I Believe in YOU

With almost two weeks left in the amazing year of 2007, take the time to begin 2008 with a bit less clutter. These tips I found should take about 10-15 minutes each. The impact on how your home will feel is wonderful.

1) Fridge and Pantry. Start out the New Year fresh by cleaning out your fridge and pantry. Be sure to toss or donate all food that you have not used in the last six months. If you haven't used it in that time frame, you're not going to. Challenge yourself to use all of the food in your freezer that is older than two months old. Get rid of all of your old herbs and spices. Just because your spice rack has a bottle labeled cardamom, it doesn't mean you need it.

2) Linen Closet. Go through your linen closet. This is a perfect time of the year to make donations. Animal shelters especially will take old sheets, towels and blankets. Keep a maximum of 3 sets of sheets per bed. For a guest bed, only one set is really needed. There's no reason to keep extra mattress pads, dust ruffles, etc. One each per bed is plenty.

3) Publications. It's time to toss all publications, newsletters, magazines, newspapers from 2006 and older. Resist the urge to say, "but I might need it or have to refer back to it." The bottom line is, you won't and you will continue to have more arrive and the pile will just get larger.

4) Kids. If you have children, now is the time to help them go through their rooms and closets. Explain that it's important to toss or donate things they no longer love or play with. Besides, they will be getting more stuff.

5) Liquor. This is the perfect time to go through your liquor stock. (no, this is not my stash) Anything that is opened shouldn't be kept any more than a year or two. Colorings, flavors and other additives begin to break down as soon as they are exposed to oxygen. If you do entertain on a regular basis, keep a basic bar available with red and white wine and a few select bottles you might think you will need--such as vodka, whiskey and tequila. If you don't know anyone who drinks gin for instance, don't buy gin. There's no reason to keep something around, just in case. Same goes for your bar equipment. Keep only the basics that you actually use, not what you think you might.

6) Television. Do you tape TV shows to watch later using your VCR or video recorder system? It's probably time to toss or delete some of them. If you really need to know what happened, almost all shows have written recaps available online that you can read to get caught up. There is always YouTube.

7) Mental Clutter. The most important things to toss at year's end are any preconceptions and limiting ideas you may have. If you see yourself as always being overwhelmed and in a state of constant crisis or chaos, you will be. If you always feel that you are behind the eight ball, it's time to move the ball! Your confidence and positive attitude are your most valuable assets. Before you can have a clean home and an organized life, you must believe that you can.

Never forget that being organized means having your life functioning in an efficient manner. It's not about having your stuff in perfectly matching, color-coordinated boxes. (My home can attest to that, and I'm a professional) It's about having your things in a place where you can find and easily access them. It's about having systems in place that allow us to pay our bills when they are due, make it to appointments on time and prioritize our obligations in a way that best benefits yourself and your family.

13 days until the New Year ... You can do it!!
Grab some bags and boxes and conquer one of these tasks.
I'm sorting through my liquor: Gin, Southern Comfort, Tequila, various flavorings.....GONE! I have no idea how why I have them?

What ancient liquor did you find in your home?