Keepsakes, Space, Zinnias
Welcome friends and readers:
Judging by the trees and flowers outside my window, I would say we made it…spring has definitely arrived in Chicago! While it’s never a bad time to declutter and organize your home, spring seems especially well suited for it. I look forward to cleaning my screen porch, pulling out our outdoor cushions, swapping my boots for birks. Try looking at your space with “fresh eyes” and adjusting what’s tired or not working for you anymore. Here are a few things I have been thinking about lately…
Keepsakes
In Marie Kondo’s book, the life-changing magic of tidying up, she suggests organizing by category and in a particular sequence beginning with clothing and ending with mementos. As she states, “the degree of difficulty involved in selecting what to keep and what to discard differs greatly depending the category.” I have found this to hold true. It is much easier to let go of a pair of dated pants than ticket stubs from your first concert. Just like everyone needs a junk drawer, I believe everyone (in the family) needs a keepsake box. If you have children, the amount of artwork, cards, pictures and awards can be overwhelming. However, if you have one spot for collecting the most precious items, it is easier to discard the rest. My adult children still enjoy looking through their boxes to this day. Additionally, instead of storing a memento, I recommend taking a photograph of it as a way to remember and reduce. I recently discovered a woman who turns heirlooms and keepsakes into modern art. I LOVE this idea! I think it would make an amazing gift!
Space
Recently I was reading an article by Jenny Rosenstarch where she wrote: “ I never give my food enough room when I’m cooking and prepping it. Meaning: I toss things in smaller bowls when they should be in larger bowls, I crowd the pan when I’m browning tofu, I shove as many vegetables on the baking sheet as possible when roasting. I think I do this because after all those years cooking for young kids on the clock, I’ve somehow convinced myself it’s more efficient — Easier to wash a smaller bowl, takes too long to brown or roast separate batches, etc. But in fact, this way of cooking makes more work (try tossing six cups of a slaw in a medium mixing bowl without getting it all over the counter), compromises the quality of your food, and doesn’t necessarily save time. So, lesson 1: Give yourself some space.” Not only does this hold true for cooking, but organizing as well! Often my clients will “maximize” their space by stacking large number of items or overstuffing their drawers and shelves. This approach invariably fails as it is difficult to take things out and put things away, and clutter usually ensues. Items, like people, need breathing room. While you may not be able to store as much, you will be able to see what you have and spend less time tidying.
Zinnias
One of my favorite things about summer are the flowers I grow, cut and bring in my house. I have found Zinnias to be prolific bloomers, heat tolerant and easy to start by seed. This year, instead of the usual hot pinks, oranges and yellows, I ordered these from Floret Flowers. I am super excited to see how they do. Even if you don’t have an available bed, they do well in containers and seem to multiply when cut. Thrown in a jar, they make a perfect gift for a friend or neighbor. The last frost date in Chicago is April 25th so I am shooting for planting the weekend of May 4th.
