DrDeClutterBlog.com

Okay, here it is!! Holiday shopping madness season!

If you didn’t do it all on Black Friday, you have weeks to go yet, right?

I want to offer you a very cool tip on finding stuff for free!! Yes FREE!! Whether you’re shopping for the holidays or any event… save money, time and nerves the next time you need to shop for clothing, especially when you have children.

How?

1.  Declutter.
Yes, you heard me! When you declutter piles and heaps and boxes of stuff and things in closets, garage floors and attics you’ll be amazed at what you’ll find that you forgot to give in the past or bought two of along the way, someone gave you and you’ll never use, or… whatever!

2.  Plan on REGIFTING!
Create a “Gift Box” and put these items in it for “regifting”. Yes, REGIFTING! Why spend more money and mental anquish over things you already have!

3.  Box and Label for Future FREE Stuff!
When you get and stay organized by boxing and labeling you seasonal clothing – and children’s clothing that can be worn the next year by the same or another younger child– you will save yourself plenty of time, energy and money by going into your storage boxes and bins and finding most of what you may need “before” you go store shopping.

Yes, we already own most of what we need; we just don’t remember where we put it! So, the more organized you are and the better categorizing and labeling you do when organizing, you will find much of what you need right in your own square-foot-heaven.

This includes all kinds of items, like tape, pens, batteries, flashlights, supplies of all kinds, gloves, etc. When you keep items in “categories” and “contained” in boxes, tubs, bins and baskets, and “label” them so that everyone in the house can find them and put them back when done using the items (teach everyone!) you’ll waste less money, time and mental energy trying to locate and use what you already own.

Happy (in-home) Shopping!

Decorating... for the holidays or any day.

Sometimes a big makeover or the big holiday decorations isn't the answer, but a quick and easy small one might be to freshen up your room and make it holiday fresh too! 

In "Speed Decorating", the new book by Jill Vegas the author gives some quick and easy ways to liven up your kitchen:

• Remove the clutter. Put away items that don’t belong on the countertop.
• Do a quick food inventory. Use up quickly and/or throw out anything that’s starting to spoil or is open and you’re never going to eat.
• Hang fresh dish towels.
• Put a fresh bowl of fruit on the countertop (make sure to eat it while it’s fresh!)
• Add some fragrance. Simmer mulling spices or pop some cookies in the oven just before guests arrive.

One of the key organizing tips I can give you is this, “Don’t Put It Down, Put It AWAY!”

When you’re coming in from the car or going from room to room, don’t set things down, they tend to stay where you put them and grow!

Everything should have a “home.”

Everything should “live” somewhere.

Wherever that home is, take it there immediately, or at least by the end of the hour or day so that piles don’t start growing and get out of hand into heaps and mounds.

You may know the Bible story about Lot’s wife. God told her not to look back on her village and “past” life or she’d turn to a pillar of salt. Well, she looked back.

Every time your attention is distracted into the past you turn to a pillar of salt. Your thoughts and attention literally “crystallize” (like rock salt) into “what was,” not “what IS.” You get stuck in old stories and memories; mental movies unable to stay HERE NOW, open to your PRESENT and move forward.

Most people today are walking, talking pillars of salt. Filled with thoughts, looping memories of regret, remorse, sadness, grief… how do you do this? Do you have items in your home, in your life, or stories that you tell that make you constantly “look back” to your past?

Look around your house right now. What photo’s, greeting cards, knick-knacks, letters, emails, articles of clothing, jewelry, books, gifts, etc. drag your attention into the past? Moreover, into a negative past filled with, “Why me?”, “Why them?”, “Should have’s,” etc.

You can’t open your PRESENT in the PAST! Stay present in your present. Open your present NOW, in the PRESENT!

                                     “Whatever the price, identify it now.
             What will you have to go through to get where you want to be?
      There is a price you can pay to be free of the situation once and for all.
               It may be a fantastic price or a tiny one — but there is a price.”
                  ~ Harry Browne, 1933-, American Financial Advisor, Writer

LEARN THE LESSONS, LET GO, LIVE YOUR LIFE – YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION
Life is about learning from our past and living in the NOW, creating plans for a better FUTURE. It’s time to LET GO (maybe, with all your might!) of whatever is not true for you anymore.

Will “letting go” be easy? Some will, some will not. But decluttering and reclaiming your space for your HERE and NOW “conscious” life is a very important decision and act to do for yourself – it’s in fact a very selfish act… good for you! Reclaim your home and environment as yours.

Grieve your grief, resolve your areas/emotions incomplete and move on, no matter what it was (“was” is the operative word here.) Reset your energy for TODAY and your wonderful FUTURE. LET GO of anything, anyone, any thought, any statements and old stories that keeps dragging you backwards.

                                                 “The world is a great mirror.
                                          It reflects back to you what you are.
                          If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful,
                      The world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you.
                                                 The world is what you are.”
                                                          ~ Thomas Dreier

GRIEF & DEPRESSION
Upon meeting a person I can pick up if they’re in grief or depression, and I certainly know upon just a few steps into a house if a person is still stuck in their past. I have worked with clients to declutter their outer stuff only to walk, sit and talk about their “inner” stuff – emotions, fears, frustrations, stuck places. Your outer world is a manifestation of your inner world. Start with either. Clean up one and the other will “shift.”

So, look at everything you have and if you get a twinge of remorse, grief, negative longing, sadness, etc., pack it away in storage (some are family heirlooms, etc.) or get rid of it. You can’t have joy and pain the in the same place at the same time. Choose one or the other: why wouldn’t you choose joy?!

YOU DESERVE THE BEST LIFE, EVERYONE DOES

Take advantage of this transition time - the beginning and end of seasons – for your wardrobe.

Schedule an hour or more to declutter your wardrobe, especially if you need to move clothes from room to room and try them on. Have appropriate undergarments on, fresh makeup, clean hair and all of your shoe options. Why? Because if you try clothes on you want to see yourself in the mirror “as if” you were going to go out wearing those clothes. You want to really see how they look on you for real! 

Use your bed to layer clothes from the closet and drawers one pile at a time.

GET YOUR PREP TOOLS READY

If you don’t have containers in which to put your sorted decisions you’re going to be no further along than you were before you start. Here are eight helpful sorting containers.

1. KEEP – Plastic, lidded bin:  Unless the keepers are going right back onto the hanging rod, whatever you’re keeping that may be for next season or different sizes (you may be losing weight and don’t need to buy more clothes in another 5-10 lbs, you already own them!), use bug, rodant and dust proof plastic bins*. LABEL the bins accordingly so that you don’t waste time in the future opening them to remember what’s in them.

   *If you know you might have a couple of bins worth of keepers, buy like plastic bins all at one time, keeping the receipt for returns. This helps with stacking them. If they are all alike they will stack perfectly, if they are different brands and styles, they can rock and crack lids, etc.

2. TRASH CAN:  This is for clothing that is soiled or torn, buttons or other adornments missing or so worn that truly no one else would ever wear it! (See #5)

3. FIX IT – Alterations, Mending, Repair: Buttons missing, hems needing stitching, etc. need a place to call “HOME” until you’re ready to do the job or you take them to your tailor.

4. SELL:  Consignment store, Ebay, Craigslist… there are numerous choices for selling pieces that are in good condition.

5.  DONATION* THRIFT/CHARITIES Boxes (cardboard boxes or trash bags):  Mark DONATION on the box so that it’s easy to remember which container is for what. Cardboard boxes or trash bags are best as you will not be getting them back. In order not to have to deal with a crunchy, mushy trash bag use a box first, then when it’s full put all those clothes into a trash bag, move that bag out of the room (mark it with a tag or tape a labeled piece of paper to it so that you know what it is), then start to refill the same box again.

   *Donation Tip: What to give to thrift or charities? Unless the clothing is so soiled, ripped or really worn out, give it to donation. Let them decide. Some charities sort through clothing and send to missions across the world where they are happy to take clothes with some imperfections just to have clothes. So, don’t assume anything, just put it in the donation box.

    DONATE for others wardrobe job hunting success. Read article here.

6. GIVE AWAY to friends: You might have a friend or family member who can wear them. Put their name on a container and have them come over and go through them, or ship them.

    GIVE AWAY to strangers: FreeCycle.Org  is a fun way to give and get what you’re looking for in your local community.

7. SHWAPPING PARTY! : When you put SHOPPING and SWAPPING together, you get SHWAPPING! Plan ahead with friends and their friends to get together a one house, bring all the clothes each of you have culled out of your wardrobes and then shop and swap! A nice way to enjoy others, deepen social connections and get new clothes, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and more… for free!

8. GARAGE SALE: If you’ve had a garage sale, you know that you have to really have the time and enough “stuff” to make it worthwhile, and “stuff” that can actually be sold. Clothing is not a big seller at most garage sales, so I don’t highly recommend this.

After sorting into the above containers and moving them out of your room, you will be left with the clothes that you love, that love you back, that fit and that are lovely.

REORGANIZE YOUR KEEPERS

Now, reorganize your sorted “keeps” into drawers and closets in a way that you easily get to them and use them this season. 

TAKE NOTES FOR YOUR NEW SHOPPING LIST

While looking at your newly decluttered and refreshed wardrobe, you may find that you are missing important pieces to go with slacks, tops, skirts, etc. Take notes of what you need to make “outfits” work for you. Making this list now helps you to watch for clearances, sales and other shopping deals where you can complete your wardrobe but not pay top dollar and not go another year not wearing one piece because you didn’t have the complimentary pieces.

Have fun with your happy new closet and wardrobe!!

Are you stressing and anxious about the holidays already? Only a few weeks, and then a few more to go!

Join me and all my attendees while I share tips and keys to making this holiday less stressful.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 8th – 7:00 pm Mountain time/9:00 pm Eastern. 

BY PHONE OR WEB:
This is a tele-seminar. You can call in from anywhere! You can also listen online – you’ll get the phone number and webpage to listen online if you like after your register and click on the confirmation link you will get in your inbox.

TO REGISTER: Go to www.holidaystressbegone.com/free-call/

ATTEND LIVE or GET THE REPLAY
If you can’t make it to the live call on Tuesday, you’ll get the link for the recording soon after the event. But, you need to register to get the link.

YOU WILL LEARN:
 
 – How to figure out what stresses you out the most about the holidays (it may not be what you think)

 – Identifying the triggers that turn things from fun and joy to frustration and disappointment

 – One word that will set you free to really enjoy the holidays – your way

 – The 3 secrets to making it a stress-free holiday (really)

When you think about all the time you’re likely to spend in the coming months preparing for the holidays (cooking, writing cards, going to parties, shopping), this 45-minute call can make it all worthwhile. See you there!

The holiday season can kick up the spam phone calls  that waste your time and energy. You can stop this insanity quickly by making just one phone call.

“Cell Phone Numbers Go Public This Month!” This may be an urban legend, but just to make sure, you can take action now and stop them in their tracks!

To prevent spam calls, take just 20 seconds and call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.

It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the phone number you want to have blocked.You cannot call from a different phone number.

You can however go online and type in numbers there. https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

Please help your family and friends stay less stressed too, pass this on!

Whoa! It’s Halloween time again! When did that happen!!

If you have kids that want Halloween to be fun, planning ahead, even at the last minute! is important.

1. What will your kids be wearing? What do they want to dress up as?

2. Can you create it out of what you already have or will you be purchasing, renting or barrowing a costume and accessories?

3.  Where are they going?

4 . Who are they going with?

5. What’s happening in your neighborhood or area for trick-or-treating?

6. Safety is a must of course. Safety in regards to their costume for walking, skipping and running (because they will!) and safety if they are out and about on their own or with other little ones.

Help your kids have memorable fun this year!

7. Take lots of pictures.

8. Scrapbook those photos immediately!

DONE! Have a great Halloween!

 Having fun comes on all kinds of levels. It’s normal at Christmas to drive around and see spectacular displays of ornaments on front lawns. But, autumn has them too!

From the gory to the cute, lots of people take time to decorate and have fun. Enjoy it too! It’s free! Some yard decorations will let you go stand amongst them and be in the photo too, like the one above.

Make sure to appreciate the pumpkins, festivals, lawn art, scarecrows and graveyards! on display the next week or so too. It’ll be gone in a wink and a freeze!