It was Christmas Eve day and we were preparing for an annual tradition; a nearby outdoor candlelight service under the tall cedars, then an intimate gathering of neighbors at our home. My daughter sweeps in having read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo and decides this would be a good time to clean out and organize my kitchen drawers! We survived the ordeal and she has since given me my very own copy of the book. I understand her excitement and it has begun. I hope to share my progress and enthusiasm in the following weeks.
First, and just because it really needed to be dealt with, my husband and I cleaned out our too small pantry.
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| Top shelf didn't need much |
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| The rest of it, however, was in dire need |
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| Yikes! |
It's now 99% improved, but I'm not posting any pictures until it is 100%!
Here is before and after of one drawer I completed today.
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| T shirt drawer before |
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| T shirt drawer after |
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| Now it's a t shirt, tank top and cardigan drawer |
I won't go into all of Marie's methods, the book is a great, short read. I have concluded that she has found a way to make a living out of her own personal OCD and that's not a bad thing.
As I complete this process I will be putting my etsy shop on the back burner, leaving it open, but not restocking after the holiday busyness. I feel like I will complete this feeling refreshed and inspired.
Everyone isn't messy like me. However, if you are I suggest reading this book. A lot of it just made me laugh, but it also got me pretty excited about getting my home in order.
I don't want to call this a New Year's resolution. I don't really like to make them, do you? I'm not saying I don't or have never made New Year's resolutions. In fact, last year on January 1st I began a schedule to read through the Bible in a year chronologically and I finished it December 30th (one day ahead of schedule.) But I think they can be defeating and limiting. One of my favorite verses is Lamentations 3:23 "Great is his faithfulness, his mercies begin afresh each day." Indeed, every day is a new day to our Heavenly Father. For that I am grateful!
Happy New Year!
Linda <><
My word for the year is PURGE so I have begun the same process that you are! Just want all this stuff gone!! I keep adding inventory for my Etsy shop so something has to go!
ReplyDeleteIt feels good to purge! I like thinking about others who could really use the stuff I've just got sitting around.
DeleteWell it looks like you've already got a good start.
ReplyDeleteRather than doing it a little bit at a time, her method is to do it all at once -- lots of discarding. Feels good!
DeleteLove the tee shirt drawer. Can't wait to see the tidy pantry. Am getting the book.
ReplyDeleteShe has lots of great ideas and her psychology behind keeping things tidy is inspiring!
DeleteAn impressive beginning to the year! Love that neatly arranged drawer.
ReplyDeleteAs I am looking at the quantity of clutter in my studio, I am thinking I probably should check out the book -alas reading it could also just give me another excuse to postpone the organizational process :)
The book is a very quick read, even for a slow reader like me. I'm looking forward to getting my studio/daughter's old bedroom done, know the mess it's in now is stifling.
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