Basementpalooza

"I want to purge "The Basement." When can you come to Chicago? I need you here," "Alicia" wrote to me hoping I could make a road trip to Chicago for some organizing fun. Always up for an organizing adventure, I was happy to make the journey.

Like so many other famous paloozas, it's all about having a great time ... a party, you might say (who knew there's a SPAM-a-Palooza?).

"Basementpalooza" is the title Alicia gave her organizing project. Her basement is a large spare room in her apartment, not a true basement, though she nicknamed it "The Basement" because that's how she treated it - a place to toss and stack stuff she really didn't know what to do with.













Alicia had every intention of getting her "basement"organized though just could not get the party started with it. Many times just continued to add to the piles and bins because it was just easier than dealing with it.

The time had come for this all to stop. She was tired of climbing over bins and moving piles to get to items. With the music cranked up, we went to work sorting and organizing.












We began looking through the bins of papers and books that Alicia had been storing for years which she moved from one home to another.

Two 90 gallon recycle bins filled with paper later, we moved onto her collection of books. Only her best and favorite ones were left on her shelves, all others were loaded into her car for resale and donation.











Alicia's clothes were next on the organizing tasks. Her dresser drawers were emptied, one by one, and all items no longer working for Alicia were bagged up for donation. We continued through her closets, sorting clothes, purses and shoes.

Finally we ended up with designated areas for her office supplies, grad school references, travel literature, holiday decorations, photos and personal memorabilia. Alicia's clothes and books were trimmed down so she no longer felt overwhelmed when she stepped into this room. We even got her bedroom decluttered and organized for a much more peaceful night's sleep.

Alicia wrote me a note that just makes me smile, part of it read:
"I really do feel like I have a new lease on life - just knowing that the basement (or room formerly known as basement) is cleared out makes me feel like I have so much more freedom and potential to do what I have been wanting to do, reach for my dreams, relax, enjoy life and be truly me!"

To help bring someone back to themselves is priceless. I truly love helping make a positive difference in peoples lives. Alicia was always there, just got a little lost. So glad she is back on track for fun and happiness with an "awesomely organized room formerly known as the basement."

If you're feeling overwhelmed and just down-right bummed about your home, you can do something about it. Get some music playing, few bags and boxes on hand and begin your own Organizingpalooza. It all starts with that first item you pick up and place in the bag.

What kind of palooza are you going to have?