Organize by the Month Blog

Yesterday was beautiful weather after 11 straight days of the heat index being over 100 degrees.  With it being a Sunday I decided to “seize the day”.  We went to a local park.  Forest Park is to St. Louis like Central Park is to New York.  It’s a park that was established when the 1904 Worlds Fair took place.

With all the stress going on with the economy and our cluttered lives, it is good to take some time to enjoy the outdoors in a pretty setting.  Here are some pictures.

The Baseball All-Star game is being played here in St. Louis this summer.  That’s what this small arch is all about.

Carpe Diem, Seize the day!

Janice

http://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Tags: Baseball, Family Fun, Graditude, Simplicity // Add Comment »

Before I talk about summer clutter I want to first apologize to anyone who may have sent me a comment during the last couple of months that didn’t get posted here.  It seems that all comments ended up in the spam folder and I forgot to check them. After 15 days the blog company (Wordpress) automatically deletes the spam so any legitimate comments before that time are lost.  I’ll be checking the spam folder daily so please feel free to leave a comment or share an idea or suggestion.  Thanks.

Now, to get to the summer clutter.

Today I was going through the Target weekly ad and noticed some items that are destined to become clutter.  First there was the ad for the ingredients for s’mores. I love roasted marshmallows squeezed between crisp graham crackers with melted Hershey bars oozing out.  What caught my attention in this ad was the 4-pk s’more skewers.  What happened to the wire hangers or long handled BBQ fork?  Unless you have s’mores several days a week why would you take up the drawer space to store such a specialized item?

On the next page I saw an item called a Bubble Generator.  It’s a battery operated bubble blower.  What happen to the small bottle of soap solution with the bubble blowing wand?  When my boys were small they loved to go outside and blow bubbles.  They would see who could blow the most bubbles or the biggest ones.  There is no challenge with a toy doing all the work.

On another page I did see an item that was not clutter when my children were young.  It is the Wham-O Slip ‘N Slide.  They spent hours in the summer heat running, giggling, sliding, and cooling off with that toy.  It was also an easy toy to pack away when they were through with it for the day. Just roll it up.  That was a good thing because if it was left on the grass too long you ended up with a large brown area in the middle of the yard (it happened a few times).

Sometimes the specialize tools and toys can actually take the fun out of the activity instead of adding to it.  If they are not fun over the long haul they sit on the shelf and become clutter.

Do you have summer items that have become clutter?  Please share your story in the comment section. (I promise I will check for legitimate comments daily.) By sharing our experiences we can all learn to avoid adding clutter to our homes.

Janice

http://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Tags: Decluttering, Family Fun, Home, Simplicity // Add Comment »

Decluttering Tips - What area do you struggle with?
Volume 2, Issue 23
June 23, 2009

This past year I’ve written about many areas where I struggled with clutter.  Most of my readers seem to have the same problems.  But I was curious.  What areas do you struggle with?

Over the years I have read lots books, researched online, and talked to many people about how to control clutter.  I’m always willing to share my knowledge (this newsletter, website, blog).  I am also always looking for new ideas and ways to control the clutter in our lives.

I have come up will several questions and would love to hear your opinion on them. Please leave your answers, ideas, suggestions, in the comment section.

Here are the questions.

1.  What areas do you struggle with and would like some tips on?  Kitchen, clothes/laundry, children’s toys, paper clutter, sporting goods, garden/lawn tools, holidays, gifts received/given, or any other area.

2.  Do you like receiving the newsletter or would you prefer a more interactive media like my blog where you can post comments or ask questions?  This way you can also contribute ideas from your experiences.

3.  Do you like my monthly newsletter with the website links for different holidays and events going on during the month?  You can always check out the current month newsletter on the sidebar of the blog.

Decluttering is an on going process.  Life doesn’t stand still.  My home always needs constant decluttering and organizing to keep it under control.  Than being said, it rarely gets more than 15 minutes away from being clean, not perfect, but respectable.

Please a comment on the above questions.  This way we can help each other learn to have a lighter load along the way.

If you would like to receive the blog updates in your email box please sign up on the side.  This is a separate sign up from the newsletters.

Thank you,
Janice Scissors
http://cutclutterwithscissors.com
http://organizebythemonth.com
http://twitter.com/jlscissors
http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

Tags: Decluttering, Home, Organizing, Planning // 3 Comments »

From an early age we are told to finish what we start.  And many times this means completing one task before starting another.  Sometimes it just can’t happen that way.

It’s hot out here in the Midwest.  And it’s suppose to rain again.  The grass loves all this rain.  Heat, rain, high humidity, and wet tall grass that needs mowing is not my idea of summer fun.  But it has to be done.

So today I decided to apply the 15 minute strategy to mowing the lawn.  First I did the front which is a lot smaller than the back. Then I came inside, drank plenty of water to replace all that came out as sweat, and cooled off for a while.  I worked on an article I was writing, again using my 15 minute strategy and a timer.

A little while later I went out and mowed both sides and part of the back.  I’m back on the timer and blogging here.  I’ll go out in a little while and finish it up.

Some days are just 15 minute days.  And sometimes I am totally amazed how much can be done this way.  I wish I could finish most tasks in one continuous stretch of time but I don’t function that way.  Using a timer helps me hyper focus on the task at hand.  A “to do” list helps me stay on track and reminds me to keep going back to the tasks I start so I can eventually finish them.

The timer beeped so it’s time to move to the next task on the list.

Have a good day.

Janice

http://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Tags: Gardening, Home, Organizing, Planning // Add Comment »

Decluttering Tip Newsletter - Travel Clutter
Volume 2, Issue 22
June 17, 2009

When we travel, especially for vacation, we encounter two forms of clutter.  The first is what we pack to take on our trip and the second is what we buy to remind us of the trip.

How many times have you thrown extra clothing into the suitcase just in case you may need it. If you pack this pair of pants then you have to pack that pair of shoes.  After all, the other pair of shoes that are packed for the other pair of pants won’t look as good with this pair of pants.  On and on it goes until before you know it you need another suitcase to carry all the extra clothes.  Traveling on vacation shouldn’t be a fashion show.  It should be about comfort, convenience, and simplicity.   Less really is more when it comes to packing for vacation.  Less time spent worrying and dressing just right means more time site seeing or relaxing.

A simple way to pack what you need and only what you need is to write out what you plan to wear each day.  You will have day clothes and evening clothes.  There should be plenty of overlapping.  One pair of shoes should be worn with multiple outfits. Shorts or pants can be worn more than one time.  Just wear a different top.

Once you have written down what you plan to wear for the whole trip you can create a master list of clothes and other items.  This master list will help you pack only what you need.  It’s like going to the grocery store with a list so you don’t forget anything or buy too much that is not on the list.  Make a list for each person in you family to help everyone to pack light.

The second form of travel clutter comes when we start buying or collecting souvenirs to remind us of the good times we had on the trip. The coffee mugs, wall plaques, sea shells from the beach, and T-shirts, all have a tendency to end up in a drawer or storage closet.  If you use them and they remind you of the fun, that’s great.  If not, then they become clutter.  Take pictures instead and put them in a scrapbook (digital or hard copy) to be enjoyed later.  Those are less likely to become clutter.

Keep your suitcases packed lightly going and coming back home.  Focus on the sites and sounds and fun times of your trip, not your wardrobe or souvenirs.

How do you travel lightly?  Please share your ideas and suggestions in the comment section.

Feel free to forward this tip to family and friends who might benefit from it.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice Scissors
http://cutclutterwithscissors.com
http://twitter.com/jlscissors
http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com 

Tags: Family Fun, Organizing, Planning, Vacation // 1 Comment »

Here is last week’s newsletter.  I want to post it here so people can leave comments if they would like.

We all make mistakes.  Most of the time we learn from our mistakes and move on. When it comes to clutter “mistakes” sometimes we hold on to the clutter as a constant reminder of the mistake we made.  Why do we do this to ourselves?
Think about some of the things we do that we consider mistakes. What if you go out to eat and end up disappointed with it. So what do you do now? You acknowledge your mistake and either don’t go to that restaurant again or make sure not to order that item or a similar one.

What you don’t do is dwell on it every time you drive by the building, nor do you bring home the leftovers and preserve them so you can look at them daily to remind you of wasting money on that dinner. This idea seems way out there but it is exactly what we do to ourselves when we buy a material item ( clothes, books, decorative items, furniture, etc.)

Yesterday my son, who just graduated college, was going through his clothes.  He will be heading out to Los Angeles to find a job with computers and visual arts.  He came upon a pair of jeans he bought two years ago.  The price tags were still on them.  He never like the way they fit but his older brother convinced him to buy them.
At first I felt angry for the wasted money spent (my money) then I saw his face.  He also felt bad.  I realized it was a “mistake” and it was time to let it go.  I told him to put the jeans in the give away bag and someone else will get a chance to enjoy them.  It was time to let go of the mistake and move forward.

How many “mistakes” to you have hanging in your closet, sitting of a shelf, or staring at you every time you walk into a room?  Was it a waste of money?  Perhaps.  But so was the dinner you didn’t like or you thought you were overcharged for.

So why do we continue to hold onto the material things and constantly punish ourselves for that mistake?  I think it has to do with the fact that nobody likes making mistakes and we feel guilty if we make them.  We feel like we should be punished for wasting money.  We value the money more than we value our own piece of mind.

Those “mistakes” are clutter in your home and mind.  Let them go!  Stop punishing yourself.  The piece of mind and freedom you get with a clean and decluttered home is worth more than any supposedly wasted money.

Let me know what you think about “mistakes as clutter”.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice Scissors
http://cutclutterwithscissors.com
http://organizebythemonth.com
http://twitter.com/jlscissors
http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

Tags: Decluttering, Home, Organizing, Simplicity // Add Comment »

Last night I walked in the survivor lap for the first time at the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.  I have walked as a caregiver/family member with my mother (19 year survivor) pictured with me below.

This is also the first time I have worked at fundraising for a cause.  I’ve donated to many causes in the past but never asked others to help out.  I’m asking now.

If you can help me reach my fundraising goal I would appreciate it.  You can donate at my page on the American Cancer Society website.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Janice.Scissors

Last night I saw many survivors of all ages, gender, race, and nationality.  Cancer doesn’t discriminate.  It was hard seeing a young mother or father wearing a purple shirt walking around with their young children holding their hands.  You know those parents want to be around to see their children grow up, go to proms, graduate high school and college, marry, and start a family of their own.

It was especially hard to see all the teenagers wearing the purple shirts.  They have already been through more in their young lives than most people will ever experience.

Lets make sure all those effected by this common enemy get the chance to experience all that life has to offer.  Please support your favorite cancer charity whether through my fundraising effort or someone else’s.  Every dollar gets us closer to a cure.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Janice.Scissors

Thank you,

Janice Scissors

http://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

Tags: Graditude, Organizing, health // Add Comment »

Have you planned your summer vacation?  Are you going on a big trip or just a few mini-vacations this year? Are you going to be staying close to home this summer because of the economy?

If you have decided you are not going anywhere this summer it doesn’t mean you have to be bored to death and do nothing.  We always think the grass is greener on the other side but many times there are lots of fun things to do in your own town or at least a close neighboring town.

Check out the websites of your city or surrounding cities.  They usually list attractions that tourists would be attracted to.  Gather the information in a notebook and become a tourist in your own town.  Plan ahead for places to visit in good weather (parks, zoos, other outdoor attractions) and not so good weather (museums, theaters, other indoor attractions). Keep your camera ready and have fun.  No more boring weekends.

What kind of fun things do you do during summer vacations? If you have some great ideas you would like to share with me and all my readers then please leave a comment and let me know.  Thanks.

I have posted the June 2009 Newsletter on the blog. There are some website links listed with ideas of what you can do with your families during the summer.  Check it out.

Janice

Tags: Calendar, Family Fun, Holidays, Organizing, Planning, Vacation // Add Comment »

It has been a couple of weeks since I sent out a tip newsletter.  I’ve had some health issues to deal with but I plan to get back on track now.

Because I  promised to send a weekly tip and I didn’t, it became an incomplete project.  This weighed heavy on my mind.  Incomplete projects have a way of doing that to us.

When we have too many unfinished projects/tasks they clutter our minds with guilt.  It doesn’t matter if they are big or small.  A basket of clean laundry that isn’t folded and put away or the unpaid bills past their due date constantly nag at us to take care of them.  This kind of clutter keeps us from finding peace and freedom to enjoy each day.

Okay, so you have all these incomplete projects/tasks in you life, now what?  How can you possibly get everything completed along with all your other daily responsibilities? It’s not easy but you have to prioritize (pay the bills) and sometimes multi-task (fold laundry while watching TV).  You also have to ask yourself if the project is even worth completing.

Sometimes an incomplete project has been that way so long it becomes outdated.  I remember about two years ago when I was decluttering my sewing supplies I found a half-sewn pair of little boy’s shorts I was making for my son. This son graduated college two weeks ago.  I don’t think those shorts will fit.  It was a project that didn’t need completing anymore.  Yes, I felt guilty for never finishing them but I got rid of the guilt when I threw the uncompleted shorts out.

Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup For the Soul books) has written a book called “The Success Principles”.  In it he talks about getting into “completion consciousness”.  He says to continually ask yourself “What does it take to actually get this task completed?”.  I have written this question on an index card and have it on my desk right in front of me. When I get sidetracked I look at the question and it helps to bring my mind back in focus on what I have to do to complete the task I started.

To help get yourself  in the habit of asking this question all the time you might want to write it on sticky notes or index cards and put them in places where you struggle the most with uncompleted projects/tasks.  This might be your desk where the bills are, by the kitchen sink, near your sewing/craft area, or in the laundry room. Before you know it you will be completing projects large and small and clearing out the clutter from your mind and your home.

I would love to hear your opinion on this newsletter.  Please leave a comment on this blog.

Or you can send me an email at: janice@cutclutterwithscissors.com.

Please forward this newsletter to any friends or family members who may benefit from this tip.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice Scissors
http://cutclutterwithscissors.com
http://organizebythemonth.com
http://twitter.com/jlscissors
http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

P.S.  If you would like to receive weekly newsletters like this one in your email please sign up on the right sidebar.  You will also receive a monthly newsletter with dates of holidays and special events along with lots of links to find more information on them.  These sites will help you plan out your holidays/events so you can fully enjoy them.

Tags: Decluttering, Home, Organizing, Planning // 1 Comment »

My son is graduating from college this week.  He’ll be moving back home for about a month and then heading out to Los Angeles, hopefully with interviews set up for a job.   

He has a degree in Information Technology (IT) so at least he’s in a field where there are jobs.

With the job market the way it is these young adults are facing an uncertain future, at least in the short run. As parents we raise our children to spread their wings and leave the nest. But many are coming back home or continuing their education (with their parents help) because of the way the job market is.

Since he will be home for a few weeks before leaving town I plan on going through a lot of his things with him.  I probably have more memories attached to his things than he does.  I may find it harder to let go but I have to.  He’s starting new life and so am I. Decluttering the “things” from the past (physical things - not memories) will let us both move forward carrying a lighter load towards the future.  I’ll take pictures of anything that is hard to let go of.

Each time our children graduate from one stage of their lives to another we also graduate.  Whether it is from toddlerhood to school age child or high school to college or college to independent adulthood we have to let them move forward to the next stage of their life.

I will officially be graduating to empty nester.  Each stage of our life gives us new opportunities to experience different things. I know it will be hard to let go of some “things” from the past but I also look forward to it.

How do you feel about “graduation time”?  Please leave a comment and let me know.

Janice

http://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

Tags: Calendar, Decluttering, Home, Planning, school // Add Comment »