{Closet Refresh}

Indulge in...

A Closet Refresh

"If you can't see it, then you probably won't use it." 

That's my motto when it comes to the refrigerator, pantry, bookshelf...and closet. I like to visually account for what I own in order to maximize its purpose. I'm borderline OCD when it comes to organization, but I enjoy switching up my wardrobe and playing dress-up! So in preparing for the fall & winter seasons, here are some tips on getting your closet (and dresser) in check:

Once a Year: Start off by doing an inventory of everything you own. Make piles of the things you (1) love & wear often, (2) sometimes wear, and (3) haven't worn in a year (or more). For the latter two piles, try on every piece of clothing. If it doesn't jump out at you as exciting, comfortable and/or stylish, put it in the (4) "giveaway" pile. Yes, breaking up with material goods can sometimes be difficult, especially if they hold sentimental value, but there is no reason to hold onto, say, your old prom dresses or other various items that you will never wear again. This goes for shoes and accessories as well. Do the right thing and donate these "once-upon-a-time treasures" to someone who will actually use them! Not only will you make someone else's day a little bit brighter, you now have room for new additions! Win-win situation.

Once a Season: Some things stay in style and some things never should have been in style in the first place. I'm a firm believer that you should re-evaluate your closet at the start of every season (specifically spring and fall), tossing items that keep appearing on hangers (and in drawers) but are never actually worn. Helpful tip: Turn all of your hangers backwards and as you wear things, turn them back around, facing the right way. This will show you what you do wear and what needs to be re-considered! If something is stained or ripped, trash it. Your closet should be filled with things you want to wear, not things you have to avoid.

Once a Month: Clean up and get organized! Take time to put things back in their proper place. Group clothes together based upon color, cut and/or length. This will make your closet easier to navigate and also allow you to come up with better outfits in a shorter amount of time. 

I mentioned here about a few charities that welcome clothing donations, but there are so many local and national organizations that will not only take your goods, they'll pick them up from you too! Use resources at your church, office or school to give away your no-longer-needed clothing, shoes & accessories, and check out these sites as well:

Soles4Souls

Donate My Dress

The Princess Project

Planet Aid

Images via Pinterest 

{Planning Your Life}

Life seems to be getting more cray cray by the day...so I was extremely excited when Sarah from dotmine emailed me and asked if I would like to try out one of their day planners! Cue the hallelujah song. After my initial excitement, I began wondering if I would actually use the planner when my handy dandy iPhone seems to keep my life on track (considering the last time I used a planner was in college). However, I'm officially obsessed.

I'm one of those gals who loves to write things down, plan things out & check things off my to-do list...so I am really loving my day planner. It couldn't come at a nicer time, since I planned a trip this past weekend to NYC, am going to Boston this upcoming weekend and will be traveling to California in the near future. To be able to figure out what is due for work, for travel and for my personal life all in a little book is fabulous.

My Granny Smith Day Planner

I not only love that this company was inspired and brought to life by two women (also full-time wives & mothers), but that they offer a variety of planners to suit your personal lifestyle; they have planners geared towards men, women, students, professionals, families, etc. My planner fell under the headings "hers" and "flirty" and is geared towards both aspects of my life. For every week, there is a column labeled "work" and a column labeled "life" for notes, along with an inspirational quote. I also like that the planner has a list of holiday reminders, a section for documenting my favorite doctor/hairstylist/accountant/etc, and example templates to copy & use for daily/weekly/monthly planning.

If you're interested in a planner, it's your lucky month! In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dotmine is partnering with the Young Survival Coalition and will be donating 10% of profits and $1 for every new "like" on their Facebook page. They are also offering a 10% discount on their website with code YSC2011. Check out their twitter for more information and/or upcoming deals!

And now I leave you with my planner quote of the week:

"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans."

-John Lennon

Images via Google

{Fashion Aid}

In one of my earliest posts, I wrote about wearing your philanthropy with the example of TOMS shoes. Now, with the news of the devastating tsunami that has taken Japan by brute force...there are other opportunities to not only give, but also to wear your donation...

On March 11th, a massive earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean nearby Northeastern Japan, causing damage with blackouts, fire and tsunami.

Several individuals and organizations have begun to support relief efforts for this disaster, including many in the fashion world. Lady Gaga has just designed a $5 tsunami relief "We Pray For Japan" bracelet available for purchase on her website, with all proceeds being donated to Japan.

Show your support for Japan with this wristband!

Uniqlo, a fashion community based out of Japan, is donating over $20 million to the Japanese Red Cross Society (both in cash and in clothing) as well as setting up donation boxes in its stores.

A new-style Japanese firm making good casual clothes available for all to wear.

Though this catastrophe is recent, it would be no surprise to see more of the fashion world gathering together in support of Japan. Many of us saw a huge support in "Fashion for Haiti," and, due to the fact that Japan's Fashion Week was supposed to kick-off next week, many in the industry will be affected by this tragedy.

There are many other organizations that are raising awareness and funds for Japan. Not all of us know where its best to donate or have much to give, but prayers are very much needed and cost nothing! For many of us, Japan may be out of sight...but don't let it be out of mind. 



All Images via Google

{Second Hand Love}

How many clothes are hanging in your closet or sitting in your drawers that you no longer wear? How many excuses have you made to keep that one pair of jeans that you can barely squeeze into? Have any old jewelry that you keep stored in a box that remains unopened? Or handbags that you've been ignoring since high school? I have been guilty of all of the above! Are we really going to use these things ever again or are we just plain old hoarders? Now, I'm a total believer in getting good use out of my attire. I still wear a pair of gray slacks I've had since the summer before starting high school (they still fit right!) and I'm definitely a fan of getting wear & tear out of my outfits. However, for all of those things that no longer fit your physique or go with your current fashion sense, why not donate?

Image via Google

I've recently started making it a habit to go through my room at the start of a new season and make sure I'm not holding on to items I'll really never use again. If I see something questionable, I try it on and justify why I should or shouldn't keep it. I average about a shopping bag worth of tops, pants, shoes & accessories that I either (a) give to my Mom to take to the girls at her school, (b) show to my brother's girlfriends to see if they want dibs or (c) directly donate to an organization. For some, the idea of wearing hand-me-downs is a no-go...but when I was younger, I used to love sifting through older girlfriend's giveaways to see if there was anything "cool" for me to keep! Wouldn't it also be cool to know that your donation will put a smile on someone's face?

Help Women: Dress For Success!

If you're not going to use it, give it away! Find a charitable organization (like The Salvation Army or the Purple Heart) to donate to or simply ask around your social circle to see if anyone could use what you're trying to get rid of. Retail therapy is a great feeling...but it's just as great as giving away old retail to someone who could use it more!

{Wear Your Philanthropy}

The moment I saw Blake Mycoskie on the second season of the Amazing Race my heart literally skipped a beat. Adorable. While visiting Argentina on the show, Blake discovered that numerous children (and people in general) were without shoes. This caused several easily avoidable problems, including foot disease and lack of education for the children who could not attend school without footwear. After a heart-breaking loss that left Blake & his sister in second place on the show, he returned to Argentina and decided to start a for-profit company out of California that would design an Alpargata inspired shoe; for every pair sold, another pair would be donated to a child in need.

White Canvas Women's Classics

Marry me Blake? This genius "One for One" mentality enabled Blake to return later that year with his newly assembled staff and "drop" 10,000 shoes for Argentinian children. Today, numerous "shoe drops" are made possible by TOMS shoes. I'm still a little jealous my sister got to meet Blake and win 10 free pairs of Toms, but I am so glad this company exists...trust me, there is nothing nicer than throwing a pair of these on when you're in need of a comfy shoe!

Black Canvas Women's Wedges