Review: Pretty Organised

This month we were given the opportunity to review the Pretty Organised book by Jane Hughes.  It popped through the doors of Sammy's shop, Sew Crafty and was a pleasure to leaf through and gain inspiration from.

There is a lovely index with small pictures of the projects divided into the rooms in which the projects would fit.  This is a great way to divide up the different ideas and so it gives you a great excuse to see what that next-room-you-just-have-to-get-finished needs.  There is a mix of quick simple achievable projects and things that would take a little longer, so something for everyone.

The projects themselves are clear and easy to follow.  Each project has written instructions and a few pictures to help you along, aswell as the tools and materials you will need.  We loved this wall box and H found a very similar box in Homebase the other day for all of you that fancy having a go.

This Wall pocket organiser is so good to use up those little bits of fabric left over for the pockets and would look great in a children's bedroom or an adults of course.  You could make as many pockets as you like and make it fit all your bits and pieces too.

Just look at this storage trolley too!!!!  Everyone was going crazy for the Ikea Raskog trolley last year, but you could make your own!  Perfect for the laptop to have a rest or just to look oh so pretty in the corner!  Perhaps a drinks trolley for parties?  I know, so retro, but we are in those times, right?!

Next up is a project that I think Sammy might love and its not just due to the stickers involved!  The Meal planner, we all know that leaving it till the evening to decide on what your having for dinner is a recipe for disaster and so planning not only saves you time, but money aswell, alongside throwing away less food and that is no bad thing.  If you have a family it can be a godsend to fend off any 'what are we having for dinner' questions too.

All in all, the Pretty Organised book is lovely.  Some great projects and easy to understand instructions all really help, along with the lovely paper it is printed on and the fact that it is just a book which, well, just has our kinds of projects in.  This would make a great gift for someone who is moving home or trying to get organised.  But then, there are also some great projects so that they can make them for you too, so its a win win if you buy it as a gift!  The main problem is choosing which one to do first!

H & Sammy


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Wishlist: Getting Organised

1. Planner 2. Note books 3. Sticky notes 4. Tags 5. Labels 6. Tags 7. Drawers 8. Baskets 9. Box

January is the month for getting our lives in order right!? Well here are a few of the things I have been stocking up on to get myself organised.

Write stuff:  I love this planner from one of my fave stationery places online the Fox and Star, and these little notebooks from the lovely Oh No Rachio, Sticky notes, as you may know are my bag and this yummy set from Paperchase are not only stylish but essential.

Label stuff:  It's all very well tidying up but if you don't make a note of where it all goes how on earth are you going to find it mid April when you need it?  Labels don't have to be dull either, these heart shaped ones from Mail Box Happiness on Etsy are fun and cute but you can never go wrong with Kraft tags, these ones from Wilkos are perfect.  Along with these neon tags from Knot and Bow, that will bring a splash of colour to the dullest of filing systems.

File stuff:  If you want to jazz up your filing system whilst you are at it, think about this acrylic drawer unit from Ryman, or these yummy wire trays from another fave of mine Papermash.  This colourful filing boxes from H&M would be a great disguise for all your boring paperwork if you prefer to keep those bills hidden away until absolutely necessary.

How are you getting yourself organised this year? Are you a naturally organised person like our H or do you need more help like me?  Let us know in the comments and thank you to all of you who filled in our survey last week, the results have been very helpful in our blog planning for this year, so hopefully we can bring you even more of what you love from us in 2015.

Sammy xxx


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5 Things I love about ... Organising

This time, the '5 Things I love about' list was really really difficult to keep down to just 5 things as I could have gone on for much much more.

This time I am talking about Organising and so lets get organised and start:

1.  I love the order - it makes me feel calm.  When I feel overwhelmed, I like nothing than sorting and getting rid of things I don't need anymore, whether it's my desk or my wardrobe.  It all helps.

2.  I can find things when I want them - as everything has a place and so I roughly know where to find it again.  I know people who are not organised would say the same thing.  But whichever way you work as long as you stick to it, you can always find what you need.  When my desk is a mess, it takes me forever to find stuff.  Living in a room (as I houseshare) means I have to have a place for everything, or it won't fit in.

3.  I like lists - I like writing them, spending time thinking about what I need to do and then planning on how to do it.  I love lists of lists!  I always make sure I put something on my list that I have already done or am halfway through, as this then gives me the push to do more.

4.  It makes other people think I am always organised - sometimes I really am not!  I do usually go for the theory of tidy place, tidy mind.  But sometimes I really am not that organised - probably more than some people, but all the same, I can forget birthday's and buying presents like the next person.  I also don't have my DVD'S in film order or colour code my socks for example, although, maybe I should!

5.  I can buy stationary, boxes and tubs in preparation for all the organising!  Which is just an excuse for more shopping really.  I like stationary, I like all the colours and the notebooks for more lists.  Just basically stuff!

As I said, I could have gone on forever with this one and so it was really difficult keeping it down to 5 for this series.  Which utilised my organisation skills in itself!

What's your favourite thing about being organised, or not as the case may be?  Let me know in the comments below.

Off to organise the sock drawer perhaps! ha, ha.

H

Live it: What's in H's Handbag

A while ago Sammy did a post about what was in her handbag and so I thought it was about time that I got my act in gear and did one aswell.  You can see Sammy's post here.  There are so many of these types of post about and yet they are so intriguing that I can never get enough!

As a blogging duo it is nice sometimes to do something which shows how we are similar and how we are so different.  Always nice to show our different sides and also you guys can get to be a little bit nosey! - Let's face it, we are all a bit nosey.

As I am sure you guys know by now I am a bit of an organisation freak and I like to have a few bits and pieces for most eventualities!  What can I say, the Be Prepared mantra has stuck with my from my Brownie days!  You will definitely get a sense of this below!

1.  An Umbrella - a necessity for the UK and so it always comes in handy for those changes in the weather on my walk to work.

2.  My work pass - it's just annoying when I forget it as you can't get anywhere without it!

3.  My Purse - I brought this at a Vintage Fair at the venue I used to work at.  It turns out that my gran had the same purse in pink!

4.  A little bag of bits and pieces - just in case.  Inside there is an eyeshadow pencil, bank gadget, mini mirror, hairband, hairclip, nail file and keyring (for some reason!)

5.  A packet of tissues - I nearly always get caught out with getting a cold, so it's always worth having some tissues in my bag.

6.  A couple of pens - I always end up needing a pen and one runs out on me and so I always carry 2! I told you I liked to be prepared.

7.  Ray Ban looking sunglasses - these are definitely not real!  I brought them in Greece a few years ago and have been in my bag ever since.  You never know when the sun is going to shine and plus I find it really difficult to drive when sunny without them.

8.  Cath Kidston measuring tape - I always need this when shopping and it's really useful for making sure you buy something that fits a gap!  I brought this when I worked at Kings Cross and I used to go out at lunchtime and see what the shops in Kings Cross St Pancras had to offer.  It reminds me of Christmas time in London with the Lego tree in Kings Cross station.

9.  My Ipod.  I do have my phone - which I just realised I forgot to put on here (but most of the time it goes in my pocket).  But I like to keep my music separate as if you run out of battery on a long journey with your phone, you can still listen to music.  A genius idea I think, but I am sure most people just think I am far too organised!

I feel I have alot of things in my handbag, just in case.  But I would rather have it than be without!  GEEK

There are other things that get put in and out on a daily basis, like notebooks and a Diary for work, I cannot live without my diary at work!  But I don't carry them around with me everyday as I like to keep my bag lightweight and so things get put in as required on a daily basis.

I also brought myself a cheeky new handbag last week - I was definitely looking for a shoulder bag and somehow I ended up with a satchel!!!!  and it's blue which may well explain why I ended up with something I wasn't actually intending to buy!  See my post here for why the colour may have convinced me.  It was a bargain from TKMaxx so I didn't feel too bad!!!!

What do you guys think?  I have a feeling I might need to use this on days that I have less in my bag.  Maybe it could be my weekend bag?

What are your essentials in your handbag?  Do you have a bag full of stuff or do you keep it simple?  Let us know in the comments below - we like to be nosey about you guys too.

Love it

H

Declutter your life - Part Two

Last Thursday I took you through how to start a de-clutter in your life and I promised that this week would give you some hints and tips for all that stuff you now have bagged up.  Hopefully will have a good few bags full like these ones of mine!

For everything you have bundles up ready to go, you have a few options:

Take to your local Charity shop, I like to alternate between a local charity and a more national one for my bags of goodies.  My local shop even gives me a card so that they can gift aid and they let me know how much my stuff has made each year.  Nice to know it's going to a good home and it's giving the charity some much needed funds.

The good condition items (including items still with tags) could go on ebay or taken to a car boot sale to make some extra cash.  I have found I get much better results with brand names or items that have not been worn much, if at all.

You could see if you can customise anything - perhaps you would wear it if it was shorter/longer or less faded.  This is where a sewing machine or some clothing dye would come in handy.  You could add some extra material to the bottom of a dress or make your Jeans into cut-offs or a skirt perhaps.

You can take beads off of the jewellery, use the findings again and make new necklaces or earrings.  Just because it doesn't work as one piece of jewellery doesn't mean it won't work for something else.  I love taking apart necklaces and making earrings or brooches, especially ones I have no use for anymore or the ones you find in car boots.  As I mentioned before I have to be picky with my jewellery as I am allergic to nickel, so If I love something, I can always make it into something else!

Your Jewellery could be sent away to a worthwhile cause for recycling - they take broken jewellery too so don't woryy about that.  A few I have sent to include The Alzheimers Society, Diabetes UK and Marie Curie, all information can be found on their websites.

There are even places you can send your good condition old bra's too!  Don't throw them away, send them to Against Breast Cancer or Oxfam, more details can be found on there websites.  They are both very worthwhile causes and mean that someone out there has the benefit of something you no longer need and we all know they are going to end up in landfill otherwise.

Plenty of options for all that stuff you had before, that could now have a new lease of life, either with someone else or from what your imagination can do with it!

H 

Declutter your Life - Part One

Those who already know me well, will know that I like to have an organised space and love a de-clutter.  I do believe in tidy space, tidy mind - which I know conflicts with my creative side, but I guess there has to be an organised creative amongst us!  I have even been known to help others with their sorting too - its like I have a compulsion to sort!  This picture definitely represents my food cupboard!

I thought it would be a good idea to share a few of my tips for having a good old declutter as the weather is getting warmer and that means that we always like to have a sort out of all the winter clothes, so that we can make room for next year!  I know there have been a few of these posts around on blogs from Mrs Thrifty and Without Dash, but I think there is always room for my little clean-up operation!

Some people - who have much more space than my rented flat can spare - can put away all their winter clothes and get all their spring/summer clothes about now.  I am afraid I am all about the layering up in winter and keeping it simple in summer and so my wardrobe just has the same stuff in it all the time mostly.

Now for the fun part.  I always do a declutter in stages as I feel that if you have to be ruthless it can only be for a short time, otherwise your resolve tends to fade.  I have split up some stages so that you can use them as a guide, but by no means is this how it definitely should be done.

Wardrobe

• Firstly, drag out all the winter clothes as these (hopefully) are not going to be needed till next year now so what's the point in them lounging in your wardrobe when they could be gone.  Some of the following will apply to these items.
• Anything that is too short in the body or sleeves needs to just go as who needs clothes that don't fit.
• Items that when you put them on, your just not sure you really like them - they should go, because your never really going to like them.
• Anything with holes in it or that has faded to within an inch of itself should either go or be relegated to the sleepwear pile.  I have plenty of old t-shirts to sleep in, so a cull of these every now and then needs to happen too.
• Things which haven't been worn this winter or the last really should go too, unless of course they are classics - but then if you haven't worn them for a while, will you ever wear them?
• You can even go through your underwear drawer - anything that doesn't fit anymore as you may have lost weight! yey, or perhaps just things that have lingered in the drawer a bit too long!

You can then go through all your other clothes and see if there is anything else that fits the above criteria, as we all know we are going to buy more clothes for spring/summer, so why not make a little extra room.  There may well be things you loved last year, but are now, well just not really working for you.

Jewellery

• I love my jewellery and being allergic to Nickel means that its either real silver or plastic/wood in my stash as even the nickel-free stuff doesn't cut it.  So I buy fashion jewellery and then change the ear posts to sterling silver - easy!
• When I was first getting into wearing colour, I used to buy lots of colourful dangly earrings to get my colour fix.  I don't tend to wear them very much now and so I thought it was time for a bit of a cull.
• This is always the toughest part of decluttering for me as they are small bits, I always have that 'what if I need it' phrase ringing around in my head.
• I start with pulling everything out and working out when I last wore them and whether they are something special I should keep - presents etc.
• Then, the rest must go as they say - but I have a plan for them, so hang on to them for now!

Bags

• For this, I get to use Sammy as a proper example.  She has ALOT of bags and a cull was definitely needed as they couldn't even fit into a cupboard anymore. (The pic is some of my stash)
• We all like to have bags for different occasions, but after a while you just can't see them for the amount you have and then you just use the ones you have most recently bought.
• Sort them out into colours or types of bag, clutch, shoulder bags, satchel etc.
• Then go through and see what you haven't used for a while, can you actually fit everything you need into it or is it broken?
• You can then start to get rid of those other bags that are pretty similar to each other, I mean how many black  clutch bags does one girl need!?
• You can keep the presents or special ones as sometimes having a bag that is tied to many memories is just what you need.

Phew, after all that you will probably need a good cup of tea and a slice of cake - well, why not!

If your really feeling brave, you could even start on your shoe cupboard - all rules apply!

Check out Part Two next Thursday for ideas of what to do with all this clutter you have sorted through. Don't miss it!

H 

P.S.  If you feel you need a bit more help, I can always come around!  ha, ha