My DIY closet makeover

Here are few closet cleaning tips that worked for me. And photographic evidence that it looked good for even a minute.

As mentioned earlier, my goal this year was to get real with my closet - in other words to think about what I really tend to wear.

Belts are one thing I have a lot of. But I hardly ever wear a belt. So I threw out belts by the handful. Above are the freshly organized survivors.

Clothes are no longer crammed like the 2 train at rush hour. I came to the conclusion that I rarely wear red, purple, lavender, or pink. So I got rid of that whole end of the rainbow, except for a couple of items in coral and yellow.

This has done miracles for me. If everything you've got is either blue or green or a neutral - then everything goes with everything. Close your eyes and grab any top and any bottom and they will be pretty much fine together.

Jackets have been cut back to four and probably could be further reduced to one or two. Shirts and blouses are also blue, green or neutral.

Then there are the shoes and jewelry. Two purges and still out of control. It's OK. I'm auditioning for The Coveteur.

My DIY easy leather journal

Make a quick leather journal from a dollar store notebook and a thrift store coat. This is similar to my DIY rustic leather journal except this one uses an inexpensive notebook for lined paper (instead of cutting your own paper.)

It's easy enough to make a bunch as teacher appreciation gifts or as a DIY gift for groomsmen in a wedding party.

Get the full tutorial at Dollar Store Crafts.

Spring cleaning - shoes and accessories

Above is a small fraction of my Shoemageddon. At last count I had 26 pairs on active rotation and probably just as many stashed in tote bags in the bottom of my closet.

Shoes get out of control because they are so easy to try on and look interesting even when not actually being worn. If the shoe fits, take it home and store it.

If one is feeling down about personal excess of any sort, one can always turn to celebrities to feel better. Take a stroll through The Coveteur and various other blogs and your own shoe issues will dwindle to a single shelving unit.

 

 

So, gotta ask - does anybody out there not have enough shoes for a centipede with a personal stylist? 

Spring cleaning - getting real with your closet

Have you started spring cleaning yet? Here are some tips and inspiration to get you started or keep you going.

First I'd advise a spring cleaning mantra. My friend Katie's mantra for 2013 was "space not stuff." Mine has been "get real."

'Get real' means to sit down and make a list of what you really never wear.

I did this and came up with the following:

• wrap skirts
• short fat furs

Since I don't own any this was not helping.

So I tried a list of "things I tend not to wear."

I tend not to wear:

• red, pink, lavender or purple
• pants
• non-neutral shoes
• jackets

I'm not sure how far this will get me in eliminating half my closet.

How about you? Are there broad categories you know you really don't wear?

Closets via The Coveteur and Domaine.

Spring party

Food envy alert. Homemade braided bread. Ham baked overnight and monitored like a newborn. Things with real caramel rum sauce. Dips, bits, bites. People sneaking off to other parts of the house to snort from-scratch-totally-real key lime pie. This is how my family parties in Ohio.

Wish you were here.

Wish I were here.

Gatsby book clutch

If you plan on standing in line for the opening of The Great Gatsby, do it in literary style with a Gatsby book clutch, complete with a tutorial and print-ready vintage cover.

Little cousins

Babies can wear a facial of snot and potting soil and still be cute.

Below is the referenced potting soil going into baby cousin Piper's mouth. The photographer did not stop this, but Aunt Stephanie did.

 

If I could talk I would say 'I'm so tired my pigtails are crooked.'

Meanwhile, big brother Brock was transfixed.

By friend Isabella's video game.