Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Tidying Up



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.


Top shelf didn't need much 


The rest of it, however, was in dire need


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.

T shirt drawer before


T shirt drawer after


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 <><






8 comments:

  1. 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!

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    1. It feels good to purge! I like thinking about others who could really use the stuff I've just got sitting around.

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  2. Well it looks like you've already got a good start.

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    1. Rather than doing it a little bit at a time, her method is to do it all at once -- lots of discarding. Feels good!

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  3. Love the tee shirt drawer. Can't wait to see the tidy pantry. Am getting the book.

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    1. She has lots of great ideas and her psychology behind keeping things tidy is inspiring!

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  4. An impressive beginning to the year! Love that neatly arranged drawer.
    As 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 :)

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    1. 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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