bit. My goal is to [...]

Entryway Dumping Ground Clean-Up

I chose to tackle my entry way and the area of the kitchen around the corner where everything that doesn’t have a home hangs out. Come on over to www.organizing-life.com and see my before and after pictures as well as read my tips for decluttering your own home!

Reclaiming the Basement!

For the month of June my goal is to reclaim our basement! We have a very nice finished basement that could be the perfect space for lounging, entertaining, or kid-play. Right now it is neglected and not organized well, okay, at all. So, do you think I can get this done in one month? I’ll keep you up-to-date on my progress weekly. A touch of accountability usually gives me a big kick-in-the-you-know-what to get going and stave off procrastination! What is your summer home organizing project?

When to Throw Out That Food

Today is a list of pointers about how to know when food stuffs and spices in the kitchen should go out with the trash. Remember though, always use your nose and your eyes and if anything looks or smells bad, it has gone bad. When in doubt, throw it out.

When to Toss That Makeup

Cosmetics have a finite shelf-life. Bacteria can grow from introducing applicators from the skin back into the container. Pigments and oils can separate and become rancid, and the consistency and quality can can diminish with time. It is better to toss that last bit of expensive lipstick than to get a skin rash from bacteria on its tip. Sounds pretty yucky right? Follow a few of the “cleaning tips” at the bottom of the list to keep your make-up items bacteria-free, fresh and beautiful!

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