To tie into Anne’s resolutions, I thought I would offer up some tips on organization (as well as ask for new ones, as I always like to read new tips!).  I will tell you this about me: I love things to be in their place.  I’m not OCD about it, but I just feel better when things are neatly organized and orderly!

January is a great month to tackle those projects you’ve been putting off.  The weather’s usually not that great, the holidays are over, and you’re trying to find a place in your closet for that pretty neon green sweater that your aunt Jane gave to you.  Or maybe it’s a book, or a knick-knack.  Sometimes, it’s just nice to change some things around.  So I offer up to you some tips to get organized!

1. Go through your closet.  It can be daunting, it can be hard, but it can also be funny (especially with a glass of wine).  There will be things you find that you will have forgotten about.  Shoes, handbags that are so worn you would never use them again.  And clothes that will make you chuckle at a “What was I thinking?” moment.  But the general rule is this: if you haven’t worn it in 2 years, toss it.  If it’s in good condition – donate it.  But get it out of the way.  Other than things with sentimental value (like your prom dress), or things for special occasions (like a formal dress), if you haven’t worn it as recently as in the last two years,  you’re likely not going to wear it.  You could also take some time to arrange your clothes by style, color, or type.  And don’t forget about your underwear drawer!  Do you really need that old bra that’s uncomfortable? 
2. Go through your kitchen pantry.  Seriously, you don’t know what could be lurking in the back…. expired stuff, old spices that have lost their flavor, hardened marshmallows…. If you’re one of those people who don’t cook a lot, or don’t really keep food in your house – then this probably isn’t for you.  But, if you’ve ever reached for a can of chicken broth, and found out that the due date was this past July, you may want to take a few minutes and just look.  Oh, and yes, marshmallows can get as hard as rocks which no amount of soaking in hot chocolate can cure.
3. Go through your magazines.  This is something I intend to do either this week or next, and is time consuming, but, in my case, it must be done.  I know there are lots of great ideas and recipes and looks and hairstyles and…. “stuff” in those magazines you’ve been keeping.  But you’ll never find them once they’re at the bottom of a big pile.  In my case, I have several big piles – one in my bedroom, one on the hearth, one on a side table, one in a basket by the sofa…you get the idea.  A way to keep those good ideas (or recipes, or whatever) is to cut them out and put them in a binder or scrap book.  You can organize your recipes into one, put pictures of bedrooms you like into another, clip pictures of couches or tables you like into a third, and so on…. It’s similar to the style books or “look” books many brides make when they’re planning their wedding.  You are just consolidating the best out of each of the magazines into a place you can access easier (and one that takes up less space!).
4. If you have a lot of them, go through your books.  Re-sell or donate the ones you’ve already read and don’t really care about keeping.  Dust off the ones you display and keep out, and think about recovering the ones with bad or ugly covers (or all of them if you like that look).  If you’ve forgotten, you can find a tutorial over at Martha Stewart.
5. Go through your “junk” drawer.  We all have them.  Some of us have several (like me).  But now is as good as a time as ever to go through and kind of sort them out.  Toss out the old expired pizza coupons.  Gather all your pens in one place.  Throw away old notes and/or old numbers you’re really not sure who they belong to.  Move the objects that got thrown in there but don’t really belong (like the dog nail clippers or the random velcro roller).  You’ll be surprised at how much easier the drawer will close!

I hope these tips inspire you to do some organizing at your home!  And as always, if you have any tips feel free to share with us!

*all pictures from Real Simple