Where does this go?

Well, my friends, I apologize for missing yesterday.

Blame it on what you will, but I think it was a combination of writer's block and a busy day. Won't happen again. :)

I'm going to veer from the topic of food for a bit to talk about how organizing your home can make life simpler--something I've learned from my boyfriend. Or, in this case, the Team Leader/Delegator.

Two weekends ago, we buckled down. We emptied out the second closet, which housed all of my crafting niceties, our "Sunday" clothes, old bills, our portfolios, pillows, a vacuum cleaner, a Hawaiian shirt, an ab roller...the list could go on and on. The closet is only about 4 feet deep and five feet wide. To get the vacuum out, I had to pick the heavy thing up over mounds of pillows and avoid ramming it into the guitars. Not an optimal situation. In fact, the entire office had become a kind of catchall room, and our trendy IKEA furniture--a minimalist desk and some industrial shelves--was not at home in this clutter of a world.

So, we took about 8 hours one Saturday and gutted it. And here's what I've learned.

1. Organizing things makes a HUGE mess.
2. Cleaning up that mess is very hard work.
3. The result is totally worth the hard work.

For the last few weeks, we have lived in a better apartment. Here are some things we did to organize. We ended up spending a little money to better our systems, but since we use the things we bought, I'm ok with that.

-Organize your old bills. File, file, file. Buy a $12 paper SHREDDER and shred anything over 2 years old that you will not need.

-Then, GO PAPERLESS. I hate having paper bills. Now, almost every company has a paperless option. You can sign up to pay bills online. If you're online enough to be reading a blog, you're online enough to pay your bills. We've cut our mail in half, and have the convenience of clicking and paying--no more checks, no more stamps, no more envelopes laying around the apartment. [Word of caution: Keep a hard copy of all your usernames and passwords. I write mine in "code" and keep it at my desk. Make sure all of your bill sites are one there, so when you have to pay last-minute, you're not stuck spending 3 days resetting your password.]

-Here's a good one for crafting supplies: pack them in PLASTIC DRAWERS that easily come out of their holders. When you need that craft, simply bring out the entire drawer as you work on it. I have paper in one small drawer, exactos and stickies and eyelets in another, and wire and beads in another. When I work on handmade cards, I can bring out only the drawers I need. This eliminates the mess after I'm done with crafting.

-Store photos and keepsakes that don't have frames in inexpensive photo BOXES (I found canvas-covered ones at Target for about $2.50, but Hobby Lobby often has them on sale for even less than that). These are functional and fashionable; you can leave them out on bookshelves and they look like they belong. They aren't as protective as albums, but they take up more efficient space.

-Think about EFFICIENCY with everything. Use decorative boxes wisely; pack them with similar objects. We have a large box that is a perfect footrest under the desk, and it's chock-full of computer cords and printer addendums. Every cord is labeled with a small masking tape tag, so they will never be confused. A small basket on the shelf is home to art supplies: some paint, brushes, sponges, pastels. Grouping things in sensible ways will help you find things, and also gives everything a happy little home.

-Create a BILLS/MEMOS station. And keep it minimal. We cleaned everything off our fridge (I was a fan of a ton of photos, but now that they're in my photo box, I'm ok with that) and purchased a Real Simple magnetic organizer. It's got plenty of pockets and a memo pad. We place important mail ONLY in there (after shredding and recycling the junk mail), and write the to-do's on the memo. Since it's on the fridge, we see it every day, provided we want to eat. The rule is that mail can only be in the organizer; none on the desk, none on the entry table, etc. So far, so good.

-Organize WITH your roommate. It can be a bonding experience, and then you will both know why you're putting what where. But, be prepared to compromise!

-Keep it clean as you go. Just like all our moms taught us, put things away once you're done using them. Don't be lazy, either--I have the tendency to stop just feet shy of where something belongs and think, "I'll put it away later." The best practice is to go all the way. Clean the kitchen as you cook, and never leave dirty dishes out overnight. Put away your crafting stuff once you're finished with the craft for the day. (Our only exception to that rule is that we're allowed to leave an unfinished canvas on the easel, provided one of us actually starts one...) Apply it to every room, too. Put your clean and dirty clothes away (guilty: I leave my clean clothes, folded, on the dryer and use it as my closet for a few days!), and have your bathroom just as organized.

The best part about having an organized apartment is that it makes it so much easier to have friends over in a whim. Last night, a friend and her dog came over for a dinner playdate with me and my dog. Though I got home only a few minutes before they arrived, I didn't have much to pick up! What a treat. Made for an even better playtime for the dogs--since everything was off the floor, I just moved one table and they had a big play space. (Did I mention this was the friend who gave me my new pen name? Thanks girl. I know you're reading.)

Alrighty, tomorrow I'll talk about to-do lists and how they can help you accomplish your goals. Maybe even bring you some links. And I'll work in more budget-friendly stuff. Sorry I missed yesterday--like I said, I hope to get up early every day and bring you fresh ideas that will hopefully enhance your life, too!

Happy organizing.
-Budget Girl