Cleaning out your pantry

For my last blog I wanted to do it on something everybody enjoys and that would be food. I know we do not all have our own house and have our own pantry that contains all the junk we desire but sometimes our parents don't clean up very well either. They typically let things get messy on a rare occasion and you have to do the adult thing and clean up the child's mess. Not saying parents are like kids but, we all have our moments. . . Right? Well anyways, my pantry was getting out of hand and it was so bad things would just fall out without anybody being around (I promise we do not have ghost!). With this being the case, of course I took action and did a little cleaning up and this is probably a real easy job for anyone. It's an effortless process and can even be fun because you get to eat all the junk you thought was gone!

So this is what your pantry probably looks like.  ➔
This may not look terrible but you really had to dig for what you are looking for which isn't always great for the mornings you are running late. We always try to keep the shelves organized like breakfast, baking, pastas/ sauces and snack foods. As time passes we never actually put items back where they came from and kind of just throw the item in; if it falls out you get irritated and soon just smash it in crunching the chips into dust. my objective was to throw away expired items or bags of chips that were thrown in wide open. The first step was to start taking things out shelf by shelf. I went through and found items that belonged in another place and put those aside. I went ahead and started to shuffle items around and as I made my way to the top shelf, as I saw items that didn't belong in that place I took them and placed it in the correct spot. Call me crazy but being organized really can make life easier! my second step was to toss out the expired items. we ended up have just a few cereals that went over there date by a few months so, I went and recycled the box and threw away the cereal bag. (By the way, make sure to always recycle!) My final step was to put everything into place and put items downstairs in our garage with other foods that don't really have to be upstairs. (It's always nice to have extra space!)

                                           
The final result! It really does look a lot better and when you can see every item on the shelf it really does help you for those busy days you have to grab and go. I really like to see everything and not have to dig because this helps you notice what you have when you go grocery shopping and need items but forget to write them down for the next trip; it gives you easy access to each item and lets you know what you have.

My very last question I want to ask is: Does your guardian ever give you chores or are you someone like me who finds something messy and instantly tackles the job?

Rearranging a bedroom

Recently my friend ask me if I would help rearrange her room as well as organize it. Instantly I jumped up and got real excited even though every teenager would hate the idea of cleaning. I have never actually cleaned one of my friends rooms and I did enjoy it don't get me wrong but I am someone who loves to take control of a situation even if it's something out of my comfort zone. So, the plan was to move her bed around, get a new desk built, a new chair built, and mount the TV on the opposite wall. Obviously I am no bob the builder but I can say I've had days were I can take control of the power tools and build some pretty cool stuff. I'm someone who is very visual and can see anything I put my mind too. I try to not take control but lets be honest, when you really want to be a interior designer you realize how much you love control over a room. So, as we talk about rearranging there are steps and some tips I have just to help you have fun. 

Tips:

1. Pick music you can dance to, sing to, and Blare as loud as possible. this tip is number one only because music keeps you calm and you need something to help you pass time as you do something you dread doing.

2. Don't start throwing things out into different rooms and expecting everything to fit back in. If you have a lot of items in your room, I recommend doing things in sections if your parents are anything like mine and hate to see that your room has thrown up all over the hallway then I suggest to keep things at a minimum and only take big things out like your bed or dresser.

3. Let storage containers be your friend! Containers are a great way to label items and store them on a shelf for easy grab and go access.

4. Before you begin to move things around and redecorate, I highly suggest you have an idea for your room like where your bed is going to be, dresser or even your desk. if you are helping someone rearrange their room, do not be afraid to put your opinion into the mix even if they have the idea laid out.
In these two photos, you can see she had her bed, a night stand, chair and a desk that was off to the right that's not seen. But as of the other picture, this was what her bed faced. she had her TV hanging on the wall with a stand underneath holding books and misc. She also had a cute chair that held stuffed animals from her childhood. the plan she had laid out was to put the bed where the TV is and the TV where the bed is; so this included lots of clean up before moving items. So for you at home, if you are deciding to change up your room setup I suggest to start with garbage items, try and scope out your room for items you don't need or just general garbage. Also, clothes are a major problem for a room and can make it look quite messy and get in your way, so a tip for this would be to do laundry and let it wash while you clean your room; so it's like you are doing two things at once!

So in this final picture, this is how her room turned out. I gave my suggestion as to putting the bed in the center and she really liked the look; obviously her desk is a little bigger than expected but it works. The TV and stand was all kept in the same spot as we did not want to over crowd her room on either side. If you plan on doing something with your room, I highly suggest to look over magazines, Pinterest surf, or even search up "rearranging my room" on google! There are so many great tips out there and finding the perfect ones for your room can make the cleaning and rearranging process seem like a breeze. as we reach the end of this blog post, my question to you guys is: do you ever rearrange you room maybe by changing your bed situation or even just putting new items in and what might be your tip to making it less stressful?

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt.5 Confidence

Pt. 5: Gaining confidence in life through the magic of tidying.

This concept may seem a little weird and you may be wondering "How would I gain confidence through tidying?" When you have a tidy room that you are confident in, it in turn boosts your self confidence. How do you feel when your room is messy? You probably feel lazy and sluggish, I know I do, and I have no passion to clean my room because it seem like too much work. But when your room is organized and tidy, it makes you feel more spontaneous and motivated.

"When it comes to the things I own, the clothes I wear, the house I live in, and the people in my life, when it comes to my environment as a whole, although it may not seem particularly special to anyone else, I am confident and extremely grateful to be surrounded by what I love, by things and people that are, each and every one, special, precious, and exceedingly dear to me" (Kondo 180). 

"Discard anything that doesn't spark joy" (Kondo 181). When your room is clutter free, you start to appreciate the things that you have more. The belongings in your room start to have more value and purpose. You want to create a space that you feel the most confident in, a place that sparks joy in your life. For me I personally love fashion, art music, and books. You can still decorate your room in a tidy fashion. When i hang posters an pictures on my walls, I make sure to leave at least one wall relatively empty to create a cleaner looking space. I also organize my books by series so that it looks more pleasing to the eye. These are the things that I love to surround myself with, the things that spark my joy, the things that are special and dear to me. 

Question:

What do you decorate your room with? What are the things in your room that spark joy in you?

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt 4. The Magic

Pt. 4: The magic effect of tidying up.

Tidying isn't just about cleaning up your room, it's life changing. In Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, she talks about how one of her client literally changed her way of life. "The lives of those who tidy thoroughly and completely, in a single shot, are without exception are dramatically altered" (Kondo 178). One of Kondo's clients had been messy all her life, but after trying Marie's methods, her life took a turn for the better. 

"One of the magical effects of tidying is confidence in your decision-making capacity" (Kondo 178). By getting rid of the things that you don't need, it strengthens your decision-making. It allows you to not be as attached to material objects, and useless memorabilia that you really don't need. 

Question:

What does your room look like? Is it very simplistic or is it filled with memorabilia?

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt.3 Designation

Pt. 3: Designating a place for each thing.

Now that we have gone through our belongings, and organized the things that spark joy in our lives, we can move on to the next step, which is designation. "The point in deciding specific places to keep things is to designate a spot for every thing" (Kondo 131). Although it may be a pain to rearrange and designate spots for your things, in the end you'll only have to do it once. After a spot is designated, it will become a habit for you to put your belongings in those spots. I personally have designated areas in my room for my book, CD's, art supplies, my guitar, etc. 

“One of the main reasons for rebound is the failure to designate a spot for each item. Without a designated spot, where are you going to put things when you finish using them?” (Kondo 132).

Whenever I finish a book, I make sure to put it back on my bookshelf where it belongs. When I’m done jamming out on my guitar, I put it back in the corner by my desk. Once everything has a spot it is way easier to keep your room tidy and organized.

Question:

Do your belongings have designated areas? If so where are they? J

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt.1: Perspectives

Pt. 1: Perspectives and our Mental State

Decluttering and our mental state may seem like they aren't related at all, but that's quite the opposite. The way perceive things is very much related to decluttering and organizing. Marie Kondō, author of the book, The Life-Changing Magic of  Tidying Up, emphasizes on how our mental state plays a huge factor in the art of decluttering and organizing.

Step 1:

“People cannot change their habits without first changing their way of thinking” (Kondō). You may not realize it, but keeping something tidy is a habit. By putting things back after using them, you are constantly tidying up, therefore making it a habit, a way of life. Making this a habit won't be easy, just like breaking a habit, you have to do this consistently, if not, it will never happen. “Visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder” (Kondō). The source of the disorder, for most teens, is that they're too lazy, or that we are to busy to tidy up. But if we really want to make tidying a habit, we absolutely have to make time in our schedule to tidy up, even 5 minutes makes a huge difference.

                      

Step 2:

“From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your life will start to change. That’s why the task of putting your house in order should be done quickly. It allows you to confront the issues that are really important. Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination. The true goal should be to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order” (Kondō). Changing your mind set is the first step in decluttering and organizing. Try to keep this quote in mind when tidying up your room or work space as a source of motivation!

What are some habits you have that help keep your room in order? 😜  

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt. 2: Organization

Pt. 2: Organization

I for one am terrible when it comes to keeping my things organized. So I decided to read The Life-Changing Magic of  Tidying Up, by Marie Kondō, in hopes of learning better organization and an overall put together life. The whole book focuses on ways to de-clutter and organize your belongings. It is filled with helpful tips and tricks to help you get rid of everything you don't need!

     

Step 1:

“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle” (Kondō). While reading, this quote really stuck out to me and helped me a lot while cleaning. A lot of the stuff in my room can be dated back to when I was in 3rd grade, and I honestly have no idea why I have kept these things until now. By keeping this quote in mind, it made it a lot easier to get rid of the things that were just taking up space in my room.

Step 2:

“the best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the most accurate yardstick by which to judge" (Kondō). This quote and the quote from step 1 go together hand in hand. As i was organizing my things, mainly my art and clothing, I kept this quote in mind. While going through my art I would ask myself if I was truly proud of the work I've created and how it would benefit my (art) portfolio. If I wasn't proud of it, I would toss it, and if I thought it was portfolio worthy, I would keep it. 

I drew this in 3rd grade, and I have no idea why I kept it.
This is an example of something I would toss.

This is my first ever realistic drawing.
I decided to keep it to compare how much I have improved since 6th grade.

  

This is a portrait I did last school year.
I decided to keep it to compare how much better I 
get over the remainder of my high school career.
What are your tips and tricks for better organization? Have you ever forgotten why you've kept something? 😜