Tame Your Mid-Winter Closet

(Image courtesy of jdn)

We’re all familiar with the idea of spring cleaning - clearing out our closets and purging our homes of the clothes and items that we no longer have a use for. There’s no rule says that we need to wait until the weather turns warmer and the windows are open to start clearing out the dust and organizing those overflowing closets.

If your coats and shoes are constantly on the verge of exploding out of your precariously closed closet, it may be time to start weeding out the useful items from the ones that could be donated. This article from apartmenttherapy.com has a few great tips to get your closet organized to it’s best shape. Keep reading to learn more.

Clear Out Unworn Clothing and Shoes.

Purging clothing and shoes that no longer fit (whether too large or small), are outdated or unworn for longer than a year will make a huge impact on the clutter level of your closet. Donate unwanted pieces to a local charity or make a few bucks by selling in a garage sale! After purging, organize the remaining clothing into categories – pants, tops and so on. Place all remaining shoes in a shoe organizer or into pairs on a shelf.

Organize Accessories.

Organize scarves, ties and belts by using clothes hangers or wall hooks. For jewelry, use hooks and/or a jewelry box to keep all of your necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches together so you can find them easily. This is also a great time to purge all unwanted accessories to donate or sell, and polish and clean that silver jewelry that needs tending to.

Hang Bags and Purses.

If you are anything like me, you have bags and purses on the floor in a messy pile. Instead, use hooks on the wall to hang your bags in your closet so they are off the floor, organized and easy to access. Again, this is a great opportunity to donate or sell items you no longer need.

Box Up Miscellaneous Items.

After organizing your clothing, shoes, accessories and bags, store any leftover miscellaneous items in pretty or neutral boxes with lids and place on the floor or shelf. Make sure you can easily access the boxes if you need to by not placing them too high.

Add Fragrance.

When your closet is fully organized, clean and beautiful, add a scented sachet, cinnamon sticks or dryer sheet for a light, fresh fragrance. Now, every time you walk into your closet you will be greeted by a wonderful scent!

Do you clean your bedroom closet each Spring?

Santa Claws Is Coming To Town

(Image courtesy of Zach Klein)

Our pets show us unconditional love at all times during the year, whether it be waiting by the door when you come home from work, or just a quick nuzzle in the morning when you wake up. This holiday season, show your pet just how much you care by including them in your holiday celebrations.

Fido’s tail will wag when they see that you pull a nice new toy out from under the tree just for him! This article from apartmentguide.com has a few great ideas to make sure your dog knows he’s a member of the family.

Healthy treats for dogs

Although we may try to watch our waistline at the holidays, it’s also important to make sure we’re not handing out too many treats to our four-legged friends. To keep your dog from adding empty calories, try to offer only treats made from 100 percent natural ingredients. Three Dog Bakery makes dog biscuits from peanut butter, apples and oats that are both tasty and nutritious for your pet. Visitwww.threedog.com for locations or to shop online.

Canine-friendly cleansers

If you’re planning to host family and friends during the holidays, a bath might be in order for your pup. Why not use a new organic shampoo to keep his coat cuddle-ready? Both Kiehl’s and many pet specialty stores carry organic dog shampoo and conditioner, or you may want to ask for a referral from your vet. Using a gentle cleanser can help prevent your dog’s skin from getting too dry in winter weather.

Join the neighborhood light display

Show off your dog’s holiday spirit on your next evening walk with a new LED leash and collar. Not only will these illuminated accessories keep him safe and visible to cars, they can also be a festive fashion statement in red or white. Make Clark Griswold proud!

Not a creature was stirring…

Winter is also the perfect time to bring home a cozy new pet bed for your dog. Choose a soft fleece or cotton fiber lining that will breathe while your pet snoozes after a hard day of opening presents. When the festivities are over, and the wrapping paper and gift boxes have been sufficiently pounced upon, Fido will be happy to sink his paws into a plush new bed.

The holidays are an exciting time of year for both people and dogs. Remember that animals can be sensitive and may need some quiet time away from new guests, noise and additional stimulation. Allowing for sufficient down time will also give them the chance to dream about their new toys and gifts. Happy Howlidays!

Reuse Before You Recycle

(Image courtesy of saaleha)

We know there have been times when you finish burning a candle and wonder if there’s anything else you could do with the jar it was burning in before you dispose of it. Upcycling- the process of repurposing previously used items from trash into something useful-is becoming a wide-sweeping trend among the environmentally conscious.

With a little creativity and a DIY mentality, it’s easy to turn everyday recyclables into useful household items. This article from renters.apartments.com lists a few great ways to make your apartment a little greener with upcycled items. Keep reading to learn more!

Empty bottle to picture frame, vase or candle holder

If you have an old bottle you don’t know what to do with, save yourself money on picture frames, vases and candle holders by using these upcycling ideas. They are pretty self explanatory, and you can be as creative as you like.

Used candle jar to storage jar

This is one of those upcycling ideas that requires very little effort. Take any empty, lidded candle jar and put it in the freezer. This shrinks any remaining wax for mess-free removal. Toss the wax or, in light of your new upcycling ideas, stockpile the wax until you have enough to melt it down into a new candle!

Clean out the empty jar with soap and water and remove any labels. Finally, fill the jar with whatever you need to store, from cotton balls and swabs in your bathroom to sugar and spices in your kitchen.

Scratched CD to fashion jewelry

Never toss out a scratched CD again. Instead, break it into smaller pieces, file down the edges, drill a small hole in the corner, and attach a chain or earring backings for an upcycled fashion necklace or earrings.

Old necktie to stylish headband
If you’re husband or boyfriend tries to throw out an old tie, don’t let him; upcycle it instead. There are dozens of ways to wear a necktie on your head, from gluing the fabric to an existing head band to sewing elastic onto it for the right amount of cinching to attaching on buttons in just the right place. The method is up to you.

Worn out jeans to trendy tote

It’s a shame when your favorite jeans finally develop a hole in a regrettable location, but you don’t have to toss them out. Cut the legs into strips and sew them together to make a trendy tote that’s all your own.

Ugly sweater to cozy pet bed

Sew a bed using your preferred type of stuffing. You can combine upcycling ideas by using stockpiled lint from your dryer as the pet bed filling. From square to round to oval, your furry friend is bound to love your ugly sweater more than you ever did.

Wooden ladder to playroom shelves

It seems a shame to toss out a perfectly good wooden ladder simply because you replaced it with a fancy metal one. Well, upcycle it into something useful, such as shelving. Open up the ladder all the way and screw or nail planks across every other rung. Fill the shelves with toys, pictures, storage baskets or anything else your heart desires.

These upcycling ideas are perfect for anyone in a small space living on a tight budget. Give them a go!

Creating Holiday Customs

(Image courtesy of cliff1066™)

As children, each of us grew up conforming to the customs our families set down for the holidays- some of us opened gifts on Christmas eve and some of us enjoyed a large meal on the date of our holidays of choice. After a while these traditions, though special, can become a little stale. This year may be the year for you and your loved ones to create new traditions.

Reinventing your holiday season doesn’t mean that you have to give up all your old traditions, you can simply add new habits and routines to your holiday celebrations! This article from apartmentguide.com offers a few great ideas for your next holiday tradition. Keep reading to find out more:

Pick your perfect party

Kicking off the holiday season with a fantastic party is a great tradition, but you don’t have to stick with the same old cocktail weenies. Pick the holiday party that suits you and your guests’ style. Host a unique season opener party for the holidays you celebrate this time of year. (Christmas carol karaoke, anyone?)

Gift exchanges are always a fun option, especially when you pick out-of-the-ordinary themes like dollar store trinkets, quirky cocktail napkins or best (meaning worst!) re-gifted items.

If your friends are scattered around geographically, why not try a holiday hangoutonline? It’s not like being in the same place together, of course, but it is a way to share the spirit of the season.

If your holiday spirit takes a while to kick in, postpone your party for New Year’s Day or early January when everyone could use a post-holiday boost.

Communicate creatively

The thought of sending out holiday cards makes some folks seriously stressed. This year, relax and create a well-wishing strategy that works for your busy holiday schedule and your budget.

If you are short on time and money, send e-cards to family and friends. In this time of iEverything, it’s acceptable to post an online holiday greeting to your email list or Facebook friends. The best part is that you don’t have to prepare your thoughts so early in the season; you can wait for the right moment when the holiday spirit strikes you.

If you prefer more traditional paper cards, mix things up by creating a custom card design through an online vendor like Folded Words. Online card design sites like this and others feature fun templates which allow you to add your own sentiments or photos based on your favorite card theme.

To make your mailing strategy easier, use a handy web-based contact list likePostable, which creates a special website where your friends can enter their mailing addresses, building your address book for you!

Make your own kind of calendar

Follow the fun tradition of counting down to whichever wintertime holiday you celebrate. In the Christian tradition, Advent calendars track the days to Christmas, with various treats or gifts associated with each day. In a similar way, you can use your own special calendar to count down to whatever day or season you look forward to, be it Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year’s or Boxing Day. The key is to have fun and make it unique to your family’s tradition. Check out these ideas for cool containers you can adapt to your custom holiday calendar.

Start a new giving tradition

Often we get wrapped up in the tradition of “what are you going to get me this holiday season?” Why not flip the switch and establish a new type of holiday celebration where you give away instead of gather up?

One giving option is to plan a special day during the holidays where you meet with your friends and family to volunteer at a local homeless shelter or food bank. It’s a great way to share your holiday cheer beyond your own home. Or consider supporting an organization like Heifer International which lets you donate food and other needed items to help challenged families thrive in other countries.

This holiday season, challenge yourself to establish traditions that are truly meaningful and fun, ones you’ll want to celebrate for years to come!