Getting Organized Part 1 & The True Secret to Weight Loss

So many people show such great interest in getting organized, I thought I would share a few tips on getting started. Why? I'm sick, I've caught the man cold that rampaged through the house the last few days. I can't taste anything and well, I dare say my taster is not up to par. So, organizing it is!

A few helpful hints

1. get rid of the guilt makers-for me this was shelves and shelves of How to-Self Help books on parenting, marriage and simple living-I'm not sure how I ever acquired so many help myself books but they were there, telling me I had done everything wrong and no wonder my teenager is like he is because HOW COULD HE NOT BE with such an evil mom...turns out-I am a normal mom, I get mad and yell and so does everybody else-so those are gone and the diet books because I know the big secret to weight loss, pull off the feed bag and move more, it's so simple why do I need a book for that?
2. cull the magazines, they are cluttery, dusty slidey beasts-why did I keep them? because of the fear that I might need them so I donated them to thrift stores and farm school-6 plastic shopping bags full! breathing room
3. get rid of the boxes, my furnace room was full of boxes, why? again I might need them, out they went, I can always get another box or 23-keep an assortment of smaller boxes stacked in a bigger box that way you'll have what you need
   
4. when I want to declutter something I do, I don't wait to go buy plastic tubs, boxes, containers, baskets, folders and such, just do it, use what you have, why add to the clutter by buying more stuff? I used an old cookie jar to hold my cookie cutters, half a gift box for cookie kits and a bushel type basket with Christmas cookie cutters, I started and finished one cupboard in less than an hour
5. cull your personal stuff, how many pairs of shoes do you really need? if you work in an office you need more than I do, but me personally I have rubber boots, keen hiking shoes and dr. martens-I keep a pair of crappy crocs for dashing outside so I don't have to stop and tie shoes for a quick trip
6. just because it fits does not mean it's perfect for me, if I don't wear something why do I hang on to it? donate it, give it to someone who will like it, dye it, or cut it into rags
7. go through the bathroom, find all the odds and ends-donate them or use them up, chop open the lotion bottles to get to the last couple ounces, then recycle them

Now I have to drag myself off and make dinner. Oh and remember when I said "we never never get sick?" A. TOTAL. LIE. I am sick, do not tempt fate with bravado, she will kick your ass.


Peace and Love,