All Dressed Up

January 13, 2009 at 9:56 am (Tid Bits) (, , , , , , , , , , )

Last weekend was the annual Red Ribbon Dinner and Great Art Auction.  The dinner is a fund-raiser for HIV/AIDS.  The company I work for puts the dinner on every year, and it is a huge deal, so, of course, Tony and I got to go this year!  Here is the outfit I put together.  Fun for cocktails and partying, but also professional:

The dress I picked- wish I could wear this everyday!

The dress I picked- wish I could wear this everyday!

The ring to match the belt on the dress.

The ring to match the belt on the dress.

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Not the best picture of us, but you get to see the outfits! 🙂

We just had fun being dressed up and out on the town for a night.  We even bid on some art, but got outbid in the last minute.  Aw.

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On An Organizing Spree

January 8, 2009 at 9:42 am (Home Changes and Additions) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , )

After being so impressed with my organizational skills with the jewelry in the medicine cabinet, I decided not to stop there. I moved onto the closet next. Mostly we were already pretty organized in there, but rearranging a few things helped free up some space. I also hung a hook on one of the walls inside the closet to hang a few extra long necklaces from my costume jewelry collection. Things seem so handy and visible now. Here’s a peak inside the space of our home that everyone is afraid to share:

This is a view of the closet as a whole. The shelving was already installed when we moved in, so we are using it as-is. It is helpful, but we do not have "sides," just "areas." A little confusing at first, but now it works.

This is a view of the closet as a whole. The shelving was already installed when we moved in, so we are using it as-is. It is helpful, but we do not have "sides," just "areas." A little confusing at first, but now it works.

We hang belts, scarves, and ties on the low bar, along with a few of my shorter shirts. My giant shoe rack fits in the corner.

We hang belts, scarves, and ties on the low bar, along with a few of my shorter shirts. My giant shoe rack fits in the corner.

This is the hook of necklaces that I hung along a side wall of the closet. This is so helpful!

This is the hook of necklaces that I hung along a side wall of the closet. This is so helpful!

Here is a close-up of the hook I used. It is actually a hook that fits over a door, so one end is flat, which I use to hold multiple necklaces. The other end is curved, but I twisted it with pliers to hang agianst a wall. So simple I even did it myself.

Here is a close-up of the hook I used. It is actually a hook that fits over a door, so one end is flat, which I use to hold multiple necklaces. The other end is curved, but I twisted it with pliers to hang agianst a wall. So simple I even did it myself.

I know I’m no expert, but here are some of my organizing tips (for any area, but especially the closet):
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1. Downsize. Make three piles of your belongings. One- things that no longer fit or you no longer want, which will go to good will or the garbage. Two- things that you want to save, but not use currently, such as items you want to keep for your children someday, or mementos. These should get stored away in boxes, maybe in a storage area if space provides. Three- things that you use often and want to continue to use. These will get put away neatly.
2. Hang like items together. I put winter, or long sleeved items together, pants together, t-shirts together, etc.
3. Use space wisely. I like to fold items like sweaters and jeans, so I find a place (like rolling tubs under the bed) for these items. We also added a unit of metal wire shelving to the closet for t-shirts and the like.
4. Use leftover space for the “extras.” When in a new (or newly cleaned out) space, I put away the most important things first. This way you know how much extra space you are going to have. I hang belts, scarves, and ties after the rest, finding a place in each unique space that will make them handy.
5. Try it out. Use your new set-up for a few days. Make any changes after you have tried the system out for a while. If there is something that you use often and doesn’t seem handy enough, then you know what you need to arrange.
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I hope these help you a little bit in your organizing adventures. I, personally, am a very organized neat freak (its ok, I know it), so if you have an organizing dilemma, ask away!

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