{31 Days of Going Green} Day 26: Shoe Shrine

As if you needed another pair of shoes, but you just couldn't resist those metallic flats {75% off at Mardens} this week. Perhaps you require a reminder that your shoe collection is comparable to that of a hoarder. See for yourself when you get organized and display your foot candy as art. Say what? Your shoes: they're pretty and they serve as the finishing touch to an outfit. But art? 

Yes, wall art. Allow us to suggest Shrine Rack's wall-mountable shoe rack fixtures. As seen in stores, they are now available for personal purchases – and they're currently on sale {25% off}

Shrine Racks work for every shoe style — from sneakers to heels to flats. Flaunt it if you've got it, right?

xx Well-to-Do

Images courtesy of Shrine Racks

{31 Days of Going Green} Day 23: Clean Up & Clear Out

Sometimes it seems as though our playroom is a sea of toys and only those able to swim will survive. I am a good swimmer, excellent actually, and can barely stay afloat in there. 

My son's matchbox cards {true story}

After stepping on both a matchbox car and lego in the same day, I took a quick look around the room and all I could see were toys: baskets overflowing with cars, trucks, dolls, animals and action figures. I walked into the kitchen to fix the kids a snack and it took me 5 minutes to find my apple peeler. 

Frustrated and overwhelmed by the unruly nature of my house, I wanted to get rid of everything immediately! But I couldn't. So, I sat down and started writing a list {as inspired by Pinterest} — a manageable list — with daily tasks to help me declutter my home one area, one bag at a time. Here's my action plan below!

So get ready Goodwill, consignment shop and church, I'm headed your way! And I encourage you to make one, too. A perfect way to clean up and clear out before the holidays. Think of it as exercise for your house! Surely home sweet home could use a little workout.

xx Well-to-Do

{31 Days of Going Green} Day 12: Fall Detox {EMAIL}

The FALL DETOX continues! Today Kate focuses on detoxing your inbox and getting offline once a week. For the rest of detox series see: Intro, Food & Closet

DE-CLUTTER YOUR EMAIL

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My email “system” has been to keep every message that I receive just in case I ever need to refer to it ever again.  Consequently, I noticed I had over one thousand emails in my inbox for no real reason!  Do you know how good it felt to delete, delete, delete?  I highly recommend. Better yet, force yourself on a technology diet by designating 1-2 days a week where you do not turn on your computer or read any email!  It may feel impossible at first, but the headspace you’ll generate just might give you a fun, creative wave of inspiration that was waiting for a chance to surface!


Check out the following links below for advice from the pros with specific tips and tricks on how to organize your inbox.

How to Organize {sort, store and search} in Microsoft Outlook

How to Organize an Inbox in Gmail
Marsha Egan's Inbox Detox

Kate Nicholson is a mom to a 3-year old fairy princess, massage therapist, yoga teacher and holistic nutrition counselor. When she’s not sneaking kale into her daughter’s smoothies or jogging with crazy black lab she is usually found coaching other young moms into getting their body, their life and their mojo back!  Kate is available for coaching & consultation by phone or Skype.  www.KateNicholsonWellness.com  

{31 days of Going Green} Day 11: Fall Detox {CLOSETS}

Kate Nicholson is back with more of her FALL DETOX plan. 

Intro

Fall Detox {Food}

DETOX YOUR CLOSET!  

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When there is too much stuff in my house, I easily feel stressed.  We don’t realize the impact our physical spaces {home, car, office, etc.} can have on our mood and our health. Do yourself a favor and clean out your closet.  I love taking last year’s fashions to my favorite consignment shop and then going on a treasure hunt for that perfect “find."
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For detailed closet detoxing, take advice from the professionals. Click here for the Closet Factory's tips and reminders regarding serious closet cleaning!

And check out two of our favorite organizing / making the most of your wardrobe posts: SHED Happens and Closet Full of 'Nothing.'

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Kate Nicholson is a mom to a 3-year old fairy princess, massage therapist, yoga teacher and holistic nutrition counselor. When she’s not sneaking kale into her daughter’s smoothies or jogging with crazy black lab she is usually found coaching other young moms into getting their body, their life and their mojo back!  Kate is available for coaching & consultation by phone or Skype.  www.KateNicholsonWellness.com  

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{Guest Post} Serious Closet Cleaning

A BIG WELCOME to Walter Munsen of the Closet Factory! He's here today sharing suggestions for serious closet cleaning. Follow along for his helpful tips and important reminders about keeping closet clutter under control!

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Are your closets and drawers in need of some serious clutter clearing?  Do you have trouble finding the pieces to your outfit when you have five minutes to get out the door or be late for work?  If this sounds like you, consider an all out assault on the problem.

Approach the problem like boot camp – you’re out of shape and drastic measures might be called for. These five steps should get your drawers and closets under control.

#1 Ask for a friend’s help. Pick someone with good taste and the ability to be tactful.  Everyone makes fashion mistakes. Let him or her suggest items that just aren’t flattering.  Consider providing wine and snacks and definitely offer to return the favor.

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#2 Take everything out of the closet or drawers. Studies show that you will get rid of 20-25% more items if you consciously have to put items back in the space you are cleaning than if you are simply cherry picking items to take out.  Take the time to clean or paint the empty spaces if needed.

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#3 Most people wear 20-25% of their clothes 75-80% of the time. This means that there is a lot of opportunity for thinning things out. Unless it has sentimental value, if you haven’t worn it in a year or two it is a candidate to go.

#4 Confront two stereotypes that we see all too often. For women, consider size issues. If you are a size 10, it isn’t a problem holding on to the size 8’s, but be realistic about anything more than a size removed from your current wardrobe.  If you do get back to a size 6, you deserve some new clothes!  For men, there is no way you will ever use the number of ratty t-shirts and jeans that you’re hoarding for “painting” or “working around the yard."  Let them go!

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#5 Don’t just move the clutter.  Have a plan for what you will do with the unwanted items. Donate, sell or dispose, but whatever you do, do it immediately. Relocating the clutter to the basement or garage really doesn’t solve the problem.

Follow these steps and you should have clutter under control.  A final tip for keeping it that way: consider a replacement strategy.  No new items go into the wardrobe until another piece goes.

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For more than nine years the Closet Factory has been designing and manufacturing custom storage solutions. Closets, laundry rooms, home offices, pantries and more! Search and shop online at www.closetfactory.com or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

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Looking for additional closet organizational tips? See our popular post Shed Happens!

SHED HAPPENS

Welcome new friends... and old! We recently made some fabulous "green" radio with Deb Neuman on her Back to Business show along side Zeth from Central Street Farmhouse and Michael from Maple Landmark Woodcraft. Three cheers for Earth Day!

We've been busy getting ready for Spring—cleaning everything from our windows to our garages to our closets—so we thought we'd leave you with one of our most favorite posts, Shed Happens. Read on for more, and we hope you'll continually stop back in for our fun and fabulous tips, tricks, and giveaways!

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We tend to hoard—particularly when it comes to our clothes—although it's something Suz's gotten much better at now that she and her husband share a closet. A 2010 House Beautiful article about clearing out the clutter deeply inspired us. Julie Morgenstern asserts that personal change starts with your closet since it holds the clues to your past and future self. She also warns that the whole process can take a good four hours... so plan accordingly.

Here are five of our favorite tips:

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1. Begin by thinking on paper, which will help speed up and simplify the process: what do you love? When tossing items, refer to your list. When debating about an item, ask yourself: which is more valuable? The item or the cleared space?

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2. No one lets go of something without reaching for something else. Think of the overarching theme, of what sort of feeling in your life you want next (i.e. serenity, creativity, space, new fall fashions) so you can create the space for it. 

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3. Ask yourself these questions: Do I love it? Is it flattering? Is it the image I want to project? If it's a "yes" to all three, then it's a keeper. For the keepers: invest in matching wooden or padded hangers and quality containers.

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4. When you're 3/4 of the way through clearing your closet, you may begin to get overwhelmed by the space (What am I going to do without my stuff?) Remind yourself that you are who you are, not what you own. Get through the panic, and you'll experience calm and relief.

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5. Practice SHED. Separate the treasures, Heave the trash, Embrace your identity and connect to who you are without your stuff, and Drive forward.

By getting rid of outdated items, Julie Morgenstern says, you open yourself up to possibilities for the future. Remember: paring down your stuff is an important part of life, living green and going small, and will contribute to your overall happiness.

Go on and SHED. It happens!

xx S+S

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight… If you’ve ever wished upon a star for simple, bold and modern paper goods, look no further than REDSTAR ink. From infinity “one calendars” to elegant planners, notebooks, tiny notes, season's greetings and wine tags, you’ll be starry-eyed over REDSTAR ink's wares.  

The company’s creator and fellow blogger, Marcie Hicks is a graphic designer and artist who fashions her designs with personal organization and a modern flair in mind.  

Using carefully selected materials, REDSTAR ink is committed to creating eco-friendly paper goods. All products are handmade in San Diego, California, and recycled materials are used whenever possible to color this red star, green.

From classy to sassy, REDSTAR ink has the modern, bold design you’ve been searching for.

How about a modern calendar of your own to help keep you organized in the New Year? REDSTAR ink has you covered! Marcie has generously offered this chic twenty eleven calendar for one lucky well-to-doer.

For entry: 

1) *Like* well-to-do's status on Facebook or comment below on why you need a 2011 calendar plus

2) *Fan* REDSTAR ink on Facebook and

3) For an extra entry: Tell us your New Year's resolution {if you have one}!

Contest open now through midnight on Tuesday, December 7th. One lucky, random winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 8th.

REDSTAR ink: May your paper goods be merry, bold and bright!

xx well-to-do

Images courtesy of REDSTAR ink

SHED HAPPENS

We tend to hoard — particularly when it comes to our clothes — although it's something Suz's gotten much better at now that she and her husband share a closet. We at well-to-do were particularly inspired by a recent House Beautiful article about clearing out the clutter. Julie Morgenstern asserts that personal change starts with your closet since it holds the clues to your past and future self. She also warns that the whole process can take a good four hours... so plan accordingly.

Here are five of our favorite tips:

1. Begin by thinking on paper, which will help speed up and simplify the process: what do you love? When tossing items, refer to your list. When debating about an item, ask yourself: which is more valuable? The item or the cleared space?

2. No one lets go of something without reaching for something else. Think of the overarching theme, of what sort of feeling in your life you want next (i.e. serenity, creativity, space, new fall fashions) so you can create the space for it.

3. Ask yourself these questions: Do I love it? Is it flattering? Is it the image I want to project? If it's a "yes" to all three, then it's a keeper. For the keepers: invest in matching wooden or padded hangers and quality containers.

4. When you're 3/4 of the way through clearing your closet, you may begin to get overwhelmed by the space (What am I going to do without my stuff?) Remind yourself that you are who you are, not what you own. Get through the panic, and you'll experience calm and relief.

5. Practice SHED. Separate the treasures, Heave the trash, Embrace your identity and connect to who you are without your stuff, and Drive forward.

By getting rid of outdated items, Julie Morgenstern says, you open yourself up to possibilities for the future. Remember: paring down your stuff is an important part of life, living green and going small, and will contribute to your overall happiness.

Go on and SHED. It happens!

xx S+S

Photo: Daly & Newton for Redbook Magazine

Source: House Beautiful