Tip of the Day 3/1/12

By now your closet should be cleared out and you should be looking forward to wearing the combinations you have created. So how do you store what you have remaining and not allow it to get out of hand again. Start by hanging everything on non-wire hangers. If possible use matching hangers, it gives a sense of continuity and neatness to your closet. The only items you should not hang are sweaters. These should be folded neatly and stacked. I suggest not stacking them more than 3 deep to better see what you have, maintaining neatness, and ease of removal to wear. Stack like colors together. The other items you can store folded are jeans and shorts. Again keep your stacks limited to 3. I recommend hanging even "logo" t-shirts that you love to wear with jeans. They will stay neater. Around the house t-shirts should be folded and stacked. Now begin placing clothes into the closet dividing by style and color. For tops begin with camis, then shells/sleeveless, cap sleeve, short sleeve, 3/4 length sleeve, long sleeve. If you are a professional I suggest your work wardrobe be separated from non-work clothing using the same method. Within each category use "roygbiv" to color coordinate. Start with white then ecru for your neutrals then pink/red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. You will find choosing an outfit so much easier when you know right where the short sleeve yellow top you have in mind is located. Hang pants, dresses and skirts using these same guidelines. Place everything in the closet with the hangers backwards on the bar. As you wear an item and return it to the closet turn the hanger the traditional way. At the end of the season you will easily see anything you did not wear and be able to remove it. Taking a little extra time to hang your clothing neatly, buttoning top 2 buttons, centering shoulders on the hanger, smoothing the item instead of shoving it into an overcrowded space will improve your appearance and stop the "it's too wrinkled to wear" syndrome. Take a step back and enjoy the sight of a beautiful closet. Tomorrow, some essentials.

Word for Today, Fruit: Their are few people that do not like at least one kind of fruit. Most of us like many kinds and look forward to the next one coming in season all summer. We are blessed to live in an area that produces a large variety of fruit. The trees and bushes are beautiful all year. Blueberry bushes turn the most beautiful color in the fall and the fragrance of the grapes ready for harvest is delicious. A sad sight are the orchards or vineyards that are neglected or abandoned. In them you see what could have been or what used to be. Birds or wild animals may eat the rotten fruit that falls to the ground, but people look for the freshest and prettiest to eat. We often toss aside something with a small bruise or mark thinking it isn't good enough. We are told "the fruit of the Spirit is love." We are to produce good fruit in our lives and share it with others. All of us get bruised or injured from time to time but it does not negate the rest of the good in us. We need to stop judging by the skin of the fruit and look at the meat inside. There is a lot of good fruit you have missed getting to know by judging the skin. Someday I may even try Kiwi.