Get Organized

If you're anything like me (Type A, slightly OCD, and cleaning obsessed - k, hopefully you're not) then you understand the importance of a clean and organized house and life. Don't get me wrong, my apartment is nowhere near completely spotless and organized, and my life can definitely be disheveled at times. But it's more the way that I feel when things are clean and neat, or not clean and neat, that reminds me why it's a big deal to me.

When I come home to an apartment that is clean and free of clutter, with no dirty dishes in the sink or clothes on the floor, it's the equivalent of breathing in a long, deep breath of fresh air. I feel calm, peaceful, and more relaxed. On the contrary, when things are all over the place, a certain level of mild anxiety creeps in, even if I'm not fully aware of it right away. So in an effort to feel peaceful rather than panicky, I've adopted a few tricks over the years that have worked wonders for organization. Hopefully they might help you too (only if you're a clean-obsessed freak like me that is).

I believe it was my ex-roomie, Miss Anna, who told me about this one. Prior to purchasing my foldable earring screen from Storables, my earrings just rested on my mini-drawer container for my other jewelry and things got mis-matched, bent, and it looked plain messy. Yuck. Now I can find pairs easily, my counter space is clutter-free, and it's pretty to look at! Kind of like my own Forever accessories display in my bathroom!

I know lots of people use something similar to this to hang their necklaces, but it has changed my necklace-sorting life. I got this coat/hat/whatever rack from Fred Meyer (avoid this store at all costs if you can), but lots of stores have items very similar. I keep my necklaces in certain categories (told you I'm a freak) and once again it keeps my necklaces off of my counter, untangled and lovely! I counted them for fun the other day and let's just say, when you have over 40 necklaces, you better have a way to keep them organized.

*Bonus decorating tip via Jessie - Use fun printed papers (usually less than $5) from places like Paper Source and frame them (my frame was around $20 from Ikea) for fun and cheap pieces of art!

This is my makeshift dresser at the moment (formerly my bookshelves), and these bins hold my socks, underwear, bras, and b suits; which definitely helps, but the messy piles of tank tops and workout clothes are really starting to get to me. But when I had a normal dresser, buying plastic shoe container bins for my sock and underwear drawer was a lifesaver! (There are probably cuter organizing bins than that out there too). Otherwise I would clean and organize my drawer and within a week's time, my socks somehow managed to completely intermingle with my underwear and it was all a mess again. When you have bins to separate everything, you don't even have to think about keeping it organized. It just is.

Action Journal

My boyfriend introduced this one to me. I don't actually HAVE it yet, but I plan on getting one. It's a sleek, basic-looking Action Journal that allows you to capture notes in an "action item" format so you have a running to-do list of things you need to accomplish. The "backburner" box gives you a space to write ideas that might become action items later, and then you can forget about them as soon as you put them down. Then the rest of the space is left for note-taking, doodling, or whatever your little heart desires! For someone that keeps her to-do items on multiple memos in her phone, calendar reminders, and assorted post-it notes, it would be very helpful to have it all in one place.

A few more tips that help me:

• Keep clothes in your closet in categories so it's easier to find, and put back pieces. You can take it one step further and color coordinate it as well.
• Bite the bullet and clean and put away your dishes right after you eat. Or at least before you go to bed. There's nothing worse than waking up to a dirty kitchen (my mom taught us this one well).
• Vacuum once a week. It gives your place a mini clean makeover, doesn't take long, is good exercise, and is extremely satisfying. (Probably my favorite chore, I'd be happy to come over and do it for you if you want). Also keep a dustbuster nearby for crumbs, or in my case, cat litter (really unfortunate, I know). I use mine almost every day.
• Get a shoe organizer to hang in your closet. Tons of shoe storage space for your sandals and flats with very minimal space taken up in your closet.
• A journal to help you pack and plan your outfits?! Genius! I saw this on Sterling Style's blog and when I linked to the STYLIT journal, I was sad to see they were temporarily unavailable :( But it seems there are a few left so maybe I will have to fight you over the last one!

Photo: Sterling Style

• Take a deep breath. And give yourself grace when it comes to keeping things clean. Life is messy and it's better to let it go than freak out about it. Ok so maybe this one is just for me ;)

Oh and if you have a magical formula for keeping clothes hung up and off the floor, the bed, or a chair, please please please let me know. Thanks.

**ADDITION! I forgot one of my most practiced and favorite cleaning tips! Make your bed every morning! Mine literally takes under 30 seconds, I must not move around much in the night or something, but no matter how you sleep, making your bed is never THAT huge of a chore yet it makes a huge difference in the appearance of your room. Ok that's it :)