My Mom's Blog by Thoroughly Modern Millie

Sunday, October 14, 2007

NEAT STORIES

A few weeks ago Ronni at Time Goes By had a great idea, she started a section called "Where Elders Blog." Bloggers have been sending in photos of where they "do their thing." I love seeing how they are set up and what the environment is around them.

This got me thinking about how I manage my space. I can't work with lots of stuff around me. Fortunately I have a desk with lots of drawers so that helps keep the top of my desk neat.

I realize I was always this way. For example when I worked in an office as a bookeeper, in the days before computers, all records were done by hand. I had many sets of books that I was responsible for and as I worked on each phase I would go to the safe, take out that ledger and when I was through I would put it back in the safe.

flickr phot by hugovk

A while after I left that job I came in to visit the people in the office and was introduced to the girl who took my place. Well, you should have seen her desk - she had EVERY ledger and checkbook out on her desk whether she was working on it or not! That was her style.

Then there was the time I needed a lawyer. I asked my accountant for a referral and trusting his judgement I set up an appointment with him.

flickr photo by polanri

As soon as I walked into his office, I saw a mess! The floor around his desk was cluttered with folders, my thought was if I give him my paperwork how will he ever find it. I wanted to walk out but I was anxious to get the necessary work done and after all, my accountant had recommended him. He did the required work but I never used him again.

My philosophy is "A Place for Everything and Everything in it's Place."

My bedroom draws are well organized. I use plastic ice cube trays for my earrings and cutlery containers for necklaces and pins and plastic shoe boxes for socks and knee-hi's.

flickr photo by sparkrography

I keep my shoes in a cardboard container that has individual cubby-holes. All that works out well!

After reading all this you might think I am a perfectionist and well organized but you should see my closets! It's not that I don't have enough closets, it's just that they are a mess and I have yet to figure out how to keep them in order.

I know one thing that I should do - that's to throw out things that I have not worn in a year, I read that all the time.
What else can I do to maintain my supposed neat reputation?

posted by millie garfield @ 5:13 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >>

Comments:

I don't think you can do anything else, Millie, except toss the stuff you have not worn in 2 years. I am a neat freak too, most of the time, but I am also a "keeper", so that presents a problem.

# posted by

kenju : 11:32 PM

I'm just like you Millie, I like to put everything away in it's place. It drives me crazy when my husband leaves cupboard doors open and don't put things back. When I slam the cupboard doors shut, he gets my message loud and clear.

# posted by

Desertnut : 2:56 AM

I have to agree with yu about lawyers, Millie, after dealing with two inefficient ones (one on England and one in France) who both had offices strewn with files - on chairs, on the floor, on top of cupboards etc.
Mind you, I'm the first to admit that I'm far from organised - but then I'm not working for someone else and being paid . . . .

# posted by

Anonymous : 4:26 AM

"Everything in its place" applies to small items for me. I can't stand wasting time looking for scissors, keys and pens. So I'm careful with thrm.

But - everyone has a kitchen junk drawer, right? I have THREE. I couldn't possibly explain the purpose of each but apparently there is some order to them in the recesses of my mind - I never need to pull open more than one drawer to find what I need.

I too regularly run across that advice about throwing out clothes you haven't worn in a year. But I don't do that anymore; every time I did in the past, a week later, I wanted what I'd thrown out. So closets and dresser drawers are crammed.

Thanks for the mention, Millie.

# posted by

Anonymous : 7:21 AM

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# posted by

Tips for Makeup and Beauty : 8:38 AM

Millie,
I am with you on the desire to stay organized. I get rid of stuff after about 2 years. At the 1 yr mark, I'm still saying, "Well, maybe I'll use that sometime..." Of course I don't and then a year later I get rid of it. ;)
Have a great Monday!

-bm

# posted by

The Beast Mom : 1:06 PM

Millie I smiled when I read your blog. I have to be neat and have everything in its place. But like Ronnie do have 2 kitchen junk drawers. Yes, I think everyone has that. I do not toss out many clothes because a lot of them I like wearing. I love my old sweaters. They are better quality then you can buy now. I must have a dozen that are 15 to 20 years old. Have a beige turtle neck that is 30 years old and I get compliments on it and people look at me when I tell them how old it is. But then a lot of them are cashmere. Too expensive to buy them now.

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:42 PM

It was another one of Ronni's great ideas, wasn't it?
I admire you for being organised. I am just the opposite. Not that I enjoy being this way, but I am just too lazy to tidy up. I end up misplacing quite a lot of things of course, but I guess that I'll never change, it's probably too late ;)
Throwing things away? Yes, that's a good idea, but a lot of work ;)

# posted by

Anonymous : 3:12 PM

Hi Millie, This Blog is very interesting and I would like to know if you could come to my home and give me a course in NEAT 101. When are you available? I need HELP!
Nanci B/.

# posted by

Anonymous : 9:34 PM

Millie,
I love this organizing thread, because I have such a curiosity about how people arrange their things. That's probably has to do with the fact that I've been a professional organizer for over 30 years. But the whole idea behind my books and practice is that style of time and space management is a very personal thing. I really can't tell someone the "best" way to arrange something, unless my idea meshes with what comes naturally to them. My advice: if something works for you, keep doing it! :-)

# posted by

Anonymous : 6:33 PM

oops, forgot to leave a link..
suncoach.com
-- sunny :-)

# posted by

Anonymous : 6:37 PM

Millie, You sure sound organized to me.
I like to have everything picked up and no visible clutter around. My problem is with is with paper records and stuff. But somehow I can always find what I am looking for...eventually

# posted by

Chancy : 11:37 PM

My shoes are in plastic boxes on closet shelves, my jewelery is organized in appropriate containers, my clothing is neatly folded on shelves and drawers, but I fall down with paper work.

There is nothing like needing to find an important document to get me organized. I was looking for a warranty book one time and had to search four different places to find it. That did it! The insanity of it all had me spending three days sorting papers and filling 3 large waste paper baskets with outdated and useless junk. I filed things in logical order and I now sort my mail at the recycle bin and throw most of it out before it ever enters my house.

Darlene

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:16 PM

Hmm, a tidy desk is a sign of a deranged mind I always said...

# posted by

Anonymous : 4:26 PM

If I know where things are, then my time is not wasted looking for something. Unfortunately in my new kitchen, my husband is also a cook, but not into putting things back in the same place. This is a stressor for me. But we are both getting better at compromise.

# posted by

Tabor : 5:51 PM

Thank you for commenting on my blog. I certainly enjoy reading yours.

# posted by

Anonymous : 4:27 AM

I try, honestly Millie, I try, but neatness is not necessarily my biggest asset. Still I go through stages where everything is neat and in its place. Then, my messier side takes over and it all goes to h....in a handbasket.

Thanks, I haven't felt guilt for awhile and frankly I like the familiar feeling.

# posted by

Anonymous : 8:41 PM

You and I are SO alike on this organization. I can't work in my writer's studio if I have "clutter." It does tend to sometimes accumulate, but I feel compelled to clean it up right away.
I've always said, "if I went blind tomorrow, I'd still find every single thing I needed" because I've always firmly believed a place for everything.

# posted by

Anonymous : 1:45 PM