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Spring Cleaning: Closet Inspiration


I seriously need to clean out my closet...I thought if I put together a little inspiration, it would get me on the good foot {I realize this image is not of a closet, but it's incredibly inspiring} to start sprucing it up and purging out the old.  My closet is very tiny, but I would love to put up a little inspiration board and put down a mini round rug. This weekend it's on my to-do list, along with studying for finals.  Fabulous. I'll let you know next week how it goes {if it goes} along with some closet organization tips. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

*image Robert Duffy, Elle Decor

colorful escape.

I've always been inspired by this spread {from Elle 2004} even all these years later...


the colors are bright and cheerful...


her hair is gorgeous...


the makeup is stunning...


and the setting...well, speaks for itself


and of course, the wardrobe is divine...

i'm in desperate need for a getaway..

what about you?

SF Decorator Showcase


Tonight is the opening night for SF Showcase! If you live in the area and are going, I'd love to hear how it is. Here is a sneak peek of a room designed by Wick Design and a room by Marion Philpotts-Miller and Jonathan Staub via California Home + Design. There are many very talented designers involved in the showcase, and I'm sure the entire home is stunning.  Although I love Boston, I wish I were back home for this event! Happy Friday!

Week 8: 8 Tips to Stop Procrastinating





Week 8: 8 Tips to Stop Procrastinating

After a lot of thought, I decided this topic would be fitting for the last week of the series.  We all know that when you wait to the last minute to get things done, that's the time when you feel the most unorganized.  

1. Make a List


I've talked about this before, but making a to do list and putting the hardest task at the top is ideal.

2. Imagine the Outcome



Having that big project done feels amazing and gives you more time to enjoy yourself.  Imagine that feeling of accomplishment and freedom you get when you're done.  Just don't imagine for too long...

3. Stop thinking about it, and start the process


So guilty!  Talk about extra worry in your day. The more you think about your task, the more daunting it becomes. All that time you've spent thinking about what needs to be done, your task would have been done.  A two page paper starts to sound like a 40 page paper after a few hours of thinking about it.

4. Set the timer


Sounds ridiculous, I know, but it's some of the best advice I've heard.  If you find there is NOTHING motivating you to get started, set the timer for a mere 10 minutes and tell yourself you'll only work for those 10 minutes.  You'll find that after 10 minutes, you're already so engrossed in with what you're doing that you end up working for much longer.

5. Stop multi-tasking & focus

{from article in Real Simple, author of article: A.J. Jacobs}

I recently did a presentation on multi-tasking and spent hours researching why it's beyond harmful, but it's also surprisingly a form of procrastination.  If you sit down to do a project and you're responding to email, answering phone calls, etc. {while you should be doing your project}, your subconsciously procrastinating. Try to respond to emails and phone calls after you're done with your task. 

6. Take away the fun

{love this image from decor 8 }

If you're already procrastinating, the last thing you need is distracting things around you!  Fun things are defined by everyone differently, but as a student, I find just being at my house can be too distracting. It's a lot harder to procrastinate when I'm sitting in a blank cubicle in the school library.

7. Don't let fear stop you from success



There are times in life when incredible opportunities come up, and because of fear {of either failure or success}, we pass on them and procrastinate taking the next steps towards our goals.  A lot people say that fear is the number one thing stopping them from moving forward towards accomplishing their goals. Fear of failure can be scary, but try to face your fear and make that next step. 

8. Reward yourself for completing your task


Sometimes a promise of a reward at the end can give you a bit of an incentive to get going.  This could be something as small as sitting down to read a book, going to a yoga class or maybe purchasing a new pair of shoes {if it's a really big task}.

Wow!  I can't believe it's been 8 weeks since I've started the series and May is approaching us! I've had a lot of fun with the series and have felt motivated to get more organized because of it.  

Here is a recap of the past 8 weeks:


I really hope that some of you have been inspired, and thanks for sticking it out through these long posts!


p.s. Today I'm over at coco + kelley talking organization too!

blossomed snow.


I'd been so busy lately I hadn't even noticed that our streets are covered in layers of cherry blossom petals.  Before I got busy today, I decided to get out a bit early and take a few shots.  Such a peaceful morning.  

Be back soon with the end of the series!
happy thursday!

okl.

It's been a few weeks since my post here and I thought it would be a good time to bring back my emails from OKL.  But already I'm slowly adding things to my cart.  That little white bag is the perfect tote to lug around my mountain of books and laptop to classes...very tempting!

Upcycle your Seat


Loving this découpage idea from here.  Just imagine all the possibilities?  Wouldn't a few of these make for a stylish seating arrangement around a big table?  And I adore the felt/fabric envelopes created on the inside of that little desk.  What a creative way to organize in a such a small space!

Project: Office Organization

I'm so happy to share this office organization project with you all!  And just in time before we wrap up the end of the Deliciously Organized Series! Tiffany recently worked with a very sweet client {who calls this space the nucleus of her home} to create a functional office for an active family.  I really enjoy seeing real life organization projects come together like this one.  Here is a photograph of the before:

love the lined up jars to store ribbon...

Baskets, magazine file folders, and binders help keep everything in its place.


off the office is the mudroom...


now the kids art projects are displayed on the wall, and the basket is used to store art supplies for easy access
I love what they've done with the space! It's not only functional and organized, but it's colorful and fun. I'm sure the family will enjoy their time spent together here! I know I would...

organizing by color...

I know organizing books by color is nothing new, but every time I see a photograph with rows of color coordinated books, it makes me happy.  


Doesn't it make for gorgeous art?


We don't have built-ins in our apartment, but I would love to have them in my next place...


The wall of books in this room literally creates an art piece against all that white furniture.  So fabulous...


*First two photographs desire to inspire, last one from Living Etc.

basilicious.


I don't know about you, but I love basil.  


One of my favorite ways to use basil, is in caprese sandwiches {that's what I call them}.  All I do is layer tomato, mozzarella, sprinkle with basil, and drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper {this is pre drizzle}.


But one of my true guilty pleasures involving basil is this dressing...and it doesn't even call for fresh basil.  I know, classy.


This is not a dressing that you top on a healthy salad {lettuce,carrots and croutons are best}, nor is it healthy. But it's not something I make that often.  And I'm a bit embarrassed to say it's from a chain restaurant back home, not out of some fancy cookbook or a family recipe.  Once you read the ingredients, you'll realize why it's so good and why it's very unhealthy.  It's too delicious not to share...

Ingredients:

3/4 cup oil
1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
2 tablespoons crushed dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, minced
Hot pepper sauce 
Directions:
Whisk together oil and mayonnaise. Add buttermilk, cheese, basil, salt, garlic and hot pepper sauce to taste. Mix thoroughly. Cover and let flavors meld overnight {the joke in our family is that it will never make it over night} in refrigerator. 

question


This is the last week of the series.  So far we've covered:


Planning Time {including planning time for health}
Walking away from bargains {including using your bargains}
Purging & Donating {specifically books}
Foresee and Avoid Problems 
Organizing the Office {specifically Function & Files} &
5 Tips to a Streamlined Morning


There is so much that could be covered in this series! But, is there something specific you would like to see covered in this last week?  Would love to hear your thoughts!