The Posh Blog

You know you have them…those free pens that you pick up at a conference or some other event.  Free advertising for Mark’s Pet Spa.  This is one of the top items I go through with my clients.  Many households can fill up a few gallon sized zip top storage bags full of “free” pens and highlighters.  This often means that we have to spend at least an hour or more sorting, testing, and then deciding which pens can stay and which ones can go.  Now…is that $0.19 pen that you got for “free” really worth your time?  Absolutely NOT!!!   

I have found that there are many things people collect with out even realizing it, most of which are of very little value.  The key to controlling this is first recognizing the problem and then asking yourself; “What’s the value of this stuff in my life and in my space”?  Be honest.  Why do I need all these pens overflowing into drawers and onto the floor?  If you needed more you can simply go buy more or hit the next convention or hotel.  Just kidding.  I know what you’re thinking, “what does she have against pens?” and my reply is, absolutely nothing!  I love a good pen.  In fact I have about four of my very favorite Dr. Grip gel pens.  However, there is a difference in having what you use and need and having something takes over your life.  Clutter has this way of slowly infiltrating a space.  Even the tiniest of items can quickly add up to something that is out of control.   

Remember all things are good in moderation.  If you recognize that you have too many pens, notepads, or other do-dads then make sure you do two things.  First reduce them by 50-75% and second, be sure you don’t add any more to your collection.  

I’ll bet you will find your space is worth more than that “free” pen, note pad, or bag.  

Enjoy the good life! 

Angela

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

You asked so I am answering!  “How do I organize my clothes by color”?  Oh yes, I’m going there!  For those of you who are ready to make your closets functional and fabulous organizing your clothes by color is the ultimate treat.  It’s like the cherry in your martini… oh I mean on top of a sundae.   

First things first, before you start organizing your clothes by color you need to start by sorting your clothes by how you use them.  This is critical so don’t skip this step.  Again, color coding clothes is taking closet organization to the next level and for most people it is best to start organizing with general categories and then incorporate color coding into each specific category.  See my recent post January is Clean Out Your Closets Month for the steps on how to get started.   

So here are my recommendations on the how to organize the clothes in your closet based on the colors of the rainbow.   

I start with the foundation of the colors of the rainbow or ROYGBIV (sounds like: Roy G. Biv).  This is an acronym that you probably learned in science class in middle school, at least I did.  Where each letter of the acronym stands for the first letter of a color.  If you look at a rainbow in the sky from the top of the rainbow to the bottom it follows the ROYGBIV pattern.   

Unfortunately, ROYGBIV does not include black, white, brown or gray, which are very popular colors in most people’s wardrobes.  So I have adapted the acronym to ROYGBIV-CBBGW.  Here’s what all those letters stand for: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo (purple), violet (pink), cream, brown, black, grey, and white.  

When I am organizing by color I work from left to right and I start with the color red and work through the rainbow of colors.  If you are unsure about a color work it in where it seems to fit best with the other colors.  For example I would put a coral or peach color after red but before orange.   

So go and make those closets beautiful!  I would love to hear how your closet turns out.  Do you want to keep it simple or are you into extreme organization?  I want to know! 

Knowing exactly where to find your favorite shirt when you need it…that’s the good life.  

Enjoy! 

Angela 

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

Did you know that January is Clean Out Your Closets Month?  If getting organized is on your to-do list for the New Year getting started with your closets can be a great place to start.  Here’s a few tips to help you transform you closet from blah to beautiful:

1. Organizing an average size closet can take anywhere from 5-8 hours.  Decide in advance whether you will take on the entire closet in one day or if you will break up the project into sections, such as hanging clothes on one day and shoes and accessories on another day. 
2. Be brutal.  Try on clothes to see if they fit and if they do not then it is time to let them go.  Remember my famous rule “if the clothes doesn’t love you back” then it’s time to pass it on to someone who it will love.  That means the size, color and style have to LOVE you and make you look fabulous! 
3. When you are putting your clothes back in the closet it’s best to group the clothing into categories based on how you use them.  For example, you may have weekend shirts, casual shirts, dress blouses.  This makes it easier to find something when you are getting ready because you simply go to the category you need based on the type of events you have planned for the day. 
4. If you are REALLY into being organized you can take it a step further and color code each category!  Woo hoo!  That’s my kind of closet!  But this can be a bit much for some people.  See my next blog post Organize Your Clothes by the Colors of a Rainbow

 Organizing a closet is a great weekend project to tackle and you will feel great Monday morning when you look at the clothes in your closet and you know everything you see is something you feel good in.   

Clothes that you love and that makes you feel fabulous, that’s the good life! 

Enjoy! 

Angela

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.  

Hi Friends! 

I hope you are enjoying the second week in the New Year.  Did you know that January is Get Organized Month?  That’s right it’s time to take some action.  For many people this means clearing out some clutter.  My article Is Clutter Holding You Back? was recently published on the WomemBloom web site.  Take a peak below and then click on the link to continue reading.    

Clearing our the clutter to reach your goals in the New Year, now that’s the good life!

Enjoy!

Angela  

It’s a new year and it is full of possibilities, the thoughts of life transformation and opportunities beyond our wildest dreams are glints in our starry eyes.  But did you know that the clutter in your home, life, and office can be holding you back?  That’s right.  Time and time again I have seen huge opportunities come to my clients after working together and helping them get organized and removing the excess clutter from their lives.  A number of times this has been in the form of …. Click here to continue reading. 

Hi Friends,

My article was published on the Balance Austin web-site.  Read a preview below and then to click the link to continue reading. Enjoy! 

Ah a New Year. The air is full of hopes, dreams, and new possibilities. It is the time of year when we start thinking about our goals for 2009 or as they are commonly referred to as “resolutions”. There is one on the list of many busy women I know and that is to have work life balance. I am constantly seeking better ways to keep my business and personal life flowing like a peaceful river rather than churning like Niagara Falls.    One of the best ways to do this is to…click here to continue reading.

Happy New Year!  With the mark of the New Year, it is officially time to pack your holiday decorations back up.  Some people find this to be a sad ritual as they love the extra glitz and glamour the holiday décor adds to their home.  For other people they are intimidated by the sheer amount of work it will be to pack everything back up and get it put away.  It’s true, by this point our energy levels are low.  We have been go, go, going since Thanksgiving.  We have been dealing with our children, our work, our homes, our husbands, our social life, shopping, cooking, decorating, wrapping and now the final piece is to put everything back away.  So what’s a blurry eyed post holiday warrior to do?  Here are a few tips to get your accoutrements nestled away in the most organized fashion: 

1. Carefully label what’s inside each storage box so next year when it’s time to pack everything back up you save time because you know what goes in which boxes. 
2. Pack away holiday toys, books, and DVD’s and only bring them out during the holidays.  This way the items seem new and fresh each year and your children will be excited to play with them.
3. Use color coordinated boxes to store holiday items.  For example, use red boxes for Christmas and orange boxes for Halloween.  Using colorful boxes allows you to instantly identify what’s inside a box without having to read the label.
4. Reduce-now.  If you did not use a holiday decoration this year and last year, then it’s time to donate the item.  Just think, it’s less you have to store!
5. Choose your deadline.  What is the latest you want to have everything packed up?  Do you want to have inside packed up on one day and the outside packed up on another day?  Be honest with the amount of time it will take to get everything done and be sure to enlist help from other family members even if it involves making your children’s or husbands favorite meal or holiday treat. 

 With another weekend coming up, this would be the perfect time to get everything packed away before you have to get back into the swing of schedules, school, work, working out, and of course getting organized in the New Year. Enjoy the good life,

Angela

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.