We all fall down...

We all have those times when life seems to run ahead, just out of our grasp. We stretch and stumble a little trying to catch up. We may even fall down. But no matter how hard we fall or how long we lay there in a daze, the important thing is to get back up, dust off, and try again!

As I dust myself off and jump back into the world of blogging, I want to apologize for the gap. As life got hectic, some things had to "give" -- and one of those things was blogging. I was lacking the energy and focus, but now I'm back -- re-energized, re-invigorated, and with lots of fun organizing and design related fun to talk about :)

A good friend of mine is going on her first-ever international trip today. Yes, today! She's probably killing time in O'Hare right now waiting for her flight to Germany. Her questions as she prepared were actually a main source of inspiration for me re-starting my blog. I provided her with a few tips and a packing list...and thought, others might be interested in this too! So stay tuned...

~amy

Minimalist inspiration

Lately I've been drawn to reading blogs about minimalism and the spirituality of living simply. I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you for inspiration -- including this interview with Miss Minimalist on Castles in the Air. This is my first introduction to Miss Minimalist, aka Francine Jay, and I've already put her on my list of role models. I share some of her dreams and passions, like living in a foreign country, writing, and travel -- and it's always good to find others doing what you want to do so you can learn from them! I love the fact that she always leaves a weekend bag half-packed so that she's always ready to go traveling - in her own city or abroad - on a moment's notice. She is living proof that living minimally doesn't mean going without, it means only having the things you really need and make you happy.

Other fave blogs currently include the ever-popular Zen Habits (Leo recently did a thought-provoking post on why to not exchange Christmas presents) and The Middle Finger Project (with the best tagline: rejecting the status quo & rebelling against mediocrity). I've also been inspired by Danielle's advice at White Hot Truth. Where have you found inspiration lately?

Happy reading!
-amy

Free and nearly free ways to get organized

I already posted this on Facebook but felt it was worth a post on here as well. Tanna with Complete Organizing Solutions blogged about free and nearly free ways to get organized and they were so fantastic I had to share!

Still alive and organizing...my pantry

It's been a long time since I've posted on here. Tisk tisk. My apologies (to you and to myself). I've been battling with some health issues (nothing to worry about!) and thus took a break from the computer and blogging for awhile...and then found it hard to get back in the groove. So here's to getting my groove back ;-)

My next organizing project -- now that I have some mobility and strength back in my right arm** -- is to tackle our pantry. It is a mess. I've determined that we don't have enough space and thus have asked my lovely hubby to bring in the second set of wire shelving (it sits out our covered patio for now, mostly collecting dust and random things). I'm excited to rearrange this entire space to make it more usable and more attractive. And I'm excited to tell you all about it once I'm done. Which should be this weekend -- wish me luck!

First step: sort everything on the current shelves (and floor) into "like with like" piles so I know what I'm dealing with
Second step: get rid of anything expired, stale, that we don't like, have too many of, etc. (I'll donate to a food bank anything that's still good but that I don't want anymore)
Third step: clean both sets of shelving thoroughly and warm up the label maker ;)
Fourth step: put things away in similar categories, with things I use most often easily accessible, adding labels where appropriate
Fifth step: CELEBRATE and take photos to share with y'all!
Final step: reassess in a few weeks and make adjustments if needed (this is the part most of us forget -- don't blame yourself if your system fails. That usually means it's the wrong system for you, not that you're doing anything wrong. Be willing to make changes to fit how you really use the space and stuff!)

The above process is a loose guideline to how you can approach most organizing projects...

Happy organizing,
-amy

**A short note about my random injury and subsequent medical fun: I woke up one morning in June with what has been called by my physical therapist as "quirky female hormonal shoulder." I'm still determining if she says that to the 5+ patients she gets each year with this, or if I was the "quirky" part of the name :) Apparently some hormones in my body sent a false signal to my right shoulder that there'd been a trama and my nerve became very inflammed and all the muscles literally locked down my shoulder!! OUCH. I am recovering now with the help of PT and hope to be back to normal within the next 6-9 months. The silver linings? (1) I've learned to do an amazing amount of tasks with my left arm, including eating and using the computer mouse (which is very good exercise for the brain), and (2) I've had lots of time to read and explore myself and what I want to do with my life. I've started a new blog on this journey of self-improvement if you want to check it out...

Sanity saver in the kitchen: prep before baking (or cooking)

I love to bake. And I tend to get excited and easily distracted while doing so, and thus I found this tip from Complete Organizing Solutions to be right on target. Prepping everything ahead of time can really help, especially if you get interrupted by kids, the doorbell, the phone, cats... It prevents you from getting 2/3 of the way through and finding out you don't have enough of something. Or even worse, forgetting where you are in the recipe and forgetting a key ingredient (or adding something twice, not that I've ever done that...).

Yes it gets a few more bowls and such dirty, but the sanity you save far outweighs the extra work. Plus, I find that measuring everything out ahead of time makes me feel like I'm on my own baking TV show. A dash of this, a cup of that, and ta-da! Awesome.

Happy baking,
-amy

Inspiration for your closet

I regularly read other blogs about organizing and sometimes I get so inspired I just have to share. This tip from "The Organizing Junkie" is fantastic. She just did a major purge of her clothing as she switched from winter to summer and now I can't wait to tackle my own closet...again! I purge several times a year based on space issues and seasonal changes, but I like her statement that just because you have space doesn't mean you should fill it. If you haven't worn something in a year, consider parting with it -- donate to Goodwill or sell it at a consignment shop. (For my Portland peeps, a friend of mine owns a consignment shop you should check out sometime, for clothing, household items, furniture, etc. -- Reviva!)

With the money you make selling your clothes you rarely or never wear, you can purchase items you really love and fit you right! :) Any excuse to go shopping...

Happy purging,
-amy

Ideal Bite says hire a "Green" home organizer

I subscribe to this great service, Ideal Bite, that provides daily tips to make your life a little more "green." I love it because the tips are short and sweet, come right to my inbox, and are usually something anyone can handle adding to their routine.

Today's tip really made me smile though -- as part of their "make life easy week," they recommend hiring a professional organizer that knows how to do things green(er). Great idea! :)

The Benefits:

• A good green organizer will help you repurpose or sell stuff you don't need, so you can pocket some cash without resorting to money laundering.
• They'll help you hook up with other local eco-resources (movers, painters…).
• Many use green products such as sustainable shelving and storage containers made from materials like bamboo instead of PVC.
• A more organized house means less stress.

Thanks for reading!
-amy

My guest post on Complete Organizing Solutions

One of the more fun parts of venturing into this new business is meeting other Professional Organizers. The people drawn to this profession are not only organized and efficient (that's a given, right?!), but everyone I've met has been so nice and open and willing to share information to help me get started.

And one of those new people I've (virtually) met is Tanna Clark with Complete Organizing Solutions. She does daily tips on her blog, and is now featuring another professional organizer each week to share inside tips on what we do in our own homes. My post was featured yesterday - my tip was to create a "landing strip" at the front door to help with all of the clutter that constantly goes in and out of a home. Please check it out! :)



Thanks for reading,
-amy