Shoes and Purses OH MY!!

I know I am not alone in my love of shoes and purses. I would venture to say there are those with more and those with less shoes and purses than I have. 

Point being I have too many, and it is becoming a storage issue. I have mine neatly in labeled boxes, but labels or not, there are just too many. Remember I am an organized hoarder!!

I have found some clever ways to store shoes and purses that might be help to me and you if you are like me, a lover of shoes and purses.

I think  before I even start thinking about storing my shoes, I need to get really serious about what is the criteria for keeping them will be.....

1. If they have a high heel they must go, I no longer can wear high heels. Yes, sad but true. Only lower heels now!!

2. Do they still fit. (This is one are that I do not fluctuate when my weight goes up and down. I have very thin feet, in fact my feet and hands are the only really thin part on my body at this stage in the game. Much to my chagrin!!)

3. Will I ever wear them again. (This is the one area that I slip up on, I don’t think I am realistic here. I can talk myself into a resounding YES very easily!)

4. Are they still in style and in good shape? (This is the easiest criteria to follow for me.)

With this criteria I am ready to start my intentional purging process!!!!

Let me show you some of the ideas I came up with for storing shoes…….

Source: theberry.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

I know you all remember this under the bedskirt idea. This particular image was the most popular image copied from my blog!!

This next idea is another fun and functional idea……..

Source: deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

I was thinking if you took an Ikea storage ottoman, and purchased an inexpensive shoe bag that could be cut into strips you could make your own ottoman more cheaply. Since this ottoman by Lilly Pullitzer is $999.00. I am sure we can do it for less with the following……..

Source: ikea.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

This ottoman is $129.00 now all we need is some fun material to line the bottom and add this………

Source: target.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

By cutting this Target shoe bag ($8.99)into strips we can attach it around the edge and Voila!! Our very own stylized shoe storage ottoman.

If you like your shoes hidden, and undercover this is a great storage item from Ikea that only takes up 6”depth so it would fit on any open wall area in your closet.

Source: ikea.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

This nice little cabinet is $139 and holds 12 pairs of shoes.

They also have another piece that would be great in an entry hall that was narrow, or a mud room……

Source: ikea.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

This item will hold 8 pairs of shoes and will take up very little floor space.

This next idea is something I would like to incorporate in my very own closet……..

Source: lauracaseyinteriors.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

I saw this when visiting Laura Casey’s blog. I had actually thought of this before, but I had forgotten about it. 

Thank you Laura for the reminder. I have a whole wall I can add some shelves for my purses or whatever I decide I need extras storage for.

Well, I think I need to get off the computer and get going on my purse and shoe purging day!!! Wish me luck and send me good thoughts, I need all the help I can get.

If you have any other great ideas on purging shoes and purses or storage ideas, please leave a comment. We all love help from experienced organizers and purging peers!!

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

♪♪♫Purging Merrily Along ♪♫♪

Kathysue

Intentional Purpose

I had the best time reading all of your comments on my last post, “What Is An Organized Hoarder?”

After reading my post there were several of you that admitted to the same problems I seem to be having with my purging of, “Stuff!”

There were those that are great at purging, and they seem to be Virgos!

I had one reader that wanted to see my before picture of my closet. I will be showing you my shameful closet at the end of this post.

There was one particular comment that really hit a cord with me. Michelle from Hello Lovely blog wrote:

michele said...

  i'm right there with you, kathysue. it always feel soooooo good to let it go. my problem is i often use that as an excuse to buy new stuff. it's just stuff. it's ridiculous.
but it's that time of year when we can get intentional about new habits and fresh starts. so i'm in!
let's purge.

michele

(If you have a chance visit her lovely blog, it is a daily read of mine. Michelle is a wonderful fellow blogger and I am enjoying getting to know her) Just click on the image below to go to her blog.)

The part where she said, “That time of year when we can get intentional about new habits and fresh starts.” That is  the part that really struck a cord with me.

“INTENTIONAL”

To do something with purpose, too be focused, and in the moment, too “Enjoy the Process!”

This is my own personal definition! The reason it resonated with me is because I am always ending my post with, “Enjoy the Process,” and I truly try to do that.

It is not an easy thing to do when it involves work, or things we really would rather not do. 

I think it is important for me  not too just set a goal, but to have a reason for my goal. It is one thing to clean my closet out just to make it look better, but it has to go deeper than that in order for it to stay orderly long term.

My Intentional purpose for cleaning my closet  is……..

1. To make it look pretty and orderly, which will be pleasing to my eye.

2. To have less in my closet in order to make getting ready in the morning easier.

3.  To give what I don’t use to someone that can use and enjoy new clothing items.

4. To take pride in what I have been allowed to own.

5. To put less emphasis on a LOT of stuff and have more useable and quality pieces in my wardrobe.

6. To have a coordinated wardrobe of items that I truly love and will wear.

By doing this list it gives me inspiration, and the “Want-To!” too approach my job with enthusiasm, and an intentional purpose!

Thank you Michelle for inspiring me!! I love that about blog land. When we connect, and leave comments, or send an email to someone, we never know how much those words might mean, or how it might change someone's outlook on their day or even their life.

Now down to brass tacks…….. The BEFORE of my closet!!!!

This one is for YOU, Melissa!!

Walk-in closet measures 4ft wide by 10ft long.

This is right when you walk in, and you will see my Hubby’s section. He likes the white plastic hangers.( I prefer matching wood, or velvet hangers.)

No! that is not an orange robe or sweater, it is actually a bright pink robe, and a red sweater. For some reason on my screen they look orange and you all know Kathysue does not do orange!!Notice how I felt I needed to clarify that?!

The little cabinet with the mirror holds my perfumes,  lotions, and potions. Below the mirror are hooks for Hubby’s belts, and night gown etc.

In the middle section you will see shoe boxes, and apparently some sweaters that do not belong there! The little stacked drawers hold nail polish, and hair bands/clips etc. 

We did paint the closet a pretty blue, and I have some nice storage baskets, but I need to utilize the baskets better. I do think it is important that you closet be a color that you enjoy being surrounded by if it is a walk-in closet.

As you can see in this image, I still have some Spring clothing in my closet. In California we have had warmer weather for this time of year. It is only since Christmas that we really have had what I would call winter weather. That is just one of the reasons why I am needing to purge. I also need to switch out my clothing for my winter wardrobe.

See the two boxes on the upper left? Those two boxes hold purses. I am not even sure what purses are in there!

The other big box holds fabric samples, and fabrics I have used to cover stools, pillows etc. I no longer need any of them, so why do I hold onto a large box that takes up so much space?!!

This next image is on the opposite side of my clothes. I have a mirror with hooks for my hats, long necklaces, and chains. 


Notice how a couple of scarves were placed there,they don’t belong there.I have a scarf hanger, so why are they there? Good question!

I use the little cabinet to hold my everyday, and costume jewelry. It takes up space but I really like to have my daily face cream, lotions, and potions on top. I usually get dressed in the closet so it is nice to have these in here.

You will notice my shoe rack is full, plus I have boxes of shoes. Yes the boxes have labels, and look organized, but there are way too many that I no longer wear.

It is now becoming more and more apparent to me how important it is too approach this task with, “Intention and purpose!”


My Intention is becoming more and more clear to me!!

Thank you for allowing me write about bits and pieces of my life and home. This has truly become a wonderful exercise for me personally. 


I can only hope that maybe just maybe, bits and pieces of what I am writing will also be  helpful to YOU!!!

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Approaching our Goals with intentional purpose!

Kathysue

What Is An Organized Hoarder?!

When you live in the same house for over-thirty-some odd years you accumulate way to many things.

Does that sound familiar? Too be honest it does not take thirty years to accumulate too may things. However, it does take lots of stacking, organizing, and storing to manage it all.

Too be honest I am getting a little tired of my old habits, and I want to spend less time managing, and more time enjoying.

The realization of this leads me to one of my New Years plans. Not a resolution, but an actual plan.

I have three areas that are a constant unorganized mess for me. It seems as if I organize them, and before I know it, they are right back in the same shape they were in before I cleaned them out!!

Since I am such an analytical gal, I thought I needed to spend a little time figuring out what my problem is.

No time needed to figure it out, “I have too much stuff that I don’t need, or use.” It is that simple.

So what do I need to do?  PURGE!!!!! PURGE!!! PURGE!!!

I don’t live in a huge home, it is around 1,800 sq. ft. By today’s standards that is not terribly large. However the builder of my home seemed to have a very practical, good idea of how much storage a family would need.

I have nice sized closets, and a two car garage. So what is my problem? I am not purging enough seasonally, that is the bottom line.

Source: houzz.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

I am pretty organized by nature, and I have organized areas in my clients, and friends homes. I can tell others exactly what they need to do. It is so much harder to do it  for myself.

Source: llundqvist.tumblr.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

You know the show the Hoarders? I can not even watch that because it makes me nervous, I just want to jump into the TV screen, start cleaning and purging for those poor people.

Source: acitygirlsblog.tumblr.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

Notice how I said, “poor people,” like I am not anything like them. I am not a true hoarder, but to be honest in certain areas I am what you might call an, “organized hoarder!” 

Source: theproperstranger.tumblr.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

Maybe they should have a show for the people that fall in between a hoarder, and a minimalist. I think they would never run out of material for their show!!

The three areas that are a constant thorn in my side are:

Garage ( the dumping ground.)

Walk-in closet ( or what I refer too as my throw-in closet, these days!)

Staging closet ( this is where I keep all those little pretties that come in, and out of my rooms seasonally.)

Source: blog.baerhomedesign.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

When I purge I have four boxes:

Donate

Throw away

Keep

I Don’t know (I use this box for items that I can not instantly make a decision, then I can go back at the end of the purging process and ponder. I found this helpful to keep my momentum)

Source: paloma81.blogspot.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

In theory this works great! So why does it get cluttered again??

A couple of reasons:

I don’t purge enough! I tend to keep things that I , “might!” use some day.

I think the item has some value and I would just be a silly girl to get rid of anything valuable.

Do you see my problem? Writing this is making me see it loud and clear!

Two phrases are causing me my problem:

I MIGHT USE IT SOMEDAY, and Valuable.

I need to redefine these phrases

There are two types of valuable as far as things are concerned:

Money value

Sentimental value

If it is truly valuable financially, and I am not using it, I need to sale it!

If it is sentimental then it needs to be place in a place of honor where it can be stored away from any harm coming to it.

The phrase, “ I might use it someday!” is really a problem for most of us. I have read that if you think this way you should  put it in a box for 6months, and if you have not used it, donate it!!!

So in my next purging process I need to add two more boxes. Here are the boxes I will be using next purge!!

1.Keep

2.Donate

3.Throw away

4.Don’t Know

5.Sentimental

6.Possibly Valuable

I wrote this post, because I need to be accountable to someone,(YOU!), and hopefully in my own personal analyzing I might give you all a little helpful tip from time to time.

I am going to try this as I clean out my closet. I will let you know if this works for me!! I will keep you posted.

Kathysue is going to try reallllly hard too:

“Enjoy the Process!”