Friends and family know how much I love lists. I have lists for everything, and am constantly making new lists. I think it’s partly because I like order, mainly because I forget so easily.

My work week is spent assisting Seniors in their homes. Sometimes it’s about helping a Senior client declutter and reorganise their retirement home. At other times I am assisting with the downsizing and moving process to a smaller home. There is always a discussion on what to keep, what to throw away or recycle and what to donate. Here are some tips to help you when you are ready to do this:

I was in a shopping centre yesterday, the 16^th OCTOBER, and all the Christmas decorations are up already! All with that, every store has their own variations of Christmas Carols. I do think it’s too much too soon but it is a reminder that Christmas is just 60 days away!

It’s nearly September, and for those of us I the Southern Hemisphere this means Spring is around the corner.

When I think of Spring I think of longer days, with warm sunshine intermingled with rain clouds and cold mornings and evenings. I think of the beautiful carpets of veld flowers up the West Coast and I think of the promise of summer!

AND THEN I think of Spring Cleaning. Cleaning house from top to bottom, packing away winter woollies, and having my home sparkling and ready for the summer ahead.

“Sorry, I cant, I’m too busy!”

“I’m so busy!”

“It’s hectic at the moment”

“There’s no time!”

“I don’t have time!”

What does it actually mean?

When I got married, I used most of the financial gifts we received to purchase a beautiful service of Arzberg crockery. A big set, 12 of everything along with soup tureens, platters and serving dishes. A very expensive service. A very special service. A service which we have used every day since. We have lost items along the way – dropped plates, chipped dishes and badly scratched platters. We are down to uneven numbers of plates and side plates, and a half dozen pudding bowls.

We probably would have most of the collection today, if we only brought it out on special occasions like birthdays and holidays. Instead, we enjoyed using it every day, and have 25 years of memories of wonderful times around our dinner table with friends and family!

I spend most of my working days in my client’s homes, assisting them with the business of downsizing and decluttering. And in most homes, I find everyday crockery and glasses, and then tucked away in a cupboard that is seldom opened I find the “SPECIAL” crockery and glassware that only comes out on high days and holidays. The reasons are usually they are afraid of spoiling these items, or they are wanting to pass them down to their children.

Why? What good do these items do, what joy do they bring you if you keep them locked away in a cabinet to be used on a few special occasions each year. They are yours to enjoy, yours to appreciate and admire and you should be doing that all the time. What’s more special than using something beautiful every day?

And if I haven’t convinced you to unpack granny’s heirloom service or crystal glasses here are 5 more reasons you should:

• You need less storage space as you use the good tableware daily and therefore won’t need space for a second set of crockery.
• You are using something beautiful and special daily. Do you need another reason?
• There is no longer guilt at not using the beautiful set that has been languishing at the back of a cupboard.
• The best way to say thank you for a gift or heirloom is to use it and enjoy it.
• If you bought it, you get far more value using it every day, rather than a few times as year.

And don’t stop there… Dig out the best table linen, wear the jewellery often, use the perfume liberally!

Life is short!

Every day should be a special occasion!

So you have decided to spring clean and this means your clothes too! I might covered some of these points before, but I think you will find them helpful if you are keen to sort your wardrobe. 

Last week I attended my niece’s wedding which was a wonderful and magical affair. Beautiful church, exquisitely beautiful bride and the perfect garden setting for a wonderful picnic reception. All in all, a memorable occasion. And to capture the special day, there were several photographers and plenty of smartphones!

It got me thinking! When last did I look at our wedding photographs? When last did anyone look at their wedding photographs? In fact, when last did you look at any photographs?

Are you able to find your photos easily? Are they all together in one spot?

Perhaps the holidays are a good time to get your photos sorted!

Here are 5 tips to help you along …

Most of the organising and decluttering articles you read talk about the process of getting organised. What to do and how to do it. What storage to use, and how to maximise your spaces. How to maintain your organised and decluttered space.

So I thought it would be good to talk about the benefits of being organised. Why should you get organised? Why take the time to declutter, sort and let go of things you no longer need or love? Why have schedules and routines, lists and calendars brimming with important appointments and dates?

Here are a couple of good reasons: