12:13 p.m. - 2008-03-30
Cleaning out Clutter
The past few essays in Simple Abundance has been on the subject of our wardrobes, how we present ourselves to the public, what fashion statements we make with our clothing decisions, and what we really want to express with our clothing.
I know we all have purchased something that remains hanging in the closet with the tags still on. At the time, we thought it was just what we wanted or needed, only to realize when we put it on at home that it just....isn't....quite...what.....we.....hoped....it....would....be. Admit it, you probably have at least one thing stuck back in the end of the closet in the darkness that you are sorry you spent money on.
Simple Abundance suggests that we take a couple of hours some Saturday afternoon, turn on some energizing music, have several trash bags and boxes available and empty out the closet. Pull everything out and really take a good look at it. Hang up the blouses, tops, t-shirts, sweaters, jackets that you really love to wear. Put back the slacks, jeans, skirts and dresses you have worn in the past 6 months during the winter season. If your closet is large, maybe you can store all the clothes for all the seasons inside. In that case, put back what you have worn during the past year.
Then take a really GOOD look at what is left. If you have some clothing that is just one size too small and you really don't want to part with it yet. Put it back. Or put it in another closet for reconsideration next time. If it is more than one size too small, give it away to a friend, a charity or a resale shop. If it is stained, torn, out of fashion, and of no use, throw it away!. It won't become clean and neat and fashionable again.
If it has special sentimental value, consider putting it in another closet and revisiting the garment again in 6 months.
The same goes for your shoes, hats, purses and other accessories. If you have a collection of scarves that were used to tie in a bow with our business blouses; they probably are not going to become fashion statements again. Maybe you know someone who can use them as hairbows or maybe you could make something out of the fabric....like a pillow or a quilt.
Once you have completed this cleansing of your closet, you will feel a weight lift off your shoulders. Looking at the neat and cleaned out closet will lift your spirits.
If you are still feeling energetic, you could move on to your dresser and throw out all the tattered and wore out undies, bras, socks and nightwear we all keep stuffing into those drawers.
Then you can move on to your purse... You know.... the one that you haven't cleaned out in about 6 months. Since it is time to switch from a winter purse to a summer purse; it is a great time to see what you have in there.
Let me share the contents of my winter purse with you. It's a Vera Bradley knapsack type.
It has a zipper pocket on both sides and two little pockets on each end.
In the two little side pockets are a grocery coupon and 1 Lifesaver.
In the larger of the zippered pocket are:
1 saline mist nose spray bottle, 1 bottle of Aleve, one nail buffer, cell phone, 2 containers of floss from my last visit to the dentist, 1 tiny bottle of hand sanitizer, a Sudefed pill, 6 Lifesavers, a sample pack of Dentyne Mints, a sinus blister pack with 2 pills, a sample of Sally Hansen nail cream, 2 Bic pens, a ripped envelope with gift cards from Panera, a local restaurant, Sears, 2 Penneys gift cards and a Coldstone.... and a wad of clean Kleenex. There is also a Lifesaver wrapper and a menu for the local restaurant to be thrown away.
In the smaller zippered pocket are:
my car key with a safety car window breaking thing that will also cut a seat belt and the extra truck key for my husband's truck.
Inside my purse are my sunglasses in their own compartment, a small bottle of hand lotion, my wallet, a small matching cosmetic bag with 1 metal nail file, one small mirror, a combination folding brush and comb, 2 lipsticks - one of which is nearly gone, a Neutrogena Instant Lip Remedy, and a makeup pencil sharpener. I have a separate coin purse which has $8.10 in silver and 15 pennies and one 1976 silver dollar inside.
That makes for one very heavy purse.....7 lbs to be exact! I will be switching to a summer purse which is about half that size.
It has one zipper pocket in front. I just pulled it out of my closet and this is what is inside. In the zippered pocket, an expired Krispy Kreme Chillers card with no punches, a matchbook from Pete's Dueling Piano Bar (from my last visit to Texas to see my two sisters). Inside the purse is a matching cosmetic bag with 2 lipsticks (one is nearly gone( and a sample Clinique foundation - never used). Whoops, there is another makeup bag in there! It contains 3 lip glosses in various sizes and shapes, a piece of gum and a piece of hard candy. Inside the purse itself is a folding brush and comb set, a big emery board (the type you can take on an airplane), another piece of hard candy...this time it is wintergreen, another tube of lip gloss and a nearly empty hand lotion container. I love those little bottles you get in motels and I use them in my purses.
Actually my winter purse was fairly well cleaned out. I last did that task in February after we returned from our cruise.
So what's in your purse today?
