Cleaning therapy

Today I tackled the all-purpose closet... aka, the giant junk drawer behind a door. In this hiding place I've accumulated a couple yeas worth of partially used craft supplies, or unused craft supplies with the best intentions. There's also some wrapping paper, some photos, some colouring books, some shipping stuff,  and all the birthday cards I bought for people but never sent because I couldn't find them. (If that was an olympic sport, I'd be on that podium.)

So, I spread everything out in the living room with a garbage can, a recycling bag and a few clear boxes for keep items. The puppy was thrilled with the "buffet of toys" and things to taste that I put before her. LOL. She's a little goof but she did help me decide on a few things that should go into the garbage can immediately. Or immediately after she had them in her mouth!

All in all, I feel good about the project. I managed to release myself from the guilt of having unused craft supplies with no purpose. As a hockey mom, with barely enough time to make meals and clean jerseys, crafts are not really realistic for me at this stage.

Once I conceded I would never tackle that project that a starry-eyed me once envisioned, I lumped them all in a box labelled "Kindergarten/School." Surely, the classes at my kids' school will know what to do with these goodies. Perhaps they will even consider them a gift, and not the burden they have become in my junk closet.

It feels good to tackle that one. Where to next?

Is it collecting or hoarding?

The television show, Hoarders, is debuting a new season next week and even their commercials have people talking. Hoarding is a very complicated issue, one that is more about an emotional response to items than it is a response to a need or want.

Collecting can be an exciting hobby. It's fantastic to finally get the hockey card, or the plate, or the coin that completes the collection. It's like a puzzle. Having all the pieces that were meant to be together, actually together, is a gratifying emotional situation.

The unfortunate part with collecting, is that your collection may only be valuable to you. Hockey cards, coins, vases, golf balls, pickle jars, boards games and such may never have a future value. Certainly not future value that would enable you to retire rich. It's like the lotto really. Maybe 1 in 5 million.

But lets say the collection is worth something... $100 or maybe even $1000. You still have to find a buyer for it. "Worth" is only truly determined when a buyer and seller can come to an agreed upon point of sale. Hopefully, it's a point where each feels that they "got a good deal."

At some point we all need to determine if what we are saving is COSTING us too much. Does holding onto it cause you stress or anxiety?  Are you losing sleep, friends or even money over it? Are you using your money to add to your collection, rather than pay your bills, buy groceries or enjoy your free time?

If you are answering yes, your collection may be a problem. If you are collecting things so you can have them ALL, or to keep other people from having them, that's a problem too. If you are saving things constantly for other people... but never actually give them to people, you need to make changes.

If your collection doesn't take away from anything else in your life... perfect. It's a great hobby that brings you happiness. If your collection causes concern for your friends and family, or takes away from the things you truly NEED to succeed (housing, food, clean environment, friends) then it's time to ask for help.

Help can come in many forms. Turn on some music and resolve that today is the day to help yourself. Help can be turning to a counsellor or pastor. Help can be a professional organizing service. But know that there is no magic wand, no one hour made-for-tv solution. It's all about a shift in attitude and enthusiasm for making a change.  Collecting should never, ever, cost you your health or your happiness.

Organizing with children

Organizing a home is a big job. Living with children now makes that job seem like the ocean tides... endlessly washing in and out.  Clothes, toys, books in, and clothes, toys, books out.  It can be overwhelming at times. Where do you start?

Today I'm going to tackle laundry in this blog. Whether your child is a teen or a toddler, I'm going to suggest a fashion show.  When you propose the fashion show to your child, dangle a "carrot" at the end of the chore. Whether their reward is one NEW item to add to their closet, or a ticket to a movie, the reward in this case is important.

Secondly, you are going to give them a little talk about why donating clothes or giving them to a friend or cousin is important.  The goal will be to take each category down by two, if possible. Meaning, if they have 8 sweaters, choose 2 to donate/sell/eliminate.

Before you move into action, clean off the bed and make it. You will use this as your sorting surface. The bed is nearby and big enough for this task.  Also have a cardboard box as your "donation catcher."

Start with this question:  Is there anything in this closet that you just don't like or don't want anymore?  If yes, grab it quick and toss it in the donation bin. DON'T try to talk them out of this toss. It could de-rail the process. So even if you like the sweater they want to toss... bite your tongue. Anything damaged, stained or beyond repair should just get tossed out.

Next step... Ask them if they've outgrown anything?  This is where the fashion show begins.  Cue the music. This should be a fun activity. Seriously, cue the music.

The third step is to group like items and get them to select their favourites (jeans, sweaters, skirts etc) . Favourites get to go back to the closet. The 2 least favourites go to the donation bin. Think... "American Idol" elimination.

If you get into negotiations, ask them to put the item on. Then ask your (teen) what they would wear with it? Where would they wear it?   When will they wear it?   (This negotiating step doesn't work with toddlers, and we've likely exhausted their attention by this point anyway.)

Finally, look for places to donate items that add value for you. For example: Please Mum stores in Canada are offering store credit when you bring them clothes (clean, no damage). It's 50 cents or a dollar credit per item, but it can add up to new clothes from their store.  For your teen, Warehouse One is offering $10 credit on a pair of new jeans when you give them your old ones. Until Feb 26th only, at participating stores.

Don't forget this method can be applied to your own closet. When was the last time you had a fashion show for yourself, or your spouse?

A Big Day

Ok, time to take a deep breath. Some sleep would help too. Clarity... and added bonus. Energy? Hardly necessary.  Adrenaline is doing the driving now anyways.

Today's a big day. Likely one I'll remember for a while anyway. I'm opening a new business, and we throw open the doors to the public today. In about 9 hours.

The new business is called Sort & Sell, eSales and Services. What is it? One part "Sort", the other part "Sell".   The Sort is an in-home organizing service lead by a trained professional. The Sell is a small retail space where we will act as a drop off and sales depot for local on-line classified sales.

I've had a lot of great friends helping me out taking this original concept and running with it. Jeff designed the logo that I absolutely LOVE. Shelby did the website so very skillfully. Carli has been taking courses,  studying and training as a professional organizer. Calder, has attended countless business meetings and had to share my attention. So many more who have supported me that I should mention... Des, Greg, Connie, Harry, Marlow, Ashley, Neil. Thank you everybody.

Check out our web site. www.sortandsell.ca

Cheers!

Halloween

Ah, another hectic event in the books. My boys had a wonderful time, but most certainly the best part was the participation of their grandparents.

For the first time in over 25 years my father had duties on Halloween night. The apartment he lived in since he and my mother divorced never did permit Trick or Treating. So the last time he participated in Halloween was by escorting me, when I was a child.

This time, he bought the candy and handed it out himself, at his new house.

As a family we had a "pre-game" meal, then got the kids ready in their costumes.  Grandpa and (new) Grandma were both instrumental in getting the kids dressed, photographed and prepared for the fun. I really don't think I could have done it without them. It was a total team effort to co-ordinate 4 detailed costumes, the two kids and all the Halloween "stuff".

I'm going to cherish the photos we took tonight. They bridge the gap between the generations. No doubt in my mind that they reminded my dad of when I was a princess a long time ago...for they, for certain,  reminded ME of when I was a princess.

Take off a layer

I recently had a facial and the technician suggested to me that I was not exfoliating often enough nor deeply enough. It was a metaphor for my current situation. There it was: exfoliate.

Aren't we all carrying around some excess baggage? Whether it's in your personal life, home or work space, don't we all have some excess baggage? 

The facial gave me the boost I needed to get in gear and shed some skin, so to speak. I began to purge my closet. Ugly... ugly.... too big... too small.... too 2005... too blah. You get the point. It felt great. Of course, the biggest stumbling block was the mental price tag attached to the items being discarded. Did I spend too much on it to throw it out? Did I get enough use/value out of each item? 

To get past that stumbling block, all I had to do was as myself... "what is it costing me to hold onto it?" If it's not near perfect, or doesn't make me feel fresh and "glow-y" (like that fabulous facial) I don't need it. Clothes are there to lift your spirit and make you look your best... not to feel guilty, too short or too fat or too blah.  

So donate... the release the old layer of clothes. Let them find a new home. Somewhere else to shine. 

Glow on your own terms. What skin do you need to shed?

Next... I tackle the kitchen.

The Many Hats

Last night I started washing and organizing the winter wear for the boys. Coats, hats and mitts. Mitts, like socks in my house can be a bit of a challenge. The boys, CJ & the older one, have a tendency to play hard and sometimes lose things in the process. As their mom, and household psychic, I try to use my powers to keep it all together.

Keeping it together, can be a challenge. I myself have many hats. I am a business owner, a mom, a wife, a writer, a friend, a daughter, and a frugal shopper.  And a hockey mom. Yes, a Canadian, hot chocolate swilling, cheering, hockey mom. Not one of those crazy screaming hockey moms. Whoa, definitely not. But I am passionate about my boys, their health and happiness. I also love to see them do well and be happy. I work hard every single day to make sure they are happy and getting what they need. Need... big difference from what they want. "Wants" are another topic!

My favourite hat right now is getting to know CJ and having fun with him. He's at the stage where he is starting to figure out who he is himself. Does he like to cook? Does he like to dance? Does he like to dress up? We try to figure these things out together. I let him take the lead, and I try to keep up. Yesterday we baked brownies, last week muffins and cookies. Tomorrow, I understand he wants pumpkin decorated cupcakes...

Right now, it's time to put on my dishwashing "hat" before I report for chauffeur duties.