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Mark's Small Space Solutions

4/26/2018

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When you outgrow your space

Mark is a very talented acting coach and audition coordinator - meaning he puts actors on tape for their big time auditions. Before calling TidyFairy, he had his taping equipment set up in the living room - but as clients started piling up, he realized he needed a waiting room. Because Mark is a can-do kinda guy, he built a Murphy bed and began to use his bedroom for taping. But this collision of office and bedroom left him needing help! 

Before/During

Mark had recently decluttered his clothing. All we needed to do in his closet was cull a few pairs of shoes and that "shoe rack" of plywood. LOL.
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During the declutter
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This "shoerack" was a discard from another project and allowed shoes to get lost in the depths!

What's your "thing"?

Because he was so streamlined with his clothes and personal items, Mark considered himself someone without much "stuff." And he is - to an extent. But it turns out that Mark's "thing" is Books and Papers! 

​He had soooooo many!

Let's turn to the other side of the room!
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​He had banker's boxes full of:
  • receipts
  • old DMV notifications
  • letters/cards (he even found $100 in one of them!!!)\
  • random envelopes
  • tax documents more than four years old
  • school assignments
  • teaching materials

His books consisted of:
  • books he felt he "should" read
  • sentimental books
  • books he bought for a class as a student
  • books he bought to lend to students
  • art books for decor


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The Strategy

Some people categorize things too much, and some people not enough. For example, Mark's categories were so broad that some of those banker's boxes were stuffed full and some were almost empty! He was keeping everything that came to him without regard to use! 

When categories are too broad, it can help to 
Divide and Conquer in order to see them more clearly. 
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What is yours? What is for looks vs. what is for use? What is personal and what is business? They certainly should be separated, maybe even by a whole room! While it is fine to store like things together, they do not have to be! 

Mark really only had two folders of papers he wanted for himself - what amounted to our "Keep Permanently" and "Keep Semi-Permanently" folders that we recommend. The third possible folder is an "Action" folder. I personally don't have an 'Action" folder - I have a space beside a bookend where I slip actionable papers, or into my planner. They are in my face. Mark has a similar system for himself. This is a great way to work because papers can't accumulate long!

We recycled or marked for shredding at least two trash bags of papers! His largest category of saved papers were teaching materials. We decided he would sort those and store them in binders. 

Done!


We used the same Divide and Conquer strategy with his books:
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We separated his books into those for his students and books for himself, and found a place for each. One box of books went in his car for easy access when on the road and one small grouping stayed in the office.


PictureSorting Books!

We only had a tiny bit of miscellany to sort - a few picture frames, odds and ends electronics, pet supplies, and props for audition tapes. 

After! 

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We discarded so much that I decided to get rid of one of the bookcases! His papers now easily fit in new and improved storage boxes. We were able to display the books based on personal or work, and even had room for some childhood memorabilia. Odds and ends found their little places!
​
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Warby Parker boxes make excellent holders for odds and ends. Here we stored de-packaged batteries. I like to call it "decanting" ;)
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Only one box of papers!


The flip side...
​

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​I recommended to Mark that he paint the Murphy bed white, to make it less of a statement item and more of a canvas. He had also talked about disliking the transition from bedroom to office. He didn't feel creative in the space. We decided that the addition of a swing out desk, under the bed, would give the room shape during the day. I also recommended displaying art. He can now "make" his bed and look forward to a morning writing station revealed underneath!  
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Let's take a gander at that
​Before and After again!
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Don't forget the closet!


​I'll remind you about the Before...

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After!

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Having culled a few pairs of shoes, Mark can now fit them all on a stylish and space-maximizing shoe rack. He also has space above his clothes for new purchases. 
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To spruce things even further, we discarded any hangers but his nice, wooden hangers. Hanging onto gross, lame, dry cleaning or plastic hangers is one of the easiest ways to clutter your space! Let them go! We also relocated his bedding from the top of his closet to a new chest (the one that took the place of his second bookshelf.) Now his suitcase can live there. 
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Remember this chest? Sneaky.

Hit us up!

Do you have a closet or an office that could use some Tidy Fairy magic? Let us know! Email us at tidyfairyla@gmail.com or fill out a quote request on our contact page.

You can also follow us on Instagram or check out our Facebook page. (All the moms are doing it ;)
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Me with my Marie Kondo book <3
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Liz's Calm and Orderly Closet

2/24/2018

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Heather and I were stoked to tidy for a good friend and woman about town, Liz. She has two kids, so in addition to her own things, many family items had been delegated to her personal space. Since we were only doing her closet for the day, we needed to work within the limits of keeping those items stored in her closet, with the goal of preventing them from having such an impact.

Liz's stated goal was to stop feeling that her closet was "falling down around" her. 
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Before...

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Bins stored high and haphazardly made Liz feel that something might fall on her! Not relaxing!
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Bins down low were underfoot
​Liz had already cleared the space directly above her head bc she couldn't stand having things stored there. 
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​Liz had her clothes pretty well decluttered, but it turns out jewelry was the category that got the best of her! 
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(Everyone has something!)

During...

Every little thing counts! Our concentrated way of decluttering left us with empty bins! Hurrah! The goal in a full-house declutter would be to save the bins and use them in other areas of the house. 
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SO many bins she ended up not needing after the declutter!

After! 

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Much better!
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We were able to reorganize everything so that the storage is much more pleasing to the eye, all using bins that Liz already had. There was even space to create a gallery wall with her children's art! 
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We also pared down her jewelry enough that everything she owns, she would at some point like to wear! I took a leap of faith and broke apart one jewelry tray, fitting it into her antique dresser top, which was designed for this purpose! 

Closet Woes?

Now Liz has a closet that feels more like a dream than a nightmare ;) Do you have a closet that is giving you the creeps? We'd love to hear about it!

Comment here or check us out on 
Facebook and Instagram!

​Or give us a call! Text or leave a message with 323-736-2594! ​

We can also be reached at tidyfairyla@gmail.com 
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Bobby's Newly Minimalist Kitchen

1/28/2018

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A Renovation

Bobby had his kitchen renovated and needed the final step - organization! What is the point, after all, of spending precious resources to refinish your kitchen only to struggle with space allocation? We were so excited to make it easy to use and picture perfect. 
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BEFORE/DURING

The Declutter 

Bobby's culling in the kitchen mostly had to do with glassware. We are fine with and even encourage breaking up sets. If you don't need all 10 glasses, don't keep them! Space is precious. 
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We believe in grouping like items for best storage, with the exception of items you would especially like to display. ​So for example, those plates should be with the other plates! We also like for display areas like shelves to be arranged particularly for viewing!
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This little shelf should be filled with joy and right now we would say it is not joyful!
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Not an efficient use of space, and the plates here have been separated for no real reason.
We believe in grouping like items for best storage, with the exception of items you would especially like to display. ​

After! 

After decluttering all the dishes, kitchen implements, pantry items and under the sink, we were able to rearrange everything in a way that is both best use and most attractive!
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BEFORE
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AFTER!

Drawers and Cabinets

The insides of the cabinets and drawers were spacious, but not efficiently assigned. 
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BEFORE
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AFTER
The new drawers were luckily spacious enough for vertical storage, but still needed some rearranging. 
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BEFORE - implements are not grouped well, so they don't live together nicely
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AFTER - blender and pasta maker are now grouped and dishes are nested for easiest storage
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AFTER - dishtowels and oven mitts now have their own drawer, with other cleaning supplies (sponges and steel wool stored using old tupperware!)
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AFTER - plastic tupperware is replaced with glass, which stores more neatly. Thermos and other drink storage also grouped here.
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AFTER - coffee tools that once lived on top of the counter now have designated spaces inside the top-most drawer

Counter tops

After sorting the drawers, my favorite part is rearranging the counters! In general, lower counters are for food preparation, not display. Best use is always our focus. See below, Bobby's counters are not overly cluttered, but could be more efficient and attractively arranged. 
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BEFORE
Best use is always our focus.
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AFTER space is carved out for easy chopping
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We chose his most decorative cups and finger bowls for display
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AFTER - extra coffee tools have a new home inside the top drawer
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Tea, oil, and wine should always be stored away from heat and direct light.

Tips and Tricks

A few of our little tricks! 
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I love to store garlic in its own little white bowl. Just my favorite little aesthetic, and it saves getting garlic skin everywhere else
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Wooden implements can be stored on the counter in something as simple as a plastic cup, if it all goes with the color scheme
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Focus on really giving each implement its own place in the drawer. Play around until it feels just right!

A note on "tupperware"

Big secret/no secret I hate the stuff lol. There is something about plastic that is just unwieldy and disobedient. It's always falling and flying around when least wanted! Now I understand the convenience, especially with children, but if you really want to step up your kitchen organization, losing the plastic can go a long way. I recommend stainless steel and silicone as replacements, along with good solid glass Pyrex style containers. 

Making a change like this not only gets rid of the plastic, which in many cases is not food safe for as long as you think (your mother's Tupperware needs to be thrown. away. by. the. way.) BUT taking the time to do it means you will be thinking hard about what you REALLY need. 

I also like simple mason jars as food storage alternatives, and they are cheap. If you want to learn more about getting rid of plastic in the kitchen check out this other post on it!


What to do with "tupperware" then?

Sorry bout it, can't be donated! In most cases it can be recycled, but there are many Tidy Fairy approved ways to keep it! See below a couple of ways we have used old tupperware to organize the kitchen.
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Corral matches in the spice drawer!
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Corral trash bags and sponges in rectangular ones!

Kitchen Tidy Complete!

In one afternoon we transformed Bobby's frustrating kitchen to one that is beautiful and easy to use. Do some of these solutions work for you too? We'd love to hear about it! Comment here or check us out on Facebook and Instagram!

​Or give us a call! Text or leave a message with 323-736-2594! ​
We can also be reached at tidyfairyla@gmail.com ;)
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Under Kitchen Sink Makeover

11/19/2017

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Today's is a very simple post, something I shared on our Instagram Story that could be helpful for many! The scary dungeon of under the kitchen sink! Doesn't have to be scary. 

Before...

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During...

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Go that extra mile to cover the bottom with contact paper - it's also good for the cabinet
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Retractable trash can sets come with the new trash can and are installed with two screws - easy!
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Installed in 10 minutes!

Final touches...

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Baskets to corral dishwashing supplies + trash bags, and I like one for dirty dishrags. These look nice with their natural, soothing colors and matching texture.
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Two 3-M hooks on the inside of the cabinet door work great for the dishbrushes

After!

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BEFORE...
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AFTER!

Talk to us!

Do you have a scary under the kitchen sink? Want us to come fix it? Give us a call!
Or talk to us on our Facebook page, or on Instagram (@TidyFairyLA)!
​

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Tidy-hack: Modules!

10/14/2017

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Modules are the 'M' in Francine Jay's 'Streamline' method of organization.

  They are also the secret to my purse organization success. How many bags do you have?  Likely it's more than one. Are the bags that you are *not* currently using full of mysterious contents? Chap-sticks, lotions, band-aids, jewelry, receipts, notes, change, granola bars, maybe a pot of gold or two? Because who even knows?  Modules are the key to avoiding losing possessions to your purses.  But, what are modules?

  "The concept of Modules comes from systems design; basically, it means dividing a complex system into smaller, task-specific components....For our purposes, a Module is a set of related items that perform a particular task (like paying the bills or decorating a cake). To create them, we'll need to gather things of similar functions together, eliminate the excess, and make sure they're easy to access and move around when needed. In short, we'll need to consolidate, cull, and contain our stuff."  -- Francine Jay, "The Joy of Less"​​  

The Module system applies obviously to many household items...

...Like keeping dvds together in one place, books together in one place, art supplies together in one place, socks with socks, dishes with dishes, coffee supplies with coffee supplies, etc. It's a simple and intuitive tool for keeping a home organized.  But how does that apply to bags and purses??

  Here's a not-so-secret about me; I am a chronic purse over-packer. I really took my brother's boy scout motto (Always Be Prepared) to heart. When I leave for the day, I am prepared for and number of scheduling, boredom, hunger, thirst, makeup, and first aid emergencies. If I get stranded somehow, that purse is filled with enough contents to keep me going for a day or two.  My secret to purse over packing while remaining organized is utilizing the module system. If I had a camera that worked right now I'd share pictures, but here is basically how it works for me: simply, I keep like items contained with like, within my bag.
  I have a:
   - Medical Module: a small zipper pouch full of  various band-aids, miniature Neosporin, Tylenol, floss, a tide pen, after bite, tissues, a spare lip balm, and an emergency feminine product or two.
    - Makeup Module: a small zipper pouch that is filled daily with *only* the makeup I am wearing that day. Usually for me, it's just whichever lip color I've decided on, a spare lipbalm (look, I'm addicted), loose powder and a brush. If I'm going to be going out straight from work, I may include an eyeliner and/or small blush, just to touch up on the go.  I trade out the contents every day, after putting on my makeup for the day. If I don't wear any makeup that day, the module is emptied into my makeup box (which is also full of modules) and left home for the day.
   - Writing Module: a pencil case with sharpened regular pencils, a few colored pencils, a hot dog eraser, a few pens, and a highlighter.
  - Day planner - self contained
  - Usually a book, packed in the morning and unpacked at night.
  - Cash system friendly wallet - has separate and defined areas that I use for cash, cards, coins, and receipts. Receipts and coins are removed either in the evening when I get home or the following morning when I'm packing for a brand new day! (I input my receipts into my budgeting spreadsheet & then toss most of them, and coins get put into my coin jar. They are rolled and deposited once the jar is full).
  - Sometimes, a phone backup module: a charger and/or external batteries, and/or headphones, kept in a clear ziplock bag.
  - Usually, a filled reusable water bottle or a spare La Croix, for thirstmergencies.

The Modules you need will be unique to you.

  The point is to keep like items with like, in separate containers. Then you will always know where everything in your purse is, and it makes it VERY easy to change from purse to purse; just remove your modules from one purse, stick em in the other, and put your empty purse away where all of you bags are stored neatly together.
  Going from a big bag to a small bag? No problem! Just transfer essential items from your standard modules to the clutch for the evening. If you're a big nerd like me, you can still keep like items together and separated through the use of clutches with multiple compartments, or small zip-lock snack bags.
  The use of modules keeps everything organized and easy to access. It also keeps you from ever having bags that are not in use but are full of mystery items and trash!

Before you get to organizing techniques like the Module system, you must declutter/cull your possessions!


  Everything's got to be done in order, just like baking a cake!  If you want a helping hand with decluttering and organizing, send us a message on our contact page, or give us a call!
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Transform a Wardrobe into a Vanity!

6/17/2017

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I love to find alternative uses for items. Here at TidyFairy we call it "shopping your house" to find the solution right at home! I wanted a place to sit down to do my makeup instead of doing it standing over the bathroom sink, but I love all the furniture (and floor space) in my bedroom. I knew I didn't want a whole new piece of furniture, but what to do?
​Enter my wardrobe! I repaired and refinished this petite Victorian era wardrobe (as seen featured here on ApartmentTherapy!) and it's still one my favorite pieces of furniture.
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But ever since I did my full Marie Kondo-style declutter of clothing, I had nothing in it! I had also neglected to refinish the inside, because when it was full of clothes, who cared?
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A quick dry brush job with some left over white paint gave it a "no spiders in here" look in under an hour. 
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Then it was just a matter of outfitting the inside with the goods! 
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Hang a mirror with a 3-M hook and pull up a stool and we're good to go! I wrapped flowers in cotton twine and hung them to dry from the old fashioned clothes bar hooks to include every bit of the architecture in the finished product. They're also just so pretty!
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I shopped my house for the organization goods, settling on two stacked milk crates and a DVD box with lid for the heavy lifting. Also re-purposed a handed down Glamour Girl planter from the 1960s, a mason jar, and tea cup to corral the makeup items. This can be a great way to put to use sentimental items. ​I also grabbed a small Whole Foods brown bag and folded down the edges as a used Q-tip wastebasket.  
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​​If you want to get really fancy, use a drill to secure the two crates together. ​You could also use a little cart or any number of "bathroom shelves" inside the wardrobe and get the same effect.
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That's all she wrote! Do you have a creative place you get ready for the day? We'd love to hear about more space repurposing! 
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How to Have Perfect Drawers

5/20/2017

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Today's post is the very first of our "House Hacks" videos, where we demonstrate little ways to make your house tidier that don't take much time!

This technique is the VERY FIRST thing I did on my tidying journey, after reading Marie Kondo's "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up." While I am not quite as precise as she is with the folding, inserting clothes into the drawers vertically has CHANGED MY LIFE. (She isn't kidding around with that title.)  I like to call them my "serial killer" drawers because anyone who doesn't know the method would think I spent hours perfecting them. These drawers look beautiful and stay neat from laundry day to laundry day!

​Jump in!
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Have you tried this method? How did it go? Leave a comment here on the blog or on our Facebook page at TidyFairy!
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Gimmick Free Bookshelf Tidy!

4/14/2017

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Hello friends! Marlane Deanne here, and here at TidyFairy we are wrapping up our second week of the "6 Bags in 6 Weeks Spring Cleaning Challenge," which is books! This morning I put together a Pinterest board for you full of "gimmick free" bookshelf inspiration. Organization practices I deem too gimmicky for grown-ups:
  • turning books backward so you can't read the bindings
  • covering every book in white paper
  • stacking books impossibly high
My belief is that you should still be able to see the books - and even read them! - if you want to keep them. So here is what I found!
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I also added my sweet bookshelf to the mix! This bookshelf is a Craiglist find, and the blue and pink paint are original from a 1950's child's bedroom. I love how it is a spin on typical cube storage, especially since someone added the little door, which is not original. I keep my sentimental Twilight book collection back there!
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To hear more about my books and how I pared down, check out my YouTube video all about decluttering books! 
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Refrigerator Garden: 7 Ways to Store Food without Plastic

2/25/2017

2 Comments

 
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A few years ago, for health reasons, I became interested in removing as many chemicals as possible from my kitchen. While of course there are places that strong chemicals and preservatives belong, I don't think they need to be in my food or near my food. It turns out that plastics (all the many varieties) break down over time and can leave dangerous chemical residue in our food. What started as a health journey to remove those items from my kitchen turned into a tidying journey as well, when I realized how much more organized,  attractive - and appetizing! - my fresh food had become. 

My first resource was the Berkeley Farmer's Market, which published this amazing and comprehensive resource on the best ways to store fruits and vegetables without plastic. Let me tell you I was shocked to discover that not only was I storing items in plastics when it was not necessary, but in a way that would make them rot sooner! What a waste of money! It is not only less expensive to store items this way, but it is more convenient, because I am never hunting down tupperware lids! How is this possible?!

Read my top ​7 Ways to Store Food Without Plastic after the jumP!


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4 Tips for the Garment Rack Closet Solution

2/11/2017

1 Comment

 
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A garment rack can be a fashionable, inexpensive way to store your clothing, especially if you are in a non-traditional or small space living situation where you don’t have a closet. Now I know you have a dresser, and you have folded everything vertically in the drawers Marie Kondo style so they fit just right! But sometimes, no matter how much you have discarded (you’ve faithfully done your discarding - right?!), and folded, and hung only the things that need to be hung -  your closet is just too small.

Or maybe you would just like to display your favorite items because they bring you so much joy!

Go forth and garment rack! Our tips and photos after the jump!


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    Marlane & Heather

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