I know, I know… I’ve spent hours writing about ways to organize, purge, replace, revamp, etc., etc., etc. Some have listened and given organization a chance. Some have ignored my column and said, “I’ll get to it later.”
Guess what? It’s 2024 and I’m still preaching organize, purge, rearrange and so on. How many will heed my advice this year? Hopefully many as it takes a lot of time and thought to bring you some inspiring ideas, and I truly appreciate all who have commented on those columns and the inspiration provided.
This year is no different. Now that I am getting ready to put all my Christmas decorations away for another year, I once again am critiquing each and seeing which will stand the test of time and reappear in December and which will be allowed to make someone else happy.
While it is not easy to choose, it is mandatory. Each year, I get another year older, and it gets just a little bit harder to take down and put up those containers, the tree, the lights, everything.
I sometimes think I must be nuts to have chosen Christmas as my favorite time to decorate. My second favorite time is putting it all away and denuding my villa each January. When I say you should pick and choose decorations, you should not construe that to mean the rest of the house is exempt from being recreated.
How many of those holiday dishes, glasses, placemats, tablecloths, etc. did you use or put out this December? Are they still sitting in boxes, closets, cabinets or storage bins? Well, you know the drill—if you don’t use it for at least once a year, let it go. Make room for items you use on a regular basis.
Open those cabinets, drawers and pantries. Decide how they are being utilized and if they truly save you time and energy when you get ready to prepare a meal or have a party. Don’t be afraid to move stuff around. Heck, after six years in our villa, I recently moved a seldom used utensil drawer and switched to the end of my island. I then took my every day dinnerware and placed them in the top drawer between my stove and sink. Easy reach when I’m ready to serve food, quick step to putting them away as they are less than an arm’s length from the dishwasher or drying rack.
The utensils I use daily are in a holder on the countertop (yes, it’s okay to have some “stuff” on the countertop) and it serves a great purpose. A little bit of convenience is good. Just don’t overdo and you’ll be fine…
Til next time, Happy New Year!!!
Longtime Tucson bar sold, to be redeveloped
