How to organize that mountain of kid art and memorabilia

 

“I went by my mom’s yesterday.” Brian popped the top, took a swig. 

“Hauled off, to her surprised joy, not one but two boxes of junk she’s saved for me. What am I supposed to do with a crayon drawing of a house, a big yellow sun and stick people?” 

“I don’t know, but you can’t throw it out. According to my mother, dumping any childhood memorabilia they saved dares the gods.”  Ford got his own Coke. “I have three boxes.”

“I won’t forget it’s your fault I took possession of that stuff.” 

Tribute

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Øyvind Holmstad, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Determining which cards, photos, certificates, uniforms, pieces of art, trophies and schoolwork to keep — and making those choices without the foggiest idea of what your child will deem special and cherish as an adult — is mentally exhausting. If you’re not keeping up with those decisions all along, though, your house will be overrun.

 

But who should decide what’s remarkable and worth remembering?

Washington Post

Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

“I’m not as tidy as you.”
“Tidy’s such a fussy word, don’t you think?” He gave her an easy smile. 
“The sort that makes you think of your great-aunt Margaret and her tea cozies.”
“I don’t have a great-aunt Margaret.”
“If you did, she’d probably be a tidy sort with a tea cozy. I prefer the word organized.”


Vision in White

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You might recognize her name from her highly-popular book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. See how she will help clients “spark joy” as they declutter and organize their homes.

Better Homes & Gardens

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“Confused by closet organizers, I figured why not consult an architect?”
“You want an architect—a man—Jack—to organize your closet?”
“No, to give me a vision of what to use to organize it.”
Emma gave Mac a dubious look. “You’ve now entered Parker territory.”
“Maybe, but have you seen her closet? It’s like a layout in a magazine. It’s like 
what the Queen of England probably has. Without all the odd hats. 
Jack! Just the man I wanted to see.”
He stood in the doorway, tall, clad in jeans, work shirt, and boots—and very male. 
“I don’t want to come in there. You’re not supposed to touch anything at a crime scene.”
“The only crime here is that.” She pointed at her closet. 
“An empty closet with one stupid bar and shelf. You have to help me.”
“I told you we needed to design the closet when we altered the space.”
“I was in a hurry back then. Now I’m not. I know I need at least two bars, right—a lower one. 
And more shelves. Maybe some drawers.”
He glanced around. “You’re going to need a bigger boat.”
“I’m purging. Don’t start with me.”
He walked in, hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Roomy.”
“Yes, which is part of the problem. All that room, I’ve felt obliged to fill it. 
You can make it better.”
“Sure I can make it better. A kit from Home Depot would make it better.”
“I’ve looked at them. I want something more . . . More.”


Vision in White

Post-Thanksgiving Game Plan

"I don't see how I could, I'm just worn out .

The holidays just about did me in this year. 

Every time you turned around, there was another party. 

I don't think I've caught my breath since Thanksgiving."

Black Rose

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Photo by Surrey Lane - Search home design pictures

Once you’ve recovered from the big day, 

take these steps to make welcoming 

the next round of holiday guests easier.

HOUZZ

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Of course, she'd had the house full only a couple weeks earlier, 

with all her boys home for Thanksgiving and her birthday. 

Austin and Mason would be back for Christmas. A mother of grown sons 

couldn't ask for better.

God knew there'd been plenty of times when they were growing up

 that she'd yearned for some quiet. Just an hour of absolute peace 

where she had nothing more exciting to do than soak in a hot tub.

Then she'd had too much time on her hands, hadn't she? 

Too much quiet, too much empty space.

Black Rose

Help to keep you Organised

"You leave notes everywhere. 

All these pieces of paper scattered around, 

with scribbling on them about dry-cleaning 

and dialogue and appointments. 

I saw the one about the

flowers you'd ordered for her, and the directions to the cemetery."

Convincing Alex

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CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=396030

The concept is fantastic and I have seen similar ideas work really well both in homes and offices.

This sort of visual reminder really works for some people, as it makes each task very prominent, and often they will be small tasks that can be done in a few minutes – and what a lovely feeling to be able to take the post it note down after doing the job.

Organise My House

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After he sent the e-mail, it occurred to him that while he couldn’t remember
if he’d thanked her, he did remember he hadn’t paid her for the groceries.

He wrote himself a note on the pack of Post-its he found in the desk drawer, 
stuck it to the computer monitor. He forgot too easily these days.

Whiskey Beach