5 Organizing Tips for the Busy Woman (or Man)

5 Organizing Tips for the Busy Woman (or Man)

Do you ever wish for more time in the day?  Or at the very least, a less stressful day?  I know that I do, so I thought I would share 5 of my tips for organizing your busy household.

1. Buy one pack of paper towels and toilet paper in a different color and place them in the back of the cabinet.  When you notice the new color on the holder, it’s time to purchase more!  I hate to run out of toilet paper!!  LOL!
2. Figure out what you will wear the next day the NIGHT BEFORE!  This is my number one time saver!  I actually have made it a ritual and I enjoy choosing my outfits for the next day.  Sometimes I’ll even pick a Sunday and put together dozens of outfits so I can use that 15 minutes for something else…like reading a magazine!
3. Place a boot tray by the door for your husband and children!  It will save you time and your house will not be cluttered with shoes!  I don’t know about you, but it bothers me for shoes to be tossed around in different spots!
4. Organize future events with an accordion file.  Put birthday cards, invitations, bills, etc. in the appropriate compartment and you’ll never miss anything again!  So long late fees and “Happy Belated Birthday” cards!
5. Always have backups!  Create a “For Emergency” kit and keep it in your car or in your purse.  I have extra keys in mine, plus deodorant, a small sewing kit, a fingernail file, scissors (I use these more than anything!), shout wipes, and a small flashlight.  I always add to it when I discover something else that would have come in handy, too.

Do you have any tips you can share for other busy women like us?

 

Thank you!

Love,

Erin

Questions to Help You Edit Your Wardrobe

Questions To Help You Edit Your Wardrobe

Are you having trouble deciding what items to hang on to and which ones to toss or donate?  If so, let me help guide you a bit.  Below is a list of questions that you should ask yourself as you sort through your wardrobe.

1.  Is the item stained, ripped, or in otherwise  unwearable condition?  If yes, can it be fixed?  If it cannot be repaired, toss it!!  If it can be repaired, move on to the next question to help decide if you want to go to the trouble of getting it back in wearable condition.

2.  Have you worn the item within two years?  If the answer is no and the item isn’t a cocktail dress, snow skiing clothing, or some other rarely worn item then move on to the next question.  If you haven’t worn the item in two years, otherwise, it is a great time to get rid of it and make space for an item you will get use out of.

3.  Do you love the item?  If you have worn an item in the last several years, it isn’t stained or in other disrepair, but you aren’t in love with it anymore…toss it and move on!  “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”  LOL!!

4.  Can you immediately think of several ways that you can wear the item?  This would be a great time to put a few outfits together and take pics of them so you can refer back when you are in need of quick outfit ideas.

Sometimes we need a little extra push and guidance to figure out what should become a mainstay in our closets, so I hope this helps a bit!  By purging and ending up with only the items you love, you are well on your way to discovering your own personal style.  Have fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love,

Erin

Determining Your Skin Tone

Determining Your Skin Tone

Determining your skin’s undertone is an important part of discovering what colors you should wear and those you should stay away from. And don’t we all want to look our best?? I know that I do and getting a professional color analysis was one of the best things I did for myself. Now I’m certified to do them for others, so I thought I would share a few of my secrets on determining your skin tone.

You’re COOL if:

Silver jewelry looks better on you than gold.
The veins on the inside of your wrist appear blue.
You look better in a crisp white shirt than you do in a cream one.
You burn easily

You’re WARM if:

Gold jewelry looks best on your than silver.
The veins on the inside of your wrist appear greenish.
A cream shirt is more flattering than a bright white one.
You tend to tan easily.

Keep in mind, however, some of you will have a combination of cool and warm tones…in other words you are “neutral” and should thank your lucky stars! You can wear many more colors than most people.

You’re NEUTRAL if:

You don’t notice a distinct skin tone change when you wear gold or silver. They both look good.
The veins on the inside of your wrist are a mixture of green and blue.

So…which undertone do you have? My skin tone is warm.

Thank you for stopping by my blog! I love comments and new subscribers.

Love,
Erin

The Top 5 Excuses for Clutter

The Top 5 Excuses for Clutter

As a professional organizer, I tend to hear the same excuses over and over.  Today I am going to share those excuses with you to see if any of them sound familiar to you.  If they do, maybe my advice will inspire you to push past the excuses so you can enjoy a clutter-free and stress-free life.

Excuse #1 – I might need it one day. 

Really?  Why haven’t you needed it up until now?  Exactly how long have you been using this excuse?  If it is over 2 years, then please consider getting rid of the item.  The chances of you using something after not using it in over 2 years is slim to none.

Excuse #2- I don’t want to hurt the person’s feelings that bought it for me.

I suffer from this excuse, too, but in the end I always think like the professional organizer I am and let the item go if it serves me no purpose.  Why hang on to something that you aren’t using or that you don’t love?  If you don’t want to throw the item away, donate it!  That way it will get used, and loved, by someone else.

Excuse #3 – It was free!!

In my opinion, the fact that it was free should make it easier to toss!  You aren’t wasting money, after all!  Just because something was free doesn’t mean that you should keep it or that it is useful.

Excuse #4 – It was expensive and might be worth something one day. 

Unfortunately, the reality is that you rarely, if ever, get back what you originally paid for an item.  I know that’s hard to hear, but it’s the truth.  However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get something out of the items.  Try consignment stores!

Excuse #5 – It has too many memories for me. 

This is one of the most frequent excuse I hear and I always recommend taking a picture of the item.  A picture takes up way less space than the original item would and you still get to hold on to the memory.

Which excuse do you find yourself using?

Love,

Erin

Make Dressing Fun!

Make Dressing Fun!

Do you dread getting dressed every morning?  Do you just throw the same old thing on everyday?  If so, why??  What are you afraid of?  Have fun with fashion and show off your own personal style!  It just takes a little extra effort sometimes, but I’m about to give you some great tips on how to spice up any outfit easily and quickly!  Not only

1.  Layers add interest, so layer on up!  I always like to add some type of cardigan, jacket, or vest to all of my outfits.  They instantly add interest and style to all outfits.  For example, the blogger above has layered a jacket in a fun color into her outfit.  Now, try to picture this outfit without the jacket…not quite so fun is it?

2.  Switch it up!  Do you tend to wear skinny jeans everyday?  Wear a wide leg a few days instead!  Or, do you wear a lot of dresses?  Try pants or a skirt some.  We all get stuck in ruts, but it’s so easy to get out of them!  Just do it!    Get inspiration from outfit bloggers or magazines and catalogs.  Inspiration is everywhere!

3.  Add a little rock-n-roll!  Do you have a bunch of old rock-n-roll t-shirts that you only wear casually?  Why not spice up a plain old suit with them?  Or add a studded accessory to an otherwise feminine outfit.  Studded accessories, such as, purses, necklaces, and bracelets are extremely popular right now, so why not get in on the trend and add them to your wardrobe in your own way!

4.  Try punches of color!  The runways have been more awash in color than ever before.  The way to go this season is to wear a modern black and white outfit and then add a punch of color with an accessory to make the outfit more fun and interesting!  Try a color other than the typical red, though.  I prefer colors such as orange, turquoise, hot pink, and flourescent yellow!  How fun are those colors??

5.  It’s ok to sparkle during the day!  Don’t be afraid to wear that sequined shirt with your favorite cardigan, for instance!  Or pull out that rhinestone necklace for day!  Don’t save it for nighttime only.

Hopefully, these tips will add a bit more fun to your wardrobe and pull you out of any rut you are currently in.  Remember…style is all about thinking outside of the box a bit!  The unexpected is what makes an outfit stylish.

Love,

Erin

VIDEO – Dining Etiquette Reminders

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Love,
Erin

The Art of Contouring

 

The Art of Contouring

I rarely write about beauty, for some reason, so I thought I would begin to share the secrets I have learned and continue to learn as a wannabe beauty guru.    Today is all about contouring.

First, let me give you a little refresher – Dark shades make objects recede and lighter shades bring objects forward.  So, with that said, you can change the shape of your face with a few simple applications of a contour shade or a highlight shade.

To get you started, here are a few simple steps to follow if you are new to contouring:

1.  Always begin the contouring process with a bit of prep!  Apply your concealer and foundation before beginning the contouring process.  I like to apply concealer in a triangle shape under the eyes, because it helps to brighten the eye area (highlight) immediately.

2.  You can never go wrong by concentrating on contouring your cheeks.  If you are unsure about what you want to contour, start with your cheeks.  Everyone looks better with higher and pronounced cheekbones.  How do you think Audrey Hepburn got these cheeks?

To begin the contour, choose a matte bronzer or contouring powder that is no more than one or two shades darker than your skin tone.  I’d recommend one shade darker for you newbies.  Suck in your cheeks like a fishy and sweep the color into the hollow of your cheekbones.  Blend well!  There is nothing worse than a visible contour line…except for a visible panty line.  LOL!  After blending apply your preferred blush to the apples of your cheeks.  Keira Knightley got her contour perfect!  Not too much!!

3.  The final step to contouring is adding a highlighter.  Dust an iridescent powder over the parts of your face the light would naturally hit – cheekbones, bridge of nose, and browbones.  If you are fair choose an icy tone and if you have a warm complexion choose a highlighter with a golden glow.  Avoid glitter in your highlighter, as it calls attention to tiny wrinkles.     Notice how Kate Hudson’s face glows?  That’s the highlighter!!!

I really enjoy playing with my makeup applications and I hope this post inspires you to go back and do a little playing of your own!  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them for me!  I’d love your feedback.

As always, thank you for stopping by my blog!

Love,

Erin