Organizing and Decluttering

How to Set Up Your Spring Capsule Wardrobe

April 8, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Now is the perfect time to set up your spring capsule wardrobe. As you figured out, the "in-between seasons" make it difficult to decide what to wear. Right now, are you searching two closets or digging through bins of off-season clothing? Instead, consider how much easier it will be to get ready, if everything lived in one closet? I use one closet (no dresser) but that wasn't always the case. Here's how I downsized my wardrobe into one simple closet. Experiment with Less First, I challenged myself to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for an entire week. This exercise was inspired by Jen Hatmaker’s book 7 Experiments Against Excess. During this week, I still left the house for work, church, and social engagements and always in clean clothes. Second, I developed a spring (and then winter) capsule wardrobe of a limited number of seasonal pieces. By following Courtney Carver’s Project 333, I selected my favorite spring items. And moved the rest to our guest closet. I dressed …

Guide to Easy Spring Cleaning with 5 DIY Cleaners

April 1, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 11 Comments

Spring Cleaning can be daunting, especially in a large home. But many hands make light work, so enlist some help from your family, set a reasonable timeline, and plan multiple days if needed. Studies show we are more productive when we break large projects into small, manageable tasks. Plan of Attack Eat a good breakfast and fill your water bottle Start upstairs. Bedrooms first Clean top to bottom to avoid re-cleaning Dust first, vacuum second Wash towels and sheets as you go Bathrooms last, then a shower-reward! Homemade Cleaners I use natural homemade cleaners for most of my cleaning. Homemade Cleaners are non-toxic, less expensive, and very effective when used properly. It also simplifies my shopping list and reduces plastic waste. Try my favorites below. Choose just one or two to get started. And be sure to use your existing inventory of cleaning products first! 1. All-Purpose Cleaner The All-Purpose Cleaner is anti-bacterial and great for doorknobs, …

How to Create a Clutter-Free Home Office

February 12, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 66 Comments

I'm going to guess that your home office might be the family dumping ground. And it has piles of paper everywhere. Also, the space is overwhelming because every flat surface is covered and you don't know where to begin. Plus the filing cabinet is filled with who knows what. And all this clutter robs you of productivity and focus. Does this describe your home office space? It is so uninviting you rarely work in it The bookshelves are cluttered and looming over you You sit at the dining room table with your laptop instead Well, today is the day to change all of that. In this post, I've written a step-by-step plan with 7 steps to declutter and organize your home office. Because a clutter-free space is a productive space and you can do this. Just take it one step at a time. Your Dream Home Office Before you dive in, take some time to dream about how you’d like your office to look and function. Search online for ideas and inspiration. I pinned some …

3 Easy Ways to Recycle Old Trophies

February 5, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

Kids collect trophies, ribbons, plaques, medals and paper plate awards by the buckets! My young son’s collection is manageable but we are less scheduled than your average family. Fewer activities definitely means fewer items to display and store. Inevitably, empty nesters and their adult children will find themselves digging through boxes of ribbons and trophies wondering what to do with old trophies. And what I usually hear is that no one wants the stuff. Especially the children who actually earned the awards. As an organizer and minimalist, I encounter this often with my clients. And it tends to be more difficult for the parents to part with the items. If you find yourself struggling to let go of these items and with adult children who just want you to throw it all out, take a breathe. I encourage you to respect their decision and give them the items to handle as they see fit. And yes, that may be the trash can. Sentimental Items When it comes to all sentimental stuff, …

5 Easy Ways to Organize Recipes with Evernote

October 2, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith 5 Comments

Do you feel like you have endless recipes books, recipes cards and internet log ins? But no idea where to find that amazing recipes you made last year? I'm a fan of digital organization for many things but it is especially useful when it comes to recipe organization. I love Evernote for Recipe Organization. Evernote will help you "Tame your work and organize your life." It can help you manage projects, tasks and your schedule in oneplace. I have been using the Note and Notebook feature for years. I prefer other tools for project management and my calendar but if you're just getting started, Evernote could be a great one stop shop for you. Today, I'm just focusing on how I use my favorite Notebook, my recipes. Evernote allows you to save various formats of your recipes in one place. And I can rely on the info synced across all my devices including my phone, iPad, and laptop. This means I'm never away for Thanksgiving without access to my apple pie …

How to Declutter and Organize for a Home Remodel

September 4, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

You signed the contract. The remodel is happening. And your dream kitchen will soon become a reality. Demo Day Now Demo Day is fast approaching and you're wondering, where will I put all this stuff? Not to mention, how to prepare meals? In the garage? Maybe the basement? Unfortunately, I've seen many clients wait until the last minute, box everything up, and pile it in a corner. Then, dig through boxes for months looking for items they need. Instead, spend a little time organizing and decluttering the contents thoughtfully. Consider before, during, and after the remodel. Here are some tips to keep you organized. Before the Remodel Start easy. Declutter with a clean sweep of the room. Use the Demo Day deadline as motivation. Walk through the kitchen and fill three boxes labeled Trash, Donate, and Relocate. Open every cabinet and drawer but move quickly. Set a timer. Be decisive. Trash/Recycle - Mismatched plastic containers, chipped glasses, extra lids, …

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