Amy Slenker-Smith

I had several requests for the topic of Crafts and Craft Rooms. One reader even ask that I NOT suggest California Closets or other expensive storage designs. No problem! If you haven’t read my story, below is an excerpt or you can read the rest HERE. We installed cabinets that neatly hid my clutter. Many of these same cabinets are now empty. I purchased furniture and fixtures that I’d rather donate than dust.  In this former life of acquiring stuff, my weekends were spent purchasing, organizing and cleaning.  I am now ruthless in my efforts to donate and sell unnecessary items. I’ve learned that the clutter does not add value but in reality it detracts from the life I want to lead. Reading my story, you know that adding more storage is never the answer. That said, crafts create a lot of clutter. So, how do we get a handle on them? In the past, I enjoyed many different crafts including: Sewing Stamping Card Making Jewelry Making …

[Read more...] about Decluttering Challenge – Day 29 – Crafts

Hundreds of unread emails, lost contact information and a desktop full of icons…if this describes your digital life then this post is for you! I won’t address photos today but you can read about digital photo organization, here and here. Digital clutter may not have the same impact on your physical space but you are still aware of the disorganization. It weighs on you every time you search for a file, address or phone number. The key to organizing this information is to know yourself and establish new habits. Creating new habits has been the theme of this January Challenge. Perhaps you’ve also noticed that I don’t typically advocate for a specific system. Part of knowing yourself, is to know what will work for you. Consider the following questions: Do you use a computer? If so, MAC or PC? Where and how do you work online? Through which device? Phone, tablet or computer? Is it feasible for all family members to have their own primary device or do you share? Sharing is …

[Read more...] about Decluttering Challenge – Day 28 – Digital

I know, you're overwhelmed by just the headline of this post - Photographs. Sometimes, I feel the same way despite having a pretty good handle on my photo collection. But in this digital time, photo taking is constant. Volume increases daily. Keeping ahead of it is difficult. I wrote a detailed post about how to handle both paper and digital photographs, but I want to offer some tips and a challenge for today and what seems like an impossible task. Like many areas of clutter, it starts with creating new habits. Decluttering Challenge Day 27 Delete - Delete photos each time you snap a few shots. How often do we take several versions of the exact same view to be sure we got the best one? Only to never delete the terrible ones? Going forward, keep just the very best photograph of each event. Delete in real-time. Delete Some More - In honor of Day 27, delete at least 27 bad photos from your phone. Start with the easy ones, like the grocery store picture sent to your spouse …

[Read more...] about Decluttering Challenge – Day 27 – Photographs

Does this sounds familiar? Several half used bottles of shampoo sit under the sink. A cluttered countertop overrun with decorations, lotions and potions. An expensive beauty product that you did not like but felt wasteful throwing out. Bathroom clutter is actually pretty easy to take care of since many of the items are consumables. And yet, spaces like linen closets and cabinets are often filled to the brim. If you wait long enough, these products expire. They become unusable. So, you’re delaying the inevitable. But what if we tried a different approach? What if you could see the pipes under the sink? Or easily find the make-up and toiletries you actually use each day? Think about how much simpler it would be to get out the door in the morning. And, you could create a real spa-like feeling in your bathroom. It can be done, here’s how. Instead of adding more cabinets and lamenting that there is not enough storage in your small bathroom, commit to living within the space you have. Make …

[Read more...] about Decluttering Challenge – Day 24 – Bathroom